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9

Natalie

N atalie straightened her shirt as she got out of the car before she pulled her coat tightly around her. She would never get used to how cold it was. Whose brilliant idea was it to move to New York in Winter? She quickly walked into the Magic Center.

“How can I help you?” asked the receptionist.

“I’m here to see Hillary.”

“One moment please,” said the woman with a professional smile.

Natalie took in the place. It was nice. She walked over to the big team picture and looked at them. While she wasn’t sure what she was qualified to do here, it certainly would be nice to work around all these handsome men. One of the players with blonde hair and a million-dollar smile kept drawing her eye.

“Natalie?”

She turned to see a woman who looked just like Sydney but slightly shorter and rounder approaching her. “Hi, it’s nice to see you again.” She reached her hand out.

“It’s been too long. Thank you for meeting with me.” She took her hand in a firm handshake.

“Let’s head into my office,” she said as she turned and guided Natalie down the hall. “It’s quiet here today because the players are just about to head out of town. They were in for morning skate, but they are mostly home, resting up for the game. Game days are usually quiet around here except for some of the offices.”

Natalie just nodded and took in her surroundings as they walked to Hillary’s office. The walls were decorated with splashes of teal and purple. A huge mural of Glendale and Mr. Wizard, the team’s mascot, adorned one side of the wall and offices on the other.

“I’m right here,” Hillary said, guiding her into the office. “Have a seat.”

Natalie sat across from Hillary. Nerves filled her as she took in the nice office. This did feel like a job interview, though, so she was being as professional as possible.

“So, first off, how have you been? I don’t think I’ve seen you for a while.”

She took a deep breath. How have I been? “I’ve been good. How about yourself?”

“Good,” she said as her phone buzzed on her desk. She ignored it. “So, I thought you were a teacher?”

Natalie nodded slowly. “Yeah, I was.”

The phone buzzed again on Hillary’s desk. “I’m sorry about that.”

“I think I’m just looking for a little something different.”

“Okay, so I’m not sure what Sydney told you, but I’m head of PR for the organization. Sadly, I’m pretty sure Sasha just filled an open position on our own team a few weeks ago, but I think there are some openings elsewhere. Let me look. It looks like there is a hospitality position that would be helping to keep the players’ lounge, going and washing towels, stuff like that.”

Natalie nodded.

That might not be terrible. She might be able to meet some of those handsome hockey players she saw in the photo in the lobby.

Hillary’s phone buzzed on her desk again.

“I’m sorry. I think I’m going to take this.” She picked up and stepped out into the hallway.

After a few minutes, Hillary came back in, looking frazzled. “I’m so sorry about that. Let me ask you something. You taught kindergarten, right?”

“Yes, I did. I taught for two and half years.”

“So, you like kids?”

Natalie chuckled. “Yes, I do.”

“How do you feel about babies?”

“I feel like they are precious little nuggets, and I want to pinch their cheeks. Why?”

Hillary laughed. “I think there might be a nanny position open for one of the players. How would you feel about that?”

“Ummm... that would actually be perfect!” Natalie said with a wide smile.

“Okay, Sven Olsson has a baby,” said Hillary.

Natalie took note of the way she said it, like she was trying to get her head around the idea and convey information at the same time. There seemed to be a bit more to the story here.

“Okay, how old is the baby?”

“I’m not actually sure.”

Her brain still seemed a little fuzzy.

Natalie just gave her a minute to gather her thoughts.

“Okay, Sven is a good guy. So, you should be good there. I’ll give you his address and phone number. I’ll tell him you’re coming over. Actually... just give me one minute,” she said as she texted someone on the phone.

“Okay... That was Sven. I told him you were interested in the job. If you’re available now, he’s home with the baby, and he can interview you there.”

“Oh, yeah, that sounds good.”

“What’s your number? I’ll text you the address.”

***

Before she knew it, she was sitting in her car outside of a big, nice house. She hadn’t been a nanny since college, but it seems like a good gig to get back on her feet with. She wondered what Sven and his wife would be like. Come to think of it, why wasn’t he on the road with the team? But what did she know about hockey anyway?

