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L una glanced at herself in the mirror, dressed conservatively, and prepared for her interview. Her résumé and references were neatly tucked into a professional-looking portfolio. As she reached into her purse to check for her wallet, she spotted the note Hunter had written her the day after their first date. For some reason, she had stuffed it into her purse. She still hadn’t called him.

Could she, especially with the new live-in nanny position she was likely to get? Where would their relationship go from here? Could it survive with all the traveling? Did Hunter even want a relationship? The questions swirled in her mind, driving her crazy. She didn’t need the distraction, not right now. With a sigh, she tucked the note back deep into her purse.

Luna made her way to her interview. She was nervous but prepared. She always got a little nervous right before an interview, even though she always got every job she applied for. When she arrived at the office, the ordinary proceedings took place.

A young blonde woman, who was very attractive, greeted her. She introduced herself as the representative’s personal assistant. Luna thought it was strange to interview with the assistant instead of an actual member of the family she would be working with, but then again, the man she was interviewing for was famous. She supposed they had to vet anyone who was near him.

The interview went according to plan. Luna breathed a sigh of relief. Then, her thoughts drifted back to Hunter. Before she could delve too much into thought, the young blonde woman named Emily interrupted her thoughts.

“I’m not going to lie,” Emily said with a smile. “I think you are perfect for this job. You are the most qualified person we have interviewed for this position. I hope I am not speaking too soon, but you are hired!”

Luna smiled. This would be a new adventure for her. She was ambivalent, but part of her also thought that this was where she was supposed to be.

“The gentleman you will be working for is here today, in the office,” Emily stated. “Would you like to meet him?”

Luna took a deep breath and nodded her head.

“Perfect,” Emily said. “Let me go get Mr. Hunter Pave.”

Hunter? Hunter, hmmm? That was a weird coincidence, Luna thought. It had to be a coincidence, right? She stood up and straightened her attire to meet her new boss. As she straightened her outfit, she looked up to see Hunter walk in. It wasn’t a coincidence. It was her Hunter. What were the odds?

Hunter was just as surprised to see her. His mouth dropped to the floor.

“Luna?” he said, shocked. “You are going to be my new nanny?”

Luna stayed silent for a second. This could definitely complicate things. A flood of questions entered her mind, but she stayed silent for a moment before finally replying.

“Yes,” she replied bluntly. “I am.”, “Oh,” Emily said, surprised. “You two know each other?”, “Kind of,” Luna answered. “We’ve met once before.”

Mr. Pave swallowed. He didn’t know what to say. How could he pursue a relationship with a woman who was going to be working for him? That would not be professional at all. Also, why hadn’t she called him back? Did she not find him attractive anymore? Would she find him attractive once they started working together? He stopped himself in thought.

“Well,” Emily stated. “That makes things easier for all of us. I will let you two get reacquainted with one another.”

Emily walked out of the room, leaving Hunter and Luna alone. The air between them grew thick with an awkward silence, neither sure how to begin. Hunter glanced at Luna, his eyes quickly taking in her appearance. She was dressed far more conservatively than the night they had first met, but she still exuded a quiet allure. She looked good — NO, she looked stunning.

Hunter felt a familiar tension rise in him, making it difficult to stay composed. His mind flashed back to their first encounter, to the chemistry that had sparked between them so effortlessly. Now, in this professional setting, things were different. He fought to keep those memories at bay, reminding himself to stay focused. She was here for business, not for rekindling a connection that had once felt so electric.

But it wasn’t easy. The pull he felt toward her was undeniable, a gravitational force he had to resist consciously. He swallowed hard, his hands gripping the chair as if grounding himself, silently reminding himself of the need to keep things professional. This wasn’t the time or place to let his emotions take over.

Luna, for her part, seemed just as unsure. She shifted slightly in her seat, her eyes momentarily meeting his before darting away. The tension between them was palpable, but neither dared acknowledge it.

“I meant to call,” Luna started to say. “I meant to call, but I needed to find work. So, that was my main focus.”

Hunter slowly nodded his head.

