Page 7 of Penalty Kill

She paused for a second before jumping up.

I watched her, confused as she took off running across the sandy playground. I scanned the area for the boys but didn’t see them. I followed her until I realized where she was headed. Milo managed to climb to the top of the monkey bars and was stuck between the first and second rod. He was barely holding on by one hand and one stuck foot. It was at least a twelve-foot drop. My heart was in my throat as I ran to him.

Sydney got to the steps and reached up for him, pulling him into her chest. She got back to the ground and knelt so she could stand him up. He whimpered and Finn mirrored his brother’s emotions. They were both terrified when I reached them.

“You’re okay. I know that was scary, but you’re okay now,” Sydney spoke in a calm voice.

“Milo, why were you up there?” I tried to keep my tone level, but concern and anger washed over me. “You know better than that.”

Milo and Finn blinked up at me with watery eyes. “I’m sorry.” They cried at the same time.

“These are your boys?” Sydney asked.

I nodded and then realized she took off running for a random child. She didn’t know beforehand she was saving my son. I didn’t need to know anything else about her. She demonstrated the type of person she was more than words ever could.

“Yes, thank you so much for noticing Milo. How did you see him?”

She gave a small shrug. “I was keeping an eye on all the kids.”

While managing to hold a conversation with me? I couldn’t keep my thoughts off how beautiful she was, yet she managed to watch all the kids playing and answer my questions. Was this woman a superhuman?

“Well, thank you. I’m so grateful you got to him before something bad happened.”

She smiled and looked at Milo. “We’re all good now, right?”

He sniffed and nodded before giving her a hug. It only lasted a few seconds before he took off running with Finn at his side.

She stood and brushed off her hands while I remained frozen in place. Milo hugged her. He hadn’t hugged anyone since Olivia left. Not me, not any of the women from the Pride, not even Finn.

“Is everything okay?” Her concerned expression pulled me out of my shock.

“Yes, it’s great. If you want the job it’s yours.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Really? Don’t you want to ask me more questions?”

“I don’t think I need to.”

She let out a breath and beamed. “I think we should discuss the specifics, but I’d really love the opportunity.”

We headed back to the bench while the boys went to a sandy area to play. “Chloe said you committed to a year. I’d really like someone to stay until they finish kindergarten.”

She pursed her lips. “So next May?”

I nodded.

“Fourteen months,” she muttered under her breath.

“Is that a problem?” I didn’t think it would be that big of a problem, but it seemed like those two added months might be a deal breaker.

She shook her head. “No, that’s okay.”

“I know you’re new to the area. Are you locked into a contract for an apartment?”

“No, not yet. I was waiting until I found a job so I would know what area to look in,” she replied.

“Well, I was hoping whoever took the job would be willing to move in.”

Her back straightened. I wanted to shake myself. Asking a stranger to move in with me wasn’t my best move.