It Was Always You

Chapter Four

"So, how did the interviews go?" Evan asks as he finally caught a break and slumped in his office chair.

"You sound exhausted. What the hell happened at work that got you sounding dead to the world?" Selena asks, ignoring his question altogether.

He groans dramatically, his head hitting the back of his chair feeling the need to say fuck everything and just head on home where he could spend dinner with his little girl, watch a kid movie and then fall asleep with her on his chest like she always loved to do.

"The realty business got called in on the new apartments we contracted with. Four of their apartments got flooded from old pipes that busted. I needed to go out there and check on the damage, get the water turned off in that section of the building and find living replacements for the tenants for however long this is going to take to fix the issue. Dan called in the insurance company and they're going to have someone come out to repair the damages. I have yet to find out how much of this is going to come out of my pocket."

"What about the owner? Aren't they responsible for property damage?" she asks, concern laced in her words.

"Yes, but we're half responsible considering we signed a contract with him. Apparently, Sandra didn't bother getting the place evaluated before signing the binding contract. Now we're stuck with it because those pipes as we found out have been eroding for quite a while. I'm pissed and want to fire her but-"

"She gave you some sob story about her baby daddy taking advantage of her and blah, blah, blah. It's the same old shit with her Evan. You have to know she's pulling your strings to keep you from firing her ass."

He sighs heavily. "She's a single mom, Sel. I know how that is. I can't help it."

"I know and I'm proud of you regardless of how much you annoy me with it." She states gently.

He grins in the phone. "So, the interviews, any luck today?"

"Actually yes. I found one that's perfect for the job and the best part is Shasta freaking adores her."

Evan sits up in his chair with a frown. "You had her meet Shasta already? I wanted to meet her before it came to that."

"Evan, trust me okay. I know how to read people. When I first met her I instantly knew she was going to be the one. She passed with such ease, and she's agreed to all conditions required. When Shasta met her you should have been there to see them. They clicked like two peas in a pod." She gushes.

Uneasiness fills him even though everything she said lifted a weight off his shoulders. "How old is she?" He couldn't help asking with concern.

He heard her sigh on the other end. "I know what you're thinking but if you allow Kristan to put fear over you like this then she's always going to win no matter what you do. I have a feeling this one isn't as scared to run away as all the others."

"Sel, how old?"

"She's twenty-two."

His eyebrows raised a notch. "That's young."

"She's a year younger than you Evan. Besides, she's very, very pretty." A suggestion placed in her voice.

"That's not why I'm hiring a babysitter Sel." He groans knowing what she was implying.

"I know that dummy, but you never know is all I'm saying."

"You read way too many of those romance novels. I need to tell Ian he needs to pay more attention to you cause apparently you're not getting enough of it." He deadpans.

"Oh shut up and leave my hot and heavy novels out of it." She laughs out loud.

"TMI Sel, gross." He makes a face. "Besides, I don't have time for stuff like that. I'm too busy with work and taking care of Shasta."

"That didn't seem an issue when you were willing to take Mila out when she got back." She sasses back playfully.

He gently sighs. "That was different, and you know it. I'm glad it didn't work out anyways. She belongs with Jared, always did."

"Plus you guys couldn't make an absolutely adorable baby like Cale." She rubs more salt in the wound.

"Geeze thanks." He states sarcastically.

"Anyways, give her a chance I think she really needs the job."

Rubbing his face he sighs once again. "Alright I just hope she can handle the she-devil that is unfortunately the mother of my child."

***

Evan checked the place one more time before he deemed it was good enough to be lived in. The closet was stacked with fresh linen and blankets, the fridge and freezer were full of food and drinks, he made sure the water heater was running hot water where it wasn't scalding, and he doubled checked the stove, oven and heater since the days were getting colder as the season changes.

The mother house was equipped with everything the new babysitter could ever want. Truthfully it hasn't been that long since Mrs. Joneston had left but it was his way of getting his nerves under control. He didn't even understand why he was nervous in the first place. It wasn't like she was the first young person to babysit Shasta.

But it was the first time that his daughter ever took a liking to someone when first meeting them besides Mila.

"Daddy! Daddy! She's here!" Shasta comes running through the front door of the house and straight into his arms.

"Alright then, let's go meet her." He says walking them out of the little house to the main one.

When he walks through the back door he could hear voices in the foyer where Selena was talking to the newcomer. He asked her to stop by for their first meeting in case the woman felt awkward meeting him alone. Or maybe it was the fact he needed to feel less awkward he thought to himself.

"I don't have much with me to be honest."

Her voice sounded light and smooth like honey. A shiver went down his spine just from hearing it which was unusual considering he wasn't a man that was swayed by one's charm so easily. When they emerge through the doorway he couldn't help but stop and stare at the vision before him.

She was breathtaking. She was a bit shorter than he was with mid length black hair that was so curly that pulling a strand of it would make it bounce perfectly. Her skin was light brown that looked smooth and creamy, and her eyes captivated him right on the spot.

Eyes of hazel that showed more of green than any other color at the moment. He couldn't take his own away from her and didn't even notice as Shasta wiggled in his arms to get down. Finally releasing her she runs straight for the stranger as she happily squeals,

"Issie, you're here!" And she jumps right into the woman's arms.

"Oh! Hey there little one." She beams at the child.

"There you are, what took you so long?" Selena waves him over with a slight frown wondering what was up with him. "Isabel, this is Evan, Shasta's father. Evan this is the new babysitter, Isabel." She introduces them.

Finally shaking out of his catatonic state he quickly strides over and reaches out a hand to her realizing just how much his daughter has taken a liking to her already. Another first.

"Sorry, hi I'm Evan, Evan Connor."

She gently places her hand into his and instantly a zap of electricity shivered up his entire arm leaving goosebumps in its wake. "H-Hi, I'm Isabel Alveraz."

A hitch to her voice as she spoke instantly made him realize that she more than likely was more nervous than he was. She was moving into a stranger's house after all not knowing who any of them were. He didn't want to let her hand go and if it wasn't for Selena clearing her throat her eyes moving down to their joined hands he probably would have kept holding onto it like a moron.

Quickly letting go he gives her a reassuring smile. "Welcome to your new home."