7. Cj

CJ

Why was I so nervous? After wiping my sweaty hands down my jeans, I reached in and grabbed my stuff out of the backseat, then turned and faced the cute white house with the baby blue shutters. I wondered if the house came with that pop of color or if Kevin was partial to blue? That would be a point in my favor since I’d been told my eyes resembled the bluest blue of the sky on a perfect summer day.

Well, this was it. Taking a deep breath, I slowly started the trek up the driveway toward the front door. I hoped and prayed that Kevin hadnt changed his mind since I left yesterday. I knew he had no intention of hiring a live-in person to take care of Lexi, so there was a fifty-fifty chance hed tell me he changed his mind when he opened that door. Id been so nervous that would happen that I hadnt even called my best friend, Eddie, last night to tell him about the new job, and we told each other everything. I also hadnt gotten much sleep.

How much I wanted to be the manny for this family wasnt even about how badly I needed a job or how attracted I was to Kevin, but how much fun I had playing Lexi-ville with the little girl. She had a sharp little mind to go along with her adorable face, and I wanted the opportunity to help her grow and blossom.

Stopping halfway up the driveway, I scrubbed a hand over my face. Was this really a good idea? I mean, I was highly attracted to Kevin, and watching his daughter would make him my boss. As much as I wanted to be in his orbit, I had a feeling that he was the type of man—one full of honor and integrity— who wouldnt consider dating an employee.

Maybe it would be best if he didnt give me the job, after all. Kevin ticked all of my boxes, and I knew I wanted a chance for more with him. I had his phone number, so Id be able to reach out and ask him on a date later if I wasn’t his employee. Maybe once he figured out the childcare situation.

The thought of someone else taking care of the little girl depressed me, though. I really freaking wanted this job. I wanted the opportunity to know this little family better, to be part of their routine, and support Kevin. Be the person he could count and rely on. No, this was where I belonged. Once Kevin knew me —really trusted me—Id work out the dynamics of going from boss-employee to lovers. Maybe. Hopefully.

Shaking myself out, I raised my chin and stomped toward the house. I could do this. No man had intrigued me the way he had in such a long time. And the sex, dear Lord, that sex. Raising my hand. I knocked on the door. From inside, I heard a squeal and, “CJ, Daddy. Its CJ. Come on.”

Second later, Kevin opened the door with a wary expression on his handsome face, and I deflated. He was gearing up to tell me he didnt think this would work out. Forcing a smile the best I could and faking confidence I didnt feel, I said, “Good morning. Reporting for duty in Lexi-ville.”

The little girl clapped her hands. “Lexi-ville, Lexi-ville,” she chanted.

Kevin placed one palm on his childs head while rubbing the back of his neck with the other hand. He swallowed audibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. Damn, that was sexy.

With renewed determination, I held up my backpack. “Where should I put my stuff?”

Kevins gaze bored into my face, looking, searching, like he thought my head held the secret to the universe. Finally, he sighed and stepped back. “Come on in.”

Breathing out a sigh of relief, I followed him inside. After the interview, this was my biggest hurdle. It would be easy to care for Lexi and prove myself useful now that hed let me into his home. How long it would take for him to let me into his heart was another story, but I was here for the long haul.

“Why don’t I show you where to put your stuff?”

“Sounds good.” The sooner we made it through this part, the better odds I had that he’d let me stay.

He eyed my duffle bag, backpack, and rolling suitcase. “I expected you to have more stuff.”

“If I need anything else, I can grab it from my folks’ house on my day off. This should be fine, though.”

He stared at me like I was a foreign object, then huffed. “Yeah, okay.” He ran his hand through his hair, then held out a hand. “Let me take something for you.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, I insist.”

I stared into his beautiful green irises and saw his resolve. What a freakin’ gentleman. So swoony. “Thank you,” I said, handing over my duffle.

He averted his gaze and held out his other hand to Lexi. “Come on, Lex-Lex. We need to show CJ his room.”

“Okay, Daddy,” she yelled. “Come on, CJ.”

I followed them up the stairs, and Kevin pointed to a closed door on the left. “My room is in there.”

I nodded in acknowledgment as he turned right into the hall and pointed to another room on the left. It didn’t take the little girl shrieking, “Tat’s my room, CJ,” for me to know it was hers. The room was a flurry of pinks and reds, with the exception of the different colored truck decals on the walls.

“You really like trucks, huh?” I asked, looking down at the little girl.

