Those Three Words: A Single Dad, Billionaire Boss Romance(40)

I choke on my drink as I shake my head no.

“No, he’s just not used to watching his own daughter on his own.” I shrug, hoping that’s the end of the conversation.

“Seems like you two were pretty close when I showed up at the coffee shop.”

Shit. I hoped he hadn’t noticed that.

I shrug. “I dunno. It’s complicated, I guess. He’s too scared to even kiss me and I can’t imagine getting involved with your boss is ever a good idea.”

He shakes his head and laughs. “I imagine not.”

“How’d you guys end things on your last date?” I ask, changing the subject.

“We, uh…” He smiles as he looks down at his feet. “She stayed over.”

“Ohhhh.” I wriggle my eyebrows at him.

“Yeah, it was—amazing. I told her that it was the best I’d ever had, and she said the same. We stayed up all night talking and… ya know. The next morning I made her pancakes and she told me she wanted to see me again. We agreed, and then she left for work. We were texting back and forth very regularly that day and the next, and then I told her that I could see myself falling for her an—”

“Whoa, whoa, wait. That’s it, Hank.” He looks at me, confused. “You scared her.” I reach out and grab his hand. “Shelly is wonderful and driven, but she’s also kind of wild. Not in a Girls Gone Wild kind of way, but in a she’s young and wants to have fun kind of way. I’m not saying there’s no hope for you guys; please don’t think that. But maybe she just needs to take things slower. She’s been screwed over a few too many times.”

The bartender hands me my second martini and I take a sip. I rarely drink and especially now that I’m a live-in nanny in the suburbs, I never get a chance to go out so the thought of tossing a few back and letting loose has my name written all over it.

My phone buzzes again, then again and again. I flip it over, look down at the screen, and see there’s three more texts from Graham and two missed calls. I put it on airplane mode and toss it back in my purse.

“Dammit,” he says, hanging his head. “I feel like an idiot.”

“Don’t, honestly. I should have told you that. I just didn’t expect you both to jump in with both feet like that. I thought you would hit it off and just hook up and maybe have a little fling.”

“Maybe I should just be honest with her. I’ll tell her there’s no need to rush things, but I like her and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Maybe.” I shrug. “I think you guys will be fine. I think she’s just scared, but I promise if she says anything to me, I’ll talk you up a lot, reminding her she’s running away from a good thing.” That makes him laugh. “And I’ll keep you in the loop. Don’t want you wasting your time or getting hurt.”

“Thanks, Margot. You’re always the best, you know that?” He nudges my shoulder as he finishes his beer. “You know, a few of the teachers at work always asked why we never dated.”

“Yeah, I’ve gotten that question too.” I laugh.

“Is it weird that for as awesome as you are, I only ever saw you like a sister?” He cringes a little when he says it, like he’s scared he’s going to hurt my feelings.

“Oh God, no. I feel the same way! I think you’re amazing, but yeah, you’re like my brother.” We both laugh and go back to reminiscing about teaching together. He fills me in on the current gossip going around, including the rumor that the current administrator is dating the volleyball coach, and while they think they’re being sneaky, everyone knows about them.

It’s great catching up, but it makes me miss teaching. I haven’t allowed myself to go down that rabbit hole since I got fired and became a nanny. For one, I can’t imagine leaving Eleanor behind, and two, I don’t want to be apart from Graham either.

Two hours later I’ve finished my third martini and I’m moving and grooving on the dance floor with Hank when suddenly I hear my name being shouted and someone pushing Hank away from me.

I spin around to see Graham, anger radiating off him as he grabs Hank’s arm and leads him off the dance floor.





14





GRAHAM





“Hey, man! Whoa, what’s going on?”

Hank holds his hands up and stumbles backward as I fist the front of his shirt.

“The fuck you think you’re doing?” I spit. A few people are watching us, but I don’t care.

“We’re just having a good time, man. Who are you again?”

He looks at me, squinting like he remembers meeting me but can’t place me.

“Oh, you’re her boss. Shit, I thought it was her night off?”

He’s clearly confused and probably a touch inebriated. I release his shirt and look back. Margot waves at us before returning to the bar.

“Why’d you let her get so intoxicated, hmm? What’s your fucking angle?” I’m still up in his face and he’s still trying to back away from me.

“We’re just friends, I swear. I didn’t try to get her drunk; we’re just letting loose.”

I step back. He seems genuinely confused and like he’s telling the truth.