Page 34 of One Night With The Nanny

“Allow me,” Max said, reaching around to help Reid out of his blazer. “You smell incredible,” he whispered in Reid’s ear before easing it over his shoulders.

“Reid!” Mia slipped between them and wrapped her arms around Reid’s middle.

“Hey, kiddo.” He put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Play nice,” he requested, but she winced up at him.

“Can’t make any promises. You’re kind of a catch and remember what you said about the lack of decent men?”

“I hope that’s not the only part you listened to,” he said as he gave her bun a tussle, then pushed her away.

As Reid had predicted, there had been a dramatic improvement in Max and Mia’s interactions and it was great to see them laughing and working together, even if he was their intended victim.

Everything was going smoothly until the topic of Ella came up and Mia went a little too far.

“If I’m being honest, I’m still hoping Dad can get caught doing something scandalous and it gets back to Ella.”

Max shook his head and gave her his sternest look. “That’s something I do my best to avoid and I don’t feel any spite towards her.”

“You should. She’s a monster,” Mia said with a hard eye roll. “For once, I’d like to see you give her a taste of her own shitty medicine.”

“Enough, Mia!” Max said sharply, stunning her and Reid.

But she recovered and tossed her napkin on the table as she rose. “Why do you always do that? Why are you still protecting her? She humiliated you and treated you like you were a joke,” she shouted.

Max remained calm, blinking up at her while her chest heaved. “You don’t under—” he began, but Reid cleared his throat and shook his head, silently encouraging Max to be honest with Mia about her mother. “Very well. I suppose you’re old enough to hear the truth,” he said and Mia dropped into her seat, rapt as she nodded. Max sniffed and shifted, using the moment to recalibrate. “We were both just children when we were told to marry. I knew your mother was lost from the very beginning. Her family was…worse, and I think she thought I could help her escape. But we were both trapped and I tried to make the best of it, while she grew to resent the cage that was chosen for us.”

“Cage?” Mia asked shakily and Max nodded.

“She wanted to go to art school and fall in love but her family forced her to marry a stranger who would never want her. I didn’t mind pretending to be something I wasn’t because I had you and Sophia. All I wanted was to be a father and she gave me two perfect princesses, so I can’t be mad at Ella. I was more surprised that she remained for as long as she did and I was relieved when she finally asked for her freedom,” he explained slowly. His eyes were red and ringed with tears when his gaze caught Mia’s. “I did my best to make sure that you and Sophia would never feel trapped like we were.”

She nodded and Reid heard a soft sniffle. “No. We never felt trapped,” she whispered.

Max pushed out an even breath before offering her a gentle smile. “Good. And I hope you understand now,” he said with a bow of his head.

“I do,” she said quietly, allowing the moment to close with grace.

In his head, Reid was standing on his chair, cheering and clapping. He was so proud of the both of them: Max for opening up and Mia for giving him a chance and hearing him out. But Reid couldn’t wait for a moment alone with Max. He wanted to show Max just how proud he was.

With his body.

Reid put a pin in that idea because it obviously wasn’t the appropriate moment and because they weren’t supposed to be doing any more of that.

“I think I’ll go ahead and clear the table,” Max announced and went to stand but Mia grabbed his wrist.

“I want to challenge Reid to a game of H-O-R-S-E after we’re done cleaning up.”

Max and Reid exchanged confused looks. “I don’t see why not... If Reid’s feeling up to it,” Max said slowly, glancing between them.

Reid raised his hands. He wasn’t sure what Mia was up to, but he wasn’t afraid of embarrassing himself. “I’m game,” he said, making her grin.

“Excellent. Loser has to go on a date with my dad on Friday night.”

“What?” Both Max and Reid answered.

She was smiling as she began gathering her plate and silverware. “A real date! Nice clothes, dinner, a walk in the park holding hands…”

A delighted laugh burst from Max. “I can’t see how I can lose and I’m not sure which I’d enjoy more,” he said, but it was sweet, the way his eyes clung to Mia’s, brimming with pride and hope.

“Does it have to be basketball?” Reid asked as he rubbed his right shoulder. It had been stiff lately and he planned to blame it on that if he did as bad as he was expecting. But Reid really wanted to win so Max could have a precious father/daughter date night with Mia. “What about chess? I’m pretty decent at chess.”

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