Page 17 of Game Over
Drew grinned, showing off his irresistible dimples. “Think he’ll be your boyfriend again?”
Harper laughed, thinking this kid was way too old to be five. “We’re just friends now, sweetie.”
His lower lip jutted out. “If you were Uncle Drew’s girlfriend you’d probably live with us. That’d be really cool. My friend Tommy’s dad has a girlfriend and she lives with them.”
“Is that right?” Harper didn’t know how they’d gotten so far off course, but it was time to right this ship. “Well, let’s get you set up so you can draw those pictures.” She fished through the box until she found what she was looking for. “Ta da!” she said, feeling triumphant as she pulled out a zippered leather case with a sketch pad, pencils, and artist’s colored pencils.
She loved to draw in her spare time and almost any medium would do, but watercolor pencils were her favorite.
“Those don’t look like mine,” Drew said, when she un-did the pouch and set everything out on the desk.
“That’s okay, they’ll work just like yours, I promise.” Probably much better, but a little kid wouldn’t appreciate the difference. “If you need a sharpener there’s one in there, but just be careful not to unscrew the cap or all of the shavings will fall on the floor.”
“I promise,” he said, looking serious. “I wonder what I should draw.”
“How about your favorite animals at the zoo? Then when you’re finished I can take a picture with my phone and we’ll compare their likeness when we go for a visit.”
“That’s a good idea!”
She was quickly losing her heart to this kid… and his gorgeous uncle. But before she could stew about the ramifications of that she had to talk to her friend about the offer Deke made. “Okay, so you’ll be okay for a bit while I talk to Jude?”
“Sure.” He was already sketching what looked like a bird in the centre of the page. Probably a parrot. “I’m good.”
“You want a drink or a snack?”
“No thanks, I can wait for lunch.”
“Okay, just call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
Her heart squeezed every time she thought about how amazing it would be to have a little guy like this as her own. As a teacher it was a constant dull ache that wouldn’t go away, but it usually dissipated in the summer, when she was away from the classroom. Not this summer apparently.
“Hey,” Jude said when she finally made her way to the living room. “What gives?” She pointed down the hall, whispering, “You don’t come home last night, and now you announce you’re watching Deke’s nephew all summer? That happened kind of fast, no?”
Harper sank down on the armchair. She understood her friend’s concern. She and Deke had a lot of history and rushing into anything with him, professional or otherwise, could be a huge mistake. “It did, but you know I need a job.” She sighed. “And Deke needs a full-time nanny for Drew this summer. It seemed like a no-brainer. The kid is great, the pay and benefits—”
“What kind of benefits are we talking about, girl?” Jude teased, nudging Harper’s leg with her foot.
“Not like that.” She rolled her eyes. “Would you get your mind out of the gutter?”
Jude giggled. “I can’t help it. This is Deke we’re talking about. The man practically sweats sex.”
Harper couldn’t deny it. Everything about him made her want to get horizontal… not that vertical wouldn’t do in a pinch. “But this is a professional arrangement. We have rules.” She gave Jude her stern teacher face, one perfected after years of dissuading kids from eating glue. “No touching, for one.”
Jude threw her head back laughing. “You’re too cute. No touching. Like that’s gonna happen. I saw the way Deke was looking at you last night, like you were a double scoop of peanut butter chocolate and he wanted to lick you all over.” She stuck her tongue out, wiggling it, while making obscene noises.
“You’re sick.” Harper threw a pillow at her, trying to hide her smile. “And would you keep your voice down? There’s an innocent kid just down the hall. I don’t want to corrupt him this summer.”
“If he hasn’t already been corrupted by Deke than I doubt there’s much you could do to traumatize the kid.”
Harper smiled. “You should see them together. Omigod, adorable. One thing I know for sure, Deke loves that little boy.”
“Uh oh.” Jude sat up, wide-eyed. “I know that look. You’re falling for him again.”
“No, I’m not.” She threw in a snort of derision for effect. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s my boss…” Time to tell her is now or never. Buck up, buttercup. “And possibly my landlord.” She winced, waiting for the screeching.
“You’re what?”
