Page 31 of Unexpected

My brows pulled together. “Um…what?”

“Yeah,” she said, growing more animated. “Treat it like a business proposal.”

I waited for her to elaborate, but when she didn’t, I asked, “Treat what like a business proposal?”

“Sex,” she said, and I swallowed hard. “With Preston.” She flashed me a wicked grin. “All you have to do is set up guidelines, conditions.”

I stared at her a minute, waiting for her to tell me she was joking. When she didn’t, I finally said, “You’re serious.”

She nodded. “Dead serious.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Well, what are the alternatives? Act as if nothing happened? Continue to be tortured for the rest of the summer? Fire him?”

“No,” I rushed to say.

She smirked, like she’d expected me to say that. “Just think about it or, actually, don’t. For once in your life, let go. Have a summer fling. Come fall, Gabby will be back, and Preston will have moved on.”

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach.Moved on?I didn’t like the thought of that—not one bit.

“There is another option,” she said. “But I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

“What is it?” I was desperate. Desperate for a way to fix this situation. My head might be clear on the fact that Preston was off-limits, but I wasn’t sure my heart was on the same page.

“Go on a date with Mateo.”

She’d been trying to set us up for months, and I’d always said no. Not that he wasn’t handsome or successful. I’d just never been interested. I was content with my life—it worked for me. And between work and Sophia, I didn’t have the time or desire for a relationship.

“He’s a nice guy. Hot as fuck and…older.”

Not hotter than Preston,I thought before chiding myself.

“How old?”

“Forty-two.” She took a sip of her drink. “It’s just one date. Go out, eat, see if any sparks fly. If they do—great. You can move on from your crush.

“If not, at least you tried. And you’ll have shown Preston you’re unavailable.”

I knew she was right—I had to do something. But was this really the answer? A little voice in the back of my head said that screwing the nanny wasn’t the right answer either.

“Fine,” I sighed. “Set it up.”

“Eek!” She clapped her hands together. “You won’t regret this. You’ll see.”

Somehow, I doubted that.

* * *

A few nights later,Sophia came into my room as I was getting dressed. She flopped down on the bed, propping her chin up with her fists. “Where are you going, Mommy?”

“Out with a friend,” I said.

I hadn’t dated much since the divorce. The few times I had, I always said I was going out with a friend. I’d never introduced a man to Sophia as my boyfriend or even someone I was dating. And I didn’t intend to, unless it was serious.

“With Lauren?” She watched me as I flicked through my clothes, debating my options.

“No, but he’s friends with Lauren.”