CHAPTER THREE
Hank
“THANK YOU, MISS Jenkins,” I say as I close the door. Colby looks up at me and I can tell by the expression on her face, she didn’t like this prospect either. Although Miss Jenkins is more than qualified, she just wasn’t the right fit for us. I felt her strict, regimented ideals were just not what I want for Colby. I want my daughter to excel, but I also want her to be a kid and have fun while she’s learning.
“She was mean, Daddy. I don’t wike her,” she informs me.
“Don’t worry kiddo, I didn’t like her either. Let’s hope this last candidate is a winner,” I say with a hopeful tone. Twenty-three times the charm. Maybe I am being too picky. Is it wrong to want the best for my kid? This person is going to be helping to raise my child, living in my home. If we’re not on the same page this is not going to work.
“Daddy, can we have a tea party for Miss Nora?” she asks.
“Of course, Princess. Why don’t you go grab your tea set while I make us some snacks.”
“Don’t forget the mini cupcakes, Daddy,” she instructs before turning to run up the stairs to her bedroom.
I turn and head for the kitchen, grabbing the file on Nora Cunningham off the foyer table. I flip through the pages while I walk. Nora is twenty-six, a graduate of the University of Washington, and a Seattle native. Her references are impeccable. One even says I would be a fool not to hire her. This Nora must have made one hell of an impression on this family. I’m kind of surprised they didn’t take her with them when they moved to Germany. Their loss, fingers crossed, my gain.
I toss the file onto the counter in the kitchen. Before I have the chance to get the tea started, Colby is back with her tea set in hand, and dressed up in her purple fairy wings and matching tutu. Colby is all girl. She loves all things pink and purple, from fairies and ballerinas to unicorns. Her room looks like Barbie’s Malibu dream house exploded. But I do occasionally sneak a Star Wars movie in between the Disney Princess movies, and I have gotten her to wear BB-8 pajamas. Small victories.
* * *
The teapot filled, the cupcakes and cookies are on the table, and Colby is sprinkling the last of her glitter on the table while I hang the fairies on the chandelier. Just another day in the Ross house. Themed tea parties and dress up are an everyday thing in my life. Had anyone told me five years ago that I would be dressing up in fairy wings and a tiara to bring a smile to my daughter’s face, I would have told them they were out of their fucking minds. But, here I am, standing in my kitchen wearing blue fairy wings and a tutu, and I’m loving every minute of it.
The doorbell rings and Colby’s head pops up with wide excited eyes. She drops the last of her glitter, grabs her clipboard, and follows close behind me through the house to front door. The door creaks open and my breath is taken away when my eyes meet the vision standing on my porch in a blue dress. Fuck me, this is Nora Cunningham.
“Hello Mr. Ross, I’m Nora.” A smile radiates across her face, and a faint giggle escapes her lips as she eyes me up and down in my tutu and wings. I can barely form the words to say hi back. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. Long flowing brown hair, eyes dark sparkling brown, and full of life. Perfect soft pink lips my mouth is watering to get a taste of.
“Miss Cunningham, please come in,” I manage to get out.
“Please, call me Nora,” she says. As she steps across the threshold, I catch a whiff of her perfume and it makes the beast in me roar to life. No one has ever had such an instant effect on me before. If Colby wasn’t standing next to me, I would have Nora naked and under me in a heartbeat. Calm yourself Ross, this woman might be your daughter’s future nanny. I need a nanny more than I need to get my dick wet.
“You must be Colby,” she says lowering herself down to Colby’s level. “It’s nice to meet you.” She reaches her hand out to Colby.
“Hi Miss Nora.” Colby beams as she slides her hand into Nora’s.
“I didn’t know I would be getting interviewed by a fairy princess. I feel so honored,” she says taking notice of Colby’s costume. Her statement makes Colby giggle. Nora is gaining big points with both me and Colby. She’s the first to get down to Colby’s level and introduce themselves to her.
“Do you wike tea parties, Miss Nora?” Colby asks.
“As a matter of fact, I love tea parties,” she replies.
“I hope you don’t mind, I like to include Colby in on the interviews,” I say.
“I don’t mind at all. She will be the one I will be spending the most time with, and if she’s not comfortable around me during the interview than why bother hiring me?” We haven’t even started the interview yet and we are already on the same page. At least on this aspect.
Nora rises to stand in front of me and there is a palpable heat between us. In close proximity, she’s even more stunning. Her golden, creamy skin reminds me of peach ice cream. My first instinct is to glide my tongue along the hollow of her neck before sinking my teeth into her delicate flesh, marking her. Claiming her as mine.
“I’m glad you agree. Shall we get started?” I suggest.
“Come on, Miss Nora.” Colby grabs Nora’s hand and pulls her in the direction of the kitchen. As soon as they disappear around the corner, I spin around to the wall next me, my head hitting the wall with a thud. The blood is surging down through my body straight to my dick. I’m hard as fucking steel, and I need to calm the hell down before I go in there. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths while thinking about getting hit in the groin with a sledgehammer. A part of me hopes she doesn’t work out, because no way in hell will I be able to live under the same roof with a gorgeous goddess like her. But another part of me wants to hire her so I can be near her. Either way, I’m fucking screwed.