SWNOVELS Skate the Line: Chapter 11
His house is even more extravagant in the daylight. The neighborhood is very Chicago-like with tall homes and cars parked along the road, but the bustling of the city is far enough in the distance that it feels secluded.
I check my phone, ignoring the exclamation points from Ruby.
It’s 10:01.
I bite the inside of my cheek. It’s practically raw. I raise my fist to knock again.
Disappointment washes over me when there is no answer.
A car door slams, and I quickly spin around. I’m on edge, and I wish seeing Rhodes round the front of his truck would calm me, but it does the opposite.
God.
Even if I wanted to appear cool and relaxed and pretend I’m unbothered by his one-minute-late arrival, I wouldn’t be able to. His very presence demands attention, and I can’t look away. With an authoritative chip on his shoulder and edgy jaw, I’m drawn to him like a magnet.
The lock of his truck pulls me back to reality, and I pop up from resting along the ironclad porch railing that I unknowingly leaned against when he started to head my way.
I pull my shoulders back and act professional. “Good morning.”
Rhodes glances at me and nods. He is sporting those black sunglasses again, which makes it impossible to gauge his mood. He unlocks the door and heads inside. I follow after him but keep a far enough distance in case he stops abruptly.
Before I get too far, I bend down to untie my shoes.
I stand slowly, and a rush of heat brushes against my skin. My new boss is eyeing me very closely, and he’s now without his sunglasses. The longer he watches me slip my shoes off, the harder my heart beats.
Why does he make me flustered?
“You don’t have to take your shoes off,” he notes. “The place isn’t necessarily…clean.”
My nana’s face flashes through my mind. “Sorry. My nana taught me that it was rude to walk into someone’s home with shoes on.” I roll my lips and shrug. “It’s a habit.”
And I beg to differ. His house isn’t dirty. It’s just a little messy. There’s a difference.
Without saying anything else, I follow Rhodes down the hallway lined with various frames of what I assume to be family members on the walls. The last photo catches my attention, and I’m pretty sure it’s Ellie’s mother. I quickly peel my eyes away and sit in the chair that he’s pulled out for me in the middle of his kitchen.
My nana would die to have a kitchen like this.
A large island sits in the middle, separating the table and rest of the space, and although the glossy counters are layered with various things like cereal boxes, assorted colors of crayons, and coloring pages, it’s expansive, leaving plenty of room to knead dough or make homemade pasta.
Cooking is her passion, whereas creating is mine.
“Here is the contract.” Rhodes plops down in the seat across from me and slides a stapled packet of papers in my direction.
I read over it quickly, only glancing up at him every few seconds. It’s a dream job. The hours are great, and I can work on my paintings during my time off. The best part is where it’s listed that he prefers Ellie stay out of the limelight, meaning no on-camera outings and staying a distance away if he has an after-game interview.
It only takes me a few minutes to read over the rest of his stipulations and initial each one. When I flip to the second-to-last page, I choke on my spit.
A glass of water appears, and I gulp it down while rereading the salary.
“This is…” I peer at Rhodes, who remains standing beside me after placing the water in front of my face. “Too much…”
“What is?” He bounces his attention back and forth between me and the contract.
“The pay,” I blurt.
Rhodes flicks an eyebrow. “Well, considering the percentage that The Nanny Roster takes from your pay, I think it’s reasonable.”
I glance at the salary once more. My fingers tingle against the paper. This would easily pay for my nana’s nursing home fees—plus some.
Rhodes, who is still hovering over me like a looming shadow, is clearly waiting for me to say something.
“I don’t understand why you’ve had such a hard time keeping a nanny if this is what you’re offering them.”
Call me paranoid, but regardless of how attractive Rhodes is, I don’t understand how a nanny couldn’t abide by his rules and stay employed.
“They didn’t want the pay,” he says matter-of-factly.
I watch him stride back to his chair and wait until he sits down to question him further.
“You’re telling me that they wanted you more than they wanted this?” I point at the amount of money to drive my point further.
I’m baffled.
A deep, sarcastic chuckle flows into the open space. Rhodes leans across the table, and my spine stiffens.
What if Ruby had it backward? What if it isn’t the nannies who are seducing him and jumping into his bed uninvited but the other way around?
