Page 60 of One Night With The Nanny

“Good idea. I’ll do that the next time I feel the urge to propose.”

“His nieces and nephew will always be a safe topic. And when in doubt, let him have his way. He usually knows what’s best.”

“Usually,” Max agreed, revisiting his plan to reboot their relationship. “Do you have any friends I can borrow? I need a few decoys tomorrow night.”

A little more than twenty-four hours later, three of Agnes’s friends and her tailor were positioned around the Baccarat’s bar and the salon as Max waited in a corner booth. He had a good view of the hotel’s entrance and the bar and could switch to the other bench when Reid arrived to avoid detection.

Max had dressed to impress his bespoke beloved in a smoking jacket, bow tie, cummerbund, tuxedo trousers, and velvet slippers. The smoking jacket was in a black and teal velvet jacquard, an elegant nod to the night they met. He’d told his stylist to dress him like he was going to the Met or the San Francisco Ballet but Max was only interested in turning one head this evening.

If he’d just show up…

It was 10:15 p.m. and Reid usually appeared right around 10:00 p.m.. Max raised a hand when the bartender, Jim, looked his way, signaling that he was ready for another drink. He thought it had to be a good sign that Reid was running behind and wasn’t in a hurry.

But by quarter to eleven, Max was in full blown panic. He got up and went to the bar to wave Jim down and order another drink. “Is it like him to arrive this late?”

Jim’s grimace sent Max’s heart crashing to his feet. “No… I usually assume he’s at the Waldorf or the Mandarin if he hasn’t turned up by now.”

“What?” Max asked hoarsely. “Why…why…why would he be at the Waldorf or the Mandarin?”

“Oh.” Jim paled and took a step back. “He…um…likes to…drink at their bars too when he’s in the mood for…something else.”

“Something else,” Max repeated woodenly. He couldn’t feel his face but he could feel that the hair along his brow was damp as he began to panic and sweat in earnest. “Dear God. What if he’s…?” He couldn’t say it but Max could picture Reid in a different suite with a different, faceless man and he felt like throwing up.

“He might have come down with something?” Jim offered helpfully.

“Excuse me,” Max said as he took out his phone and sent Agnes a message.

Max didn’t have to wait very long for it to go to read and he held his breath as the three little dots bounced, indicating that a reply was imminent.

“He’s at home!” Max laughed in relief and held onto the bar when his legs started shaking.

“Well, hallelujah!” Jim said and slapped his hand on the counter. “I’ll tell you what, I wouldn’t mind if Wes retired and settled down.” He winked at Max. “I’ve always liked him and thought it was a shame that he didn’t have someone nice to go home to.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Max countered. “I’ll make sure you can retire comfortably if I can get Wes to hang up his spurs,” he said, making Jim laugh as he shook his head.

“I wish you luck, partner, but I won’t put in my notice just yet. That kid’s got a stubborn streak a mile long.”

“I rather like that about him,” Max confided as he pushed away from the bar. “Good evening and thank you for your assistance,” he said, taking out his wallet.

He paid for his drinks and tipped the bartender very well, whistling as he left the hotel, vowing that it was the last time Jim would see either of them. Unless Reid was in the mood for a little role-playing, for old-time’s sake.

23

Saturday, 11:10 p.m. …

Reid hadn’t realized how late it was until Dash raced through the kitchen, complaining that he ‘had to pee or he was going to explode’ as soon as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was over. It was almost nine by the time they finally picked something, then it was obvious that both Dash and Gavin were caught up in the movie, so Reid lingered in the kitchen. He listened along as he fiddled with various spreadsheets and double-checked schedules and budgets.

“It’s getting late. Shouldn’t you be dressed and on your way out?” Dash asked when he returned, pulling back his sleeve and checking his watch. “Oh, it’s very late.”

Reid rolled his eyes and went back to his report. “I’m not in the mood and I wanted to look at these ad numbers.”

“Why?” Dash asked as he peeked over Reid’s shoulder. “You said they looked great yesterday,” he said, trading smarmy, knowing glances with Gavin.

“Perhaps he’s developed a passion for advertising,” Gavin mused as he stood and stretched.

Reid humped thoughtfully. “What if the two of you developed a passion for minding your own business?”

There was a snorting giggle from Dash but it was interrupted by a buzz from the intercom.

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