Chapter 2

"That's it, Purrito. Let's hear that purr, purr, purr. You like the scritchy-scratches don't you?" I say to one of my favorite long-term residents of the Paw Palace Animal Shelter. His orange and white tail swishes back and forth as I scratch his back. "I know you do, bud."

Purrito has been at the shelter longer than I can remember off hand. It's definitely been all spring and all summer. My heart breaks for so many of our furry friends who spend their days and nights here waiting for their forever families to waltz in and pick them. I chose Purrito to be our office cat for the day because even cats need a change of scenery from time to time.

"Let's see if we can find you a treat, Purrito." I step over to the back cabinet where some of the treats are stored, making kissy noises for him to follow me. "Come on."

I drop a few of his favorite catnip flavored treats on the floor at his feet for him to enjoy as my phone dings in my pocket. I pat a noisily purring Purrito on the top of his head and then pull out my phone to check my text.

I don't even bother responding to Kinsley's text. Instead, I hit the button to call her immediately. I need to hear this explanation.

"Did that pique your interest?" Kinsley laughs when she answers my call.

"Uhh, damn right it did. I needed to hear this, whatever this is, straight from your mouth instead of a text, so please, explain."

"Okay, so Zeke Miller, are you familiar?"

I scoff. "Am I familiar with the star goalie of the Chicago Red Tails hockey team?"

"Okay, I'll take that as a yes." She giggles. "Anyway, you know he has a little girl. Her name is Elsie."

"Riiiight." I nod slowly, remembering having seen Zeke in a few pictures with his daughter. "I do remember that now."

"Yes! She's a super spunky and fun little kid and he's looking for a full-time nanny for her during the season and I think you would be a fantastic fit for the job!"

My brows furrow. "Wait, full-time nanny. Where is his wife? Or I guess maybe ex-wife?"

"Definitely an ex-wife as she's been gone for three years now. She up and left not long after Elsie was born," Kinsley explains.

"Oh man. That's rough. So, he's been taking care of her on his own?"

"Yep. He's a great dad with her and he hates having to get her a nanny. His parents have really stepped up and helped out but he knows they're not getting any younger and they deserve to enjoy retirement. He wants that for them. He wants them to be grandparents, not parents. Sooo he's looking for someone."

I'm a little taken aback by the notion she thinks I would be a good fit for this kind of a commitment. "Why me? What made you think I would be good for this?"

"Well, your teaching background for one. I know you haven't taught since, well, you know, but you're obviously comfortable and good with kids. It's very generous pay and you would have your own living space there to come and go as you please on your days off. I mean seriously, it's way better than a one-bedroom apartment in the middle of Chicago's finest."

I know she's teasing me because I live in a not-so-great part of the city. There are five locks on my front door, and I still lean a chair up against it when I go to sleep. I don't dare walk down the street alone at night, which means I rarely go out unless I'm staying with someone. What can I say though? When the price is right, beggars can't be choosers. And I know it's not my forever home.

"I suppose a comfy upscale home would be a nice change from where I am now," I chuckle.

"And did I mention he's hot? And obviously very single?"

I cringe shaking my head even though she can't see me. "Okay first of all, you know I'm not looking for anything like that. Sleeping with my boss would be hella-weird. But also, does that mean he has loads of women coming in and out of his house?"

"Are you kidding?" She scoffs. "Since I've known Quinton, Zeke never goes out with the team because he always runs home to his kid. I don't think he's done the dating or the hook-up thing at all since his wife left."

"Interesting."

Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, really, but I suppose I can't judge the man given my lack of wanting to put myself out there after Luke. At least we would have something in common…as morbid as that is to think about.

"Let me schedule you an interview with Zeke. He's really down to earth and between you and me, I think he and the guys didn't have a great interview experience this morning. He's feeling kind of down about finding someone good based on the riffraff he spoke to earlier."

"Uh oh."

Kinsley laughs. "Yeah something about some woman who sells her used panties online and another woman with a son in jail for kiddie porn and—"

"Oh, my God!" My jaw drops. "Where did he publish an ad for this job? Weirdos R Us?"

"Right? Ugh!" she answers. "I felt really bad for him because he just wants to find the perfect person for his kid and that made me think of you."