Natalie got out of her car and pulled her coat around her, unsure if she would ever get used to the cold. She made her way to the front door of this beautiful old house, rang the doorbell, and listened to the chimes ring inside. After a long moment, the most handsome man she had ever seen answered the door. When her mouth dropped open, she just stared at him. She couldn’t seem to help herself.

“Hi, are you Natalie? Hillary told me you were coming.”

“Oh,” she said, shaking her head. “Yes, sir. That’s me. She extended her hand for a handshake.

She was tempted to drop the hand as soon as she picked it up because of the way it lit up her entire body. Damn. Could she even work for someone as handsome as Sven? Once she met his wife, she bet all of this would be put in place.

“Come on in.” He held the door open for her before taking her coat and hanging it up on the coat rack next to the door.

This house was incredible. It was old, probably built over a hundred years ago. Although the more she took in, the more she saw a lack of family. It was beautifully decorated but not what she would consider baby safe.

She followed him into a large living room off the kitchen that was incredibly modern but still fit in with his beautiful older home.

“You have a beautiful home, Mr. Olsson.”

“Thank you. I bought it when I signed my last contract. It took a lot of renovations to get the kitchens and bathrooms upgraded, but I’m happy with it.” He guided her into a living room off the bright kitchen with beautiful marble counters and top of the line appliances.

It was beautifully open for such an old house.

“Please have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chair.

“Thank you,” she said as she watched him sit down across from her.

She wasn’t drooling, was she? She should probably check. He was distractingly handsome. He wasn’t sure she’d ever been around someone this good looking in her entire life.

“Will your wife be joining us?”

He shook his head and gave her a strange look she didn’t quite know how to read. “Did Hillary tell you anything about the situation?”

Natalie shook her head. “No, sir. She just told me y’all were in need of a nanny.”

“Y’all.” Sven smiled. “Where are you from?”

“Gave it away, did I? I’m from Alabama. I just moved here recently with an old college friend. My accent can sneak out sometimes when I’m a little nervous.”

If Natalie wasn’t mistaken, it would seem he was a little nervous himself.

“Please don’t be nervous. I’m easy to get along with, I promise,” he said with a nod. He ran his hand through his soft blonde waves and blew out a breath. “Well, I’ll fill you in a little on what’s been going on, but can you promise to have an open mind?”

She cocked her head. Well, that was worrisome . “My mind is wide open, sir.”

“For starters, you can stop with the sir stuff. Just call me Sven.”

“Yes, si—Sven. It may take me a while. It’s kind of ingrained in you in the south,” she said with her easy charm.

“So... you asked about my wife. I don’t have a wife. Right now, it’s just me and Winnie.” He broke his eye contact, and a look passed over his face she couldn’t quite read.

There was more to this situation.

She was sure of that; she just wasn’t sure what was going on.

“I’m looking for someone to watch her while I’m at work when I’m in town. But since it is just Winnie and I, and I go on so many road trips, I would need someone to watch her full time. I have a pool house you could stay in, but if you’re living with someone you, maybe you could just stay in a guest room while I’m on the road...”

When his eyes finally met hers, she could tell there was something else he wasn’t saying. He was a single dad. A hot, single dad. This situation kept getting more and more interesting.

“When are you looking for someone to start?” Natalie asked, clinging to her professionalism.

“Oh,” he said like he hadn’t even thought of it. “As soon as possible. I got time off for the current road trip, so I’m home for four days, but after that, I have to get back.”

She nodded. “Can I ask what you were doing for childcare before?”

“Well... this is that part I needed you to have an open mind for.”

She nodded and waited for him to continue.

“I just found out Winnie was mine a couple weeks ago. Her and her mother showed up on my doorstep, needing help. That was when I found out I had a child. They both stayed with me for a while, but her mother... Ummm ... had to leave for a trip,” he said as he broke eye contact. “I’m thirsty. Are you thirsty? Can I get you something to drink?” He got up and went to the fridge.

