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It might make it easier if she pretended not to notice me or if she showed me she didn't want me the same way I wanted her.But our mutual desire for each other was all too obvious.
It was dangerous, and something happening between me and Bella’s nanny would be disastrous, especially if it got messy.
Bella needed stability.She needed someone she could count on.A constant in her life after such a heart-wrenching life change.
I got up as slowly as I could, trying not to wake her.But just as I was going to turn back to the door, her small hand reached out and grabbed my wrist.I turned to her, but her eyes were still closed.
“I changed my mind.Don’t fire her, Auntie Lux,” she said in the sleepiest voice I’d ever heard.
My heart lodged in my throat.
“Go to sleep, Bella,” I cooed, placing her hand back on the bed and covering it with mine.
“I—” She let out a yawn and rolled over.“Like her.”The last part came out as more of a mumble.
She’s making this hard.Impossible.
All thoughts of firing Juliette were suddenly erased from my mind.
Bella rarely asked for anything or admitted to liking anyone.Not even any of my other staff, let alone someone she’d just met.
Why her?What had Juliette done today that made Bella like her so much?And so quickly?
Whatever the answer, there was no way in hell I’d fire Juliette now.
Which meant one thing and one thing only.
I have to keep my hands off her.
Chapter9
Juliette
Isat in my beat-up Honda looking up at the mansion Lux Sterling lived in.
I had thought long and hard about if I was going to come back today.
It would be best not to.Especially with what had happened between us.And what I still want to happen.When she had me up against the counter, I wanted nothing more than to relive our night right then and there.
It was highly inappropriate, and I was glad I had found the strength to push her away.Fucking my boss was far from what I usually considered morally allowable.
I needed the job.And I felt like her grieving niece needed me too.
I don’t know how you did it, Lux said last night.That meant I was doing something right for this little girl.
So I was going to go in there, be the best nanny I could be to Bella, and leave.
No flirting with Lux.No touching.And definitely no fucking her.
Just as I was going to force myself out of the car, my phone buzzed with a message from Lucas.
My chest started to warm, and when I opened it, tears sprang to my eyes.
Lucas
So… This just came in the mail.
It was the first of what I knew would be his many acceptance letters.Finally.Things were looking up for us.After our parents’ accident, it was just the two of us.We were the only ones we could rely on.