Page 68 of All the Forbidden Things

He frowns, looking a bit upset that I’d not think him funny. I would ask if I’ve hurt his feelings and if he needs a cuddle, but he’s my boss, and that might be considered a tad inappropriate.

“Don’t worry about a coffee machine, I’ll get you one. Anything else you need?”

“Just my clothes, which I’ve messaged Mel about, and I need to sort out a car.”

His dark brows pull down into a deeper frown. “Car?” he asks.

“Yeah, metal box, engine, four wheels . . .”

“Full of it this morning, Bamm, you always this much of an arsehole before coffee?” he asks, his brows getting even more of a workout as they rise towards his hairline.

“Yes,” I answer honestly. “But I do need to get a car. I sold mine years ago before I left for college.”

“Why’d you need a car?”

“BecauseIneedone. What if I want to leave the house or take Layla out somewhere?”

“If you leave the house with Layla, then Micky will take you. You don’t go anywhere with Layla without Micky or one of his boys being with you.”

I’m not sure how I feel about that, does he not trust me?

“I’d never . . .” I start, sounding obviously affronted.

“It’s not about you, Bamm. I trustyouwith my daughter. It’s the paps and the psycho’s I don’t trust. You goanywhereoutside of this house with Layla, you go with security, andthey’llbe driving you in one of my cars.”

Fair enough.

“Well, I’m assuming I’ll get a day off, what about when I want to go out on my own? I’ll need a car then.”

“Take mine.”

“What? I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can. I’ve got two Land Rovers and a Merc in the garage, what’s the point of you buying another car that’ll just sit on the drive? I’ll talk to Gaynor and get you added to the insurance. You know what? You might need security yourself for a little while. The press are nosy, they’re gonna try and get to me through you. I don’t want you driving while that lot are chasing you. I want you safe.”

He wants me safe.

My cheeks burn . . . and maybe some other parts of me.

I’ve had cameras shoved in my face most of my life. I’ve been in a car, driving with Mel when a photographer followed us on the back of a motorbike. He came up the side of the car and tried to take photos of her as she drove with Kenzie and me in the back. She was terrified, and I think Kenz and I picked up on her fear and started crying. That was years ago though.

Are the press still really so interested in the band?

I give him a quick nod. “Okay,” I agree.

“Okay, now let's go get some coffee.”

We spend the morning goingover what Max expects of me. He’s very laid back about everything, I’m happy with everything he expects, but when he tells me what the position pays, I have to object.

“Max, no. I don’t expect special treatment. That’s double the average wage for a live-in nanny in London.”

“Bamm, argue all you like. Living in London is expensive, I won’t be comfortable paying you any less.”

He laces his fingers together behind his head and leans back in the kitchen chair opposite mine. Stretching his legs out in front of him, he raises his brows, and stares at me, apparently waiting on a response. All the while, I take in his lean frame, ink-covered arms, stubble-covered chin and jaw, and those impressive eyes of his. The ache I went to sleep with down low in my belly last night is still there. If anything, I’m even more hyperaware of it while in his presence.

I cross my legs under the table, enjoying the friction between them the movement creates, and lean my elbows on the table. I rest my chin in my hand and study him right back. It’s weird being around Max so casually. I kinda know him, but I don’t. He’s known me all of my life, but he doesn’t really know me at all, and yet I still feel entirely at ease and comfortable in his presence.

I note his eyebrows are still raised and realise he’s waiting on a response. I don’t need his money. If I didn’t want to, I don’t actually need to work. I’m wealthy in my own right. My parents left me a decent inheritance, plus, they were well insured. Cal has handled my money since they died and has used his people to invest it wisely. Even in the current economic climate, I’m set for life. I definitely don’t need Max paying me double the going rate for a nannying position.