Page 12

The man is gorgeous. There’s no denying it, even if I am fighting the urge to give in to this invisible thread pulling me to him. “It sure is beautiful,” I whisper, never taking my eyes off his profile.

Letting the buzz of the wine relax my tired body, my gaze wanders back to the stars overhead.

We glide gently in silence for a while, Viktor’s long legs propelling the swing back and forth. Back and forth. The rhythm is soothing after a hectic week.

At least I can sleep a little easier with the first grocery store payment safe and sound in my bank account.

“Does Lily like to paint?” Viktor finally breaks the silence.

His question is a little out of left field, catching me off guard, but I indulge him with an answer. “She does, but I don’t enjoy the mess. I usually save it for an outdoor activity on a nice day. Are you already out of ideas to keep her busy?”

A slow smile spreads across his face, fangs glinting in the moonlight. “On the contrary. I may have noticed the poor excuse for a sign hanging near the entrance to the orchard.”

“Oh… that .” I bite my lip. “It’s on my mile-long to-do list, but it’s not a priority. What does that have to do with Lily and paint?” I raise an eyebrow at the handsome vampire .

Viktor’s smile widens at my prying question. “What if Lily and I made a new sign? It’d keep her busy, get her outside, and be a sort of heirloom for this place.”

My chest tightens, eyes burning. He’s so perceptive, so thoughtful. I’ll have to thank Cyrus for finding the perfect nanny when I needed him most. Even if I didn’t realize it until this moment. “I think that’s an amazing idea. But… are you prepared to help her paint unicorns and rainbows?”

His answering chuckle has me nearly melting off the bench. It’s so dark, yet smooth and intoxicating.

I shake my head, clearing the haze of lust.

“Unicorns at an apple orchard. Could be a good selling point.” He winks.

Those damn flirty winks. They get my heart fluttering and my stomach swooping. He really needs to quit it.

Does he, though? You like the way he flirts with you. Even if you’re too scared to act on it.

“Perfect.” Viktor stops my runaway train of thoughts. “I’ll get started on the new sign next week.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it. One less thing I have to worry about.” With another sigh, I drain the contents of my wineglass.

Cool fingers wrap around my other hand, where it rests on the wooden swing between us. “Like I said before, I’m here to make your life easier, not harder.”

What Viktor doesn’t know is that he’s doing just that. Making my life both easier and harder at the same time .

His presence during the day is amazing, easing the burden of looking after Lily so I can give the orchard one hundred percent of my energy.

But at night, when he’s tucked in his own bed, my mind is stuck on him. The only remedy has been my fingers between my thighs until I’m whimpering his name into my pillow. Yet every time I bring myself to orgasm with thoughts of this sweet vampire, guilt swoops in and ruins any euphoric high.

It’s like I’m cheating on Roman, even though he’s gone. And never coming back.

So for now, I need to keep Viktor at arm’s length. I need him to be a friend—and nothing more.

Instead of dwelling on the lust I feel for my vampire nanny, I lock those thoughts into a cage in the back of my mind and throw the key as far away as possible.

Better yet, I flush the damn thing down the drain.

No naughty thoughts about the nanny, Mags.

Setting my wineglass on the ground, I clear my throat—and my mind. “Are you going back to the city this weekend?” It’s a safe question, but it will hopefully lead to Viktor telling me more about himself. So far, he’s a big ol’ mystery.

A gusted breath leaves Viktor, chest deflating. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”

“You don’t sound too excited.”

He sighs again. “It’s not that. I’m excited to see my sister.”

“Are you two close?”

His mouth curves into a wide smile. “You could say that. We’re twins. ”

My mind conjures up images of a female version of Viktor. The same snowy hair, only longer. The same luminous pale skin. And the same elegant features. I bet she’s stunning. “What’s she like?”

“Ness? She’s the wild one of the family.” His soft laughter fills the air, a welcome addition to the symphony of crickets and frogs. “She’s independent and strong, but she has this gentle, calming way about her. We did everything together growing up in the city.”

It dawns on me then that I still have no idea how old Viktor is. From my little knowledge of vampires, I’m aware they can live for centuries. “And, umm, how old are you?”

His smile turns wolfish at my question, and I drop my eyes to my lap, cheeks scorching.

“I’ll turn 100 this year.”

Before I can stop it, a gasp flies from my mouth.

“Does that surprise you, country girl?”

Mustering the courage to look over at him, Viktor’s smile somehow turns even more smug.

“Well, you certainly don’t look a day over thirty.”

Booming laughter surrounds us, bringing a smile to my lips.

“I’ll take that compliment.” Suddenly, his voice shifts to a serious tone. “In all honesty, I’m dreading my birthday.”

“Why?”

One hand grips the arm of the swing, his knuckles turning white, and I swear the wood creaks under his death grip. “My father doesn’t agree with my life choices. ”

Life choices? From what I’ve witnessed this week, Viktor is punctual, considerate, and hard-working. What’s not to agree with?

“What do you mean?”

A harsh breath leaves his lips before he gulps down the rest of his wine.

“My father has always been a hard man. Growing up, Ness and I didn’t want for anything.