Phew. Moving in with a celebrity who is still a stranger to me and taking care of his kid all hours of the day? That's a lot to take in. That's a big life change. A commitment I really want to take time to think about before giving an answer.

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course. It would be weird if you didn't. If it sounds like something you think you might want to at least discuss, I'll contact Zeke and set up an interview for you. And if you decide you're not interested, no harm, no foul. I'll just tell Zeke his little beautiful baby girl will have to raise herself because nobody wants her."

"Okay, Bitch!" I huff out a laugh. "I highly doubt she's a cute floofy puppy you can just walk away from at the shelter. She's a human being. She's someone's world. That's a lot to commit to."

"I'm just teasing you. Seriously though, think it over. Let me know what you decide?"

"Yeah. Of course. And thank you. Truly. I'm touched that you even thought of me for something like this."

"Zeke is a really nice guy who was handed a shit deal when his wife left him. He hasn't put himself out there because Elsie is his world. He lives and breathes for her. We just want to see him happy. And Elsie too. And you too, of course."

"Thanks Kinsley. I'll call you later?"

"Absolutely. I'll be around."

"Great. Talk soon."

"Bye."

I hang up the phone and notice Purrito weaving in and out of my legs as I stand along the hallway wall.

Full-time, live-in nanny.

I'd be raising someone else's kid.

The kid I never got to have.

Thoughts of Luke roll through my mind and my chest tightens for a moment.

I miss him.

It's been three years for me too.

Three years of loneliness.

Three years of feeling like my life has no purpose.

Luke would tell me to do this.

"You're meant for this,"he would say.

By the time I get home for the day it's nearly sunset. I still can't get my mind off Kinsley's phone call. The opportunity she shared with me. I can't help but wonder what the details are. What kind of guy Zeke Miller is off the ice. I've seen the man play. I don't know how he still has knees. He's a beast out there. To see him be a monster on the ice and then know he goes home at night to a little girl makes me smile.

I bet he's the coolest daddy to her.

I should talk to the guy.

Talking to him doesn't mean I have to take the job.

Okay. I can do this.

Before I can stop myself, I'm pulling my phone from my back pocket and texting Kinsley.

Within minutes she's texting me back.

___

I didn't sleep a wink last night.

I slid down the Zeke Miller rabbit hole and spent hours internet searching everything I could about him. I've seen his stats as a player. I studied his career path and know he's been with the Red Tails for seven seasons. I've seen more pictures of him than I can count. Even some of him and his daughter. She's super cute and from the looks of everything I saw, he lives to please her and she loves the stuffing out of him. I learned that his wife of two years, Lori, left after Elsie was born but nobody says exactly why. There's a lot of speculation, but I assume the only ones to really know what went down between Zeke and Lori are Zeke and Lori.

And that's how it should be.

I found no evidence of him bad-mouthing her in public or online, which made me feel good. Not that she doesn't deserve it if she did something wrong. His feelings either way are valid, but it's nice to know that no matter what, he seems like a stand-up guy. He spends a good deal of his time visiting kids at the children's hospital and gives to their charity every year. He's helped out at one of the local elementary schools a few times too. He"s clearly a man who is comfortable around kids.

I wonder for hours what life might be like if I were to get this job.

What it would be like moving into a man's house when there's nothing between us but a professional relationship.

How awkward it might be if he brings a woman home.

How weird it might be if or when I might have a new love interest. Not that I'm planning on that any time soon.

I know Luke would be disappointed that I haven't moved on yet. Three years is certainly long enough to mourn his loss. If he were still here, he would be telling me to stop putzing around and go have fun. Live a little. But then again, if Luke were still here, he wouldn't have to tell me to stop putzing around because I would have him. And we would be having all the fun in the world.

"I'm gonna do it, Luke," I whisper to nobody in the darkness of my room. "I'm putting myself out there. I'm going to meet Zeke Miller tomorrow. It's time to do something new."

By eight-forty-five I'm showered, dressed in my favorite black jeans, purple blouse, and black flats, and walking into the arena for my interview. A petite woman dressed in black jeans and a Red Tails sweatshirt meets me inside the door.

"Ada Lewis?"

"Yes."

"Oh my God, you're perfect," she says with a sigh of relief and a huge smile.

