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“She likes you.”

“I like her too.”

“I know.”

“You had that investigated as well?”

“No.” The corner of his mouth moves again. “There are limits.”

“I'm relieved.”

He becomes serious. “She has been unsettled for some time, and after today I expect that to become worse. She trusts you, which is not something she gives easily.”

I can see where this is going. I don't like that I can see where this is going. “Nikolai.”

“I would like you to come stay at the house.”

I stare at him.

He continues before I can interrupt. “You would have your own suite, complete privacy when you are not with Anya, transportation whenever you require it, and no responsibility for anything beyond spending time with her, assisting with her schoolwork when necessary, and providing some stability while I determine what happened today.”

I keep staring.

He says it as casually as somebody might ask me to water a plant.

“You want me to be her nanny.”

“Companion.”

“That’s rich-person language for nanny.”

“Then nanny, if you prefer.”

“I have a master's degree.”

“I’m aware.”

“Of course you are, because apparently my résumé has been circulated through your criminal intelligence department.”

A pause.

Something changes in his eyes at the word criminal, but he doesn't address it. Instead, he says, “Your qualifications are one of the reasons I’m asking you rather than hiring another conventional nanny.”

“That's flattering in an extremely confusing way.”

“You would not be giving up your career. You may continue interviewing and applying for whatever positions you choose.”

“For how long?”

“A few months initially. Longer if the arrangement suits everyone.”

I laugh once. “Nikolai, I cannot just move into the house of a man I met yesterday.”

“You met me today.”

“That actually makes it worse.”

He acknowledges that with a small inclination of his head. Fair enough.