Page 10

Juliette

I sat in my beat-up Honda looking up at the mansion Lux Sterling lived in.

I had thought long and hard about if I was going to come back today.

It would be best not to. Especially with what had happened between us. And what I still want to happen. When she had me up against the counter, I wanted nothing more than to relive our night right then and there.

It was highly inappropriate, and I was glad I had found the strength to push her away. Fucking my boss was far from what I usually considered morally allowable.

I needed the job. And I felt like her grieving niece needed me too.

I don’t know how you did it , Lux said last night. That meant I was doing something right for this little girl.

So I was going to go in there, be the best nanny I could be to Bella, and leave.

No flirting with Lux. No touching. And definitely no fucking her.

Just as I was going to force myself out of the car, my phone buzzed with a message from Lucas.

My chest started to warm, and when I opened it, tears sprang to my eyes.

Lucas

So… This just came in the mail.

It was the first of what I knew would be his many acceptance letters. Finally. Things were looking up for us. After our parents’ accident, it was just the two of us. We were the only ones we could rely on.

But taking care of a kid while still being a teenager wasn’t easy. Our aunt had custody of us—well, him—and there wasn’t much I could do except make empty promises, like paying his way to college.

It was what enticed me to go to the auction in the first place. For him. I wanted him to have the life that I didn’t get to have. I didn’t get to go to school. I didn’t get to find a good job. I wouldn’t be able to create a career for myself.

I was too busy trying to figure out what I was going to do with all the debt that was suddenly in my name. At first, they didn't try and give it to a minor, but once I turned eighteen, suddenly all these bills started showing up.

The ambulance. The life-saving medical treatment that had been given to my parents that ultimately failed.

We had waited weeks for them to do everything they could.

One would suddenly do better and there was hope, then the other would crash.

After playing tug-of-war with their lives, the doctors that promised they would try their best stood in front of seventeen-year-old me and said there was nothing else they could do.

Moments later, my aunt was handed a bill, which was then promptly handed to me. An early birthday present from her.

A massive debt that detailed every single insanely expensive treatment that did nothing but prolong my and my brother’s pain.

I had read it over and over. Fought the insurance company on duplicate and inflated charges.

But their grubby little fingers were trying to claw out every single cent I owned and would ever make.

I tried. I went to community college and tried to get my general education done, but after not even a semester, I realized that I was paying a lot for very little and I would have to do it for four years.

That's when it hit me that it would probably be better for me to start saving for Lucas's college fund instead of my own. Seeing that dream come true for him now was more than I could've ever imagined.

I typed back a quick message.

Me

Congrats! You and I have a date at TGIFs tomorrow!

I would officially be telling him I would pay for his college. I didn't really know how I was going to explain it yet, but I would figure something out before then. I really didn't want to tell him the truth.

I tried not to let myself feel any shame about selling myself at an auction, but it was hard. Not just because of society, but my aunt had always been pretty vocal about making sure I stayed a pure woman .

Those words always cut a little bit deeper.

I did what I had to do, and I would do it again.

I forgot everything else and focused solely on Lucas and the bright future ahead of him. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face.

Lucas

Actually, I’m staying over at a friend’s place. Can you pick me up from school Friday?

Don’t need anything fancy. A congratulatory boba will do.

Disappointment sprouted in my chest, but I was happy he was getting out with someone his own age. It’d been a while since I heard him talk about any friends. After the accident, he had kept to himself. Even more so after we were separated.

Me

You got it!

I would have to ask Lux for the time off, but I could deal with that later. I let myself sit in the warm feelings of pride that swam in my chest. I was almost giddy with it. I couldn't believe that my brother was actually going to make it, and I was going to help him get there.

I let myself have one more lingering moment before I got my stuff together. Time to turn off my sister brain and turn on the nanny brain.

Pushing myself out of the car, I rushed to the house. I had spent a little bit too long in the car and was now worried about the time.

I knocked on the door, but no one came to answer, so after a moment’s hesitation, I tried to open the door. Unlocked. Seriously?

I peered in and could hear Lux and Bella in the kitchen before I could see them.

“She’s finishing breakfast, come in,” Lux said.

