Eli drops all the bags in the living room with a blunt thud and starts to walk away. Callie and I stand there, awkwardly, with no clue what to do next. I wasn’t exactly expecting him to roll out a red carpet for us, but is it too much for him to point out where we’ll eat and sleep?
He’s halfway across the room before he looks back and sees us standing at the door, like unwanted guests.
“Oh, right. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom on this floor,” he tells me. “Callie’s room is on the left, and you can take the other one. I’ll be taking the couch down in the basement.” He points to a wide doorway toward the back of the house. “The kitchen is through that way. I had some groceries delivered earlier. The basics.”
“All right.” I offer a little smile.
He doesn’t reciprocate.
“Make me a list of the things Callie likes and I’ll order those for delivery, as well.” His eyes linger on mine. He hesitates. “Write down what you’d like, too.” He starts to turn for the stairs, but then glances at me over his back. “Just a heads up. The washer and dryer are in the downstairs bathroom,” he jerks his chin toward the basement. “So if you need to do laundry, make sure to call out or something before coming down.”
I nod. “Got it.” Heaven forbid I accidentally walk in on Eli Kingston in his underwear.
My lip twitches. I hold in my smile. Barely.
As an act of karmic retribution, my stomach growls right then. Loud enough to fill the room. That’s what I get for silently mocking my new boss. Callie emits a little giggle where she’s pasted against my leg.
Eli gives me another creased-browed stare. “Is pizza good? For dinner?”
Thoughts of chicken curry float back into my head but I push them away. “Yes,” I answer quickly, but then look toward Callie. She deserves a say in this, too. “Pizza's good, right?”
Callie nods, chewing on her bottom lip.
I look to Eli, making sure he received her wordless comment. His eyes meet mine from across the room. His dark gaze pins me to the hardwood floors.
“I-I guess I'll go get Callie settled in her room.” I need to get away from this guy before my knees start shaking.
He nods his consent and turns away. I almost sigh out loud with relief as he goes. I could gladly stare at that man all day long, but when he’s staring back, it’s…well, exhausting. My whole body feels spent, just from that twelve-second incident.
Gripping Callie’s hand and picking up one of her bags, I guide her toward the bedrooms. I’ll come back for the other stuff later. For now, I just want to get her comfortable.
When we step into her room, her eyes light up. She climbs up onto her bed. “Princess Tiana!”
“Your favorite,” I gush, skimming my hand over the brand new bedding. “Isn’t that cool?”
Callie nods, but just when I conclude that Eli has earned himself a few bonus points with the child, she glances around nervously. “But I miss Nana and Papa. They won’t be sleeping here, will they?”
“No, they’ll sleep at their house. You and I get to sleep here. With your daddy.” I stubbornly ignore the dirty images my mind produces about exactly what I want to do with her daddy after she goes to sleep.
Her face scrunches up, like she’s struggling to understand all of this. Still, she remains strong. It pulls at my heart. “Will I still get to see them?”
With a light touch, I brush her blonde ringlets from her forehead. Her hair smells sweet like her bubblegum shampoo. “Oh, baby girl. Nana and Papa love you very much. Of course you’ll still see them. Tomorrow, maybe we can talk to your daddy about taking a walk over there.”
“Okay.” For a second, her eyes drop and she appears deep in thought. Then her gaze flickers back up. “Daddy’s beard looks like the big bad wolf.”
A giggle bursts out of me. “It kind of does, doesn’t it.” She joins me in laughing.
I sigh, wrapping my arms around this brave little girl. I keep telling myself this is just a job, just a stepping stone. But every time I look at Callie, I see how much this five-year-old needs me.
And I can’t shush the hopeful voice in my foolish head that says maybe, just maybe, Eli needs me, too.
8 Eli
I thought that after sleeping on a metal cot for more than two years, I’d be able to sleep anywhere. Well, I was wrong.
I’m lying on this stiff, old couch, with my feet hanging over the opposite arm. I’ve got my bicep propped under my skull and I’m staring at the ductwork on the ceiling of my basement.
The house has been silent for the past hour, so Jenny must have finally gone to sleep. Jenny? Or was it Jessie? Jenna, maybe?
In any case, I tried telling Callie good night and tucking her into bed earlier, but after an awkward moment, she asked for her nanny.
I know she’s just a kid, she’s the innocent in all this but it bugs the shit out of me how easily she’ll interact with everyone except me. I thought she was shy at first, but after watching her stuff her little face with pizza and talk the nanny’s ear off over dinner, I’m realizing that she’s only shy with me. To her, I’m practically a stranger. It’s frustrating, dammit.
My mind wanders off to better times,
