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hardly knew did cross her mind. She climbed up onto the giant swirly brass bed. “What’s on your mind?”
    “You. How about a job?” He set the spoon down. “Since I don’t seem to be able to keep my kids away from you, how about watching them full time?”
    “Like a nanny?” She was a singer, not a nanny. But the kids kind of needed her. It felt nice to be needed. God knew she could use the money.
    “You can choose whatever title you’d like, but I need a live-in. Someone the kids and I can count on. You don’t have to cook.” He pointed to the bowl. “But it would be okay if you did sometimes…you know if you wanted because this is amazing.”
    “CoCo told me y’all eat out all of the time.” A job and a free place to live. Maybe she could still sing a couple of nights a week. It wasn’t a bad idea. She would make it work.
    “I don’t know what your situation is, but I’d love it if you could move right in and start now. I’ll pay you fifty dollars an hour, up to forty hours a week, and then sixty for overtime. The position comes with a family car, full medical, dental, and vision and an expense account to take the kids on outings.”
    The saddest part was she could move in right this minute. Her clothes were in her trunk. She wasn’t about to tell him that. Poverty sucked, and it was embarrassing.
    “Outings? Are you suddenly British?” The kids needed her. She’d have a roof over her head, and she could sing when she wanted to, not because she needed the money. She’d make enough in a week to pay almost two months of Uncle Vernon’s rent. But she wasn’t a sellout, and Chord’s way of parenting didn’t work. “I’ll consider it, but I have a couple of things I want. First, when it comes to discipline we discuss everything. Kids need boundaries and right now, yours don’t have any.”
    He opened his mouth to protest.
    “I’m not trying to piss you off, I’m just telling it like it is.”
    “I don’t believe in spanking. Hitting children sends the wrong message.” He met her eyes. “I’m firm on this.”
    “I don’t believe in spanking either, and I think, your kids are too old for that anyway. All I ask is that we discuss punishment when rules are broken. Kids need rules and there needs to be consequences for not following them. We can discuss those consequences as we go, but I want your word that you won’t brush things under the carpet like you did with CoCo when she snuck out.” She was firm on this.
    “And the other demand?” He cocked an eyebrow expecting her to ask for the world.
    She scanned the room, taking it all in. “My second demand is that you redo this terrible room. I don’t plan on spending much time in here, but when I do, I can’t stand all this pink.”
    “Done.” He nodded and held out his hand.
    “Deal.” She took it, shook, and let go. Working here and mostly on her terms…life was good.
    “Eat up.” She settled back against the pillows. “Mind if I teach CoCo some self-defense techniques? She could have used them last week.”
    “Be my guest.” He chewed on the inside of his cheek, and then sighed. “How bad was it?”
    “The asshole didn’t get very far with her. I stepped in and kneed him in the nuts. I’m pretty sure he walked funny for a few days.” Grace couldn’t help the pride in her voice. Taking someone down to save an innocent girl was good karma.
    He threw up a fist for her to bump. “Thanks. I seem to be saying that a lot lately.”
    She gave him a pound. “No worries.”
    “It’s funny. Last week I damn near threw you out, and now you’re moving in.” His eyes narrowed. “It was pretty windy last Thursday. You don’t happen to have an umbrella with a parrot on the handle?”
    “Nope, I do have one that’s red with cows all over it.” Grace smiled. “Are you implying that I’m Mary Poppins?”
    “You did kind of blow into my life.” He spooned in more soup.
    “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m just plain