Page 7

Lux

“S o you do know me.”

As if I could forget you.

I let out a scoff, my hand coming to trace the neckline of her dress. I shouldn’t be touching the nanny. But my hand had a mind of its own. I wanted my little angel back. I wanted her more than I'd wanted anyone else in my life.

And she was right there. Tempting me with what I couldn't have.

Maybe this was the universe getting back at me. Or teaching me a lesson by dangling everything I ever wanted right in front of me and watching as I struggled to keep my hands to myself.

“ Biblically ,” I spat. “The real question is why the fuck are you trying to infiltrate my life? Was my million dollars not enough for you? You have to get on my payroll as well? Or maybe you’re secretly in love with me.”

Okay, fine, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

Her face twisted, her breathing deepened. There was a beautiful bit of red spreading over her face and neck.

I didn't care about the million dollars. I didn't give a single shit about it. Yeah, I thought it was a little weird that she was still taking this nanny job after getting all that money, but I wasn’t mad about it.

Whatever else was going on in her life had made it so she was right here with me again.

“I’m on the agency’s payroll. Get it right.”

Oh, the little kitten has claws.

I was excited about this development. Our time in the club hadn’t given me enough of her. She’d been running rampant through my mind ever since, but in my fantasies, she was still the submissive, perfect little angel.

Apparently, she could bite back. And it made me want her even more.

I cursed myself for it.

Regardless, she was back in my life. Reward or punishment, and for how long, was yet to be seen.

With all that in mind, was it even appropriate to keep her as a nanny?

My brain told me it was an immediate no. That I should throw her out and make good on my promise to sue the shitty nanny agency that just couldn’t seem to get it right. Nothing good would come out of this obvious conflict of interest.

Plus, how would I be able to keep things professional?

She’s the last chance Bella has. I have. We have.

Her breath hitched as I placed my hands on the counter on either side of her. Closing in. Fuck. I couldn’t stop myself. All I could think about was hoisting her up on the cool marble, ripping her panties off, and feasting on her cunt like I’d done back in the club.

Is she wet for me right now?

The look on her face was deceiving. She was angry. Obviously, with my comments, I expected nothing less.

But there was also that blush.

The one that made me want to tease her even more. The one that told me she was probably enjoying this a little bit more than she should.

I knew she wanted me too. She didn't have to say it; it was written all over her. It made it worse.

“I’m keeping your shitty company in business.” My voice lowered. “Do you know how many nannies I’ve been through? You were supposed to be my last chance, so you can imagine my surprise when, out of all the people in the world, you show up at my doorstep.”

She puffed up at that before placing her hand on my chest and giving me a slight push. The warmth of her hand seeped into my skin and had shivers bursting out from where she touched me. I wanted to lean into it.

Instead, I let her push me away.

“I’m qualified,” she said, even more annoyed, like she took it personally. “Just because we met under unusual circumstances?—”

“A sex club? No, not unusual at all.”

She raised a brow at me. There was that attitude again. My hands itched to push up her dress. Maybe even put her over my knee and really punish her for those words.

“Is that judgment I hear? From the same person who spent a million dollars to get laid? What? Couldn’t get anyone to do it willingly?”

As angry as I was, her little comeback was funny to me.

“I don’t care what you do in your free time,” I replied. “Nor should my extracurriculars be of any concern to you.”

She let out a scoff and shook her head.

“You’re unbelievable,” she murmured, then turned to me with a glare. “Listen, I said I needed this job. Again, I have references. I’m good at it. I’m sorry I messed up with Bella, but I know I can do this.”

Her eyes never wavered from mine, that determination shining through like a beacon.

I should shut her down. I wanted to. It was the best thing to do in this scenario.

I bit my inner cheek and took another step back, which was a mistake. It allowed me to really look at her, finally taking in the sinful dress she was wearing. I wanted to stop myself, but I couldn’t.

How can something so flowery and girly look so delectable on her?

It hugged her breasts and hips but fanned out, showing me the outline of her body. A body I knew so well. It would be so easy to push the thin fabric up, reach into her panties, slip my fingers into her?—

“Maybe it’s you who’s secretly in love with me,” she said as she stepped past me with a smirk. “Try and keep it professional, hm?”

Her quip had shock and arousal shooting through me, and desire made me lightheaded. My traitor hand moved on its own again, meaning to grab her hip, but I shoved it in my pocket and grabbed my phone instead. The pile of messages brought me back to reality.

Right. I need her. I could figure out what to do with her after work. I couldn't waste any more time, not after I had promised them I would be there today.

There was a light shuffle that made me turn to the hallway leading to Bella’s room, and I was surprised to see her standing at the corner. Eavesdropping. If she were anyone else, I would be annoyed. I just hoped she hadn’t seen anything… compromising. By the look on her face, I didn’t think so.

