Good thing I wore flats.

***

I couldn’t help but pick at my nails as I repeated the address over and over. The guy next to me on the subway turned and growled softly, his expression letting me know that silence was expected.

“Sorry,” I muttered and sat back, trying to picture the tall high rise buildings that littered the lots near Carrington Park. The interview would be interesting enough seeing that the man I was interviewing with had more money than God. Everyone who lived in that area did.

My phone buzzed and I pulled it from my purse that was tightly gripped under my arm. It was Hunter with a quick message that the salary for the job was two grand a week.

“Two thousand a week?” I yelled and glanced up as another grunt resounded close to me. “Sorry. I’m easily excitable.”

The older guy rolled his eyes and scoffed. “Clearly.”

Who would pay a nanny two thousand dollars a week? That was eight thousand a month. He had to be wrong. There was absolutely no way his figures were right. Maybe he meant two hundred a week. That was more reasonable. Sad, but reasonable.

The subway pulled into the station and I bounded up, checking my watch. I had plenty of time, and yet I couldn’t stand the thought of not being fifteen minutes early. First impressions were the only impressions. After that first greeting, the rest were nothing more than perfunctory interactions. People judged immediately and based their understanding of you on that one moment.

“Make this one good,” I mumbled to myself and pressed into the large crowd who tried to squeeze through the door as one. Someone tugged on my purse and I jerked my shoulder, making sure to keep it with me. It was probably a small child reaching for something to take hold of, but it shook me up a little nevertheless. After slipping out into the busy platform, I half jogged up the stairs as I peered around.

The large glass and steel building sat in front of me, the structure the tallest in the ritzy area of down town for sure. I walked toward the opening as a bellman glanced up from his phone and smiled.

“Evening, madam. Enjoying this beautiful night we’re having?”

“I am. Early springtime is always my favorite.” I smiled and moved into the building before making my way to the receptionist area. Some part of me had to wonder what the residents in such an extravagant complex did for a living. My first inclination was inheritance, but that couldn’t be the case. Most millionaires were self-made from all I had studied. It was one of the reasons I believed myself capable of rising above and making something out of my design talent.

“Evening, miss. How can I assist you?” A young guy in a perfectly pressed suit glanced up.

“I’m here for an interview with Jax Wilder.”

“Ah yes. He told us he would be having someone stop by.” The guy pointed just behind me and I turned as he continued with his instructions. “Just take the elevator to the forty-fifth floor and when you get off, you’ll see a door. Just knock there and Mr. Wilder should answer it.”

Only one door?

“Sounds good. Thank you.” I turned and walked to the elevator, not too concerned with the interview. I would get the job or I wouldn’t. Needing money as badly as I did, I’d resolved sometime during the day to follow Brian’s advice and find some form of employment. “Here goes nothing.”

I yelped as a small older man turned and greeted me. He must have been leaning against the inside of the elevator. “Hi, miss.”

“Hi. I’m going to the forty-fifth floor, please.”

“The penthouse. You got it.” He winked and pressed the button.

I pulled out my phone and texted Brian that I was headed for the interview and to send good thoughts my way. I turned the phone on silent about the time the door opened and nodded to the bellman who’d been chatting since I got into the steal box.

“Best of luck on your interview.” The man smiled and nodded toward the door. “Knock loud. I can hear the baby crying from out here.”

I chuckled and walked to the door, knocking loudly and leaning in as the sound of a small child who was coming unglued filled my senses. Hopefully it was an easy fix and the dad just didn’t have a clue what to do. If not, I wasn’t sure I could withstand hours with a crying child.

The door opened and my breath caught in my chest. The last thing I expected was the handsome man before me. My eyes moved to the screaming baby in his hands as my lips lifted into a tight smile.

“I’m Kendra Valentina. I’m here for the interview.”

He moved back and I walked in, turning to look up at him. He was a good head taller than me. His dark brown hair a mess and green eyes telling of adventures that most women would pay good money for. The regalia of his features, straight nose, high cheek bones and beautifully powerful jawline left me with no doubt of his need to find help that wasn’t after his wallet or his affection.

How many women’s hearts have you broken?

“I’m Jax. Come on in, Kendra. It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for coming on such short notice.”

“Of course.” I reached toward the small boy who was shattering the moment with his cries. “May I?”

“Heavens yes.” Jax handed me the baby and moved back as I cuddled him to my chest and began to bounce.

“Have you fed him?”

“Three times in the last hour.” The handsome devil shrugged and licked at his mouth. He was dangerous and would have to be avoided at all costs.

“Changed his diaper?”

“Yes. I’m going through a pack a day, which is fine, but usually the diapers aren’t wet. I just see no point in putting them back on him.” He ran his hand through his hair, leaving it messier than it was before. He was insanely adorable, but he seemed like the kind of man who was quite aware of his looks.

“Burped him?” I asked and walked to the large wall of windows that peered out on the city.

“Did what?” His voice filled with confusion.

I glanced over my shoulder. “Burped him. You have to burp a baby after every few ounces of milk.”

“No one told me that. How do you burp him? I can’t get him to stop crying, so surely he isn’t going to respond when I tell him to burp.”

I chuckled, unable to help myself. Picking up the cloth on the side of the chair nearest me, I tucked it over my shoulder and repositioned the sweet little guy. A few minutes of patting him on the back and he let out a string of burps. As if a miracle had fallen from the sky, his crying stopped and his little head lulled to the side as I pressed my lips to his forehead.

“Much better, right, little one?”

“Wow.” Jax moved to stand beside me. “Burping him... interesting.”

“What’s his name?”

“Tyson. His name is Tyson.” Sadness rolled across the handsome man’s features in front of me and I couldn’t help but wonder what the rest of his story was. A bachelor with a six-month-old baby and no one had taught him to burp the boy?

Tragic.

4 - Jax

Incredible. The baby wasn’t crying and for the first time in a long time, I genuinely wanted to hug him. It had been a long few weeks, trying to get over Alice’s death and figure out what was wrong with Tyson. I was almost at the edge of taking him to the doctor for an additional checkup. Something had to give.

And then you showed up.

I walked to the couch and plopped down with this newfound information. Burping him was the key. Who knew it?

All it took was a pretty girl with a great smile and fantastic rack to come in and tell me. I turned my attention back to her, half expecting her to be staring down at me. She wasn’t. She was whispering something soft and low to Tyson as she rocked him back and forth. I was almost jealous for her attention, which was surprisingly out of character for me.