Father sent us to the best prep schools in New York City.

The best colleges. We had fancy clothes, cars…

you name it, we probably had it. But the one thing I craved most, Father kept locked away. ”

My eyebrows pinch. Sounds like a pretty charmed life. “What’s that?”

“His love. All my life, I’ve done everything to please him. To toe the line. But when I chose to work as a nanny, he made his opinion very clear. ‘Women’s work,’ he called it.”

I scoff. “Asshole.”

He flashes a sad smile at me. “He gave me an ultimatum. When I turn 100, I claim my rightful place as his heir and work for him, or he cuts me out of the family.”

Like it has a mind of its own, my hand settles on his, our fingers lacing with a gentle squeeze. “He would do that to his only son?”

Viktor nods. “My father is a very wealthy man, Maggie. He’s spent years—decades building an investment banking firm that caters to only the richest of the rich.

Since I’m the only male child, I’m expected to follow in his footsteps and take over when he retires.

But I have no desire to spend my life in a stuffy office, hunched over a computer screen full of numbers all day.

As it stands, my sister and I receive payments from a trust fund every month… as long as we follow his rules.”

My eyebrows rise. “Rules? What kind of rules?”

“For me: quit nannying and work for him, then find a nice vampire female to settle down with. For my sister: give up her career and become the perfect vampire wife to a suitor of his choosing.”

Anger whirrs in my veins, leaking into my voice when I say, “It’s not the 1950s anymore! Doesn’t he know his path may not be what’s best for you both?”

Squeezing my hand, Viktor shakes his head. “He doesn’t care. All he cares about is money and continuing our family bloodline.”

“What about your mom?”

“Mother is a gentle soul. She loves me and Ness, but she’s never stood up to him in all the years I can remember. If he cut me off, I’m afraid she’d side with him.”

“Don’t they see what they’re doing to their children?” My throat thickens. I can’t imagine sacrificing my relationship with my child for money.

Viktor clicks his tongue. “He doesn’t care. We have family dinner once a month and the entire time, he’s on my case. I’m sure tomorrow will be no different.”

He waves a hand, clearly done talking about himself. “Enough about my tumultuous relationship with my father. This week with Lily was the reminder I needed as to why I love this job. Why I can’t give it up.”

He’s smiling again. All because of my daughter .

“Most of the contracts I get through the agency are for wealthy families in the Upper East Side or the Hamptons. The parents are nowhere near as involved as you are, Maggie. Most times, I’m the only source of love those children receive. It’s sad, really.”

My heart drops, agreeing with his words.

Crimson eyes are on me again, scorching up my body until they settle on my face. “It’s different with you. You love your daughter more than life itself. This—” One big hand flits from me to him. “Everything feels different with you.”

The damn organ inside my chest is galloping now, threatening to break out of its cage.

But I open my big mouth and ruin it. “Ye-yeah. Like we could both use a friend.”

Next to me, his stature deflates, gaze dropping to his lap.

As much as my body might light up under Viktor’s subtle glances, I’m not ready to jump into a relationship. Plus, he’s your nanny.

“Umm… anyway, like my daughter, I don’t really know the proper monster to human etiquette here. Can I ask you a question?”

A smirk tugs at the corners of his lips. “Sure, sweetheart.”

There’s that nickname again. Sweetheart . It does things to me.

I shuffle across the bench, giving myself a little space, and clench my thighs together. “I understand the basics of vampires… I think. All week, you’ve eaten meals with me or Lily. And, umm, well...” I wince. “Do vampires really dr ink blood, or is that a myth?”

Scratching a hand across the back of his neck, I swear his cheeks pinken, but my vision is shit in the darkness. “I haven’t fed on a living creature in a long time… And they were always willing participants when I did,” he quickly adds, answering my next question before I can even ask.

“What do you do if you don’t feed? And how come you still eat normal food?”

“So curious.” He chuckles.

I flush at his husky tone.

“I enjoy the flavor and experience of eating normal food, so I still let myself indulge. But vampires require specific nutrients we can only get from blood. Luckily, there are synthetic blood powders on the market now. Similar to how you would take protein powder or other supplements. I prefer to mix it into warm milk. That’s really the only way it tastes authentic. ”

“That must be awful, never feeding like you’re meant to.”

“It’s not so bad. And for those who do want to feed on living creatures, there are blood clinics in the city. For a fee, vampires can feed on willing participants. Everyone is vetted by the clinic and there are rules in place to protect both parties.”

Now I’m more curious. The option to feed in a safe environment exists, so why does Viktor choose a manufactured substitute? “Why don’t you use the clinics?”

Those damn hypnotic eyes peer over at me again, trapping me like one of the frogs Lily catches and puts in a glass jar. The intensity behind them sucks all the air from my lungs until I’m panting, nearly gasping for breath.

Never breaking eye contact, Viktor finally speaks, and his voice drips with seduction. “Feeding for a vampire is intimate. Sensual . I don’t want to do that with a stranger. Next time I feed on someone, it will be someone I have a special connection with. Someone I love .”

His declaration hangs between us, thickening the already humid summer air. Why does it feel like that someone is me ?