Page 27 of Learn Your Lesson

“It won’t interfere with work,” she assured me. “But… I would feel terrible for you paying my rent.”

“Don’t,” I said immediately. “I want you to keep your space.”

“Just in case you fire me?” she teased.

I didn’t answer — but honestly….yeah, that was exactly what I was thinking. Right now, Chloe was great. But I’d thought other nannies were great, too.

My trust meter was permanently stuck at negative one at this point.

When I didn’t answer, Chloe chuckled, sliding off her barstool and folding her arms over her chest. She tucked her hands tightly in the crevices like she was afraid of what they’d do unchecked.

“When do you want me to move in?”

“This weekend would be ideal.”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, but then she nodded. “I think we can make that happen. Oh, but I do haveonecondition that’s absolutely non-negotiable.”

“Name it.”

She grinned, stepping a little closer to me — enough that my nostrils flared, hands flexing with the want to reach out and touch her again.

“I won’t be the only resident in that pool house.”

I arched a brow, trying not to show any emotion, but the moment realization dawned on me, it became nearly impossible.

So shedidhave a boyfriend.

Maybe it was so new she didn’t want to tell me before, or maybe she didn’t feel like she needed to, but now that she knew she’d be staying here, she had no choice.

It made absolutely zero fucking sense that jealousy licked at my spine. I didn’twanther — not like that. I wanted a reliable, uninterested nanny who would take care of Ava and leave me the hell alone.

And yet…

I cleared my throat. “That won’t be a problem.”

“Oh, are you sure?” Chloe asked, smirking.

She reached for her phone in the pocket of her robe, holding the screen toward me.

And where she laughed, I groaned — not sure if this was better or worse than what I’d been assuming.

Staring back at me from that mirror-like screen in her hand were three asshole cats.

Exactly Zero Interest

Chloe

The weekend flew by in a tornado of boxes and helping hands, both Friday and Sunday filled with Will and his teammates moving boxes for me whenever they didn’t have practice or a game.

Their schedule was insane. Friday was a day off after the Boston game, and then they flew out for their away game on Saturday. They returned Sunday morning and still had practice even after the game and travel.

It made sense why he wanted me to move in. How the hell could he take care of himself with a schedule like this, let alone a five-year-old?

I’d tried to help with the unloading, but no sooner would I grab a box than a big, burly hockey player would quickly take it from me — usually with a wink, a smirk, and a reassurance that I should just relax.

Vince Tanev was there, whom I remembered was engaged to Maven. Jaxson Brittain was also helping, and I learned that he was dating Grace — Vince’s sister. Butapparently Grace loved to travel, and so when Maven and Livia came over on Sunday afternoon with a large basket of wine, cheese, and fruit, Grace didn’t accompany them.

“Okay, when Will said he was moving you into the pool house, I was worried,” Maven said when she set the basket on the kitchenette counter. She looked around appreciatively. “But this is more like a penthouse.”