“Juliette! I saved you a Mickey pancake.”

I pushed into the house with a smile on my face. When I finally turned the corner, I spotted both Lux and Bella at the island countertop. Bella had a plate of half-finished food in front of her, while Lux only had a coffee and an iPad.

Lux’s hair fell slightly into her face, missing its usual gel. Her suit had been replaced by a casual sweater and slacks that she somehow made look even sexier.

“This one’s for you!”

Bella stabbed her fork into a pancake that looked nothing like the cartoon mouse. Probably because there was a huge bite taken out of it.

“Can you help me eat it? I’m stuffed,” I said and patted my belly. “I had a very yummy green smoothie.”

Bella made a gagging noise. “Gross!”

She took no time shoving the rest of the pancake into her mouth.

I could see that she was still eyeing the sweet treat.

Bella was trying to be nice, but I could see how much she actually wanted it.

I didn't really have a green smoothie, nor was I one of those who enjoyed it, but I would feel like shit if I took her pancake.

“You’re early,” Lux noted. When I looked at her, her eyes were already digging into mine.

“I wanted to spend some time learning the morning routine,” I replied with a smile. “Plus, I hate being anything other than early. Even being on time stresses me out.”

Lux made a noise deep in her throat before turning back to her iPad.

Okay …

“Are we wearing our princess pajamas to school today?” I said to Bella, noticing her wild hair and clothes.

We had time, but not enough to wrestle her into something else if she chose to be difficult.

“No!” It came out as an offended gasp before she started shoving food into her mouth. I couldn’t help but smile at her haste.

“How about I do your hair while you finish?” I offered.

Her eyes widened, and she nodded.

“Do you know how to do fishtail braids?”

“Do I know?” I scoffed. “You’re looking at the world’s best braider. French, fish, double-crossed with a bow, I can do them all!”

Her smile got wider and wider. I took it as my cue to go to her room and nab the brush. There was no spray bottle, but I’d make do with the kitchen sink. I needed to get one and some leave-in conditioner since Lux was severely lacking hair products.

“We’re going with a fishtail then?” I asked as I came back and stood behind her, lightly fanning out her hair to see the damage.

“Two, please!”

I started by brushing it a little, but there was a stubborn part that just kept sticking up, so I wet my hands at the kitchen sink.

Once I patted the water into the affected spot, it was easier to manipulate her hair into a braid.

As crazy as it looked, she didn’t have too many knots, which I was grateful for.

“Oh, shoot! I forgot the hair ties,” I muttered as I got to the end of one.

“I’ll get it,” Lux said, standing. I shot her a smile.

“The small clear ones, if you have them. Or maybe a bow. Would you like that?”

I leaned over to see a frown on Bella’s face.

“We don’t have bows,” she replied with a pout.

Ah, I see. Lux wasn’t really attuned to little girl needs.

“No problem. Lux can get me what you have, and maybe after school you and I can go on a hair tie and bow shopping spree?”

Lux came back with the hair ties, and once I had Bella’s braid done, something else was handed to me.

A shiny black card.

“Use this today,” she said, her voice low. I looked up at her, shocked.

“It’s a few bows,” I whispered. “Not really worthy of a black card.”

Lux gave me a look.

“Everything Bella needs is worthy of a black card.”

Something in my chest warmed at her declaration. Maybe I was wrong about Lux.

The worst part, though, was that it made me want her even more. In my line of work, I saw so many kids whose parents would never say something like that. And she wasn’t even the girl’s mom.

That single sentence had me rethinking everything and looking at her in a different light.

Shut it down.

Lux turned to the little girl. “Bella, time to go to school. Go get dressed.”

Bella gave her aunt the grumpiest look imaginable but still scooted off her chair and headed to her room.

“She’s a good kid,” I said when Bella left earshot. But when I looked up at her, my heart stopped in my chest.

Her hooded eyes were looking at me with an intensity that caught me off guard.

I’d almost forgotten that she wasn’t like every other parent I dealt with. That she was actually someone who had the ability to steal my breath from me with a single look. Who could make my knees weak with just the brush of her hand.

“I allowed you to come back,” she reminded me. “For Bella. She likes you.”