Page 10 of Bully Wolf’s Nanny (Silvermist Wolves #1)

“Again, we’re all so delighted to have you back, Nicolas. Things just weren’t the same without you!”

Nicolas hummed in agreement, only half paying attention to his overzealous chief financial officer in favor of rechecking the contracts they were sending out to a series of small but, given more time to grow, potentially threatening companies across the country.

Luckily enough, Nicolas had never come across a rival he hadn’t been able to buy out.

Flash enough cash and the founders of any growing competitors were all too happy to sign over their firms.

It also probably helped that he had a reputation for being somewhat ruthless in his business practices. If a company refused to sell, he would simply buy out its entire supply chain and choke its lifeblood until its shares were driven into the ground and he could buy it out for decidedly less.

“I mean, this merger idea with Harper Inc! What a way to break into the European market! You’ve only been back three weeks and already our share prices are up again!” Leonard rubbed his hands together, his small eyes crinkling in delight.

“You were right, Leonard,” Nicolas said, his fingers drumming against the desk, “I’d been gone too long.”

Leonard pushed back from his chair with the contented sigh of a well-fed cat, rising to amble to the floor-to-ceiling windows of Nicolas’s office on the sixty-eighth floor, towering well above New York City.

The sun was setting, the twinkling lights of the metropolis sparking to life, the city that never sleeps ready to roll over into night.

“We just need to get you all moved in and settled here so you can be in the office more often! It’s so good for morale—"

“I already told you,” Nicolas growled, leaning back in his chair, “I’m not leaving Silvermist. That’s where my daughter is. Where my pack is.”

Leonard deflated slightly under the weight of Nicolas’ glare, his hands folding over themselves.

The man had not gotten where he was for any particular ruthless business acumen.

Many would gladly kill for his role, but Nicolas had no patience whatsoever for posturing alphas with a point to prove.

He wanted only the best. And when it came to the financials, Leonard Lewis was the best.

The fact that he was a human only ever bothered Nicolas when it came to the pack.

Leonard had never understood why Nicolas refused to move away from Iron Walker territory.

He thought that since Nicolas had managed college away from pack borders, there was no reason he couldn't move to New York City for his career.

“Of course,” Leonard said, sitting back down, “sorry, of course. You have to think about your daughter. How is the new nanny? Living up to expectations?”

The comment was utterly innocent, but at the mention of Daisy Nicolas couldn’t stop his jaw from clenching slightly.

Daisy had been working for him for a month now, and truth be told, he couldn’t even remember life before she had arrived.

She was an absolute natural, managing both Thea and Gracie with energy and kindness, keeping both girls entertained and happy from dawn until dusk.

Even when Nicolas had to travel to the office for a few days, members of the pack would message him that they’d seen Daisy in the park with the girls and all three seemed to be having the time of their lives.

They’d talk about how lovely Daisy was, what a good idea the nanny agency had been, what a sweet girl he’d found.

Nicolas already knew that. He’d known it from the moment she’d walked into the office. She was perfect to look after his daughter.

But that didn’t mean it hadn’t been absolute torture for him as well.

Ever since he had gifted her the piano, ever since she had nearly collided into his chest, her pink lips parted, her cheeks flushed, he couldn’t get her scent out of his mind.

It was driving him crazy.

The worst part was, she didn’t even know it. She breezed through his house, her perfume lingering on the air, with gentle grace and innocence. She played the piano. She sprawled across cushions in front of the fire, reading the girls a story. She baked them all goddamn apple pies.

He wasn’t sure how much longer he could bear it. His wolf howled within him at every flutter of her long lashes, every flash of her dimples as she smiled at the antics of one of the girls, every small breath she sucked in when their eyes met.

But she had run from him. That night, in the kitchen, as he held her trembling form, he knew they were on the edge of something. All she had to do was reach forward and take it. But she hadn’t. She had turned away from him.

And he would not cross the boundary she had laid out in doing so. No matter how much he wanted to.

“She’s…she’s fine. Excellent. The agency is…very well reviewed.”

Leonard nodded. “Will you be going back to Silvermist tonight or will you stay for Friday night drinks? I believe it’s Martin’s turn to pick a restaurant.”

