Make Me Yours(14)

“Hi!” She smiles nervously. “I… um… wasn’t sure where to park. My car is down there.”

She points to the right, along the circle drive, and I step out on the flagstone landing to see a lime green Subaru almost at the street behind Eleanor’s Crown Victoria.

“That’s fine.” I nod, stepping back and holding the door for her to enter. “You can park in the garage next time. I’ll make sure we have a remote for you.”

“It’s the little things.” As she passes me, I catch the faint scent of roses again. I wonder if it’s her hair or her perfume.

A navy backpack is on her shoulder, and she’s rolling a white suitcase with a pink kitten outline on it. Everything she does turns me on.

“Can I help you with your bags?”

“It’s okay, I’ve got them.” She looks up, all around the entrance. “Your home is beautiful.”

I close the door, leaning my back against it as I study her. She’s dressed in black leggings and a white tank top with a long-sleeved chambray shirt unbuttoned over it, and she looks perfect. Her hair is up in a high ponytail, and the ends fall just past her shoulder. She turns in the entrance to face me, and for a moment I don’t know what to say.

The long, white envelope is in her hand. “I guess you’ll be wanting this.” She holds it out to me, and I step forward to take it. “I signed everything.”

“I added the bit about the one-month trial period. To be sure you’re happy here.”

“Right.” She nods slowly, her eyes staying on mine. “It looked like you covered everything we discussed.”

“I tried to be thorough.”

It’s like a low current hums between us, silent but powerful. As much as I try to dismiss Eleanor’s lecture, keeping my hands off this girl might not be as easy as I anticipated. I feel like I’m waking up from a long sleep…

What? No. Of course, I’ll keep my hands off Ruby. I’m not some creepy 1950s-era sexually harassing male employer. This is a business arrangement. A mutually beneficial business arrangement. She is here to help care for my daughter. That is all.

“Is something wrong?” Her soft voice is higher, and I realize I’m frowning.

“Oh, sorry, No. I was just thinking about…” I can’t tell her what I was just thinking about. What’s wrong with me? “Have you had dinner?” Her expression is slightly startled, and I hasten to add. “We’ve all eaten, but you’re welcome to help yourself if you’re hungry.”

“Oh,” she exhales and smiles, seeming relieved. “I already had something. Thanks.”

It feels so stiff and formal. I’m not sure what to do to ease the tension. “Eleanor has gone to bed.” After sulking around the house all evening, I don’t add. “Lillie is still awake. She wanted to show you her room… And yours.”

“Okay!” Ruby seems as eager as me to do something, anything to get out of this foyer, where we’re awkwardly trying to pretend like we’re not checking each other out.

I lead the way through the open living room, with the large kitchen and dining area to the right and Lillie’s playroom on the opposite end to the left. My daughter is still happily chattering away with her dolls.

“Travis,” Lillie speaks with an exaggerated southern accent, shaking a doll in a pink dress at a sitting Ken. “When a woman says lay-tah, what she really means is not EVAH!”

What is she saying? I start to make some sort of apology, when Ruby laughs. “The Princess and the Frog!”

She drops her backpack at my feet and leaves her suitcase, going to where Lillie sits on the floor and kneeling beside her.

“Ruby!” My daughter jumps up and hugs her, holding out a doll in a green dress. “You want to be Tiana?”

“Sure!” Ruby takes the green doll and shakes her at the pink one Lillie’s holding. “Lottie, don’t eat all the beignets.”

“Give me napkins!” My daughter grabs five tissues out of the box on the floor and shoves them under her doll’s arms. “I’m sweatin’ like a sinner in church!” I cough a laugh, and she keeps going. “My prince is never going to come!”

“Lottie, wait!” Ruby calls after my daughter, who runs to the small daybed. “Calm down and take a deep breath.”

“I just have to wish harder!” Lillie looks up at the ceiling. “Please please please please…”

Ruby goes to where my daughter is chanting, and they continue this scene. I’m stuck at the door, watching as they bond over some crazy movie scene I don’t know.

Satisfaction filters warm through my stomach. This is good… better than good.

I watch as she smooths a silky, sand-colored curl off Lillie’s shoulder. “Wishing is fun, but you have to work hard to get what you want.”

Lillie puts the doll down and turns to her, and I don’t think they’re playing anymore. “Did you have to work hard to get what you wanted?”

Ruby smiles. “I’ve worked hard, but I’m not finished yet. I still have things I want.”

Interesting.

“I like your hair.” Lillie crawls around the bed to thread her fingers in Ruby’s long ponytail. “You’re like Mulan.”