Playing the Player(60)

He stepped forward and held out his hand. “Hi Trina, I’m Dad. But you can call me Mike. Want some coffee?”

I watched Trina blush as she shook his hand. For the hundredth time, I wondered how I’d never noticed her—actually noticed her—for so many years.

“Hi, um, Mike.” Her hand looked so small in his. Fairy hands, complete with chipped purple nails. “Nice to meet you. And, yes I’d love some coffee. It smells awesome.”

Dad’s smile widened. “Fair Trade. Arabica. Shade grown. I know a roaster across town who gets me the best beans.” He poured her a cup and held it out. “Cream? Sugar?”

I knew it was a test.

“No thanks.” She took the cup. “I’ve had your coffee before. It’s so good I’ll take it black.”

Dad raised an eyebrow at me. “She’s a keeper,” he said.

I didn’t have to look at Trina to know she was blushing. I glared at Dad, whose eyes glinted with laughter behind his glasses. He leaned against the counter and studied me like a lab specimen.

“You’re kind of a mess. I didn’t think you were nannying today, but you look like the kids put you through hell and back.”

I grabbed a cup and poured my own coffee. I dumped in a heaping spoon of sugar just to piss him off.

“I was moving furniture. At a shelter. Trina asked me for help.” I glanced at him in time to see shock quickly replaced by speculation.

“Shelter? Which one?” He flicked his eyes to Trina, then back to me.

“Redemption Family Shelter,” Trina answered. “I’ve volunteered there for a while. We needed to move some beds down from the attic for a new family, so I called Slade. He and Alex were awesome helpers.”

She sucked down more coffee, smiled at Dad, then stared at her toes. Also painted purple. They matched her fingernails. Huh. Was that a thing girls did?

“Awesome helpers, eh? I’m so…pleased to hear that.” He studied her carefully then turned his speculative gaze to me.

I hoped she wasn’t freaking out, because he was totally psychoanalyzing the situation. I shot him a warning glare, which he ignored.

“Slade! I thought I heard you. You’re just in time to—” Mom stopped short, staring at Trina like she was an alien. “Well, hello there!” She put her hand on her throat, gawking at us like we were celebrities. She was practically giddy. Probably because there was an actual girl in the house. Between her and dad, our date was doomed before it even started.

And they wondered why I never brought girls home.

“Karen, this is Trina,” Dad said. “Slade’s nanny partner. And conscience prodder.”

Mom kept her eyes on Trina, who stared at the floor. “His what?” Mom asked. Trina’s face was so red I hoped she didn’t burst into flames.

I was never bringing a girl home again. Ever. “Dial it down, docs,” I snapped. “Trina, if you want to ditch my parents and go hang out by the pool while I shower—”

“Oh, what a wonderful idea,” Mom chirped. “Follow me, Trina. I was just about to head out there. I’ve had a long day.”

Trina followed my mom, still staring at her feet, Mom chattering one hundred miles per hour. “It is so nice to meet you, Trina! For the first time!”

What the hell was wrong with my mom tonight?

Before I could escape the kitchen, Dad speared me with a look. “To what do we owe the honor of meeting your girlfr—”

“Not my girlfriend,” I interrupted. “Nanny partner, remember? She’s taking me out to dinner to thank me for helping at the shelter today.”

Dad’s jaw tightened. “You’re making her take you out? You couldn’t just help without expecting something in return?”

“I’m not making her. At all. She wanted to.” I dumped my priceless coffee down the drain, knowing it made him crazy. No way was I telling him that the dinner was an excuse for me to spend time with her. And that I was planning to pay.

Why had I listened to Alex about showering? Better to have stunk up the restaurant than to have subjected Trina and me to the parental inquisition.

“Just leave her alone, okay? You guys are freaking her out.” I dashed out of the room and pounded up the stairs to my bathroom.

I leaned my head against the shower tiles, letting the water beat down my back. I tried not to imagine the embarrassing questions my mom could throw at Trina.

So do you think Slade will ever get his act together? He’s really very smart, you know. It’s so exciting that he brought you home! Are you two dating? Is he behaving himself?

I was losing it. This girl had me spinning in ten directions at once, and I didn’t know what the hell to do about it. I shut off the water and toweled dry. I had to rescue Trina, if she was even still here.