Almost Like Love by Abigail Strom Read Free Book Online

would understand if I had to bring Jacob, it would be awkward. And since he’s eleven, I’m sure the last thing he wants to do is go to a wedding—especially when he’d be the only kid there.”
    Was he looking for recommendations for professional babysitters? T he best ones wouldn’t be available on short notice, but —
    “I’ve tried a few services, but they’re booked up. And anyway, I’d be more comfortable with someone I know.” He paused. “Unfortunately, anyone I know well enough to ask for a favor like this is going to Mick’s wedding, too.”
    The reason for Ian’s call finally dawned on her.
    He needed a babysitter.
    A swirl of emotions went through her. Relief that he wasn’t blowing her off for Jessica’s wedding, even though she had every intention of blowing him off. Annoyance that he thought he knew her well enough to ask a favor like this. And underneath all that, an unexpected feeling of disappointment. A part of her had wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was calling to ask her out on a real date.
    Which was crazy, of course. He’d made it clear last night that he had no romantic intentions towards her, and even if she weren’t still reeling from a breakup, Ian Hart was the last man on earth she’d want to go out with.
    “So,” he continued, “I was wondering if you might be willing to do it. I’d send a car to pick you up and take you home again, and of course I’d pay you whatever you think is fair.”
    He was offering to pay her? Why, that—
    “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate,” he went on. “Jacob’s had a rough time since his mom died, and he’s always been kind of an introvert. I’d hate to drag him to this wedding, even if other kids were going to be there.”
    Now she’d feel guilty for saying no. She could lie and say she was busy, but—
    “I can do it,” she heard herself say.
    “Really? That’s great.” The relief in his voice was palpable. “Do you want me to pay you an hourly rate or a fixed sum for the night?”
    It was then that Kate realized one of the reasons she’d said yes to this.
    “I don’t want you to pay me at all. I’ll watch your nephew because I’m a nice person. I remember you said once that there’s no such thing as a nice person—that when someone does you a favor, there’s always an agenda involved. The only thing I want in exchange for helping you out is an acknowledgment that you were wrong about that.”
    “Oh, for God’s sake,” Ian said, sounding disgusted.
    Kate found herself smiling. “It’s a pretty small price to pay for free babysitting.”
    A short silence. “What exactly do you want me to say?”
    “Just that people can do nice things without having an agenda. I’m sure you can manage to utter the words without actually choking on them.”
    “But you do have an agenda. You want me to say that there’s true kindness in the world, or whatever. That’s an agenda.”
    “All right, then. Good luck finding another—”
    “Fine, I’ll say it. There may, on rare occasions, be people who do nice things just for the sake of being nice. Is that good enough?”
    She was still smiling. “Yep, that’ll do. What time do you need me tonight?”
    “The babysitter was supposed to come at five o’clock, but if that’s too early I could—”
    “Five o’clock is fine.”
    “I won’t be home until after midnight.”
    “That’s fine, too. You’re sending me home in a car, right?”
    “Right.” He paused. “So . . . I’ll send my driver to pick you up at five. He’ll call when he’s downstairs.”
    “Sounds good.”
    Another pause. “Okay, then,” he said after a moment. “I guess I’ll see you later today. And . . . thanks, Kate.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    It occurred to her after she hung up that she still had to cancel their date to Jessica’s wedding. But when she went into the bathroom to shower, she saw Chris’s toothbrush on the sink and felt a sudden spasm in her throat.
    She and