"Uhh…"

She offers me her hand. "Sorry. Forgive me. Hi. I'm Carissa Nelson. I'm a friend of Zeke's and I work for the team. I told him I would come up and meet you when you got here since he had a morning team meeting."

"Oh. Great. Thank you. It's lovely to meet you."

She cringes. "You know what, before we go any further would you mind if I asked you a few super weird questions?"

I chuckle but shake my head. "Don't mind at all."

"Do you uh…sell panties online?"

"Ew!" I almost snort. "I can't believe people actually do that. Oh, also, that's a no, by the way. I don't sell anything online…except my soul when I jump down those social media rabbit holes."

Carissa laughs. "You and me both, girl. And I do social media for a living."

"Oh, you poor thing."

"Sometimes it's not so bad." She winks. "I started the team's best ass competition you know."

"I'm actually familiar." I laugh with her. "I may have watched the latest just last night."

"Ah, doing your homework, I see. That'a girl. Sooo do you have any felonies?"

"Nope." I grin.

"Allergies?"

"None that I know of."

"How about kids? Do you have a gaggle of children that you're hoping to move into a celebrity home?"

My smile falters slightly with her question and I shake my head. "No. I don't have any children."

She stops walking and touches my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Ada. That was probably too personal of a question."

"Not at all. Totally valid. I'm a fur-mommy to many animals at the shelter."

"That's right!" Carissa smiles. "Kinsley told me you're the reason she has Nutsack."

"That ornery cat." I snicker. "He was the perfect choice for someone like Kinsley."

"Right? I totally agree with you."

"Can I ask you a question now?"

"Oh yeah. Totally."

"Why did you ask me those questions specifically."

She giggles and rolls her eyes. "Let's just say that should give you a clue as to what yesterday's interviews were like."

I cringe. "That bad, huh?"

"Very much so. But lucky for you they were, because Kinsley thought of you when she heard they hadn't found someone yet."

Shaking my nervous hands at my sides, I confess to Carissa. "You know, I've never actually been a nanny."

She stops and looks at me and for a hot second I fear she's about to tell me to hit the road. She doesn't. Instead, she smiles and gives my upper arm a soft squeeze. "And that could very well be why you might be perfect for the job."

"What?"

"Trust me."

Carissa leads me down the stairs to one of the small meeting rooms where several of the guys are hanging out.

"Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet Ada Lewis."

"Miss Lewis." One of the men stands from his seat smiling at me politely. He shakes my hand as his eyes quickly give me a once-over.

Oh, okay, a twice-over.

And now he's staring into my eyes with a starstruck look on his face.

Hope he likes what he sees.

He hasn't stopped shaking my hand, but he also hasn't said anything besides my name. Of course, I know who he is because I spent hours studying him last night.

One of the other guys at the table behind him clears his throat, which seems to pull Mr. Miller from his trance.

"I'm Zeke Miller. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I smile back at him. "Likewise."

The first thing I notice is how soft and warm his hand is. It's not at all calloused like I would've expected for someone who wears gloves and holds a wooden stick all the time. Not that I've spent a great deal of time wondering about a professional hockey player's hands. Maybe they squirt moisturizer into their gloves for all I know. At any rate, yeah soft hands—er, hand. The rest of him isn't too shabby either.

What am I saying? Kinsley was right. The man is beautiful.

Light ginger colored hair that's neatly faded around the sides, the rest slightly longer and wavy.. Like it's all business on the sides but a party on top. It's a great look for him that makes him appear slightly younger than I know him to be. Not that thirty-two is old in my book. Not at all. His perfectly manscaped beard is slightly darker in shade and covers up his square jaw. I can still see the distinct line of his cheek bones though so the beard doesn't cover everything. Unsurprisingly, he has a crooked nose that has probably seen a few punches in his tenure. It gives him an Owen Wilson vibe. It's cute. His Red Tails t-shirt doesn't hide his broad shoulders nor his strong arms. I have to imagine he has tremendous thighs hiding under the workout shorts he's wearing. If nothing else, the thickness of his calves tells me he spends a lot of time in a squatted position. He's muscular and fit that's for sure.

Speaking of squats, I wonder what his ass looks like.

Not that I should be looking at my potential new boss's ass.

But if I take away the potential boss part, he's a pro hockey player with a potentially nice ass.

"Let me introduce you to some of the guys."

