Page 10 of Don’t Fall for the Billionaire

Chapter Ten

Ashton

After my meeting, I met Charlie for lunch at il Buco.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Cross. Your friend is already here. Follow me.” The cute hostess smiled.

She led me outside to their patio and over to the table where Charlie sat.

“It's about time.” He glanced at his watch.

“I'm ten minutes late.” I removed my suitcoat and hung it over the back of the chair.

“How did the meeting with Price go?” he asked.

“It went well. He's selling us the property.”

“Excellent.” He grinned. “I took the liberty of ordering you a scotch. It should be here any minute.”

“Thanks.” I opened the menu.

The server walked over and set our drinks down.

“Are you ready to order?” she asked.

“I'll have the Pomodoro,” I said, shutting my menu.

“I'll have the same.” Charlie smiled.

“Excellent. It should be up shortly.” She walked away.

“So, how's it going with the new hot nanny?” A smirk crossed Charlie's lips. “Did you fuck her yet?”

“Come on, Charlie.” I sighed. “No, I didn't, and I won't. Eloise really seems to like Charlotte.”

“I'm sure anyone is better than that witch Maura.” He tipped his drink to his lips.

“She wasn't that bad.”

“She was a bitch, and she was mean to Eloise. I witnessed it firsthand.” He pointed at me.

“She was a little rough around the edges, but I wouldn't say she was mean to her.”

“And how would you know? You weren't ever around.”

“I'm really sick of people saying that. Charlotte made a snide comment when I told her I was going out tonight. And then she said that Eloise told her she wished I were home more.”

“Is that so unreasonable? A little girl needs her father, Ashton. I've been telling you that for the last eight years.”

“I am there for her. But I have a life too.”

“You sound like your father.” His brow arched.

I sighed, tipping the glass to my lips.

When I arrived home from the office, I walked into the kitchen and found Charlotte and Eloise sitting at the table eating dinner.

“Hi, sweetheart.” I walked over and kissed Eloise's head.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Charlotte.” I nodded.

“Ashton.”

“I'm going to take a shower before I head out,” I said, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “How was school today, sweetheart?”

“Fine.” Her tone was flat.

I looked at Charlotte, and she shrugged. I went up to shower. When I was finished, I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. That's when I noticed a text message from Samantha.

I'm sorry, but I have to cancel our date. I'm sick as a dog. It came out of nowhere when I was shopping this afternoon. Send help.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. We'll reschedule when you're feeling better.

You can still come over and take care of me.

I can't afford to get sick, and neither can Eloise. I'll be in touch. Feel better.

I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt and went downstairs.

“Wow. It must be a pretty casual date if you're wearing that,” Charlotte said, loading the dishwasher.

“My date got cancelled. She's sick. Where's Eloise?”

“Taking a bath. We're going to play a game when she's finished. Would you like to join us?”

“No. I'll be in my office working. Is there any more of that pasta left?”

“Yes. Would you like me to make you a plate?”

“Please,” I said, sitting at the table.

“I thought you were going out,” Eloise said, walking into the kitchen.

“Change of plans,” I said.

“Come on, Charlotte. Let's play that game now.”

“Go set it up in the living room, and I'll be there in a few minutes. I'm fixing a plate for your dad.” She smiled.

“Why can't he do it himself?”

“Eloise, do what Charlotte says.”

“Whatever.” She turned and stomped out of the kitchen.

“What the hell is her problem?” I looked at Charlotte.

“I have no idea. She's been fine all day.” She set the plate of pasta down in front of me.

After I ate, I went into my office and did some work. A while later, Eloise walked in.

“I'm going to bed.”

“Okay. I'll be up in a minute to tuck you in.”

“You don't have to. Charlotte is.” She turned and walked away.

I sat there with furrowed brows, wondering what the hell was going on with her.

An hour had passed, and I'd finished working. I wanted to go for an evening swim, so I changed into my swim trunks and went down to the pool. Little did I know that Charlotte was in there.

“Oh, I didn't know you were down here,” I said, grabbing a towel.

“Is that a problem?” she stared up at me.

“Not at all.” I climbed into the pool and did a couple of laps, trying to avoid staring at her sexy bikini-clad body.

Too late. I couldn't help it. My eyes widened as I gazed at her bright pink bikini, the color popping against her tanned skin.

Her wet hair was slicked back, accentuating her beautiful facial features.

My cock began to rise. Thank God, I could hide it under water.

“I'll leave you to your swim,” she said, climbing out of the pool.

“You don't have to leave. In fact, let's sit in the hot tub for a while so I can get to know you better.”

“Get to know me better?” Her brow arched.

“Yes.” I smiled. “After all, you are my daughter's nanny.”

“Don't you think you should have gotten to know me before hiring me?” She climbed back into the pool. “I mean. You basically hired a complete stranger. You didn't ask for references, and you didn't do a background check as far as I know.”

“Eloise connected with you, and that was all I needed,” I said, climbing out of the pool and into the hot tub. “God, this feels good.”

Charlotte climbed in and sat across from me.

“So, how long have you been taking care of children?” I asked.

“Oh, about a day and a half.” A smirk crossed her sexy lips.

“What?” My brows furrowed. “You told me you had a lot of experience with children.”

“It doesn't mean I worked as a nanny before coming here. I was an executive secretary and lost my job when my boss, who was embezzling money, closed the doors without warning. Apparently, he's on the run now from the FBI.”

“Seriously? Have you always lived in New York?”

“No. I moved here about a year and a half ago from Connecticut after my mother passed away.”

“I'm sorry for your loss. What about your father?”

“My father died when I was five. He went for his daily morning run and had a massive heart attack on the street.”

“I'm sorry to hear that. He couldn't have been very old,” I said.

“He was thirty-five. My mom told me he was a health freak. He always took great care of himself by eating healthy and running every day.”

“I guess when your time is up, it's up. Did your mother ever remarry?”

“No. She dated on and off over the years, but he was the love of her life, and she never completely got over his death. Tell me about your parents.”

“This conversation isn't about me. It's about you. When I want you to know something, I'll tell you.”

“Okay, then,” she said. “I'm sorry for your loss.”

“What loss?” My brows furrowed.

“Eloise's mother. I'm sure her death shook you.”

“Eloise's mother and I were not in love.

Eloise was conceived one drunken night when I was too inebriated even to know what I was doing.

I was enraged when Sara told me she was pregnant.

The last thing I needed in my life was to raise a kid.

My father had just left me in charge of the company here while he moved to Los Angeles.

Sara told me that she didn't want anything from me and that I didn't need to be a part of Eloise's life.

But I still sent her monthly checks and visited Eloise once a month.

I'm not that much of a bastard. Then Sara suddenly passed away in her sleep one night, and Eloise was sent to live with me.”

“What was the cause of death? She was so young.”

“The coroner's report stated she had an undiagnosed heart condition.”