“No, thank you,” she said politely, taking notes of his obvious nerves.

He made his way back to the living room and sat in his chair. “Right now, it’s just Winnie and me.”

Natalie nodded. “I understand. How old is Winnie?”

His brow wrinkled like he was trying to figure something out.

“I would guess about seven months.”

She would just keep moving. While the fact that he didn’t know how old his baby was and that there was some drama with the baby mama, it seemed she could ignore those red flags. He seemed nice enough.

“When I was in college, I nannied for a family with a six-month-old, a four-year-old and a seven-year-old. So, I do have some experience there.”

“That’s wonderful!” he said as his face lit up. “So, you have experience with this age.”

“I do. Are you looking for a live-in nanny? I know you mentioned a pool house.”

“I would love a live-in nanny. My schedule is all over the place during the season. It would be nice to have someone I trust to take care of Winnie.”

Natalie nodded again. “When will her mother be back?”

His brow crinkled again as he shifted in his chair, and a cry sounded from the monitor next to him.

“I’ll be right back,” he said as he stood and left the room.

“Hey, sweet girl,” he said over the monitor. “Let’s get you changed.”

She took note of how the baby instantly cooed. “We have a new friend downstairs. I think you’ll like her.”

While the red flags of this situation were everywhere, there was something about Sven that called to her. This was messy. She might not have all the details, but she didn’t care. Not to mention the fake red flag on her past.

“You, sweet girl, stink.”

Natalie laughed.

“Wow. That is a big stink for such a little girl,” he said. The little tinkle of laughter warmed her heart. “You think it’s funny, don’t you?”

Okay, they were precious. While she might not have known everything she needed to, she knew that much. And she did need a job... and he needed a nanny.

In a few moments, Sven came back into the room, carrying in a beautiful, dark-haired little girl with big sparkling blue eyes.

“This is Winnie. Winnie, say hi to Natalie,” he said, admiring at the baby.

Natalie smiled at her and waved. The little girl smiled back at her and wrapped her tiny fist around Sven’s finger. He walked over and pulled the little bin of toys over and spread out a little blanket before putting her down. She expected him to come back over to the chair so they could continue the interview, but instead, he sat on the floor next to Winnie.

Now that was a green flag.

She got up from the couch and joined them on the floor. Sven peered at her with a genuine smile, and she felt something she should not have been feeling for a potential boss.

“Hi, Winnie,” Natalie said to the little girl.

“She’s beautiful. She looks a lot like you,” she said before realizing what she had said, but it was true.

“She is. She has a pretty even temper as well, which is good. She’s been through a lot.”

His eyes flew to Natalie like he hadn’t intended to say that—another red flag, but as Natalie observed him with her, that was the biggest green flag. He was calm and attentive to Winnie. He asked Natalie a couple more questions about her experience while they sat on the floor. Winnie gravitated towards him. He seemed like a natural father.

“So, what do you think? Do you have any questions?”

“I don’t think so.”

She had so many questions... but none seemed appropriate to ask.

Winnie reached for a toy Natalie was holding.

Natalie smiled and handed it to her. “Is she crawling yet?”

They both watched as Winnie rolled over and reached for a toy.

“Kind of... She does a little scoot thing,” Sven said as he pushed a toy just out of her reach, encouraging her to move for it.

Using her feet, she pushed her body forward towards the toy.

“Such a big girl you are,” Natalie praised.

Sven was watching her with an expression Natalie didn’t quite know how to read.

They hung out for a while, playing with Winnie. She could feel his eyes on her, making sure she’d be a good nanny. That was why he kept watching her. She found herself needing reminders of that.

“What do you say? Are you interested? I promise to pay well.”

“Okay, well, I’m interested. When would you need me to start?”

“The boys will be back from the road trip Monday, so I’ll need someone then.”

“That works out. What time?”

“I usually leave around nine, so why don’t you plan on being here at eight so I can show you around and all that stuff?”

“That works out.”

They said goodbye, and she couldn’t help feeling like she had just been struck by lightning in the best way possible.