rubbed in stubborn spots.
I wiped the remainder on my arm and closed the lid. “There. It’s done. Ty, stay right here, okay? I’m going to see if your mom needs help.”
“Okay.” Tyler dug into the dry sand with a shovel and poured it into the bucket.
I adjusted my sunglasses and went to find Abby under the canopies. My sister introduced me to a few more families as they arrived. They asked me a bunch of questions, mostly about living in Los Angeles.
This was the part I didn’t like at social gatherings. Uncomfortable small talk with people I didn’t know. We didn’t have much in common—I didn’t have a kid in preschool yet—and I wasn’t much of a talker.
I pulled Abby to the side. “Do you need me?”
I didn’t want to be sitting comfortably and soaking up the sun while my sister was doing all the work. Several of the mothers who were supposed to be helping her were now chatting amongst themselves. And Abby would rather do the work than ask them for help.
Abby nodded and she sighed with relief. “Can you open the ice bags and dump them inside the ice chest for me? Thanks,” she said and then went to the next canopy.
“Oh, hi there.”
I turned to that familiar, sultry voice just as I opened the cooler. Jessica Conner wiggled her fingers at me, having obviously forgotten my name, but at least she acknowledged me. Though she wore the same type of beach garment as the other mothers, she had on a stunning red bikini underneath that hugged her curves.
“Hi, Jessica,” I said with an amiable tone, ripping bags of ice open.
I assumed she’d come to me because everyone else was in their cliques.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
She could see what I was doing.
“Abby asked me to spread the ice. I’m going to put the drinks in there. Do you want to help?” I didn’t need help but offered, anyway.
She looked at her curled fingers. “I just got my nails done. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”
I rolled my eyes as I grabbed the cans and bottles and nestled them in the ice layer. Be nice. Better not to say anything, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Oh, I heard from someone that you’re working for Leonardo Medici. Is that true?”
I closed the ice chest, frowning. That explained why she’d made a point to talk to me.
“Who told you?” My words came off a bit harsher than I meant to.
“Oh, a friend of a friend,” she said nonchalantly with a flop of her hand.
“Is this friend-of-a-friend Leonardo’s friend?” I crossed my arms and scowled. Good thing she couldn’t see my glare pinning her behind my dark sunglasses.
She blinked, looking flustered. “I suppose, but that’s not important.”
And neither is your question.
“Would you like anything to drink?” I grabbed a small bottle of water, drank all of it, and tossed it into the trashcan a few feet from me. I hoped she would dismiss the conversation when I changed the subject, but she didn’t.
“Well?” She followed me to the table where families were fixing their lunches.
I glanced over to Tyler to make sure he was where I had left him and then grabbed two paper plates and picked out some bread slices.
“One of those is for Ty, right?” Abby said in passing and went to the next table before I could answer her.
I wasn’t going to eat two, that’s for sure. It was her polite way of asking me to feed him, which I would have done, anyway. When I reached over to grab a few slices of turkey, I bumped into Jessica’s shoulder. She glared at me.
“Maybe you shouldn’t stand so close.” I flicked my finger like I was waving bugs away.
She frowned and backed away. “Well, you haven’t answered my question.”
Geez. She was persistent.
I squeezed some mustard and piled on lettuce and avocado, then I added some tomatoes on my sandwich. Tyler didn’t like tomatoes.
“Yes,” I finally said to her when she kept staring at me. “I’m working for Mr. Medici. I’m watching Bridget for two weeks.”
“Oh, so it is true.” She said it more for herself than for me. “Is that all? What else do you do?”
Is that all? Doesn’t she know taking care of a child is a lot of work? Where is her kid, anyway?
“Jessica ...” I looked at her squarely in the eyes, mustering as much patience as I could. “I’m Bridget’s caretaker and nothing else.”
I hope she didn’t think I slept