Page 9 of Scoring Chances
“Don’t,” he puts a hand up. “It’s okay. I trip all the time.”
Somehow I doubt that, given that he’s super coordinated going at high speeds balanced on blades and chasing pucks for a living.
He pushes himself up and reaches down to help me up, too. His hand is so warm in mine. I almost forget to let it go. The moment is only broken by the sound of kids coming in through the front door.
“Shoes in the closet,” Julia instructs them.
Joshua and I pull away from each other just as little footsteps are bounding up the stairs.
“We’re home!” Another male voice calls from downstairs.
“And that’s the last of the peace and quiet,” Joshua mutters.
A little girl with brown hair and teal eyes stops at the top of the steps to assess us.
“Who’s that? One of your girlfriends?” she sneers, crossing her arms.
I look at Joshua, confused. Girlfriends? As in multiple ones?
“This is your new nanny, brat.”
“Stop calling me that!”
“I’ll stop calling you that when you stop acting like one. Cassidy, Maddie. Maddie, Cassidy.”
He motions to each of us when he says our names.
“Hi, Maddie,” I give her a small wave.
She steps up to me. And looks up.
“Oh,” I breathe out at her sudden approach.
“Are you going to kiss my brother too?”
“Uh… what?” I look at Joshua.
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “No, she’s not,” he answers for me.
And I feel conflicted about the way he so quickly answered that.
“No, I’m just here to watch you and your siblings,” I say.
She drops the hands from her hips and softens her stance. “Oh, good. Because every time he kisses a nanny, she leaves.”
“Oh my god, Maddie, please stop talking. That’s not… that’s not true,” he says, turning to me with pleading eyes.
I try to smile, but I can tell it doesn’t reach my eyes. I’ve heard the rumors of the Heatwave’s resident playboy. I’d hoped they weren’t all true. But it seems like everyone around him has done nothing but confirm the rumors.
A man makes it up the stairs with a toddler on his shoulders. “Hey! You must be the new nanny.”
I recognize the Heatwave team captain right away. Dark hair, tan skin, deep brown eyes that resonate warmth.
“Hi.” I give him a smile.
“This is Cassidy,” Joshua says.
Keelan sets the little boy down to join his sister. “Landry,” he says, like I don’t already know who he is. “That’s Parker.”