Page 14 of The Accidental Nanny (All Of You #1)

CHAPTER TWELVE

G emma

It is late on Saturday night and I’m already on the wine with Fern. We dance to the music on the crowded floor of the nightclub we picked. I can feel eyes on me as I sway back and forth in a seductive manner. It's just a matter of time before someone comes to hit on me.

Until I need a wee…

The pink sequin playsuit might have short sleeves and be cut off at the thigh, but I can't get out of it without Fern’s help.

I grab her hand and drag her through the throng of people, making our way to the toilets.

I push my way through the queue, not bothered by the other women complaining.

Fern is apologising for me, but I don’t care—I refuse to wet myself in public.

“How are you going to get out of this tonight when you want to get undressed?” Fern asks me.

"I can always ask Alex.” I giggle. I’m sure that would be fun. I’d wake Alex up in the early hours of the morning to undress me .

“Oh, yeah? Do you have a thing for him?” she teases, joking about something that isn't even funny.

My thoughts tumble from me. “He’s so sexy in his work attire. And he has this age thing going on. I bet he’d be great in bed, but he rejected me,” I tell her, feeling sorry for myself.

“What?” she asks, surprised.

“Fern, it’s a mess.”

She turns her back on me while I’m on the toilet, waiting until I’m done before helping me zip my awkward outfit back up. The toilets are busy, and it isn't the kind of conversation I want everyone else to hear.

"Come on," I say after I wash my hands.

We make our way to the lounge area, which is quieter and more private. There are sofas around tables here, and the lighting is low and romantic. We pause at the mahogany bar to order some drinks, and then we sit down with our cocktails.

“Spill,” she says. "You can't say something like that and leave me hanging."

“There was a... moment. We kissed, but he stopped. I had my shirt off, but I told him something and…” I blush. I never blush like this with Fern. I'm never embarrassed about anything I tell her. I'm in control. I sip my cocktail, needing courage.

“He’s your boss… Bosses and relationships should never mix,” she says as though it's a matter of fact.

I mean, of course those two don't mix, but just the way she says it makes me suspicious. I sit back, turning my body to look at her, narrowing my eyes and observing her.

“Got something to tell me?” I ask, sipping my cocktail again.

“No,” she says far too quick, making me believe she’s lying.

“Hmmm… I’ve lied. Not to him, you. I’ve lied to you…” I'm confusing myself in my drunken state, rambling on .

“What have you lied about?” She stops me from going on.

“I’m a virgin,” I say just loud enough so she can hear.

She snorts her drink out of her nose, coughing.

“What?”

Fern chokes, her face is turning red—is she dying on me? She grabs a napkin, wiping the drink from around her face and on the table, composing herself. "You're joking."

“I told him. Then he freaked out and now he’s avoided me all week,” I say, feeling even more sorry for myself.

“You're a virgin… no way?” She looks at me, confused. “But you’ve had loads of sex. You told me so.”

“When? I never said those words. I may have led you to believe it…” My face grows hot, so I take a sip of my cocktail before I continue.

“I wanted it to be special, and now I’ll be a virgin forever.

” I down the rest of my cocktail and signal to the waiter for another.

I don't care that I'm getting wasted. Nothing matters anymore anyway.

“Don’t say that. You’re being overdramatic. On the subject of being honest…” She takes a big gulp of her drink first, slamming it down hard enough that I'm surprised the glass doesn't break.

She looks over to the side of me to a man in his early thirties who seems to distract her for a moment, she’s telling me something, but I can’t hear her properly.

It’s not that I don’t want to listen, I just have my own issues to deal with.

When she finishes speaking, she looks at me for help.

I’m now having to guess what the problem is as she waits for an answer.

“Oh well, shit happens.”

Her eyes pull so tight together, she will stay like that if she doesn’t move them soon. “That’s all you have to say?”

Did I say the wrong thing? “Better luck next time?”

Her head is now shaking; I feel kind of bad.

“Sorry. Just Alex. ”

“Yeah, I know.” She wanders off to the bar, far away from the man she pointed at before.

I glance around. None of the men in the club are doing it for me.

They are too young and don't have greying hair or the moody persona I am after.

