Free Under Your Skin by Shannyn Schroeder Page A

“that you’re able-bodied and can do things like run errands.”
    â€œYeah.” This was sounding fishier by the minute.
    â€œMy mom just had knee replacement surgery. She’s staying at my house until she’s back to normal. I need help. She’s fucking driving me crazy with phone calls for stupid shit like groceries and books.”
    Norah bit the inside of her cheek to stop from laughing. His face filled with frustration but she found it amusing he thought food was frivolous. “What are you hiring me to do?”
    â€œWhatever my mom needs. Groceries, books, remind her to do her exercises.”
    â€œI can’t lift her. You know, given my condition .” Her hand waved in a circle over the baby.
    â€œI can get her out of bed in the morning and she’s been okay from the couch to the bathroom. My sister stops by to check on her. I need you to get her what she needs.”
    Norah thought about it. She could handle this as long as she didn’t have to lift the woman. Running errands for an hour or so would get her out of the house and keep her moving. “How much are you paying and how often would you need me?”
    â€œShit. I hadn’t thought about that. Ten bucks an hour?”
    More than she was expecting, but she didn’t let it show.
    â€œThe hours might be weird because I don’t work regular hours. But it’s not like it would be full-time. Maybe a few hours a day?”
    â€œSure. It’s not like I have people knocking down my door to hire me.”
    He reached in his pocket and pulled out keys. “For future reference, don’t tell a prospective boss no one is looking at you. They’ll think you’re tainted.”
    He worked a key from the ring.
    Watching his hands, she said, “Right now, I pretty much am tainted. I’m a single pregnant woman without a college degree and little work experience.” She left out the fact that she didn’t look at him like a prospective boss. More like a delectable piece of meat.
    Kai took her hand and placed a key on her palm. “You’re not tainted. You’re pregnant. It’s temporary.”
    Warmth spread through her as he spoke. Was he still holding her hand?
    â€œKey for my front door. My mom won’t answer if you knock.” He pulled out his wallet and handed her a hundred dollars and a business card. “Have her make a list of whatever she wants and then go get it. The address is on the back of the card.”
    â€œAnything else?”
    â€œKeep her happy and away from calling me. If you could get her to do her exercises, that would be great.”
    â€œOkay.” She fished her keys out of her purse and tucked his key and cash in the side pocket. “Is she expecting me?”
    â€œI’ll call her.”
    Then he walked back into the studio without another word. Talking to him was like talking to Jimmy. He only offered the minimum number of words.
    As she got back into her car, she was grateful she wouldn’t be scrubbing toilets after all. Ten bucks an hour wouldn’t make her rich, but it would be enough that she wouldn’t feel like a total sponge living off her family.
    It didn’t take long to get to Kai’s house. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but this wasn’t it. A cute little brick ranch house with green shutters on the sides of the windows. As she walked up the sidewalk, she glanced around back. Fenced backyard. She hadn’t thought to ask if he had pets. A small dog would be cute, but Kai struck her more of a beast of a dog kind of guy. She knocked on the front door before using the key. No dog answered, so she figured she was safe.
    â€œHello, Ms. . . .” Crap. She didn’t know Kai’s last name. What was she supposed to call the woman? She should’ve looked more closely at the card he’d given her. The one she’d left in the cupholder in her car. She shut the door