Page 57 of The Billionaire's One-Night Stand Nanny

“Mm,” I said, “I know.”

He chuckled. “Sorry.” I went to sit up, but Ryan’s large hand caught my wrist, holding me down. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” I closed my eyes again, listening to him move around the room. The swish of fabric as he pulled on his boxer briefs and pants, his shirt. The splash of water in the bathroom, then his quiet footsteps across the rug.

“Here,” he said. “Let me.” The mattress sank under his weight as he pulled back the sheets and gently cleaned me up, wiping the stickiness from my thighs with a damp cloth. It was warm.I’ll take care of you.

“Thank you,” I said. For the cloth. For tonight. For the summer.

“Mm,” he said. “It’s my fault you’re all sticky.”

I laughed, then fell quiet, looking up at him. He tossed the washcloth onto the pile with his socks.

“I’m sorry I can’t stay.”

He meant tonight.

“It’s too risky, I know.”

“Still…” He bent closer. My lips were bruised and tender when he kissed them. “I’ll be thinking of you when I’m downstairs, in my bed, alone.”

“Get yourself some romance novels,” I said without further explanation.

His laugh was low and warm.

“Good night, Flora,” he said.

“Good night, Ryan.”

The rain poured down outside the window, dark, glinting drops catching in the light of the bedside lamp.

CHAPTER27

Ryan

Downstairs,in my cold bed, I made a decision.

I would wait for eight days.

Eight days from now, Flora’s position as Maddie’s nanny would be over.

Eight days from now, I wouldn’t be the one cutting her paycheck. She wouldn’tneedme, at least not for that.

But when I asked her, eight days from today, if shewantedme, I hoped she’d say yes.

I thought she would. When she told me tonight that she wanted all of me, it didn’t feel like she was just talking about our bodies, together. It felt like she was saying yes to the question I’d been holding back for weeks. The question I’d been sure would go unasked.

Stay.

We could figure it out. Maybe she would want to keep this part a secret forever, to tell Charlie and James and Edie and Barrett that we had waited to act on our impulses, had fallen for each other slow and soft over the course of the summer. I didn’t think I cared anymore, as long as it didn’t hurt Maddie, and Maddie seemed like she’d be thrilled if Flora went from nanny to–togirlfriend. Fiancée. Wife. Whatever.

Whatever Flora wanted.

Anything.

I couldn’t ask now, not when she was relying on me for her job, her rent money–hell, her sister’s rent money, I was pretty sure–but in eight days…

I closed my eyes and fell hard and fast into a deep sleep.

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