Page 15 of Rejected Nanny Mate (Crystal Creek Wolves #3)

And that's when the memory came back.

Drinks. Lots of them. Strawberry margaritas.

Cheeseburgers. Chocolate cake. And then.

..Joe. Carrying me up the stairs. Laying me down.

Getting me ready for bed. My cheeks flamed, and I slapped a hand over my eyes, groaning.

I didn't want to remember, but it was too late.

He'd seen me a complete drunken mess, and now we'd probably have to have a talk about it.

The worst part of the memory was twofold—Joe helping me get my pants off, and me pulling Joe into a near-kiss. He dodged and pressed his lips to my cheek instead, but I was still mortified.

And if that wasn't enough, I was supposed to be professional!

It had been a friendly dinner, nothing else.

I couldn't believe I'd almost made it something more.

I didn't know what the protocol was for this.

Should I go find him and apologize? Pretend it had never happened and just act normal?

Would he even bring it up, or would we both just ignore it?

My answer came just minutes later when the door to my bedroom opened, and Joe came in again.

The smell of hot coffee and cinnamon hit me hard, and my stomach rumbled, the faint feeling of nausea from earlier disappearing.

I reached for the tray he was holding without a word, but he wagged a finger at me and shoved yet another glass of water into my hands instead.

“Drink this first, and then you can have the good stuff.”

“You're an evil man,” I grumbled, but sipped the water obediently.

“Noted,” he smirked, watching as I drained the glass and gave it back. Then, finally, he relented, handing me the mug.

I took a sip and moaned. It was just coffee with cream, but it might as well have been ambrosia. I was even more sure I'd ascended to heaven when Joe laid the takeout box with a huge, gooey cinnamon roll inside on the table next to the bed.

“Breakfast of champions,” he chuckled, watching me dive in.

“Thank you,” I said around a mouthful.

Joe sat on the edge of the bed, closer to the end of it, so we weren't too close together, I noticed. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” I admitted, swallowing the bite of food. “A lot better, actually. Thank you. For everything. And sorry about...”

He waved his hand. “Don't worry about it, Gwen. Everyone gets a little tipsy and silly once in a while. And needs help getting out of their jeans.”

I flushed. “Right.”

“It's fine,” he assured me. “I just couldn't resist teasing you a little.”

“You didn't take advantage,” I pointed out, my voice softer.

His grin faded, and he looked dead serious. “I never would, Gwen. You can trust me.”

“I know.”

“You're special,” he said, his voice low and rough.

I didn't say anything. It wasn't that I didn't believe him. I did. I was just too scared to reply. If I'd opened my mouth, the words would have come tumbling out, and there was no way I could have said it. Not after he'd rejected me once already.

“So,” Joe cleared his throat. “Are you feeling up to a shift change? I can take Rosie, and you can go back to sleep if you need more rest. She's having a little snooze after breakfast, but I'm sure she'll be up soon enough.”

“I think I'll be okay,” I assured him.

“Really? Because you are one hell of a lightweight, Omega. I've never seen two frozen margaritas hit anyone that hard before.”

“Ugh, don't remind me,” I groaned, and his chuckle was low and deep. “You won't, will you? Please.”

“I won't mention the part where you begged me to lay down with you,” he grinned, “and the part where you almost pulled me onto the bed.”

“Joe,” I groaned, setting down my fork and burying my face in my hands. “Stop. Or I'm going to cry.”

He laughed and gently peeled my hands away from my face, scooting closer to reach me. “Rose is the only one allowed to cry over nothing in this house.”

“I'm so embarrassed.”

“Don't be,” he insisted. “Like I said, everyone gets a little carried away once in a while. It's just how life is.”

“You didn't,” I pointed out.

“Oh, yeah, because I was driving and responsible for your safety. That would have been really fucked up, Gwen. I didn't become an Alpha by taking risks like that.”

I don't know why I couldn't let it go. Maybe because no one had ever taken care of me like that before, and Joe wasn't even annoyed that I'd been so drunk.

He was joking about it, like it was no big deal, even though he'd had to basically undress me for bed.

I just didn't understand why he was being so sweet.

“Are you sure you aren't mad? It wasn't the best look for the woman tasked with watching your daughter, I'm sure.”

“You weren't on the clock,” he insisted. It was then that I realized he still had my hands in his, and he made no movement to let go of them. “It's not a big deal, Gwen. Seriously. Everyone has fun once in a while, and no one got hurt. Let it go.”

“Fine. But I'm going to thank you one more time, and you can't stop me. So thanks for breakfast.”

He smirked. “I thought I was an evil man.”

“Evil men can be kind sometimes,” I shot back, and Joe barked out a laugh. Hearing his genuine happiness made butterflies take flight in my stomach, and I wanted more of it, so I pressed on, teasing him more. “Are you evil, Joe?”

“Possibly.”

“So, how do I know you didn't get me drunk just so I'd reveal all my secrets?”

He smirked. “What secrets? How to make the best latte? Which alphabet flashcards are the most effective?”

