Page 9

9

MICHAEL

I stared into expectant brown eyes as I internally debated if I should accept the invitation just issued to me. For a moment, I felt trapped, which was absurd. It was a simple dinner invitation, or was it more than that…? I studied the woman closely to see if I could somehow determine her intention.

“Michael?” Lorraine’s voice broke through my thoughts, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Are you okay?”

I felt ridiculous for my long awkward pause. “Sure.” I tapped my fingers on the boardroom table. “Dinner…” I lifted an eyebrow. “To discuss business a little further?”

Lorraine Abrams’s cheeks flushed the slightest shade of pink, and her eyes, which had been fixed on me, slid away.

I knew it then that she wanted a dinner date . I’d been working with Lorraine for two years, and she had never given the impression that she was interested in me like that .

“Well…” She cleared her throat lightly. “I think we’ve discussed everything in this meeting. Later would be more of a social thing.” The color in her cheeks intensified. “You’ve been coming to Omaha for two years now, and I’ve yet to take you out on the town.”

When I continued to stare at her rather than give a response, she laughed nervously. “I feel like I should show you my appreciation for always making the trip.”

I sat back in the wingback chair that was positioned right across from Lorraine. Since she’d hired my firm to revamp her failing business, I’d been the one making the trips. When we met, she was a newly single mom of three . As a single father of just one, sometimes I struggled with my busy schedule while parenting, so I sympathized with Lorraine. I’d been making the journey when we had to meet ever since.

“You show me your appreciation just fine, Lorraine.” I prayed she’d drop the whole dinner idea because I wasn’t up for anything more than a professional relationship with her, and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t an attractive and nice woman. I gave her a subtle once over. She was lovely and ideal for me, actually. We were the same age, and she was established in her career. She was financially independent, just as no-nonsense as I was, and she was a parent. She’d understand my limitations when it came to giving her my time. The problem was that Lorraine and I looked good on paper, but I could tell she’d bore me to near death.

Before my date with a certain bubbly, funny, and troublesome twenty-one-year-old, dating someone like Lorraine, who could be considered my type , might have appealed to me. I stifled a sigh. What had Jane done to me? I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

I wasn’t happy about not being able to forget her. I needed to move on. Still, I wasn’t interested in dating Lorraine or anyone else for that matter. I’d given the whole dating thing a try, and it didn’t work out. I was done for now. Looking Lorraine in the eyes, I gave her the directness she once told me she appreciated.

“It’s best if we keep our interactions professional,” I said.

Although disappointment flashed in her eyes, she kept her expression neutral. See? She was just like me. She was ideal . Why then did I reject her and continue to dwell on Jane… aka Sweet Trouble . She’d keep me on my toes for sure, but she was fucking delicious. Her taste still lingered on my tongue as if our night of passion happened last night rather than weeks ago…

“As you wish,” Lorraine said as she stood up. “I’ll see you at our next meeting. Thanks for coming and enjoy the rest of your stay in Omaha.”

I gave her a tight smile. “Thank you.” I waved at my briefcase and laptop. “I’ll pack up and be out of here soon.”

“Take your time. Goodbye, Michael.”

I watched Lorraine walk out, hoping like hell this wouldn’t make things awkward between us.

Just as I had my things packed and was ready to go, my phone went off. I grabbed it and answered on the first ring because I knew who it was. It was 3:00, a half hour later than when I expected the call, but I figured the nanny waited until they got home before handing Poppy her phone.

“Hey, my little flower,” I greeted.

“Hey, Michael. This isn’t your little flower, I’m afraid. I’m a much, much bigger one.”

I pulled my phone from my ear to glance at the screen. I hadn’t even realized it was my assistant’s name on the screen and not the nanny’s.

My smile tumbled off my face at the sound of Amber’s nervous giggle. I knew her well enough after four years to know that something was wrong. She made lame jokes and got a high-pitched giggle when she had bad news.

“Amber, where’s Poppy? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. Poppy, say hi to your dad.”

“Hi, Daddy!”

The chirpy little girl's voice calmed me instantly, and I blew out a breath. “Amber, why are you calling and not Hannah? Are you at the apartment? I thought you?—”

“About Hannah,” Amber interrupted. “Don’t worry because I have everything under control… for now.”

Pulling a breath, I got up and walked to the window that overlooked the city. “What happened?”

“Hannah quit.” She sighed. “Very abruptly. I picked Poppy up after her teacher called…”

My jaw tightened at the thought that my daughter had been abandoned at school when I paid a hell of a lot—more than the typical salary because of my demanding schedule—for a reliable nanny. “I see…”

“You’re furious,” Amber noted. “You always say ‘I see’ in that tone when you’re furious.”

My lips twisted wryly. My assistant was well-versed in all things Michael Hayes. “Well, Hannah didn’t call me to let me know something was wrong, so I could make arrangements. I thought my daughter was in good hands. I have every right to be furious.”

“Of course, you do. I am too, but rest assured Poppy is in good hands now, boss,” Amber chirped.

I nodded as if Amber could see me. “I know. Thank you.”

“She can stay with me until we get things sorted out.”

“I’ll cut my trip short. I’ll be home by tomorrow.”

“Nonsense. You have two more meetings in Omaha. Do what you have to do. Poppy doesn’t mind a few more sleepovers this week, do you Pops?”

I smiled when Poppy’s voice filtered in from the background. “Nope!”

I chuckled. Of course, she didn’t mind. It wouldn’t be the first time Amber had to step in as an emergency overnight babysitter. According to Poppy, sleepovers at Amber’s were “the best.” Still… “I hate to put you out, Amber. You work for me, so I happen to know how busy you are.”

She chuckled. “You keep me busy, alright. But it’s just a few days, Michael. I don’t mind. And I’ll begin the search for a new nanny.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Preferably an older, matronly one because we both know the real reason Hannah skedaddled.”

Tucking my chin into my chest to massage my brow, I sighed heavily. Yeah… The nanny was pissed that she couldn’t get into my bed. This wasn’t the first incident. “Older and matronly sounds wonderful. Amber, you are a godsend.”

“Oh, stop… but I am, right?” Her airy giggle almost made me smile. Amber kind of reminded me of… Not thinking about her.