Just for Now Read Online Free

perfection. “I can’t pretend we’re
short of a dollar, but I try to make sure they appreciate what they have, and
that they know how to work. And as I’m gone so much, I’d need your help with
that. I don’t think Nyree’s had them doing much for themselves.”
    “I’d say that you’ve both done pretty well, though,” she
said, “based on what I’ve seen of them. It sounds like you and I are on the
same page there. What about cooking? Anything special I should know, or any
questions you have? I’m a pretty reasonable home cook, I think, but not a
gourmet one.”
    He laughed. “Don’t think any of us would appreciate gourmet
cooking. I take a fair bit of feeding, I should tell you, when I’m home.”
     “That works for me. I like my cooking to be appreciated.”
    “Does this mean you’ll take the job?”
    “I’d love to,” she decided. “When do you want me to start?”
    He looked a bit harassed. “Today, if you can. You don’t have
a car, is that right?”
    “That’s right. I’ve been traveling light. Just me and a
couple bags. And yes, I can start today. I’ll just go back and pack up.”
    He exhaled in relief, then stood up and shook her hand. “Take
a taxi back here, and I’ll reimburse you. I’ll be home the next couple days, at
least. That’ll give you some time to settle in, before you’re on your own with
the kids. And Jenna. Thanks.”

Chapter 3
    “This is your room,” he told her a couple hours later, setting
her bags down inside the bedroom door. “Sorry there isn’t an ensuite. You’ll
have to share a bath with the kids, I’m afraid.”
    “No worries. I’ve lived in New Zealand for seven years now,
remember? I know about sharing the bath.”
    He smiled. “I confess, I’ve never understood the American
fascination with bathrooms. Why everybody in the family needs their own.”
    “I agree with you, actually. This will suit me fine.” Jenna
looked around the comfortable room. A queen bed with nightstand sat against one
long wall, while French doors opened onto one of the villa’s many brick patios,
the garden showing green beyond. Closet and drawer space wasn’t overly
abundant, but she didn’t have many clothes anyway. And a desk and chair, she
saw with pleasure, would provide her with her own workspace.
    Finn scratched his cheek thoughtfully. “Nyree doesn’t live
in all the time. So this is all a bit new to us, too. We’ll have to work it out
as we go along, I reckon.”
    “She just stays over when you have games?” Jenna guessed.
    He nodded. “But as we’re into the All Black part of the
season now, more travel, this way seemed better. Let me show you the rest of
the house.”
    He began to conduct her through the grand old villa, and she
saw with relief that the ground floor contained a small powder room as well as
the large full bathroom with its original, massive clawfoot tub and separate
shower. That was the one part of sharing bathrooms that could be a problem with
young children, she suspected.  
    “Sophie’s room.” He opened the door to the bedroom across
the hallway from her own. It was decorated in a pleasant mint green, with
accents of yellow and white. “Nyree helped us choose the colors a year or so ago,
when Sophie wanted something more grown-up.”
    “You did a good job,” she said admiringly. “And it’s easy to
see where Sophie’s interests lie. Besides the obvious clue of the bookshelf. Soccer
posters, and the All Blacks.” She looked more closely at the framed poster of
the team doing the haka, the pre-match Maori challenge so strongly associated
with New Zealand rugby. “Where are you?”
    She looked where he pointed at his image, taller than most
of the players, near the middle of the front row. “Wow. Prominent. And I have
to say, you look pretty mad. Scary, too.”
    He smiled. “My game face. I try not to show that around the
house too much, scare the kids.” He led her out of the room, opened the next
door. “Harry,