“Are you firing her?” Bella asked, a frown on her face. “I can’t hear from here.”

“Then why don’t you come closer and find out for yourself?”

The slight curiosity that lit Bella’s face had hope shining in my chest. It gave me a little peek at who she had been before the accident.

Just for now. I’ll figure out something better soon. I promise. I tried to convey it with my gaze, but when she got to me, she looked up at Juliette like she was an intruder. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had been like this with all the nannies.

Juliette leaned down to her level, something only a few nannies had done before. She didn't have to give me her references. It was clear to me, even if she hadn't looked at the file, that she had been around a lot of kids.

“I apologize, Bella. I really didn’t know, and that’s totally my bad. Can you forgive me?”

Bella’s cheeks puffed out and she looked up at me for reassurance.

I gave her a short nod.

“People make mistakes,” I said, sending Juliette a look. “No matter how thoroughly you try to prepare them.”

Juliette’s face twitched at the obvious slight.

“Yeah, I mean, you’re obviously not my mom,” Bella added. “All the other ones could tell. Why not this one?” She leaned closer to me. “I think this one should be fired.”

I was desperately trying to keep a straight face. Bella had been around me long enough to become a very cutthroat eight-year-old.

“We will do a trial run,” Juliette said with a clap of her hands. She sent Bella a smile that didn’t convey her feelings at the situation. “How about this: you give me one day. One day where we can do anything you want, and if you’re still unhappy, I’ll just quit. How about that?”

My heart jumped in my chest. She should quit now. That would be the best-case scenario for all of us.

But something inside me hoped that she would still be here when I came back from work. Actually, something inside me hoped for a lot more than that, but I couldn't let myself recklessly go there.

Professional, remember?

Bella gave her a hesitant look.

“Adventureland?” she asked.

Juliette looked at me. Bella had never wanted to go to Adventureland, so I knew she was just trying to push the boundaries. Because of everything that had happened, she had been going to school on and off, and she didn’t need to go today. Technically, she could do whatever she wanted.

“If you want.”

Bella pouted. “Gardening?”

“I love to garden,” Juliette replied.

Bella’s frown deepened. I could see what she was trying to do, and it was hard to keep the smile from my face now.

“Running?”

Juliette shifted her feet to show Bella her tennis shoes. “All set and ready.”

“Swimming?” she asked. “You don’t have a bathing suit.”

“No, but I can watch you.”

“That’s not fun,” Bella shot back with a frown. “You won’t have fun.”

Juliette gave her a smile. “What are you talking about? I get to spend the day with the coolest kid in New York. I’d say that’s pretty fun to me.”

Bella tried not to show it, but her face lit up at the compliment.

“Well…” She hesitated for only a second. “Then I guess I can start by showing you my cartwheels. I can do them one-handed.”

Juliette stood and held out her hand for Bella as she said, “That’s so cool! I can’t wait to see it.”

Bella looked at her hand critically before taking off to the backyard. When I looked back at Juliette, she was wearing a satisfied smile. One that had my heart skipping a beat in my chest.

“Told you I could do it.”

I straightened and put my phone back in my pocket. “Awesome. Then I’ll be off. You have my number if you need anything. At least I hope your good-for-nothing agency gave you that.”

Her sheepish look told me they didn’t.

I held out my hand, silently asking for her phone. When she took it out, it was, of course, covered in a bulky, pink phone case. When she unlocked it for me and handed it to me, I noticed her wallpaper was a photo of her and a teenager.

They seemed close. Their faces were smooshed together, smiling widely at the camera. Juliette looked maybe a couple of years younger in it, and I almost asked her about it.

I wanted to, but I had to keep this professional. So I put my number in and gave it back.

Her lips twitched at the contact name.

“ Lux Sterling . I thought you’d go with something else.”

“Like what?”

She shrugged. “Since you’re so convinced I’m in love with you, maybe Secret crush or Most handsome woman on the planet .”

I was annoyed at how well she knew me even after just a single night together, especially one where we didn’t really talk. If this were any other situation, I would definitely add my number under something cute and flirty. Maybe The only woman who knows how to make me come .

But this is not any other situation, is it?

“ Sir will also do.”

I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t add, As you well know , and was more than pleased when her cheeks reddened again.

“Juliette! Look!”

Bella’s call was the thing I needed to snap me back to reality. Right, no flirting with the nanny.

“Text me if there’s anything.”

“We will be fine,” she assured me. I nodded and turned to leave, but her voice stopped me.

“Lux.”

My name slipping from her lips had a shiver running up my spine, and I had to suppress it as I turned to her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “For getting it wrong. For not being prepared and… for your loss.”

A sudden wave of grief hit me like a truck. It felt especially worse because it looked like she actually cared.

So I just nodded and walked out of the house.