There is only one man I want, and if I can't have him, I’m going to become a nun.

I don't even know what it is about Alex that draws me in, whether it's his commanding presence or his love for his children. He's just so damn sexy.

We have a few more cocktails and dance some more. The club’s dance floor is sticky from everyone spilling their drinks. When two guys hit on me, I decide it's time to go. The Uber drops me off first.

“Text me when you’re home.” I kiss Fern’s head. “Make sure you see her get inside,” I warn the Uber driver. “I’m tracking you.” I pause to send a message to Wesley, making sure he is aware that his sister is coming home very drunk. He replies with a thumbs-up; ever the conversationalist.

She opens the car window, calling to me, “Love you.”

Opening the front door, I scoot my arse inside.

I'm trying to be quiet, but I don't know if I'm managing that.

I definitely don't want to wake Eden and Ace with my drunken state.

I walk to the living room and I find Alex asleep on the sofa, with soft snores.

I don't even mind that he's snoring. He looks cute, I want to pinch his cheeks.

I switch the television off and move to the sofa that Alex is sprawled across. “Alex.” I give him a little shake.

“Hmm, hey, what time is it?” He rubs his hands over his face.

“Three. You’re not waiting up for me, are you?” I giggle. He looks embarrassed, which leads me to believe he was.

“No, no, I was watching an interesting film about…” He can’t think of anything. “Yeah, okay, I just wanted to make sure you got home safe. I’m a dad. I worry. ”

I look into his eyes. In his sleepy confusion, he seems to have forgotten that he is avoiding me.

“That’s sweet of you, but I’m a big girl. I’m going to bed.” I head towards the stairs.

Alex follows me up and goes into his room. Before he shuts the door, I stop him. “Alex.”

“Yeah.” He looks over at me, still half asleep.

“I need help. I can’t get out of this.” I stand on the landing, moving my hair out of the way of the zip.

Alex

Shit.

I stand behind her, smelling the booze and her perfume.

It's as though she's torturing me on purpose. I've been trying to avoid her all week after our kiss, but avoiding Gemma isn't easy. She’s wearing her favourite scent today; it’s the same as the one she wore shopping and on the picnic. The fresh rose smell hits my nostrils and intoxicates me, and even the smell of alcohol can’t dampen the effect it has on me.

I always loved Julia's perfume, but now it's like poison to me. Gemma smells like a new beginning.

She stands still so I can unzip her. I feel her soft skin as the straps fall off her shoulders, showing her delicate body. She holds onto the top part in front.

“How did you get it on?” I murmur, unable to stop looking at her. I need to walk away, but I can't.

“With a coat hanger.”

My hands pull down the zip. I’m taking far too long, she must sense it as she shivers underneath my touch. Her silky body is so tempting, more of it becoming visible as the top half of the fabric starts to fall. I can’t stop staring at her.

“You’re done,” I manage to say.

She turns around, still holding the top part to her chest. There’s no bra to be seen .

“Thank you.” She looks at me. Really looks at me, not the way Julia would look through me like I was a ghost.

“I’d better go to bed,” I say, but I stand there not moving.

“Good night,” she replies.

“I’m going on a date. With Penny,” I blurt out.

I decide to share this because Gemma and I need to distance ourselves. Whatever this is becoming needs to stop.

“I hope you have a nice time.” She sounds impassive.

She didn't quit. That's a positive, right?

I’ll message Penny in the morning, confirming that I have booked a table for next Saturday night.

She’s my age, and our children go to the same school, so we have common ground.

I keep thinking about Gemma, though. She’s the one who gets me hard.

She's the one I argue with, the one that I think about all the time, even at work.

Dipping my hand between my boxers, I sigh with relief as I stroke myself. I go onto my phone to play my favourite video of Gemma in a little white bikini. It hits different now I know how perfect her breasts are under her clothes; the image has been in my mind all week.

Every night since that moment in the kitchen, I only have to think of her and I get hard. My balls tighten and I feel the release. This is becoming a nightly occurrence.

The week passes by fast, most likely because I'm busy at work and at home. I’m trying to teach Gemma how to run the house whenever I'm around. It’s exhausting, but she's making some progress.

