As I drove out of the lot, I frowned at the big truck taking up so many spaces. Someone was likely compensating for some deficiency in his ego.
Not my problem. I drove as fast as legally possible to a large, sprawling house in a prestigious gated community. My stomach clenched the closer I got.
The kid under that roof taxed all of my special-needs skills. But the little boy’s parents were a whole different challenge. I had shown up once in my standard wacky wear and the woman’s haughty stare had withered me in my knee-high socks. Then the dad… The sky was the limit for my anxiety whenever he was around. The more sedate and boring I dressed, the more Mr. Woods hit on me—often in front of his wife.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d just assume rich people sucked, but as my past proved, bad behavior wasn’t confined to any particular income bracket.
I parked in the large circular drive, jumped out, and trotted to the door.
I took a moment to compose my breathing and pat stray hairs down before I rang the bell. The door swung open.
“Miss Tilly,” greeted the housekeeper, Berta.
“I’m not late!” I smiled and rushed past her toward Charlie’s muffled cries.
“It won’t matter,” Berta murmured.
The first time Berta had made such a bold comment, I had almost dropped in surprise. But unlike me, who stuck around for Charlie, Berta could move on and find a new job. A trustworthy housekeeper was in high demand. It was harder for me to find clients who’d pay me the wage I requested and for long-term work.
“Miss Tilly. You’re finally here.” Mrs. Woods’s nasal voice rang off the walls.
I squared my shoulders as Mrs. Woods’s heels clacked against the marble floor into the entryway. I half expected “The Imperial March” to play in the background, but Charlie’s wails would’ve drowned it out.
The woman’s snide gaze evaluated me and, from the crease in her brow, found me lacking. Like usual. Charlie’s cries hit a crescendo, then died down. I twitched to run to him but had to finish with my employer.
Mrs. Woods pushed her auburn hair off her face and I blinked. Had the woman’s hand been shaking?
“He’s in fine form today.” Mrs. Woods bypassed me and started up the stairs. “You’d better get in there before he hurts himself.”
I jogged to the special room Charlie’s parents had set up for him. Inside, the five-year-old was rocking in the corner, self-soothing. His wails had subsided. I rushed to his side but didn’t touch him. He wasn’t always open to physical comfort. He drew in on himself and turned away. After several minutes, I coaxed him out. From the blank look in his eyes, I shouldn’t be too ambitious in my teachings today.
Okay, so calm playtime instead. I could make it educational.
Charlie snatched up an alphabet block and I frowned. A red welt was swelling at his temple. It’d be black and blue in a few hours. Dang. Had he hurt himself before I’d gotten in here? He wouldn’t tolerate ice, so I continued with what tutoring I could.
Once my hour was up, I stepped out and called for Berta.
When the woman came into view, I pointed up the stairs. “Think I can talk to her?”
Berta scoffed. “Are you kidding? Charlie’s evening nanny arrives in ten minutes. Mrs. Woods is out for the count.”
My shoulders slumped. “Can you tell her that Charlie must’ve banged his head during his fit?”
“Of course, of course.” Berta dropped her voice. “Go on home. She doesn’t pay you for her deadbeat-mom hours.”
I coughed back a chuckle. “I can hang around for ten minutes. It’s no problem.” Charlie might seem like he was in his own world most of the time, but he didn’t need to be alone constantly. I doubted the nanny did more than sit and do her homework and ward off Mr. Woods’s advances—or not. I played with Charlie for fifteen more minutes before his nanny arrived and I updated her.
Back out in the late-spring air, I inhaled a long, deep breath. For the first time, I felt optimistic. I’d meticulously plotted and saved to pay back every cent that the center had sunk into my failure of a childhood. Now I could hand it over and get a date with Flynn in the process.
A smile spread across my face. Things were finally starting to look up.
Chapter 2
Flynn
I straightened the bow tie of my tux. My stomach somersaulted and I bounced in my wingtips. Each minute that went by in the small back room of Arcadia felt like an hour. In a few minutes, I’d have to go out and strut down the runway while women fought over me. Please, let my plan work. I could not spend eight days with Crazy J.
My phone rang and I jerked it from my pocket. My nerves were going to kill me. “Halstengard.”
My biggest client greeted me on the other end. “I know it’s the weekend, but I’d like to touch base with you on the bank project.”
“Of course,” I said because whatever John Woods wanted, John Woods got. “How’s—”
Before I could rattle off a time, a shriek on the other end of the phone pierced my eardrum.
John swore. “Guess it’ll have to wait until Monday. The nanny has the night off and my kid’s melting down.”
“Not a problem,