Rather than let him introduce me formally, I smile at each one individually and shake their hands. "Milo Landric, Dex Foster, and Colby Nelson."

"Wow, Zeke," Milo says with an impressed smile. "This lady must know her hockey."

"I guess this is where I should admit that I swear I'm not some crazed fan who spends her days and nights watching hockey and memorizing everything about you," I explain. "Sports runs in my family so I'd be lying if I said I didn't watch from time to time. And it is pretty cool to be meeting you all."

"Sports runs in the family huh?" Zeke smiles. "Did you play?"

"Me? No. But my brother plays baseball in the minor league. He's hoping to make it to the majors someday."

"No kidding? That's cool. Then you have a little bit of an idea what kind of schedule we have during the season."

"Oh yeah. I get it. You're busy and on the road a lot."

Zeke nods. "A lot."

"Hope you don't mind us sitting in," Colby says. "We promised Zeke we would help him find the world's best nanny for his kid."

Zeke leans over and murmurs, "Between you and me, Ada, I didn't get much of a choice in the matter."

"Right." I laugh. "Every parent needs a village, right? It's very admirable and I don't mind at all."

Zeke gestures for me to take the seat at the end of the table while the guys spread around on either side.

"So, first things first," Milo starts. "Do you sell panties or feet pictures or anything else on the interwebs that we should know about?"

My eyes slide to Carissa who is standing in the doorway. She laughs and gives me a wink. "Told you. Yesterday was an odd day. I'll see you later fellas."

I look back at the guys and shake my head confidently. "I promise you I do no such thing. My internet activity consists of baseball stats, hockey fights—that one with you and Jared McClacken a few seasons back was outstanding by the way—and the rest are puppy and kitty videos."

"Jared McClacken can eat a bag of dicks," Dex mutters under his breath much to the guys' amusement.

"Agreed."

"Can you tell us what you bring to the table in terms of this job, Ada?" Zeke asks me. "What qualifications you have?" He looks down at my resume. "I see you were an elementary school teacher?"

"I was when I lived in North Carolina, yes. My husband was in the military so he was gone a lot and I spent my days molding the minds of tiny humans."

"My wife and sister are both elementary school teachers," Dex adds. "It's a thankless job much of the time. You folks deserve a lot of praise."

"Thank you. Yeah, kids are fun. They're never the same from one day to the next. They're always learning new ways to express themselves, which can be fun, funny, or sometimes downright challenging, but in the end, meeting them where they are and letting them know you love them no matter what…that matters to them. I really enjoyed teaching."

"Why aren't you doing it now?" Milo asks.

"Uh…" My face heats and I swallow the knot in my throat. "My husband. He um, passed away unexpectedly while overseas."

Milo hangs his head. "Shit. I'm sorry, Ada. I didn't mean to sound—"

"No, no. It's okay. It's been three years. He would laugh at me if he thought I couldn't talk about it after all this time. Anyway, after he passed away I left the military base and moved back home for a while. I taught there, but I couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was staring at me like the poor lowly widow, you know?"

God, should I even be explaining all this?

Am I saying too much?

"SOOO I knew it was time to move away and get out on my own. I chose Chicago to be a little closer to my brother. He plays in Indianapolis so it's not that far. And I've always loved the city. Rich in culture. So much to do. I needed to get out of the stifling small town. I moved here mid-school year though so I subbed in a few districts until I got a part time job at the Paw Palace animal shelter."

Zeke passes me a friendly smile. "What's your favorite? Cats or dogs?"

I narrow my eyes playfully. "Oooh wow. I don't know if I can answer that. Man, I love a big floofy dog so much, but on the other hand, cats are so entertaining to watch when they play. And they're typically minimal maintenance. Dogs are a little harder to own when you live in the city. You don't have to walk a cat."

"Elsie, that's my daughter, she would tell you that cats reign supreme. I think if she had her way, she would gladly be a four-year-old version of a cat lady."

"Well, she clearly has good taste. You should take her to the shelter sometime. She'd make about fifty new best friends in a matter of minutes."

"Right." Zeke laughs. "Except then I would have to be the bad guy who says no when she asks if she can have them all."

"Hmm. You're right," I chuckle. "Maybe you could just appease her with six or seven."

His eyes brighten as his smile widens. "Yeah. Something like that."