Page 51 of One Night With The Nanny

“Who says?” he asked, squeezing Fin as they rocked. Reid rested his chin on his shoulder, sad that Fin was too tall to rest it on top of his head. He felt like he had more answers when Fin was a kid and Reid understood the world and his place in it less and less as everyone grew up and stopped needing him. “You never know when you or Morris or Riley are going to need help with the kids.”

“You trained us pretty well and it’s not like you’ll go that far. You might fall for a prince but you’ll never leave this city.”

“Never.” That went without saying, but Reid couldn’t get his head around leaving the building. “It doesn’t change the fact that I am happy with my life and everything Gavin and I have built. How do I make room for a man like Max without giving up something I can’t live without?”

“Have you tried talking to Max and asking him? Maybe he’s willing to be flexible.”

“No one’s that flexible,” Reid said, shaking his head.

“You should probably have a talk with Gavin while you’re at it.”

Reid pulled a face. “Why are you determined to make me talk about my feelings?”

There was a knowing hum from Fin. “Why are you determined to avoid it? Afraid you’ll have to take theirs into consideration? Maybe give up a little control too…”

“Ugh.” Reid clutched his stomach and shook his head. “I think I’ll pass.”

The intercom buzzed, announcing Riley’s arrival. Reid had hoped that Riley would be a distraction. But all he wanted to talk about was whether or not Reid and Max were official yet and if Reid would get a title too if they married. He informed Riley that they still weren’t dating and neither marriage nor a title for Reid were a possibility.

Then, the conversation turned to the upcoming gala and if Reid was going when Agnes and Penny arrived.

“You have to go!” Riley pleaded, pressing his hands together around his fork.

“You must!” Agnes said and waved excitedly. “You have to see Max in a coat and tails. He’s so dashing with his blue sash and all his medals and he says he’s only planning to host a few more of these things. Just Mia's wedding if she gets married and the occasional state event, if Leo can’t manage it.”

“Probably not,” Reid said, glaring at her for putting the idea in Max’s head. He had no way of knowing if Agnes had actually told Max to do it, but Reid wouldn’t put it past her.

Had he checked to make sure his best tuxedo still fit and looked fresh? Maybe. And it didn’t hurt to give it a once-over with the lint brush and Reid might have picked a black and silver waistcoat, tie, and pocket square ensemble, just in case. It was good sense to be prepared, after all.

The gala was a little over two weeks away and if Reid was smart, he would put some distance between him and Max after dinner on Wednesday. Reid made several attempts to get out of going, but Max insisted he’d blow it with Sophia without him.

Reid went overboard at Bergdorf’s and bought himself four new outfits, using his lost luggage as an excuse. They had too many options to choose from for the girls’ gifts and Reid sensed that Max was feeling overwhelmed, not knowing them well enough. Reid suggested they try Tiffany & Co. because they were already on 5th Avenue and it was practically across the street. And you couldn’t go wrong with something from Tiffany’s.

They were greeted by an elegant older woman who gave them a tour of the newly renovated flagship store’s seven floors and workroom. Max’s impeccable taste made selection easy once they settled on matching watches for Mia and Sophia. Both in rose gold, one with a black lacquer dial and the other in mother-of-pearl.

The rest of the day was just as surreal. They had a spectacular lunch at Daniel where Reid cried over yellowfin tuna and risotto. It began to pour when they returned to the hotel so they showered and spent the rest of the day in robes, watching movies, dancing, drinking, and talking about their favorite places in the city.

Of course, Max experienced a very different city than most people and existed in a bubble of luxury and privilege so his view was often a bit more romantic.

“I would be asking for nothing but trouble if I went to that gala,” Reid said, wrinkling his nose as he returned to reality. “Everything Max does when he’s acting as Margrave has significance. Just talking to me could give people the wrong idea. He doesn’t need that kind of attention on a night like that.”

That earned a loud gasp from Agnes. “Darling, that’s exactly why you were invited! Max has probably been to a hundred balls and galas in his lifetime but he’s never flirted with a man, let alone danced with one in public. That might be something he’d like to rectify while he still has the chance.”

“With me, though?” Reid sat back in his seat, pouting at the irony.

Fin swatted Reid’s leg. “Aren’t you glad Mom made you take those waltzing lessons in high school?”

Their mother had made Reid take ballroom dancing lessons as a teenager in case he was ever at a ball (or the prom) and Prince Charming asked him to dance. Reid had secretly wanted to go because even as a teenager, he wanted to be a man of the world and James Bond was an excellent dancer. But Reid had claimed that the lessons were corny while laughing at his mother for being ridiculous.

“Is there any chance you won’t mention this to her?” he asked Fin and he cringed apologetically.

“Do you have a way to go back in time because I already did.”

“Why, Fin?” Reid whimpered as he rubbed a temple and calculated how many states he could clear before his mother caught up with him. She was going to murder Reid when she found out he had skipped Max’s gala.

18

As he had warned, Reid went back to being aloof and evasive on Monday. His texts were brief and Max was frustrated when Reid turned him down for lunch on Tuesday, citing the rules and his wish to avoid more confusion. But he had also used his response to reassure Max that he was doing an amazing job and that Wednesday night was going to be great.

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