Page 9 of Whiskey and Regret

“I know I need to do better.”

“Then fuckingdobetter, Xari.”

“Okay, give me the address to your office. I’ll do the interview if you’re sure you can get me in.”

“I’m going to do my best. I’ll call you back in ten minutes. In the meantime, get dressed. Wear something business casual.”

“Okay,” I said with a nod.

As much as I hated it, Navy was right. I couldn’t live off her, Mom, and Dad forever. I had no idea when or if I’d hear back from the philharmonic, so I needed to get my shit together.

The movers only left me with a handful of clothing and shoe choices so I picked the best business casual dress I could, given the circumstances. I brushed my fluffy natural curls into a sleek bun and put on a pair of small diamond stud earrings.

I looked like the sexiest Mary Poppins in history. All I needed were glasses perched at the end of my nose to finish the look.

I smiled when I saw Navy’s number flash across my screen. I answered it in a rush. “Hey, am I in?” I quizzed. Something jittery bounced around in my stomach with hopes that she would say yes. I’d never actually wanted a job before. I was always been content being a student and soaking up all there was to learn. Both academically and in the world. Now, I was anxious to go to an interview for a job that I didn’t even want. What was wrong with me?

“Yeah. You’re going to be the last one though. There’s one lady before you so you have to get down here as fast as humanly possible, Xari. I’m not telling you to speed but…speed.” She ended the conversation then my phone buzzed with the address to her office.

I was so going to speed.

…

FOUR

“Are you doing this on purpose, Frankie?” I scowled at my daughter over the folder that contained the resume of the last nanny applicant. She’d turned away every nanny that came through the door. Some of them had shining recommendations from past politicians, celebrities, and even a few teachers and ex-professors. Frankie hated them all.

“They’re super old and they’re all drooling over you which is pretty cringeworthy. Like…the cringiest.” She brought her shoulders around her ears and shuddered.

“Well, am I that bad?” I asked, straightening the Windsor knot in my tie. When I smiled, Frankie rolled her eyes.

“You’re the worst. Anyway, are we done? I want to see if I can bug Apollo to go on a snack run with me.”

“No,” Apollo’s voice sounded from outside the door.

“Please,” Frankie begged. Apollo met her whining with silence. I couldn’t blame him one bit.

“Senator Freeman, you have one last applicant.” Navy Lucas poked her head in the door. Apollo’s gaze flicked to her quickly before he focused on the blank point in front of him. She was the only thing that made him turn his head when he was on duty. I understood why. Navy was a pretty girl. I was sure she turned heads wherever she went.

“Hey, Frankie!” A bright-eyed, young woman with a wide smile and a perfectly tailored dress, smiled at Frankie and wiggled her fingers in a wave. I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.Shewas the last applicant? She looked like a baby herself.

Well…not exactly a baby. Not the way her tight slender curves filled out that dress.

I was a sucker for a well-dressed woman who knew how to pull herself together down to the shoes. My eyes dropped to the absolutely-not-a-baby applicant’s shoes and I lifted an appreciative brow. I wasn’t deep into women’s fashion but I knew luxury and she was dripping with it.

“I’m Xari Lucas, nice to meet you.” Xari extended her manicured left hand to Frankie. My eyes involuntarily went to her fourth finger before meeting her espresso brown pools.

Neither Xari nor Frankie were looking at me though. Frankie was enamored. She gifted Xari a smile from ear to ear.

“Oh my god. You are so bomb.”

“Thank you. You’re adorable,” she laughed rubbing Frankie’s back. Shit. Frankie wasn’t lying though. Xari Lucas was bomb as fuck.

“Is your dress Carolina Herrera?” Frankie asked. She had a burst of energy I hadn’t seen during the entire interviewing process.

“It is. Look at the eye on this one. Now I actually like you and I won’t have to pretend. We’re going to be friends.” She bumped Frankie with her slender but still full hips. I tried to stop noticing her body because it wasn’t professional but goddamn. She had that dress re-stitched just to fit her lines and dips. I wouldn’t have been shocked to find out the seamstress sewed the dress while Xari was wearing it.

“Are your shoes Jimmy Choo?” Frankie peeped excitedly.