She nodded, and I was completely charmed watching her curls bounce around her cherub face. “Tay ta best!” She threw her arms open like she was trying to encompass the whole world. Goodness, between her enthusiasm and not being able to make the th sound, she had to be the cutest toddler I’d ever met. Which was really saying something since I’d adored every child who’d ever been in my charge.

Kevin smiled fondly at his daughter, then pointed to the bathroom across the hall from her room. “You saw the half-bath downstairs yesterday, but you have a full bath here.” He scrunched up his face. “You’ll have to share with Lexi, so I’ll, uh, have to clean up her bath toys.”

Placing my hand on his arm gently, I said, “Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it. It’s what I’m here for.” He stared down at my hand, and I swear I felt him shiver.

“Straightening my daughter’s bathroom?” he finally asked.

Reluctantly, I dropped my hand. He sounded so confused, and I didn’t want to make this awkward. “No. Well, yes, in a way. I meant I’m here to make your life easier.”

He glanced past me down the hall, then nodded and blew out a breath. “Then I guess I need to show you your room.” We continued down the hall, and he pointed out another room on the left. “That’s my home office.”

It was the first room I’d seen in the house that wasn’t filled with toddler toys. In fact, it looked unused. “Do you actually work in there?”

Kevin smiled ruefully. “I do, but I keep everything put away in case little hands make their way in there when I’m showering or not paying attention for two-point-two seconds.” We exchanged knowing grins. Little ones moved fast when they were on a mission to touch something they knew not to. “Plus, working from home, I need everything as organized as possible.”

“That makes sense.”

He walked straight ahead into the last room and flipped on the light. I found myself in a floral paradise of peaches and cream. Everything from the comforter on the queen-sized to the lampshade to the pictures on the wall.

“Tis is Nana’s room,” Lexi said, running up and clamoring up onto the bed.

Kevin cleared his throat. “Yeah, sorry about all the…” He trailed off as we gazed around us. “So this is normally my mom’s room for when she’s in town during the summer and for the holidays. I know it’s a bit…”

“Feminine? Flowery? Peach?” I teased. “Don’t worry. All I need is a bed.”

He scrunched up his face. “Yeah, but you should be comfortable if you’re going to live here. Maybe we can?—”

Again, I placed my hand on his arm. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure it out as I settle in, okay?”

He inhaled sharply, staring down at my hand, then backed up. “Sure. Feel free to make the room your own.”

“Are you sure it’s okay if I stay in here?”

He turned his head quickly toward me. “Of course. Yes, my mom stays in here, but technically, it’s the guest room.” He frowned. “Not that I have any guests beside her, which is how she ended up decorating it, and we ended up with this.” He looked around like he was bewildered. “I don’t know how I didn’t realize it was so… Wow, it’s a lot, right?” he asked, relaxing a little and letting the first glimpse of the Kevin I’d met at Rafters shine through.

Snorting, I nodded in agreement. “It’s something.”

He rolled his eyes. “Well, the sheets are clean, at any rate. Mom always does the laundry and makes up the bed again before she leaves.”

Before he went into freakout mode about where I’d sleep the next time his mom came, I asked, “So, what’s on your agenda for today?”

“Actually, I need to go to the office, but I can take Lexi.”

I gestured over at the toddler bouncing on the bed on her knees. I suspected she’d been told not to jump on beds, so this was the compromise that she’d created in her own little mind. Clever girl. “That would be silly. You go to work, and I’ll keep Lexi home with me. It’ll be good for her to get used to me being her go-to. I was thinking maybe we’d start the day with Play-Doh.”

“Pay-Doh!” she yelled, sliding off the bed and running to my side. “Go work, Daddy. CJ and I want ta pay.”

“Oh.” He looked confused again. “Right, no. That actually makes sense.”

I smiled reassuringly. “If this is too much for you, you can always take her with you. I just thought it might kick this off to an easier start for all of us if you leave her with me right off the bat.”

He held up his hand. “No, no. You’re right.” His lips pulled into a strained semblance of a smile. “You’re the authority on this one, so I’ll let you guide me.”

My cock plumped as those words left his sweet mouth. The last time he’d let me lead him, I’d ended up with my dick in his hot, wet mouth, and we’d both had a very happy ending. By the way he cut his gaze to the right and the rosy tinge of his cheeks, his thoughts had strayed in the same direction. It was no surprise to me when he hustled for his room to get ready to leave.

Holy shit, this was going to be fun.