Anika smiles. “I told you. He’s a pussycat.”
“With you,” I point out.
And it’s true.
He’s soft with her in a way that catches me off guard every single time. He makes sure to wish her goodnight, even when he’s busy, he’ll call. And he wakes her with a gentle kiss in the morning. He sits with her and watches television when he’s home. Brushes her hair. Takes care of her in quiet, unshowy ways that make my chest ache.
It’s ridiculously heartwarming to witness.
“He reminds me of every bad boy my mother would’ve warned me about,” I say.
Anika laughs. “He’s definitely that. But once you win him over, he’s perfect.”
I snort. “I’m sure he’ll make a decent boss eventually, once we’re used to each other.”
I open the book she asked me to read. She’s currently obsessed with vampires and werewolves, and honestly, I’m beginning to think she chooses the steamiest bits on purpose.
“He’s nice to look at too,” she says casually. “Don’t you think?”
Heat rushes to my face but I keep my eyes on the page. “Where did we get to?” I ask, pretending I’ve lost our place.
Anika’s grin widens. “I hate that he’s still single.”
My head snaps up. “Why is he single?”
She laughs. “You’ve met him, right? He’s hard work. It would take someone pretty incredible to earn his trust. And even then, he’s not exactly easy.”
“You really know how to sell him,” I say, sarcasm dripping from my words.
She beams. “I want him to fall in love before I die. It’s my mission.”
I roll my eyes and look back at the book. “You say things like that all the time,” I mutter. “It’s not like you’re dying tomorrow. You’ve got years to find Ray some poor gullible woman willing to put up with his bad attitude and bossy ways. Good luck to her.”
“I’ll read to her,” says a deep voice from the doorway.
My eyes snap shut.
Fuck.
Anika bursts out laughing.
“It’s not funny,” I whisper, setting the book down and getting to my feet.
Ray crosses the room and takes the chair I’ve just vacated, looking far too pleased with himself.
“Oh, and Wynter?”
I pause my hasty retreat, my back still turned.
“I am the boss,” he says mildly. “Bossy comes with the job. It’s practically a requirement.”
Anika laughs harder.
I keep walking before either of them can see my face.
RAY
Monday comes around too quickly. I hate Mondays. Mainly because they’re Wynter’s days off, which means I’m forced to use agency carers for Anika, and I can’t stand it. They never follow the house rules properly, and there’s no point repeating them because it’s never the same person twice.