I get dressed for dinner, wearing a suit so that I look my best. I splash on some cologne and comb through my hair.

I meet Penny at the restaurant she had suggested. It’s an upmarket joint where nothing comes cheap. Seems subtlety isn’t in her vocabulary, but I already knew that. She’s waiting at the table with a glass of red wine.

“Hi.” She smiles at me.

“Hi, are you okay?” I kiss her cheek. “Sorry I’m late. The traffic was crazy. You look nice.” I compliment her black dress. She did look nice, but only nice, nothing special. She did nothing for me.

“Thanks. How are you?”

I smile politely, even though I can’t shake the feeling this date isn't going to go well at all. Throughout dinner, I listen to her talk about how amazing her son George is and what a ‘deadbeat dad’ he has. I sit through my meal in near silence, waiting for her to take a breath or stop talking. It seals it for me when she doesn’t ask about Ace or Eden once.

“Desserts?” the waiter asks.

“I’m good, thank you. Alex?” she says.

“No, thanks.” The waiter brings the bill over, and, like the gentleman I am, I pay.

She wants to share a taxi back and insists we stop at my house first. I think I know where she's heading with this, and it's not going to happen.

“This is nice," she purrs in my ear.

My dick isn't quite feeling it, despite her attempts at being sexy. There’s only one person that can get it up and it’s not her.

“Yeah," I say.

Penny follows me out of the taxi, assuming she’s coming inside. I don’t remember inviting her in. The temptation to say something is there, but I resist. It’s still early I suppose.

Opening the front door, I see Gemma standing in the kitchen in her skimpy shorts and t-shirt. Of course, now my cock decides to come to life. It makes my trousers feel uncomfortable.

“Hi.” She looks at us both. “Eden needed a drink. I’m going back to bed.”

“Is she okay?” I hate to leave Eden if she is having another nightmare.

“Just asking where you were. She’s asleep now, in your bed. She doesn't want to go back to hers. I’ll leave you to it.” Gemma starts to leave us, but I want her to stay.

“Did she go to the toilet?” I ask her as she is walking away.

“Yes. I made sure.” Gemma turns back around and smiles, but it seems forced.

“Night,” I smile back.

“Night,” she replies, going off.

“I didn’t realise she lived here,” Penny says as she grabs onto my arm like she owns me.

“Yes, she does. Would you like a drink?” I pull my arm away, walking to the fridge without her. Thank God, Eden is asleep in my room.

“Thank you.” She looks around the kitchen with curious eyes. As with most days now, it’s a mess.

“Sorry, they have been… actually, I don’t know what they have been up to.” The kitchen has bits of food and baking stuff out.

“Isn’t she meant to keep the place tidy?” Penny’s nose turns up, looking around the room.

I feel defensive of Gemma, but I can't lie. “Yeah. She's not great at it, but she'll get there. The most important thing is she’s great with the kids”

Penny’s hand finds my bicep, stroking it. For the second time, I pull my arm away.

“Look, Penny, I had a great time tonight…”

She doesn’t let me finish, instead moving closer. I know she can feel how hard I am, but it’s not for her. A firm hand rubs my cock. Pushing her from me a little too hard, she stumbles backwards, shocked by my move.

“What’s wrong? Do I have something in my teeth?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head.

“Good.” She moves back towards me, this time she is kissing me, her arms around my waist. Penny’s not got the inexperience Gemma has .

“No,” I say, pulling away. “Jesus, imagine if that was the other way around, you’d be going mad.”

“You’re not interested?” She pouts, which isn’t an attractive look on her.

“No, sorry.”

“But, you’re so hard.”

“That’s not for you.” Her mouth opens and she realises what I mean.

“She’s a child!”

“No she isn’t, not that it has anything to do with you. I think it’s best you go. I’ll call a taxi; you can wait in the garden until it arrives.”

“And let someone kill me?” She’s so dramatic.

“Fine, stay in the living room.” I sit in there with her, an awkward silence pushing down on us as we wait for the taxi to arrive, then making sure she leaves my home.

Making my way up to bed, I find it empty. I'm not sure if I am mad or pleased. Either way, I owe Gemma one for tonight.