“Give them my apologies,” Nicolas said, rising to his feet, “but I think I’ll go back tonight. Would you ask Lara to call my car round?”

Leonard nodded again, and after bidding him goodnight, left to join whatever frivolity the rest of the C-suite had planned. Nicolas knew he should join them. Daisy wasn’t expecting him back until Saturday morning. But he suddenly felt he couldn’t bear to be in New York City for one moment longer.

***

If Daisy was surprised to see him back early, she didn’t mention it.

Instead, she just smiled politely and laid out another place at the table for him.

Gracie had already gone to bed and Nicolas had poked his head into her room to hear her snuffling softly in her cot, but Thea was allowed to stay up slightly later, given it was a Friday.

“So how was school?” Nicolas asked her as he dug into the roast chicken and vegetables Daisy had pulled out of the oven.

“It was fine,” Thea said, wrinkling her nose slightly, “though I wish the teacher would go a bit faster. I just have to sit around and wait after I’ve finished doing the exercises.”

“I’m sure Mr. Roberts is just giving the other children time to finish as well,” said Daisy, taking a sip of wine. “You could always read your book?’

“I finished my book.”

“Well then we can pick out another one tomorrow, how about that?”

“Or the other kids could just be faster,” Thea muttered into her peas.

Nicolas couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled out of him at her petulance, even as Daisy shot him a withering look.

“What? I understand her frustration. It isn’t easy being the smartest in class.”

“Yes, I’m sure it was utter misery for you,” Daisy muttered, glaring at her plate.

“From what I remember, you were also a bit of a bookworm.”

She glanced up, her eyebrows knitting together slightly.

She looked completely lovely, but of course she did.

She was wearing a lilac dress that hugged her curves and flared out at the waist, and a matching ribbon in her hair.

At the office, Nicolas was surrounded by women who wore sharp suits and dangerous stilettos, hair meticulously slicked back into buns, all harsh lines and angles.

And Nicolas appreciated it, because it was the same uniform he himself wore, albeit the female version. Sleek and dangerous and deadly.

Daisy was none of those things. She was warmth and softness and curves and sweetness.

“Mommy’s really clever,” Thea boasted, “she helps me with all my sums. Even multiplication.”

Daisy rolled her eyes, but smiled at her daughter. “Soon you won’t need my help at all.”

“Have you thought about a private tutor?” Nicolas asked suddenly, observing the intelligent little girl currently poking her carrots around the plate.

Daisy looked at him in surprise. “Of course! I mean, some of her teachers recommended it to me, but…well…they’re so expensive.”

“I’ll ask around and get her a tutor for after school.”

“Nicolas, that’s—"

“If you say ‘too much,’ I shall be very annoyed with you.”

She at least had the good grace to blush, dipping her head slightly. “It really is too much.”

Nicolas put down his fork, his fingers steepling as he leveled Thea with his most serious look. She puffed her chest out and matched his gaze, little arms crossing in defiance.

“Thea, what would you say to a business deal?”

Her eyebrows shot up, and she glanced nervously at her mother before rediscovering her courage, nodding her head seriously at him. “I would say thank you very much.”

“You haven’t heard what it is yet.”

“Oh. Yeah. What is it?”

“If I agree to get you to a private tutor to teach you more about sums and language and history, will you agree to help me with my pack business contracts?”

Thea chewed her lip, eyes screwing in concentration. “…Business contracts?”

“Yes. Every now and again you’d come with me to pack meetings, and help me choose the best deals. Like whether we should choose red curtains or green for the hotel rooms.”

“Green. Definitely green.”

“And you would have to listen very carefully, make notes, and learn big new words. Now, do you think you can handle that?”

Thea nodded almost violently, eyes already shining with delight at the prospect of what she no doubt considered ultimate power. “Deal! You have a deal!”

“Very well,” Nicolas shook her hand smartly, trying his best to hide his grin, “in that case, I shall find a tutor for you to start next week.”

“Yay!” Thea shouted, scrambling down from her chair. “Mommy, can I go choose some books now? For my new tutor?”

Nicolas was immensely gratified to see Daisy’s jaw nearly on the floor. She blinked a few times before nodding in a daze at her daughter, watching as she skipped off up to her room.

“I don’t think you realize what you’ve just done.”