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“You’re unbelievable,” she murmured, then turned to me with a glare.“Listen, I said I needed this job.Again, I have references.I’m good at it.I’m sorry I messed up with Bella, but I know I can do this.”
Her eyes never wavered from mine, that determination shining through like a beacon.
I should shut her down.I wanted to.It was the best thing to do in this scenario.
I bit my inner cheek and took another step back, which was a mistake.It allowed me to really look at her, finally taking in the sinful dress she was wearing.I wanted to stop myself, but I couldn’t.
How can something so flowery and girly look so delectable on her?
It hugged her breasts and hips but fanned out, showing me the outline of her body.A body I knew so well.It would be so easy to push the thin fabric up, reach into her panties, slip my fingers into her?—
“Maybe it’s you who’s secretly in love with me,” she said as she stepped past me with a smirk.“Try and keep it professional, hm?”
Her quip had shock and arousal shooting through me, and desire made me lightheaded.My traitor hand moved on its own again, meaning to grab her hip, but I shoved it in my pocket and grabbed my phone instead.The pile of messages brought me back to reality.
Right.I need her.I could figure out what to do with herafterwork.I couldn't waste any more time, not after I had promised them I would be there today.
There was a light shuffle that made me turn to the hallway leading to Bella’s room, and I was surprised to see her standing at the corner.Eavesdropping.If she were anyone else, I would be annoyed.I just hoped she hadn’t seen anything… compromising.By the look on her face, I didn’t think so.
“Are you firing her?”Bella asked, a frown on her face.“I can’t hear from here.”
“Then why don’t you come closer and find out for yourself?”
The slight curiosity that lit Bella’s face had hope shining in my chest.It gave me a little peek at who she had been before the accident.
Just for now.I’ll figure out something better soon.I promise.I tried to convey it with my gaze, but when she got to me, she looked up at Juliette like she was an intruder.I wouldn’t be surprised if she had been like this with all the nannies.
Juliette leaned down to her level, something only a few nannies had done before.She didn't have to give me her references.It was clear to me, even if she hadn't looked at the file, that she had been around a lot of kids.
“I apologize, Bella.I really didn’t know, and that’s totally my bad.Can you forgive me?”
Bella’s cheeks puffed out and she looked up at me for reassurance.
I gave her a short nod.
“People make mistakes,” I said, sending Juliette a look.“No matter how thoroughly you try to prepare them.”
Juliette’s face twitched at the obvious slight.
“Yeah, I mean, you’re obviously not my mom,” Bella added.“All the other ones could tell.Why not this one?”She leaned closer to me.“I think this one should be fired.”
I was desperately trying to keep a straight face.Bella had been around me long enough to become a very cutthroat eight-year-old.
“We will do a trial run,” Juliette said with a clap of her hands.She sent Bella a smile that didn’t convey her feelings at the situation.“How about this: you give me one day.One day where we can doanythingyou want, and if you’re still unhappy, I’ll just quit.How about that?”
My heart jumped in my chest.She should quit now.That would be the best-case scenario for all of us.
But something inside me hoped that she would still be here when I came back from work.Actually, something inside me hoped for a lot more than that, but I couldn't let myself recklessly go there.
Professional, remember?
Bella gave her a hesitant look.
“Adventureland?”she asked.
Juliette looked at me.Bella had never wanted to go to Adventureland, so I knew she was just trying to push the boundaries.Because of everything that had happened, she had been going to school on and off, and she didn’t need to go today.Technically, she could do whatever she wanted.
“If you want.”