“That's top-secret information, Alpha. No one must know.”

“Don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me, Gwen.”

We were sitting closer now, and neither of us seemed to notice. His scent was warm and spicy, and my stomach did a flip.

“Good,” I whispered, looking at him from under my lashes.

He released one of my hands, but only to use his thumb to swipe a crumb off my bottom lip.

When he licked the crumb off his thumb, my insides set ablaze, and I was hot all over.

To hell with the hangover—-what Joe was making me feel was the only thing on my mind.

He was so close now, a breath away, his gaze locked on mine. The moment was intimate and heavy, and my skin was so sensitive I felt every movement of the soft blankets against it.

“Gwen,” he whispered, his voice rough.

I was leaning forward, but so was he, and in a moment, his nose would be brushing against mine, and then his lips. I wanted him to kiss me so badly. Even though I'd told myself I would never ask him for it, now that he was offering, I was desperate.

Just as our mouths were a hair's breadth apart, a loud cry sounded from across the hall. Rose had woken and was letting her father and me know exactly what she thought of being alone in her crib.

“Shit,” Joe muttered, resting his forehead against mine.

“She's up,” I breathed.

“I'll go get her. Go ahead and eat.”

He disappeared out the door, and the spell was broken.

I slumped back against the pillows and ate the rest of my breakfast, trying not to focus on the fact that my heart was racing and my body was on fire.

I had a feeling I was in big trouble, and things between me and Joe were about to get a hell of a lot more complicated.

When Joe appeared a few moments later with a red-faced and angry Rose, he seemed almost abashed. “I think she heard us talking, and she only wants you.”

I set my empty cinnamon roll plate aside, pushed the coffee far away enough that her curious little hands couldn't grab it, and held out my arms. “Give her here.”

Joe sighed in relief, handing her over. The moment Rose was safely in my arms, her tears stopped.

“Well, hello, my little sunshine. Did you have a good nap?”

Her reply was a stream of babble that I took to mean yes, and Joe shook his head.

“You've got the touch. How the hell did you do that, Omega?”

“That's my actual secret,” I said, grinning. “And you'll never get it out of me.”

I held Rose for a little longer, letting her calm down after her crying jag, before handing her back to Joe so I could get dressed.

I turned on the shower as I picked out my clothes, and stepping beneath the hot water was akin to a religious experience.

The rest of the hangover disappeared like doves on the breeze, and I was left feeling clean, refreshed, and ready to take on the day.

Once dressed, I went downstairs and found Joe feeding Rose a jar of applesauce. My heart swelled when he smiled at her and wiped her little chin. She giggled and blew raspberries, and he did the same back, making her laugh harder.

“Having fun, Alpha?”

“The best,” he replied, turning his grin on me.

“Want some help?”

“Sure. Here, I'll wash her up, and you can take her.”

I helped him with her and watched as he cleaned her sticky fingers and face. He was so gentle and kind with her, and the love and affection was clear on his face. My heart swelled.

“I still can't believe you're a father, Joe. You're so good with her.” I mused. “It's really impressive. I'm proud of you.”

“Thanks,” he chuckled, handing her to me while he washed his hands.

He actually looked a little taken aback by the compliment.

Joe, being so experienced with everything else, meant that most of the other wolves had just assumed he would take to parenting easily.

None of them understood how hard it must have been, with Joe being a first-time father, and Rose being almost nine months old by the time he was even aware of her.

He stepped up to the plate and then some.

He had plenty of reasons to be proud when it came to Rose.

“I'm serious. It's not an easy thing, raising a child alone.”

He nodded. “Yeah, no joke. And I've definitely had my fair share of sleepless nights. It's worth it, though.”

“It is.”

“So,” he said, changing the subject. “Did you have any plans today?”

“According to the schedule, you're doing training exercises with the pack, and I'm with little Rosie here, aren't I?”

“About that,” Joe said, “If you want, and only if you want, the pack would love it if you and Rosie could come along and watch. I know you barely know anyone in my pack, but I want them to be familiar with Rose and understand her importance to both me and the pack as a whole. Just having her around helps. What do you think?”

“I think it's a great idea,” I replied, smiling.

Inside, my stomach was in knots—I hate pack functions—-but it was a little easier since it wasn't my pack, and I wouldn't be expected to shift.

I calmed down by reminding myself that if I felt too out of place, I could use Rose as a convenient excuse to leave.

I rubbed my chest with my free hand, but the now ever-present odd tightness didn't expand. I was okay for the time being.

And I owed Joe, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Bringing his daughter to a pack function was the least I could do.

“You'll be there?”

“Of course. I'll have to bring the stroller and the diaper bag, just in case. Do you think she'll be okay? It's a little cold out. She doesn't have her own fur just yet,” I joked.

“We can handle it,” he promised. “And the pack will love it. They all know her already, of course, but they'd like to see more of her. She's the only baby in the pack right now, after all.”

“That's true. We're happy to come, aren't we, little one?”

Rose laughed and clapped her hands. I'd take that as a yes.