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the plane, she was ashamed
     to admit she’d read everything there was to know about him and Spade. And none of
     it made her hopeful about his chances of successfully parenting a five-year-old girl
     — not the way he lived with touring, partying, and player-ing.
    “I need help with Ella.”
    Of course he did. If he hadn’t hung up on her so abruptly, she could’ve saved them
     both time and inconvenience. “Oh. Well, I’d be happy to help out occasionally with
     some babysitting — ”
    “No, I need a full-time nanny.”
    “I’m sorry. I could’ve saved you the time and car and driver. I’m in school — ”
    “I know. But you also work full time in a coffee house right?”
    Her brows knitted together. “Uh … yeah.” How did he even know that? “We can accommodate
     your class schedule.”
    “I’m sorry?”
    “You can finish your degree. This is your last semester, right?”
    She must have mentioned it on the plane, but the thing was, she didn’t remember telling
     him that.
    “I’m not a nanny.”
    “I know. But you have the relevant experience. And I’ll pay you more than you make
     serving up cappuccinos.”
    “It’s not that simple.” She worked as a barista because the chain extended health
     benefits to their employees. Nannies didn’t get benefits. She couldn’t afford to be
     without coverage and it would be expensive to buy her own health insurance. Even if
     they would accept her, which was doubtful, the coverage would be abysmal. When something
     happened with her rheumatoid arthritis, she’d suffocate in debt trying to cover medical
     bills. The school loans were bad enough.
    “Sure it is.” He raked a hand through artfully mussed hair. He probably paid a fortune
     to have it look like that, she thought uncharitably.
    “Have you tried to find someone?” There was no doubt someone with his affluence could
     get the best nanny in Los Angeles.
    He prowled the room. “Yeah, but I haven’t found a good fit.”
    She frowned. “I find that hard to believe.”
    “I’ve been trying for almost two weeks. I’ve had the best people on this. We’ve interviewed
     two dozen women and one highly recommended
manny,
and it just doesn’t work.” His control slipped a bit on the last word as his voice
     rose. “She’s seeing a therapist and I’ve been in constant contact with the woman so
     I know what to expect but … ”
    “But?”
    “I can’t handle it!” he half-shouted, pacing in front of her. “She still doesn’t get
     it!” His mouth twisted. “She cries. Weeps. Says her stomach hurts. Doesn’t want to
     go to school. She’s afraid of the dark and comes in my room at all hours.” He ran
     hands through his hair again. It no longer appeared so artful. “She wants to sleep
     in my bed — when she’s willing to sleep at all.”
    Maddy’s heart lurched.
    His voice shook when he said, “She wants to know if her mommy will come back if she’s
     good.
Jesus
.”
    Her eyes burned and she blinked rapidly.
That poor kid
. Asher was stirring up no small measure of sympathy too.
    He threw himself down onto the couch next to her, and Maddy surveyed his red-rimmed
     eyes. “Asher, I think … I mean … isn’t that the normal response to what she’s
     going through?”
    “Yeah. Or so the therapist says.”
    “It’s going to take time for her to understand.”
    He groaned.
    “You need to stay calm, loving, and patient. I’m sure you’re doing fine.”
    Asher raised his brows. “Maddy, I’m a lot of things, but patient doesn’t make the
     list.” He leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling.
    She’d worked a lot with kids that age, since her emphasis was in elementary education
     and she’d grown up with hoards of preschoolers, but this was far outside her experience.
     She’d lost her father, but that was different; she’d never even had a chance to know
     him.
    “All I can tell you is you’re dealing with someone who believes in fairies,