“I don’t want this to complicate things,” Hunter replied. “My son, Adam, has had it rough since my wife died. The other two nannies quit suddenly.

They couldn’t handle all the travel. Will that be a problem for you?”

The tone of voice took Luna off guard. She had expected a warmer welcome from him. Perhaps he was angry that she never called him back. Possibly, he just wanted to keep things professional between them, or maybe he just didn’t want her anymore. Maybe it was all just a wonderful one-time thing between them?

“The travel won’t be an issue,” she stated coldly. “I am a professional.”

Hunter gently smiled.

“Perfect,” he responded. “I will get Emily to send you all of the information. She should have it emailed to you by next week.”

Hunter nodded in Luna’s direction again and then walked out of the room. That was it. That was the end of the conversation. She was stunned.

Just like that, he was gone. She shook her head from side to side. All she needed to do was focus on her new job. She would be working with him and his son, Adam. She had to leave her emotions and take her new job seriously. Luna grabbed her belongings and went to her new apartment. With everything happening with her new job, one thing was sure, she would be traveling soon. She decided it was best to get a head start on her packing.

The next week, Luna had her bags and was back at the apartment where she had spent the night with Hunter. She sat awkwardly at the kitchen table, waiting. Within a few moments, she heard the pitter patter of a child walking. She looked up to see a young child, about five years old, walking into the kitchen. It was Adam, Hunter’s son.

Luna introduced herself to him. Kids were easy for her—she had spent her whole life raising children, so winning over Adam would be no problem. But Hunter was a different story. He remained cold and distant, with most of the communication about her new job going through Emily, his assistant. Hunter seemed absorbed in his work and training for the upcoming hockey season.

Hunter followed behind Adam, standing in the doorway as he watched the interaction between his son and Luna. She was so natural with him, effortlessly stepping into a motherly role, and Adam immediately warmed to her. Her maternal instincts made Hunter more drawn to her, though he tried to push those thoughts aside.“I’m off to training,” Hunter said. “I’ll be back later this evening.”

Luna nodded and watched Hunter walk out the door. There he was, just gone again. It seemed that he had a big habit of running away. She focused on Adam. He was not yet in kindergarten, and it was time to start the preschool lessons. Luna started working with Adam right away, and she was pleased to discover that he was a bright, well-behaved boy.

That evening, after Adam had gone to bed, Luna heard the sound of Hunter entering the apartment. She had just finished cleaning up the day’s mess when he walked through the door. As soon as he stepped inside, their eyes met. The tension between them lingered, and the moment felt unmistakably awkward.

“Adam is already asleep,” Luna said, trying to break the awkward silence between them.

“Already?” Hunter asked. “The other nannies had such a hard time getting him to bed.”

“Well,” she replied with a smile. “I am not like the other nannies.”

Hunter smiled back.

“No, you certainly are not,” he responded with a gentle laugh.

The awkward silence returned between them. Neither of them knew what to say, but there was an evident sexual tension in the air.

“This is awkward, isn’t it?” Hunter finally asked

“A bit,” she responded while looking down.

Hunter moved toward Luna, every step deliberate and slow. The urge to reach out, to touch her, coursed through him, but he resisted. Her long hair framed her face, and though her skirt was more modest than the red dress she wore when they first met, it still clung to her figure, drawing his eyes to her legs. The closer he got, the harder it was to stay in control.

Luna inhaled sharply, feeling her body respond to his presence before she could stop it. A warmth spread through her, a pulse of desire she struggled to ignore. She held her breath, her heart racing, but the tension between them was undeniable—like a force pulling them together, even as they tried to keep their distance.

“Why didn’t you call me?” Hunter finally asked.

Luna was stunned. Was this the cause of the tension between them?

“I was going to,” she started to say. “I just didn’t know with this new job how the distance would affect us or if you even wanted anything serious. I had no idea I would be interviewing to work for you.”

“Funny how life works, isn’t it?” Hunter responded. He walked closer to her. His hand gently touched her face.

