Ready or Not (The Love Game Book 4) by Elizabeth Hayley (pdf ebook reader .txt) 📕

staff to arrive at two thirty to set up whatever activities we have planned for the day. The program ends at five, but we offer an extended service for parents who work late. The families who qualify for that have until seven to collect their kids. Those kids head to the gym for those two hours so the janitorial staff can clean and sanitize our space, but it’s our employees who accompany them. If you want the extra hours, they’re yours.”

“Yes, I’d be open to that.” A thought popped into my mind and left my mouth before I could censor it. “Does Ransom work the extended hours?”

Ugh, stop thinking with your figurative dick, Taylor.

Harry smiled fondly. “Technically, no. But last year he almost always stayed until the last child was picked up anyway. Wouldn’t let me pay him for the time, though. He’s…something else. The kids and staff adore him.”

Awesome. Like Ransom needed more ways to be attractive.

“So the pay isn’t great, but with your qualifications and experience, I can bring you on at twelve dollars an hour. We pay you for an extra half hour for cleanup, which would give you five hours a day. So you can think about it while I show you around and then let me know if that could work for you.”

“Perfect.”

After a bit more talking, Harry showed me around Safe Haven. The bulk of the space reminded me of a cafeteria. It was a large room with a couple of smaller areas that had partial privacy due to a low wall. That had probably once been the kitchen, and they’d turned it into spots where small groups of kids could complete activities away from the chaos that likely took place in the main space.

Harry took me out a back door and showed me where the kids would arrive. There was also a large blacktopped area with basketball nets. It was also where the summer camp was.

My eyes instinctively roved over the crowd in search of a blond-haired Adonis. I found him in the middle of a large group of kids. He seemed to be telling them a story that had them all laughing hysterically.

“I know it looks a little disorganized, but it’s nearing the end of the day, so the kids get free choice of what they do. Within reason,” he tacked on with a smile.

I smiled at him to show I understood and then refocused on where Ransom had been. But this time, he was looking back, a smile splitting his handsome face.

He said something to the kids and then started in our direction. I noticed quite a few of the girls watch Ransom walk toward us—and a few of the boys too. Not that I blamed them. The tight white T-shirt he wore clung to every muscle the guy had. Honestly, it was borderline obscene. Though he was so big and broad, there probably wasn’t much he could do about it. He’d probably have to actively try to not look like a bodybuilder-meet-GQ model.

When he arrived in front of us, he looked like an excited puppy. “Hey. How’s everything going?” His gaze moved back and forth between us.

“Going great on my end,” Harry answered before looking pointedly at me.

I smiled. “Great for me too.”

Harry extended his hand. “Does that mean we have a new employee?”

I hesitated, thinking about how even with the extra money I’d need a second job, but odds were I’d need one regardless. And at least this job would leave my nights and weekends free.

There was also something about the place, and I wanted to be part of it. So I took Harry’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “Yes, that’s what it means.”

“Excellent. Why don’t you hang out with Ransom for a bit while I get the employment paperwork together, and then you can come back to my office in…let’s say ten minutes?”

“Works for me,” I replied.

Harry nodded and slapped Ransom on the back before retreating toward the way we’d come.

When he was gone, Ransom said, “So, you like the place?”

“I do. It’s…pretty great.”

Ransom’s smile widened. “It is, isn’t it?” He seemed so proud and pleased that I liked it that I couldn’t help but return his smile. “And I can’t wait to be everyone’s favorite,” he added, rubbing his hands together maniacally.

I hit him playfully in the chest before I could think better of it. “Jerk. And from the looks of things, you’re already everyone’s favorite.”

He moved next to me so he could survey the campers like a king observing his kingdom. “Yeah, I’m pretty much a god here,” he deadpanned.

I instantly remembered my Thor comparison a couple of weeks ago but kept it to myself. Instead, I rolled my eyes and groaned. “So humble.”

He opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted with a kid brushing past him with an armful of water guns.

“Whoa, whoa, where are you going with those?”

The boy shrugged. “It’s hot.”

“So? You making decisions now? I didn’t know you worked here.” Ransom said the words with outrage that was clearly for show, and by the look on the kid’s face, he knew it.

The kid put on a pout that could’ve won him an Emmy.

Ransom pointed at him. “Save that look for someone it works on, DeSean.”

The boy dropped the dramatic visage and resorted to more overt pleading. “Come on, Ransom. Please. It’s almost time to go home.”

“Yeah, and I’m sure your dad will be thrilled to have you sit in his car soaking wet.”

“He won’t care. Please,” DeSean said, dragging out the word.

He was cute and likely knew it. Around ten if I had to guess, he still had an innocence about his face that contrasted with the preteen mischievousness in his eyes. It was a deadly combo, and I became worried that I’d never be able to say no to these kids.

Ransom put his hands on his hips and leaned down over the boy. “On one condition.”

The kid bounced on his toes. “Anything.”

Ransom reached out and carefully dislodged a