Small-Town Nanny Read Free Page B

chandelier, but it was Sam Hinton who commanded her attention. He stood watching her approach, wearing a sleeves-rolled-up white dress shirt and jeans, arms crossed, legs apart.
    Talk about a man and his castle. And those arms! Was he a bodybuilder in his spare time or what?
    â€œThanks for coming.” He extended one massive hand to her.
    She reached out and shook it, ignoring the slight breathlessness she felt. This was Sam, Daisy’s super-traditional businessman of a brother, not America’s next male model. “No problem. Daisy thought it would be a good idea.”
    â€œYes. She had me squeeze you in, but you should know that I’m interviewing several other candidates today.”
    â€œNo problem.” Was God going to let her off this easy?
    â€œIt seems like a lot of people are interested in the job, probably because I’m paying well for a summer position.” He ushered her in.
    â€œHow well?”
    He threw a figure over his shoulder as he led her into an oak-lined office in the front of the house, and Susan’s jaw dropped.
    Twice as much as she’d ever hoped to make waitressing. She could send Donny to camp and her mom to the spa. Maybe even pay for another graduate course.
    Okay, God—and Daisy—You were right. It’s the perfect job for me.
    He gestured her into the seat in front of his broad oak desk, and Susan felt a pang of nostalgia. Her dad had done the exact same thing when he wanted to talk to her about some infraction of his rules. Only his desk had just been an old door on a couple of sawhorses in the basement. How he would have loved a home office like this one.
    â€œI don’t know if you’ve met Mindy, but she has some...limitations.” His jaw jutted out as if he was daring her to make a comment.
    â€œIf you think of them that way.” The words were out before she could weigh the wisdom of saying them, and she shouldn’t have, but come on! The child was missing a hand, not a heart or a set of lungs.
    Sam’s eyebrows shot up. “I think I know my child better than you do. Have you even met Mindy?”
    Rats, rats, rats. Would she ever learn to shut her big mouth? “I teach at Mindy’s school, so I’ve been the recess and lunchroom monitor during her kindergarten year. I know about her hand. But of course, you know her better, you’re her father.”
    Sam was eyeing her with a level glare.
    â€œWe have a sign up at school that reads, ‘Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.’ I think it’s Richard Bach. I just meant...it’s an automatic response.” Stop talking, Susan. God might have a nice plan for her, but she was perfectly capable of ruining nice plans. She’d done it all her life. She fumbled in her portfolio. “Here’s my résumé.”
    He took it, glanced over it. Then looked more closely. “You’ve done coursework on physical disabilities? Graduate coursework?”
    â€œYeah. I’m working on my master’s in special ed. Bit by bit.”
    â€œWhy not go back full-time? At least summers? Why are you looking to work instead?”
    â€œQuite frankly, I have a mother and brother to help support.” Hello, Mr. Rich Guy, everyone’s not rolling in money like you are.
    â€œDoesn’t the district pay for your extra schooling?”
    â€œSix credits per year, which is two classes. I’ve used mine up.”
    He was studying her closely, as if she was a bug pinned on the wall. Or as if she was a woman he was interested in, but she was absolutely certain that couldn’t be. “I see.” He nodded. “Well, I’m not sure this would be the job for you anyway. I go out in the evenings pretty often.”
    â€œReally?” She opened her mouth to say more and then clamped it closed. Shut up, you want this job.
    â€œI know, being young and adventurous, you must go out a lot