cut off, Cass has threatened to have what’s left of the mop mowed into a Mohawk.”
Sabrina smiled and took a sip of her wine. “So who is Cassidy entrusting them to while she’s gone? That has to be the world’s hardest decision.”
“It is.” Collin spun his glass between his hands repeatedly. “I’m glad you feel the same way I do.”
“Excuse me?” Something about his fixation on his drink and the fidgeting had Sabrina drawing a conclusion that sent her stomach into doing new flip-flops. “Oh, my—not you!”
“That was flattering. Who else would you expect?”
Granted they were all the other had relative-wise, but there had to be other options. “Didn’t you once say during a phone call to some client that your idea of a perfect Sunday was sleeping until noon and having girlfriends wearing panties labeled Monday through Saturday?”
“I’m in advertising, Ms. Sinclair. I say things to make clients feel better about themselves, their product and their ideas. The better they feel, the more lucrative the account, which—might I remind you—made it possible to pay you handsomely until you quit.”
“We’re talking about your own flesh and blood.”
Collin continued to work his glass like a worry stone. “Some adjustments will have to be made, of course. In fact, considering your passionate opinions, you’ll undoubtedly approve of Cassidy’s recommendations.”
“I’m almost willing to bet my next paycheck that I will.”
Laughing mirthlessly, Collin replied, “It’s you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Cass demanded that I hire you to help me. To move in with us.”
If the wineglass had been between her fingers, Sabrina would have snapped it into orbit. “She didn’t.“
“She’s been a fan of yours from day one. Surely you sensed that?”
“She was nice to me and I appreciated that. You’d be surprised how many of your snooty callers aren’t capable of being civil to anyone they deem lesser than themselves.”
Frowning, Collin replied, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Frustration just made her all the hungrier and Sabrina beheaded the loaf of bread with one strong whack of the serrated knife. “Because I assumed by the way they acted that they were more valuable to you than I was. Tell Cassie thanks, but she’s wrong. I’m not cut out for the job.”
Clearing his throat, Collin continued. “She thinks of you as remarkably levelheaded and reliable. Hindsight being what it is, I can’t argue there.”
What had he objected to? That she was too sunny and glass-half-full for his cynical self? Considering the condition of the world these days, people like her were in short supply. But since he’d just performed a knight-in-shining-armor rescue, she bit back the impulse to tell him as much.
“Please thank Cassidy for me,” Sabrina said spreading butter onto her bread. “Tell her that she’ll be in my thoughts and prayers, but I couldn’t possibly accept.”
“You could, but you won’t.”
She leveled her gaze on him. “Can’t.” But seeing anxiety in his eyes, she immediately undermined herself by asking, “When does she leave?”
“Before Thanksgiving if not sooner. There’s some training courses she’s compelled to take. I don’t suppose you’d at least be willing to go shopping with me after we eat and help me pick out bunk beds and girly things like sheets and towels and whatever will make the second guest room seem less of the white space than it currently is?”
“Me? I can’t see that I’d be much help to you.”
“Remember the phone call I asked you to make when Addison felt jilted after her mother was unavoidably scheduled for an overnight flight and was late getting home? You had Addie convinced that there’d been an FAA computer glitch shutting down the entire southern part of the U.S. Not even Santa could have gotten through had it been Christmas Eve. Frankly, I should have put you into the company’s intern program then and there.”
“So why didn’t you? I was qualified. I have my degree.”
“Because…I don’t remember.”
“Liar.”
Collin reached for his glass, found it empty and sighed. “So I am. What if I promise to tell after Cass comes back?”
Sabrina took a sip of her wine, but decided she would leave it unfinished. If she was feeling halfway tempted by his offer, that was proof the drink was going straight to her head.
“What you just did for me back at Mrs. Finch’s,” she began, “that was kind and generous, but you can’t just crush a person’s dreams, then in the second you find yourself in a bind, expect me to forget the offense.”
“Nor should you. This would be a good time to talk salary.”
As he did, Sabrina grew increasingly conflicted. What he offered would not only guarantee that she could pay him back in a matter of weeks, but she could also save for a new place before his sister’s return. She doubted many nannies saw that kind of income unless they worked for one of Hollywood’s elite.
“What haven’t I said that would explain why I’m not getting some positive response from you?” Collin asked when she remained silent.
Their attentive waitress brought Collin another drink and Sabrina waited for her to leave before summoning the courage to speak the rest of her mind. “All right,” she began. “If I take this job, I’d like to know the truth about why I lost my position. Not later. Now.”
Collin slumped against the high-backed booth. “I see utter and complete failure in my future—and a likely trip to the E.R.”
“I’ve never committed bodily harm in my life.”
“Trust me, there’s a first time for everything.”
So it was worse than she thought? What could she possibly have done?
Looking everywhere but at her, he continued, “Okay. I want a promise that you won’t file legal action, or let what I say impair your decision.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“The girls really need you and, therefore, I promise to act the perfect gentleman throughout.”
“Maybe being a full decade younger than you makes you think that I lack the ability to meet your standards in maturity—”
“Okay, so I’m laughable in that vein and should have stopped while I was ahead.”
“But if I accept a job, professionalism is guaranteed,” she said, folding her hands primly before her.
Collin had been slowly shaking his head since she began speaking and didn’t stop when she did.
“What is your problem?” she snapped.
“The truth is…the only reason I did what I did was…I found you too tempting to be around.”
Sabrina couldn’t believe her ears. “You didn’t just say that?”
“Speaking that once in one’s lifetime should be sufficient punishment. Sort of like dousing charcoal with lighter fluid.”
“But you made my life hell and ruined any chance I had for advancement by shoving me into a cellar where you knew I would have to quit.”
“Guilty.”
Instead of calling him the few choice names that flashed neon bright in her mind, Sabrina grabbed her purse and began to wriggle out of the booth.
“Wait! You promised.”
“Oh,