***
After several minutes, I find her in the art room, which contains wooden, marble and metal sculptures as well as paintings, some of which I’ve purchased on my travels and others which were given to me as presents.
For a moment, I stare at her, as absorbed with her standing in the middle room as she is with the painting she’s gazing at.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
“There you are,” I say as I approach her. “Though I almost didn’t see you. I thought you were one of the statues in this room.”
“Nonsense.” Sabrina gives a sheepish grin. “If anyone here looks like a statue, it’s you.”
Is that a compliment?
“Is that coffee?” she asks, glancing at the mugs in my hand.
“Yes.” I hand her one. “I did say we’d have coffee together.”
She holds the mug with two hands and sniffs it. “What’s in it?”
“Caffeine. No hallucinogens or depressants, I assure you.”
“Very funny.”
I sniff my own mug. “Organic Arabica, I think. Brewed, of course. It’s what I always have.”
She chuckles. “And here, I thought you only drank protein shakes.”
“I drink those, too.” I take a sip of the coffee. “I hope it’s not too strong for you.”
“Oh, there’s such a thing as coffee that’s too strong?”
I chuckle.
She takes a sip, stays still for a moment, then nods. “It’s quite good, actually.”
I smile. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I told you I’m not allergic to coffee.” Sabrina sits on the divan next to the window then looks around. “This is a really beautiful room.”
I sit beside her. “I think it’s meant to be.”
“I didn’t peg you for an art lover.”
I narrow my eyes at her as I lift my mug. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. I mean a room with animal trophies would probably suit you more.”
I take a sip. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint.”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m impressed, actually.”
She is? Then I guess it’s good.
“I thought I’d explore the house a bit.” She blows on the surface of her coffee. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, not at all. So, found any dead bodies?”
“No.” She gives me a look of disgust. “And I hope I don’t find any.”
“I’m just kidding. You won’t. But what exactly are you hoping to find?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Maybe anything that can help me understand David more.”
“Did he cause you any trouble?” I ask, concerned.
“No. I mean, he didn’t play a prank on me or anything. He just doesn’t like me, I guess.”
“Well, he did try to hide from you,” I remind her.
“Yes. Was he always like that?”
“You’re the first one he hid from but yes, he never likes his nannies.”
“Do you know why?”
I shrug. I’ve wondered about that, too, and all I can think of is that he’s simply being rebellious.
“Maybe he wants to think that he’s all grown up and doesn’t need a nanny.”
“No. He told me that he didn’t want to grow up.”
He did?
“He doesn’t need a nanny, which is why I’m trying to be his friend,” Sabrina continues. “And so far, I’m not having any luck with that.”
“I see.” I take another sip from my mug.
She takes a sip from her own mug as well. “What can you tell me about his mother? Is he like her? Did she keep to herself, too?”
I don’t answer at once, thinking.
“I’m sorry,” Sabrina says. “I didn’t mean to pry. I know you must miss her.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “It’s been a long time. I don’t remember her being rude or difficult, though. On the contrary, she was very kind and gentle.”
“Then David probably got his mischievous streak from you.”
“From me?” I narrow my eyes at her.
I did have my share of mischief. But doesn’t every boy?
Suddenly, Sabrina stands up, gazing out the window. “Oh, shit.”
“What’s wrong?”
I stand up and look out the window as well, seeing Zombie running in the lawn with something red in his mouth.
A shoe?
“Sorry.” Sabrina places her hand over her mouth. “I promise I don’t curse around David. It’s just…” She sets her mug down. “I have to go.”
She dashes out. I set down my mug and follow her.
“Wait. Is that shoe Zombie’s playing with yours?” I ask as I follow her down the hall.
“Yes. It’s my bedroom slipper. Well, it was Carol’s but she gave it to me.”
“Carol?”
“Carol Fisher, the owner of the agency.”
“I see.” I follow her down the stairs. “Do you have any idea how Zombie might have taken it?”
“I don’t know. It was in my room. Not in the closet. Just out there.”
“And you closed the door?”
“I think so.”
“Wait. Is the door to your room one of those with latches?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I think Zombie knows how to open those.”
“What?”
We run out of the house in silence, heading to the lawn. There, we find the Labrador still chewing on the shoe.
“Zombie!” I shout. “Give that back this instant!”
Instead of doing that, though, he runs off.
“Great,” I tell Sabrina. “He’s just like his master.”
“Zombie!” Sabrina shouts, running after the dog.
“You know, I can just buy you another,” I shout after her but she no longer hears me.
I sigh. Well, this is going to be fun.
We run after Zombie, who seems to think it’s a game and runs faster, running back and forth and in circles around us.
Finally, I manage to catch him, pinning him down. Sabrina gets her sandal, though it doesn’t look much like a slipper anymore as she holds it up.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I don’t know what’s come over him. I thought he stopped running away with things and chewing on things years ago.”
Sabrina shrugs. “Maybe he just likes red, soft things. Don’t you, Zombie?”
Suddenly, Zombie escapes from my grip and jumps on Sabrina.
“Zombie!”
I was afraid he’d bite her. Instead, he starts licking her face, sending Sabrina giggling and falling over.
“I have a feeling he likes you more.”
“Zombie, stop it!” Sabrina screams, still laughing. “That tickles.”
All right. Maybe he likes her too much.
“Zombie, that’s enough.” I grab his collar and pull him off Sabrina, who’s now all dirty. “Sorry about that. I told you he’s a troublemaker like his master.”
Sabrina sits up, wiping her face. “Well, at least you’re clean.”
A second later, the sprinklers turn on, getting me, Zombie and Sabrina wet. Zombie makes his escape but Sabrina and I are left standing there, soaked.
She laughs. “I guess I spoke too soon.”
I look at my shirt and frown. “Yeah, you did.”
Then my gaze wanders over to the front of her blouse and my heart stops, the silhouette of her black bra apparent through the wet cotton.
Fuck.
Just then, I hear a throat clearing and I look up to see Tess standing there with a look of disapproval that almost makes me feel like a misbehaved child.
I help Sabrina stand up. “Sabrina, meet Tess, my secretary. Tess, this is Sabrina, the new nanny.”
“Pleasure.” Tess smiles then turns serious again. “I was looking all over for you. You only have…” She glances at her watch. “Eight minutes until your meeting.”
“Sorry.” I glance at Sabrina, who now has her arms folded over her chest. “I guess time flies when you’re having fun.”
She laughs.
I know the coffee break didn’t go as planned but hey, I have to admit it was still fun. In fact, that’s probably the most fun I’ve had in ages.
Tess taps her watch.
“Right. I better get changed and get to work,” I tell Sabrina as I tear my gaze away from her and reluctantly jog back to the house. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get a new pair of sandals.”
“Thank you.”
“I suggest you go get changed as well!”
“I will!”