Rhodes’s finger slips underneath the piece of paper, and he flips it to the last page. “If that weren’t the case…” His voice is low and intimidating. “I wouldn’t have to add this into the contract, now would I?”
I quickly scan the black ink and exhale.
In addition to the above contract, the Nanny (Sunny Edwards) agrees to remain professional and will not act in an unlawful manner toward the Parent (Rhodes Volkova). The Nanny (Sunny Edwards) understands and accepts the termination of this contract if the Parent sees fit.
Heat sweeps up my neck. I read it again, and I swear the room gets smaller.
When I finally flick my gaze to Rhodes, he appears cool, calm, and collected. His arms are crossed over his chest, but his face remains smooth and even.
A swallow works down my throat. “Does this go both ways?” I ask timidly.
Something crosses his face that I can’t decipher. “I’m sorry, what?”
I glance away because it makes me more uneasy to look at him while explaining. “If you act in an unlawful manner toward me…” Embarrassment stains every free inch of my skin. “Do you accept my termination without a proper advanced notice?”
Heavy silence flows through the room like a wave. I finally gain the nerve to glance at Rhodes. His eyebrows are furrowed, and his lips are parted slightly. Our eyes snag, and I hate that I can’t read him.
“I…” He clears his throat. “Yes. It goes both ways.”
I inhale shallow breaths until my reservations lessen, and the familiar dark eyes fade from my memory. “Could you add that to the contract?” I ask quietly.
He nods, and I’m thankful he doesn’t question it.
I take the pen and quickly initial the rest of the contract before sliding it across the table and into his possession.
His large hand clasps my sealed fate.
“Now that the contract is signed, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
Oh my god, is this an interview?
“Okay.” I take a sip of my water because I suddenly feel parched.
“I saw that you took an Uber last night.”
I nod.
“I’ve hired a driver for you and Ellie. That way, she will always have a way to and from places when I am not able to take her. Are you okay with that?”
My nerves instantly lessen. “Yes, of course. I do have my license, but I was afraid my car wouldn’t make it here from Washington.”
Rhodes studies me. “Washington? That’s where you’re from?”
“Yes.”
He places his elbows on the table and seems more at ease. “Why are you in Chicago?”
I pause.
Lying seems wrong.
There’s a weird tug on my morals that begs for me to tell the truth. I don’t know if it’s my integrity or if it’s the way he’s looking at me from across the table that has me lingering between a lie and the truth.
The media has labeled Rhodes Volkova as stoic, intimidating, impassive, private, and one of the prickliest hockey players in the league. But there is something about him that appeals to me. Sitting across the table from him, I have my reservations, and it’s clear he has his own too. However, I feel like I know him, and I can’t even begin to describe that.
“You know what—” Rhodes knuckle raps against the table. He stands a moment later, and I’m suddenly reminded why the media calls him intimidating. “It’s none of my business.”
I agree. It isn’t his business.
But tell me why I felt the littlest push to tell him anyway?
His cologne engulfs me as he walks past. I follow after him like it’s some sort of spell.
“Can you start tomorrow?” he asks.
“I’ll be here at eight on the dot.” I walk past him, desperate to feel the cool windy-city air against my flushed cheeks.
“Marco will take you home.” Rhodes flicks his chin toward the sidewalk.
Marco?
I spin and spot an older gentleman standing beside a large SUV, wearing black pants, a black dress shirt, and tie. “Miss Edwards,” he greets me with a warm smile.
I turn to say goodbye to Rhodes, but the door is shut, and he’s nowhere to be found.
With a roll of my eyes, I put my back to my new boss’s disappearing act and descend down the steps toward Marco.
“Hi.” I smile. “You are welcome to call me Sunny.”
Marco grabs my hand gently and gives it a soft shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Sunny.”
He opens the back door, and I stare at it awkwardly.
“Can I sit up front with you?” I ask.
The older man looks to Rhodes’s home and then to me. He hesitates.
“No worries,” I say softly. “We wouldn’t want to make Mr. Grumpy angry.”
Marco’s eyes twinkle with amusement.
Once I’m inside and get over the nice leather seats and cleanliness of the vehicle, I smile to myself.
It’ll only be a matter of time before I make friends with Marco.
Rhodes, though?
That’s a different story.