Page 43 of One Night With The Nanny

“Thank you. That was the perfect ‘real’ date,” Reid told Max as they made their way back through the little garden. He took Max’s hand, smiling over his shoulder as he pulled him along the trail.

Max shook his head, his cool blue eyes glowing with adoration. “The evening’s just getting started.”

15

“Oh.” Reid turned and checked the window as the limo steered around Grand Army Plaza and onto 59th Street. “The Plaza?” he asked, impressed.

Reid had spent a few nights at the Plaza, but the men who stayed there tended to be old money and older, so they went to bed earlier and were more into watching than playing rough. Or, they were in politics and tended to be conservative and Reid didn’t sleep with Republicans.

He hitched a brow at Max when the limo passed the hotel’s iconic front steps and pulled up to the side entrance and parked.

“Making a delivery?” Reid teased, earning an amused chuckle as Max got out and offered his hand.

Reid took it as he stepped out and smiled as a man in a black suit came out to greet them. “Welcome back to the Plaza, Mr. von Hessen.”

“Thank you, Carlyle.” Max shook his hand, then gestured at Reid. “This is my good friend, Mr. Marshall.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Carlyle said cheerfully as he got the door for them. “Samuel will be overseeing your stay, but if there’s anything I can do, just ask.”

“Did the package arrive?” Max asked him as a porter went to push the button next to a smaller elevator with inlaid wood and gilded mirror doors.

“It arrived at five thirty and I handed it to Samuel myself.”

“Wonderful!” Max said, shaking his hand again as the elevator’s doors opened.

Reid stepped in after Max, blinking at the vintage mosaic floor before waving at Carlyle. “Thank you,” he said and smiled normally, despite the core meltdown he was currently experiencing. The doors closed and Reid noticed that the elevator only stopped at the top four floors. “This is the private elevator, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Max confirmed and checked his watch.

The blood drained from Reid’s face when the elevator stopped on the floor marked with the R and the doors opened onto a short, but very elegant ivory and gold foyer with gold-inlaid marble floors.

A small, but dapper, older man in a black suit stepped into the foyer and bowed. “Good evening, gentlemen. It’s good to see you again, Mr. von Hessen. Welcome, Mr. Marshall. My name is Samuel and I’ll be taking care of you while you’re at the Plaza,” he said in a soothing, grandfatherly tone. “If there is anything either of you require, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you, Samuel. It’s good to see you again,” Max said as he shook Samuel’s hand. “Where is it?” he whispered and Samuel smiled as he turned and waved for them to follow him down the short hallway.

He led them past a formal dining room and into the living room at the end of the suite. The decor was elegant yet clean and simple with a focus on comfort. Everything was generously upholstered in soothing shades of cream and gray with ornate gold chandeliers throughout. Immaculate orchids and decadent rose arrangements graced nearly every flat surface, but Reid’s jaw dropped at the size of the suite. It was bigger than his and Gavin’s place.

“Does this have a kitchen?” he asked out of the side of his mouth.

“It does, sir,” Samuel replied. “With restaurant grade appliances. Would you like to cook something? I can send for anything you’d like.”

“Nope.” Reid shook his head quickly.

Max’s hand glided up and down Reid’s back as they walked and settled just above his ass when Samuel picked up a white gift box. It was the size of a shirt box and had a big pink bow and Reid’s pulse leaped when Samuel presented it to him.

“I don’t know what this is, but all of this is so over the top, Max,” Reid whispered to him.

“Not at all,” Max said, rolling a hand impatiently. “I thought you might be concerned about how things would change between us so I decided to use tonight to show you what our Saturday nights could look like.”

“Okay…” Reid smiled at Samuel nervously. He untied the ribbon and lifted the lid off the box, revealing a flat, black velvet case. “I was a little worried it was clothes and that Samuel was expecting a fashion show,” he joked, crouching so he could unhook the clasp on the side. Reid wiggled his brows at Samuel as he opened the case and immediately shut it when he spotted a black leather flogger. “Max!”

He laughed softly and shushed Reid as he took the case out of the box. “That will be all for now, Samuel. I’ll call if we need anything.”

“Very good, sir,” he said with a bow, then strode from the room with the box.

Max waited until they were alone and they heard a door close. “I promise, nothing leaves this suite and it would be impossible to shock Samuel.” He opened the case, presenting it to Reid.

As always, Max was completely composed while Reid experienced a multitude of vastly different emotions. He was still shocked and a touch concerned for Samuel, and Reid felt actual panic in regards to the future, and he dreaded the idea of Max adding feelings to an already messy situation. They had already broken so many of Reid’s rules and he was quickly losing control.

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