My Babysitter

The Internship Offer

Flora woke to the scent of fresh bread and herbs drifting up from the kitchen, the summer air already warm against her skin as it slipped through the open window. Holidays had begun, the college campus quieting into a lazy haze of empty halls and forgotten textbooks. She stretched, the sheets sliding over her curves, and let the morning light paint patterns across her fair skin. The weeks ahead stretched like an open road, but her father had other plans. He had mentioned Matt the night before, his voice casual over dinner, and now the idea hung in the air like the aroma of spices simmering on the stove.

Downstairs, her father was already at the table, his import-export ledgers spread open beside a plate of eggs. He looked up as she entered, his eyes carrying that familiar weight of protection. “Flora, sit. I invited Matt over for dinner tonight. Thought it would be good for you to hear about the internship at his company. Summer’s here, and you need something to keep you busy. Learn how business works. It will teach you how to survive on your own one day.”

She poured herself coffee, the steam rising in curls that carried the rich bitterness she loved. “An internship? At Hale Robotics? Dad, I was thinking of sleeping in and maybe taking that art class Mia suggested.”

Her father chuckled, the sound warm but firm. “You can sleep in some days. But Matt’s company is solid. He built it from nothing, just like I built mine. He can show you the ropes. The conversation will be good for both of you. He has always been like family.”

Flora nodded, but her mind wandered to the glances she had shared with Matt in the days since their first meeting. Those stormy eyes that seemed to see straight through her sarcasm, the way his presence made the air feel thicker, charged with something she couldn’t name. She pushed the thought aside and focused on her plate, the crunch of toast grounding her.

That evening, the house filled with the savory scent of roasted chicken and garlic, the table set with extra care. Matt arrived on time, his tall frame filling the doorway, wavy dark hair caught back with that leather band, the faint scent of his cologne mixing with the dinner smells. He greeted her father with a firm handshake, then turned to Flora. Their eyes met, and a slow glance passed between them, his stormy gaze lingering a moment too long on her rosy cheeks before he smiled.

“Flora,” he said, his voice low. “Good to see you again. Your father tells me you’re free for the summer.”

She returned the look, a spark of challenge in her hazel eyes. “Free enough to hear about this internship idea. Though I was hoping for more beach days than boardrooms.”

They sat at the table, the conversation turning to the offer as plates were passed. Her father spoke of the value of experience, the way it would prepare her for the future. Matt leaned in, his broad shoulders relaxed, but his glances kept finding Flora’s. Each time their eyes locked, a quiet heat built, the kind that made her skin prickle under her light summer dress. The scent of the roasted herbs seemed stronger now, wrapping around the words as Matt described the company.

“It is not just about learning the ropes,” Matt said, his tone even but laced with that velvet edge. “Hale Robotics deals in precision, in control. An internship there would show you how decisions are made at the top. Your father and I have talked about it. You have a sharp mind, Flora. It would be a waste to let it idle through these months.”

She met his glance again, the air between them humming. “Sharp enough to know when someone is trying to keep me occupied. What exactly would I be doing? Coffee runs or actual work?”

Matt’s smile was slow, teasing. “Both, depending on how well you listen. The position starts next week. I would expect you to be on time, focused. No distractions from friends or late nights that might cloud your judgment.”

The glances continued through the meal, each one carrying unspoken layers. Flora felt the warmth of his attention like the summer sun on her skin, the way his eyes traced the line of her hair as it fell over her shoulder. Her father continued the conversation, unaware of the undercurrent, speaking of how the experience would build her confidence. Matt nodded, but his attention stayed on her, the storm in his gaze promising more than business.

“Matt, tell me more about the company culture,” her father said, passing the vegetables. “Is it the kind of place where a young woman like Flora can thrive?”

Matt’s eyes flicked to Flora, a teasing glint in them. “It can be, if she knows how to handle the pressure. Some people thrive on a little tension. Others... well, they need a firm hand to guide them. Flora strikes me as the type who might need a little extra motivation to stay on track. Especially when the work gets... intimate with the details.”

Flora raised an eyebrow, her sarcasm sharp. “A firm hand? Sounds like you’re describing a prison rather than an office. Or is that your way of saying you’ll be breathing down my neck the whole time? Careful, Matt. I might just enjoy the view from down there.”

Matt chuckled, the sound low and intimate. “Breathing down your neck might be the least of it, Flora. I like to keep things... close. Make sure the work gets done right. You strike me as the type who might need a little extra motivation to stay on track. Perhaps a reminder that slacking off has its own rewards. Or punishments, depending on how you look at it.”

Her father laughed, missing the undercurrent. “That’s the spirit. Matt has always been direct. Flora, this could be good for you. Learn from the best.”

After dinner, as her father cleared the plates, Matt pulled out his phone. A text arrived on Flora’s screen moments later.

Matt:Tomorrow, 9 a.m. sharp at my office. Wear something professional. No short dresses that might distract the staff. Be prepared to answer why you think you deserve this chance. If you are late, there will be consequences. Teasing ones. Do not make me wait, little terror.

She read it twice, the words sending a flush across her cheeks. The strict tone mixed with sarcasm made her pulse quicken, the sensory memory of his cologne from dinner lingering in her thoughts.

The next morning, Flora arrived at Hale Robotics exactly on time, her heart racing as she stepped into the sleek lobby. The scent of polished wood and fresh coffee filled the air. Matt’s office was on the top floor, the view of the city stretching beyond the glass walls. He sat behind his desk, his presence commanding, the eagle tattoo hidden beneath his shirt but the memory of it vivid in her mind.

“Flora,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from him. “Sit. Let us begin.”

The interview unfolded with velvet cruelty. He leaned back, his stormy eyes holding hers. “Tell me why you want this. And do not give me the polite answer your father would approve of.”

She straightened, her sarcasm ready. “Because sitting around all summer sounds boring. And because you seem like the type who enjoys making people squirm. Figured I would see it up close.”

Matt’s laugh was quiet, dark. “Honest. Good. Now, what do you know about robotics? Or are you here just to test my patience?”

The questions continued, each one laced with taunts that made the room feel smaller, the air thicker. He commanded her to stand, to walk to the window and describe what she saw, his voice low and teasing. “Focus, Flora. Or do you need motivation to pay attention?”

By the end, she was flushed, the tension leaving her body humming. She left his office with her mind racing, already planning her next prank, the memory of his glances and the text instructions burning in her thoughts. The summer had just begun, and the game between them was far from over.