Those Three Words: A Single Dad, Billionaire Boss Romance(59)

“Oh my God!” I squeal. “I’m so happy for you guys; oh, this is amazing.”

We laugh and joke about them getting married and where they’ll live and how many kids they’ll have.

“So what are you going to do next year? You thinking about applying at different schools again?”

I shrug. “Honestly, I don’t know yet. I took the nanny job because I desperately needed a job, but I’ve fallen in love with Eleanor, the little girl. It would break my heart to abandon her. She’s already been through that with the other nanny and her mother dying.”

“You know it’s not abandonment, right? It’s a job, Margot. You’re not her mom.”

The words hurt but they’re true.

“I know. Speaking of, she takes class over at La Crème and they were in talks to offer me a part-time music teaching position that I could do the days she’s in class, but then this morning the teacher I’ve been talking about it with told me they want to offer me a position as head of the music department.”

“Hot damn, Margot. That’s fantastic! And at La Crème.” He whistles. “That’s a resume in and of itself. There’s gotta be so many connections there. They say what the salary would be?”

“No, no specifics yet. It wouldn’t start till next school year and they haven’t even talked with me personally about it, more just to Grace, the pre-K teacher. Her husband is one of the administrators which is why she’s involved. I sent her a copy of my resume.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “But you’ll take it if they offer, right?”

I sigh. “I don’t know, Hank.”

“Margot, come on. You’re not thinking clearly. This thing with the boss is getting your wires crossed.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat. Maybe he’s right.

“I don’t say this to be an asshole, but you’re not their family. You’re a hired member of the staff and they could fire you tomorrow without reason. You need to think about your future, long term. Don’t sacrifice your future just because he wants you right now.”

“I know. I think it’s all just so fresh and new, ya know?”

“The offer or the dick?” He laughs and I reach over to playfully smack him.

“You’re in the dick-sand stage; you’re dickmatized.” We both howl in laughter and it feels good.

I’m in a funk when I leave the coffee shop, my brain no clearer than this morning. I spend the rest of the afternoon running errands, getting in a workout, and reading in the park before picking up Eleanor and heading home.

“Snack tiiiiime,” Eleanor sings as she marches through the front door toward the kitchen, dropping her backpack and shoes by the front door.

I pull open the fridge. “Grapes and cheese?” I ask, and Eleanor nods, sipping from her juice box.

Miss Perry walks into the kitchen. “Afternoon, Eleanor,” she says, ignoring me as usual. Normally I can let it go, but her coldness toward me is growing increasingly arctic at this point and it rubs me the wrong way.

“Good afternoon to you too, Miss Perry.”

I say it louder than necessary, making sure she hears me. She breezes past me, placing a plate and glass into the sink, most likely leftover from Graham’s lunch since he worked from home today.

“Afternoon, Miss Silver,” she quips before pausing, her shoulder brushing against mine. She lowers her voice, then says, “Nice to see you fully clothed.” She looks down her nose at me and I curl my hands into fists at my sides.

I spin around to chew her out when Graham comes waltzing into the kitchen with a big smile.

“There’s my girl,” he says, planting a kiss on Eleanor’s cheek. “How was school?” He looks up at me and winks, settling my nerves a bit. I give him an attempt at a smile, but I’m not in the mood.

“L'école était amusante,” Eleanor responds in what sounds like perfect French, but I have no idea what she said.

“I’ll be doing laundry,” I say before exiting the kitchen and grabbing Eleanor’s backpack and shoes and walking upstairs before Graham can stop me.

I know that Miss Perry’s comment to me isn’t what really has me upset. I’m upset at the mess I’ve gotten myself into because the reality is, I think it’s way more than just an exciting sexual encounter or two with Graham. Feelings are very much involved, at least on my end.

I can either swallow them down and face the facts for what they are—I’m just a nanny and a current, exciting distraction for a brokenhearted billionaire who is used to getting what he wants and when this is all said and done, I’ll walk away—or I risk it all and tell him how I feel.





20





GRAHAM





“When do I go more days to school, Daddy?” Eleanor swings her legs on the barstool as she finishes her snack.

“Not till this fall, sweetie. You’ll be six and you’ll be in class a few days a week instead of one. You like your class?” She nods her head, pushing her empty plate away from her.

I walk over and grab it, placing it in the dishwasher as Margot re-enters the kitchen. She looks positively delicious in her flirty little dress. I try not to stare but it’s no use. The small dip in the neckline draws my eyes straight to her tits. It’s not a sexy dress; it’s cute and fun, leaving me wondering what she has on underneath.