Read Hip Check (New York Blades) for Free Online Page B

such. If you want to make a list and call me with some items you need, I can make sure they’re here.”
    “Thank you.” Michelle glanced once more around the kitchen admiringly before looking back to Esa. “I think that’s it. Is there anything else you want to ask me?”
    Esa hesitated. “Yes. A favor.”
    Michelle was puzzled. “Okay.”
    “Would it be possible for you to unofficially start your job tonight? I have a date, and—”
    Michelle laughed curtly. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    “Why?”
    “I’m not here at your beck and call. I thought that was established. I have a life of my own, and I plan on keeping it that way.”
    Esa was taken aback. “I just thought—”
    “That since I agreed to be her nanny, you were free from all childcare responsibilities?”
    Esa was embarrassed. “I’m sorry.” But inside, he was irked.
    I’m allowed to have a life, too
, he thought.
That’s one of the reasons you’ve been hired
.
    “Apology accepted.”
    His miscalculation prompted a shift in Michelle’s behavior: she was now all business. “I’ll bring over a standard contract tomorrow for us to both go over and sign, if the terms are amenable to you. It’ll lay out the duties we spoke of earlier, and some fine details we need to work out.”
    Esa rubbed his eyes. “That’s fine.”
    “Anything else?”
    “Obviously I’ll cancel my date tonight,” Esa muttered. “Nell and I can stay in and watch a movie.”
    “See? How hard was that?”
    Harder than you know
, Esa thought.
The woman I was going to go out with is smokin’
.
    “What are you two doing the rest of the day?”
    “I don’t know.” The idea of the hours, stretched out before him, made Esa queasy. “It’s so hot outside . . . maybe I’ll rent a car and take her to the beach.”
    “That sounds great.” Michelle paused. “Does she have a bathing suit?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Michelle’s expression changed once again; this time she was looking at him with pity. If anyone else dared look at him like that, he’d kill them dead with viper sharp words within seconds. But in this case, the look was warranted: he
was
pitiful.
    “How about this,” Michelle said helpfully. “For today, take her to the movies. On Monday, she and I will go through her closet and we’ll figure out what she needs. Give me a budget and I’ll take her shopping.”
    Sweet relief. Esa had actually been worrying about whether he’d need to take Nell shopping for clothes. She seemed to have a lot, but what did he know? “That sounds like a good idea. Don’t worry about a budget. Just get her what she needs.” He paused. “And whatever she wants.”
    Michelle looked like she was going to say something, but she didn’t. An uncomfortable moment passed as she prepared to leave. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, then.”
    “Any idea what time?”
    “Is four okay?”
    “Four is fine,” he replied, walking her to the front door. “Thank you so much.”
    “You’re welcome.” Michelle smiled politely. “I’m looking forward to it.”
    “Me, too—I mean, I’m sure Nell is.”
    “I know what you meant.”
    Esa closed the door, experiencing an odd mixture of relief and apprehension. Clearly, Michelle Beck was competent, but she seemed to have an awful lot of demands and requirements. He should have taken care of business when he had the time. Because now, he had one more thing to worry about: suppose he’d picked the wrong nanny?

6

    Michelle couldn’t stop
thinking about Nell as she rode the Number Seven Subway out to her dad’s place in Woodside. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d told Esa she was looking forward to taking care of the smart, shy, slightly dubious little girl; she was. Michelle knew that it was going to take Nell some time to trust her. She felt there had already been a few moments when Nell was on the verge of letting her guard down. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. The minute Theresa told