possible. Why would I do less for my daughter?”
Whoa. Now he was calling her the “best”?
“Nice try, but flattery won’t get you anywhere. I’m no nanny icon. Whatever I know, I’ve learned in four months. And I don’t know everything.”
“I’m not worried about you! Look, Alexis, I’m asking, pleading, begging, call it anything you want. Stay with us until the season’s over, then you’ll have your visits. All written down and legal. And besides,” he added softly, “don’t you want to do what’s best for Michelle?”
O-o-h, the man was crafty. “Of course I want what’s best for the baby.” If she went along with his plan, she’d be doing it not only for Michelle, but for Sherri’s sake, too. And for herself. Maybe to silence her own conscience. So many regrets…so many unknowns.
She looked at her overflowing desk. At her coworkers passing by. At the door to her boss’s office. She winced. He’d been so glad to see her that morning.
“I’d never planned to leave my job, Dan, and now I’ll lose it. I’ve used up my leave of absence.”
“I’ll also cover your salary afterward—for however long it takes you to find another position. Let’s see…how else can I entice you?
“You won’t have to do a thing in the house. I have a cleaning service twice a month. And Maria comes in two mornings a week to handle the kitchen and food prep.”
Apparently Dan was quite used to spending his way out of every problem. Was she another convenient service he could buy? Be fair, Alexis told herself. He tried to hire a nanny but rejected the idea in the end. And hiring me would be more than a financial transaction. She squeezed her eyes shut. Don’t let your suspicions get in the way of what’s best for Michelle. She’ll thrive with her auntie here to care for her and love her.
No one could take away her license to practice law; later, she could reapply with the Suffolk County D.A. or any D.A.’s office in the state. She could consider private law firms or nonprofits who needed lawyers on staff. Now more comfortable with her employability factor, she tuned in to Dan once more. She must have remained quiet for too long, however, because Dan started selling again.
“I’ll be away a lot of the time. Not just on the road for games, but we have daily practices at the stadium, we review videos constantly, we develop strategies, we train—all of that is critically important. You might not believe it, but playing on an NFL team is a full-time job.”
She’d made up her mind to do it, but now she wanted him to work a little harder closing the sale. Payback, maybe?
“Most adults have full-time jobs, Dan. And plenty of people take business trips.”
“Whew, you sound like my family, putting me in myplace. No swelled heads allowed. So—I’m holding my breath here—will you live with us for three months?”
“You know what’s really ironic, Dan?”
“No-o-o, but your voice sounds happy.”
“I’ve worked so hard to get my diplomas—eleven years altogether. And now, after all that, I’m going to have ‘full-time nanny’ on my résumé. It’s unbelievable.”
His deep laughter joined her light chuckle. “An excellent choice. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Oh, let’s just say I like a guy who begs.”
“T HE CHOICE IS YOURS ,” said Dan with a suitcase in each hand as he led Alexis inside his house. “There’s a guest suite on the top floor, complete with its own bathroom, a study and a terrace overlooking the neighborhood. Or there’s the room you used on Saturday night, across from Michelle.”
“I’m not a guest, Dan. I’m part of the household. And naturally, I’d rather be close to Michelle.”
Just what he wanted to hear. “Great. Walk or ride?”
“Ride? What do you mean?”
He led them to a narrow door, pressed a button on the wall and the door slid open. The snug elevator held them with one of the suitcases as they rode to the third
Whoa. Now he was calling her the “best”?
“Nice try, but flattery won’t get you anywhere. I’m no nanny icon. Whatever I know, I’ve learned in four months. And I don’t know everything.”
“I’m not worried about you! Look, Alexis, I’m asking, pleading, begging, call it anything you want. Stay with us until the season’s over, then you’ll have your visits. All written down and legal. And besides,” he added softly, “don’t you want to do what’s best for Michelle?”
O-o-h, the man was crafty. “Of course I want what’s best for the baby.” If she went along with his plan, she’d be doing it not only for Michelle, but for Sherri’s sake, too. And for herself. Maybe to silence her own conscience. So many regrets…so many unknowns.
She looked at her overflowing desk. At her coworkers passing by. At the door to her boss’s office. She winced. He’d been so glad to see her that morning.
“I’d never planned to leave my job, Dan, and now I’ll lose it. I’ve used up my leave of absence.”
“I’ll also cover your salary afterward—for however long it takes you to find another position. Let’s see…how else can I entice you?
“You won’t have to do a thing in the house. I have a cleaning service twice a month. And Maria comes in two mornings a week to handle the kitchen and food prep.”
Apparently Dan was quite used to spending his way out of every problem. Was she another convenient service he could buy? Be fair, Alexis told herself. He tried to hire a nanny but rejected the idea in the end. And hiring me would be more than a financial transaction. She squeezed her eyes shut. Don’t let your suspicions get in the way of what’s best for Michelle. She’ll thrive with her auntie here to care for her and love her.
No one could take away her license to practice law; later, she could reapply with the Suffolk County D.A. or any D.A.’s office in the state. She could consider private law firms or nonprofits who needed lawyers on staff. Now more comfortable with her employability factor, she tuned in to Dan once more. She must have remained quiet for too long, however, because Dan started selling again.
“I’ll be away a lot of the time. Not just on the road for games, but we have daily practices at the stadium, we review videos constantly, we develop strategies, we train—all of that is critically important. You might not believe it, but playing on an NFL team is a full-time job.”
She’d made up her mind to do it, but now she wanted him to work a little harder closing the sale. Payback, maybe?
“Most adults have full-time jobs, Dan. And plenty of people take business trips.”
“Whew, you sound like my family, putting me in myplace. No swelled heads allowed. So—I’m holding my breath here—will you live with us for three months?”
“You know what’s really ironic, Dan?”
“No-o-o, but your voice sounds happy.”
“I’ve worked so hard to get my diplomas—eleven years altogether. And now, after all that, I’m going to have ‘full-time nanny’ on my résumé. It’s unbelievable.”
His deep laughter joined her light chuckle. “An excellent choice. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Oh, let’s just say I like a guy who begs.”
“T HE CHOICE IS YOURS ,” said Dan with a suitcase in each hand as he led Alexis inside his house. “There’s a guest suite on the top floor, complete with its own bathroom, a study and a terrace overlooking the neighborhood. Or there’s the room you used on Saturday night, across from Michelle.”
“I’m not a guest, Dan. I’m part of the household. And naturally, I’d rather be close to Michelle.”
Just what he wanted to hear. “Great. Walk or ride?”
“Ride? What do you mean?”
He led them to a narrow door, pressed a button on the wall and the door slid open. The snug elevator held them with one of the suitcases as they rode to the third
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