Love Lessons Read Free Page B

which meant she was stuck with this job unless another one worked out. She had an interview tomorrow, but she just couldn’t seem to getexcited about it as she had with the Fergusons. There was something about Jana and her situation that pulled at her. The wariness mixed with a touch of sadness made her yearn to help the child. She knew what it was like to lose someone special. At least being a waitress would pay the bills, and she could go to school the spring semester. But her student loans were mounting up. It would be years until she paid them off, and there were so many places she wanted to see.
    Taking a sip of her tea, she leaned back and closed her eyes, relishing the rest before she left the café.
    Someone cleared his throat. “Ms. Michaels?”
    Alexa’s eyes flew open to stare up into Ian Ferguson’s handsome face—the same face that had plagued a few nights’ dreams. For a brief moment, no words came to her mind.
    â€œAre you all right?”
    â€œWhat are you doing here, Mr. Ferguson?”
    He grinned. “I could say I stopped by for lunch.”
    â€œIt’s two-thirty. A little late for lunch. Besides, I’m off the clock now. You’ll have to get another waitress.”
    â€œI came to see you.”
    Her heart fluttered, but she squashed that fast. Had he reconsidered about giving her the job? No, it didn’t make any difference. There was a reason she didn’t get the job. She got the impression they would butt heads over what to do, and he was smart enough to have figured that out. Learning didn’t have to happen on a strict schedule, and she wasn’t going to change her philosophy because he thought it should. “Why, Mr. Ferguson?”
    He slipped into the booth across from her. “Ian, please. My daughter has already reminded me lately I’m old in her eyes. Mr. Ferguson only reinforces that.”
    â€œOld? What are you? Forty?”
    He grimaced. “Thirty-six.” He paused a moment, then leaned toward her. “Are you still interested in the job?”
    â€œWhy? What happened to the woman you hired?”
    â€œAccording to Jana she was Attila the Hun going through menopause. I didn’t even know my daughter knew what menopause was.”
    For a few seconds she suppressed the urge to chuckle, but his perplexed expression coaxed it from her. “You’d be surprised what young girls know today.”
    â€œI’m discovering that a lot lately. My little girl is starting to disappear. She’ll be eleven in a couple of months, and I’m not ready for her to grow up.”
    â€œBefore you know it, she’ll be a teenager.”
    â€œWhich really sends a chill through my body.”
    â€œDon’t let her know. A teen can smell fear and use it to her advantage. It wasn’t that long ago that I was one of those creatures.” She gave him a smile and a wink.
    â€œJust how old are you?”
    â€œDon’t you know that you’re not supposed to ask a woman that? Or for that matter, a job applicant,” she said in a teasing tone.
    He swallowed hard and averted his gaze for a moment, staring across the café as though trying to decide what to say next.
    â€œI’m twenty-three.”
    â€œYou’re right. It hasn’t been that long since you were a teen,” he said almost to himself.
    â€œLong enough. So what do you want?”
    â€œI’d like to try you out as Jana’s nanny/tutor.”
    Her hand around her cup of tea tightened. “I have a job interview tomorrow with a couple who have three boys. They’re friends of the people I worked for as a nanny.”
    â€œI understand.” Ian leaned back in the booth, but there was nothing relaxing about his ramrod posture.
    Alexa folded her arms on the table. “Let’s be honest with each other. I got the distinct impression you didn’t want me for the job. I think our approaches to life