Page 17 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version

“Never be ashamed—”

“I’m not ashamed,” she says, lifting her chin higher. “I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. But after telling you all this... and after punching you...” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have come. I’m wasting your time.”

She tries to move out of my cage, but I don’t budge. She places a palm on my chest over my heart. Can she feel how fast it beats for her?

“I don’t care about the things you did.”

“You should.”

“Everything you did was for someone else. You protected your friend who was cheated on. You fought for reproductive rights. You sent a sex offender to the hospital and stopped him from groping other women at the bar.”

She raises a brow. “What about streaking through the halls of my high school?”

I smirk, the image of a naked Savannah crosses my thoughts.

“You’re totally picturing me naked right now, aren’t you?”

I shake my head. “Not at all. That would be quite inappropriate.”

She rolls her eyes and I remind myself that I can’t reprimand her for the action. Would she let me spank her? Tie her up so I can fuck her at a punishing pace?

“So… should I go?”

She flutters her eyes, nibbling on her lip. The urge to stare at her mouth overcomes me.

Is she doing that on purpose?

“No, Savannah. You haven’t said anything to change my mind.”

I finally release her, and point to where her food sits on the island.

“Finish eating.”

She nods and returns to her stool like an obedient good girl.

She hasn’t technically accepted the job, and I keep approaching the boundary line. It’s a test, and I keep waiting for one of us to fail and cross it.

You are a responsible adult, Reynold. You are perfectly capable of not thinking about fucking the nanny.

Once Savannah is done eating, she stands with her plate and coffee mug. I attempt to grab the dishes from her, but she twists out of my reach.

“I’ve got it.”

I’m not sure what to say as she goes to the sink to rinse them off. I’m usually the one taking care of others. Even when I have Eloise and Kelly over, I never allow them to help me clean up after breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

I would have done the same for Savannah, but she literally dodged me like a damn NFL player.

Why do I find it equally infuriating and sexy?

“Let me show you the rest of the penthouse,” I say the moment she closes the dishwasher.

“Wow, it’s… bright in here.” Savannah’s eyes scan the pink walls of Adeline’s room.

“Yeah. She’s been nagging me about repainting. She’s out of her princess phase and wants the pink walls and bedding gone. Her new favorite color is orange, and instead of dolls, she wants puzzles and art stuff because she loves drawing during art time at school.”

“What time is she done? I was hoping to see her today.”

“Four. You’re more than welcome to stay here for the next five hours.”