Page 11 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“How about you meet me at my house after I pick Melody up from school. You can meet Melody, take a look at the casita, and we’ll go from there.”
“Great. Text me your address. And I’ll have time to get cleaned up.” She smiled up at me.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I think this is going to be a great fit, Archer.” She slid the seat belt across her body, and I nodded.
“I hope so. See you soon.”
As I climbed into my truck, I glanced in my rearview mirror, getting one more glimpse of her before she drove past me and waved.
She’d impressed the hell out of me.
She was more than qualified, and we both knew it.
But now there was a bigger issue I was concerned about.
How the hell would I survive having this gorgeous woman living in my house?
four
. . .
Winnie
When I pulledup to his house, I took a moment to take it in. It was stunning. The single-story ranch-style home sat on a corner lot, right on the river, with the perfect mix of water and mountain views.
The front yard was massive, with plush green grass and large trees. A paved walkway led to the front door of the house, which was a mix of stone and siding.
The air was cool when I stepped out of the car, but coming from Chicago, I was used to cold weather. And it was only fall, so I knew the winters here would get much colder than it was right now. I made my way to the front door, and just as my knuckles were about to knock against the dark wood door, it swung open.
“Hi, Winnie. I’m Melody,” the little girl said, and I couldn’t help but smile at the cutest little thing standing in front of me. Large dark eyes flanked with the longest black lashes, and two little brown buns on the top of her head, along with the sweetest smile on her face.
I bent down to get eye level with her. “Hi, Melody, it’s so nice to meet you.”
She threw herself into my arms. “I think we’re going to be besties for sure.”
I chuckled as a deep voice startled us both. “What did I tell you about opening the door when I’m not with you?”
I pushed to stand as Archer scooped her up.
“But it’s Winnie, Daddy. She’s my new nanny, and I can open the door for my best friend, right?”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Like I said. She loves big.”
“I can see that.”
“Come on in,” he said as I followed him through the gorgeous home.
It wasn’t what I’d expected. He was a single guy, so I figured it would be less—homey.
But this place looked like it could be straight out of an interior design magazine.
Wide-planked wood floors ran throughout the space, its walls a warm mix of taupe and gray. We stepped into the massive kitchen, and I gasped. I was a woman who enjoyed cooking, and this kitchen was an absolute chef’s dream. The cabinets were white oak with a large black island in the center, and white stone counters covered every surface. The appliances were top of the line, and it smelled heavenly in here. I turned slowly as I took in the wall of windows and French doors along the back of the house.
The river flowed in the distance, looking like an actual painting.
“Wow. The river view with the mountains in the back is breathtaking.”
