Page 13 of The Nanny and the Don
“Girl, no. I only found out that you were here through Miguel. He called me last night saying that Mr. Gray hired a gorgeous nanny to take care of the kids. He knew how we were struggling with them. I can tell you know what you’re doing because they are still sitting at the table waiting for you to come back. ”
“It just takes a little patience.”
She laughed. “Who are you kidding? It takes a lot of patience. I mean a whole lot.”
“Thankfully, I have it.”
“Yeah, you’re good with them. Miguel and I have a bet going on.”
“You’re betting on how long I will last? Is it because you think I’ll quit or that he’ll fire me?” I asked, just to see what she would say.
“Neither. We think that you two are going to end up being an item,” she revealed.
Now it was my turn to laugh. If only they knew the truth. “What?”
“He’s been single for as long as I’ve been working here. I’ve known him to entertain here and there but mostly it’s work, work, work. Now that he has no choice but to be in the company of a beautiful woman, he will have no choice but to acknowledge his carnal side.”
“Y’all are tripping. What’s the pool? I kinda want to get in on that action,” I joked.
“No ma’am. That would taint the experiment. I’m not even going to tell you the time frames we picked. Just know that I’m going to win, and when I do, just say congratulations.”
“What if I don’t like him? Did either of you consider that?”
“No, because we knew that you have eyes. Who wouldn’t have a crush on him?
Not only is he fine, but he’s also rich.
Miguel even swoons over him and he has a sexy ass husband.
Under all that hard beastly exterior is a real softie.
He doesn’t want to show it, but he can’t help it.
When my mom was in the hospital, he gave me the entire two weeks off with pay and even covered her medical bills without me asking.
Hell, we didn’t even know until the bill came in the mail showing that it was paid in full.
When I asked him about it, he said that he didn’t need me stressing about medical bills when I was trying to do my job.
He needed me present and happy so I could do a good job. ”
“Sounds like he might have a thing for you,” I teased.
“Girl please. I’ve been here long enough for him to make a move if he wanted to.
Most of the time it’s only us here. At first, I thought I was too young for him, he’s almost forty and I just turned twenty-seven.
I’ve seen the women he entertains though.
Age ain’t the issue. Either way, he barely notices me. I prefer it that way.”
“Why is that?” I wondered.
“For one, I like my job. The last thing I want to do is get involved with the boss and mess this up. Honestly, I find him intimidating. That and the fact that my second wedding anniversary is in a couple of weeks. My husband and I have been together for six years.”
“Happy early anniversary,” I said, smiling.
“Uh oh, there he is,” she said through tight lips.
My heart raced when I saw Mr. Gray walking out of his office. I didn’t mean to, but I almost sprinted back in the house. I didn’t want him to see me outside, but it was too late. The stern look on his face as he walked deeper into the kitchen showed that he wasn’t pleased with my ten-minute break.
“Hey, Uncle Steel,” King said, greeting his grumpy uncle as he leaned against the counter to observe us.
“Good morning, buddy,” Mr. Gray grumbled.
“OK, guys. You ready to eat?” I asked the kids, trying not to sound as nervous as I was.
“Yes!” King cheered.
“Let me make sure your food has cooled off,” I said, moving over to the counter.
The bowls were only warm to the touch, so I picked them up and placed them in front of the kids.
“OK, King, put some apples on top and let’s see what you think,” I instructed.
“What are you giving them? You should have asked them what they wanted to eat! Do you know how long it took Sicily to get the oatmeal off my walls and out of my carpet from them throwing it. He doesn’t eat oat—” Mr. Gray’s words were cut off by the sight of King stuffing a spoonful of the apple cinnamon oatmeal in his mouth.
“You were saying?” I smirked as I looked over at him.
For the first time ever, I saw a hint of a smile play on his lips.
Maybe this evil man who’d torn me out of my boyfriend’s house in the middle of the night was human after all.
Granted, he must have kept his humanity buried deep down somewhere.
Satisfied with his faint smile as a response, I sat down to help Evie eat.
“I thought you didn’t like oatmeal, King.”
“It’s good, Uncle Steel. You got to learn how to make it with apples like Ms. Devy. Uncle Steel don’t put sugar in his oatmeal, Ms. Devy.”
“Her name is Devlan, King,” Mr. Gray corrected him.
“It’s OK for him to call me Devy. I think it’s cute. It’s like Evie,” I said, pinching her cheek and causing her to giggle.
“Where is your watch?” he asked, catching me off guard.
“You took it, remember?” I said, reminding him of how he’d taken my watch and stuffed it in his pocket. I assumed he was deducting it from what he perceived I owed him just for being affiliated with Brendan.
“The one I gave you,” he corrected.
“Oh, I left it upstairs. I didn’t think you meant to give me that. I actually was going to give it back to you later.”
“I’m well aware of what I’m doing. You don’t think I would have missed a diamond watch?”
“Why would you give me a diamond watch?” I frowned.
“Because I wanted you to have it. You are putting the kids on a schedule, and you need to be able to tell time.”
“But I had a watch.”
“That was likely purchased with stolen money, my money. If you’re going to have something that I bought anyway, then at least it should be up to my standards.”
That didn’t make sense but who was I to argue about someone giving me jewelry. He’d taken the gold watch that I adored and upgraded it. I didn’t know what to say. This man was so confusing.
“Thank you for the book,” I said, changing the subject.
“You’re welcome,” he said, before pushing off the counter and heading out of the kitchen. I guess that was enough interaction for the day.
“Wait a minute,” I said, standing to catch up to him. “I want to take the kids outside today. I have some activities I want to try with them, and I think just being outside in general will do them some good.”
“Later,” he stated.
“It’ll be hot later.”
“I have a conference call in about thirty minutes. I don’t know how long it’s going to last.”
“What does that have to do with me taking the kids outside?” I quizzed.
He lifted his eyebrows as if my question was absurd. “Can I trust you to go out there and not try anything crazy? I’m not above using physical force, neither are my people.”
“We’re just going out to play.”
“Don’t live to regret it,” he warned me.
“Well, aren’t we morbid,” I said, shaking my head.
“You don’t know the half. Make me a list of what you need for the kids. I know this place ain’t exactly kid friendly. I have a couple of packages that should come today, but I was just getting what I could think of.”
“OK.” I nodded.
“Follow me to my office. I’ll give you a notebook to write in.”
I trailed him to his office and stood by the door while he walked inside. He grabbed a small tablet before walking back over to the door and extending it to me.
“Put anything you can think of that will help you with them. King is starting school next year, so help us get him prepared.”
“Are you going to be working with him too?”
“I think you got it. They like you,” he replied.
“Yeah, but they love you, especially King. He thinks the world of you.”
“They don’t know me, Devlan. I didn’t even know they existed until my sister called asking me to take them. I don’t know how long they will be here, so there’s no use in anybody getting attached.”
“Wow.” I scoffed.
Then he did something unexpected and reached out and toyed with the ends of my hair. My breath caught in my throat when his eyes dropped to mine. I knew that was happening because he scared me, but why did my pussy also react to his touch?
“I like your hair like this,” he said, before flashing that faint smile again.
With those words he turned his back and closed the door in my face. This man was so perplexing. I couldn’t wait for him to find Brendan and clear my name.