“We should probably be professional, shouldn’t we?” Hunter asked as his hand still graced her porcelain face.

“Probably,” Luna stated as she nodded.

Their breathing quickened as Luna leaned in, silently pleading for a kiss. Hunter didn’t hesitate, and he had been waiting for this moment. The desire to kiss her again surged within him. He ran his fingers through her hair and leaned down to capture her lips.

As their mouths met, the heat between them intensified once more. The connection was immediate and undeniable. They embraced passionately, pulling each other closer, consumed by their desire. Nothing else mattered but the longing they felt for one another.

Hunter picked Luna up effortlessly and carried her to his bedroom, their passionate kisses intensifying as they went. There was no need for foreplay this time. The pent-up tension between them demanded immediate release. Luna pulled him as close as she could, her hands finding the zipper of his pants. He quickly removed his t-shirt, urgency guiding their movements.

Neither of them bothered with the intricacies of fully undressing. Instead, Hunter freed his penis, and Luna wrapped her hands around it, moving up and down, eager to feel how hard he was for her. He slid her panties down, leaving them hanging on one leg, before taking hold of her again.

As she pleasured him with her hands, Hunter returned the favor, his fingers sinking deep, continuously in and out of her. Their shared moans filled the room, each sound heightening the electric connection between them. Luna felt the heat of her desire pooling within her, and Hunter could sense her wetness, the evidence of her longing for him. They craved one another, the sexual chemistry between them undeniable.

With her mouth slightly open in ecstasy, Hunter grabbed himself, positioned to enter her. In one swift motion, he was in. Luna arched her back, overwhelmed by the sensation of him inside her. They made love with a raw urgency, their bodies moving in perfect harmony, faster and faster, until they both reached their peaks together. As Luna dug her nails into Hunter’s back, the pleasure coursed through them, intoxicating and exhilarating.

Each wondered if they would have the chance to be together again. They savored the pleasure they brought each other, knowing they could afford to be greedy that night. Tomorrow, they would resume their professionalism, but for now, they reveled in the intimacy they shared, their bodies fitting together perfectly as if they were made for each other.

When they were done, they both lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Where did they go from here? The situation was so unorthodox. Luna finally got up off the bed and started to dress herself.

“What are you doing?” Hunter asked, his voice eager yet laced with confusion.“I need to go home,” Luna said softly.

“I know I’m supposed to live here, but I just... I need some space to think.”

“You don’t want to stay?” Hunter asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I thought you would. Isn’t that the position you applied for? It’ll be your new home now, won’t it?"

“I do,” Luna admitted, her hesitation clear.

“But that’s the problem, Hunter. I was hired to live here as Adam’s nanny. I’m supposed to be part of his routine and his stability. But with us, it’s different. I can’t just act like things haven’t changed between us.”

“Things have changed,” Hunter said gently, stepping closer.

“But why does that mean you have to go?”

“Because it’s hard for me,” Luna explained, her voice thick with emotion.

“I can’t be here, under the same roof, pretending I’m just Adam’s nanny when every time I’m around you, I feel something so much more. It’s not fair to him or me. I need to figure out how to balance this... whatever this is, before I can stay and not feel torn in two.”

Hunter sat in silence, reflecting on Luna’s words. She was right—his son’s well-being had to come first. Since his mother’s passing, his son had lacked the stability he desperately needed. As much as he wished Luna could stay, he knew it would be best for her not to spend the night.

He watched her as she dressed, a mix of regret and admiration swirling within him. There was something about Luna that made him want to be open and vulnerable despite his usual struggle to show his emotions. Before she left, he felt compelled to say something important. With determination, he stood up and walked over to her, knowing that being honest was the only way to truly care for both her and his son.

“Wait,” Hunter said.

He grabbed her and passionately kissed her again.

“I don’t know what this is,” he told her vulnerably. “But whatever this is, I am glad tonight happened, and I hope you do too.”

“I do,” Luna said honestly. “I really am happy.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he replied. “Get home safely.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Luna repeated with a smile.

He watched her walk out of his bedroom, and just like that, Luna was gone again.