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“Thank you,” I say absently, my thoughts already shifting gears.
“Will you require anything before dinner?” Ellis asks.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “That’ll be all.”
Ellis disappears as I make my way through the house toward the back instead of up the stairs where I’d initially planned to do a few last-minute things before dinner. But the thought of seeing Robbie—and, admittedly, Annie—draws me toward the back door instead.
My mind drifts as I walk, unbidden memories of that night with Annie flooding my thoughts.
I haven’t been with her since. Haven’t dared knock on her door. At first, I kept a subtle eye on her, watching for any signs that her mood might crash again. But she seemed fine—more than fine, actually. She’d thrown herself into planning Robbie’s pool party and preparing for the gala like nothing had happened.
And still, I’d kept my distance.
The truth is, guilt had been eating at me ever since. How could I have let it happen? She’s Robbie’s nanny. If she left because of me, Robbie would be the one hurt most of all.
But none of that had mattered when I’d knocked on her door that night. All I could think about was her. The sight of her in those tiny sleep shorts, her nipples straining against the thin fabric of her shirt. The rumpled hair, the rumpled sheets behind her.
Immediately, my mind, my imagination, had run wild. I had to know—like a craving, a thirst—if she’d been touching herself.
I had to taste her… God, I’d tasted her. And fuck, she’d tasted delicious. I’d lost control. Completely.
Ravaged her. Fucked her. Taken her virginity and reveled when she’d come on my tongue, my cock.
The memory sends a bolt of heat through me, followed swiftly by another wave of guilt. And worse, the realization that I hadn’t used a condom. A mistake that still has me cursing myself days later.
She’d been a virgin, and I’m clean, but that didn’t mean that we could just be careless.
The sound of laughter and splashing pulls me from my thoughts as I step out the back door. The sight before me stops me in my tracks.
Robbie stands at the edge of the pool, his little inflatable arm bands bright orange against his skin as he gears up to jump.His face is lit with pure joy, his giggles echoing through the yard. And in the water, waiting for him, is Annie.
She’s waist-deep in the pool, her hands outstretched as she encourages him. And she’s wearing a bikini.
Not just any bikini—a deep emerald green one that hugs her curves in a way that’s impossible to ignore. The top is simple yet stunning, showcasing just enough cleavage to make my throat go dry, while the bottoms sit low on her hips, revealing a toned stomach and just a hint of skin at her thighs.
Thighs that I’d buried my tongue between just a few days ago.
I stand there for a moment, rooted to the spot, torn between wanting to look away and being utterly unable to. The way the late afternoon light glints off the water, casting shimmering patterns on her sun-kissed skin—it’s enough to drive a man mad.
She glances up and sees me then, her eyes widening slightly before her cheeks flush a delicate pink. She knows I’m watching. And I know she knows what I’m thinking.
“Dad!” Robbie’s voice snaps me out of it, and I quickly shift my focus to him as he waves enthusiastically from the pool’s edge. “Look at me!”
“I’m looking,” I call back, making my way toward them. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
With a burst of confidence, Robbie leaps into the pool, his little body hitting the water with a splash. Annie catcheshim easily, her laughter blending with his as he pops up, water streaming from his hair.
“Good jump!” I say, stopping at the pool’s edge.
Robbie beams, paddling toward the shallow end with Annie’s help.
“Cole,” she says softly, a little breathy.
“Annie,” I reply, my eyes flicking to hers and then, briefly, to the exposed skin of her shoulders. She flushes again, and I suppress the urge to smirk.
“How was your day?” she asks, her tone polite.
“Long,” I admit, rolling up my sleeves as I crouch by the edge of the pool. “But better now.”