Page 22 of Tempted

She shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about. We shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong.”

“Maybe so, but we can’t brush this under the rug and pretend this didn’t happen.”

“You’re right and I know what has to be done.” She wrenched her arm out of his grip and raced out of the living room. Jasmine knew he wasn’t chasing her, but she didn’t want to chance it. Not slowing down until she was in the safety of her room, she shut the door behind her and locked it.

Sinking to her knees, she allowed her head the fall into her hands. How could she have been so stupid to allow things to go so far? There was no way she could stay on after what had happened. He’d blame her—say she encouraged him somehow. She wasn’t so ignorant to think a man like him wouldn’t blame her for what went on.

This day couldn’t get any worse. It was bad enough to see Star suffering but now, with the prospect of being jobless and homeless, Jasmine didn’t know how much more misfortune she could take. This job had presented the opportunity to earn enough money to reestablish herself and regain custody of Star. Now, she was back at square one.

Now what? As distasteful as it was to her, she might need to apply for public assistance. It was something that gnawed at her gut. She was able bodied and willing to work, but who would knowingly hire an ex-con? She’d felt guilty enough deceiving Victor. Jasmine wasn’t sure she’d be able to do it again.

She doubted he would kick her out tonight. She’d sleep on it and determine what her next course of action would be in the morning, that is, if she could sleep.

* * *

Victor was up early the next morning, not that he’d gotten much sleep. He wanted to make sure he was up when Jasmine came downstairs. He’d even fixed the children breakfast and now they were watching cartoons in the den. Glancing at his watch with a frown, he wondered what was keeping her so long. She was usually up with Chelsea and Taylor.

As if he’d telepathically summoned her, she appeared fully dress. When she saw him, her wariness was evident. Her eyes were swollen and there were darks circles beneath them. She obviously didn’t sleep well either.

“Good morning, Jasmine. Can I get you some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled not quite meeting his gaze.

“Do you take it with cream?”

“Just black please with just a little sugar.” She took a seat at the table folding her hands in her lap.

Victor fixed her coffee and set it down in front of her. He’d already learned that was a dangerous thing. He sat down across from her with a sigh. “Jasmine, we need to talk.”

She lifted her head. “I know. I realize I can’t stay on after what happened, and I’ll gladly give you my resignation, but can you please give me a week to look for a place to stay?”

Victor furrowed his brows. He’d wanted to have a conversation with Jasmine, but firing her had been the last thing on in his mind. “Jasmine, I wouldn’t be so callous as to get rid of you when I know you haven’t got any place to go. You must have a low opinion of me if you think that.”

“Mr. Meade, what I think about you isn’t relevant. I’m just the nanny. I work for you and that’s where it ends. What happened last night shouldn’t have and I imagine you wouldn’t want me around as a constant reminder of our lapse in judgement. Besides, you’d given me a month trial period which is up. I’m not blind to the fact that things haven’t gone smoothly, and our little slip up certainly didn’t help matters.”

He folded his arms across his chest, not really sure what to say. On the one hand he knew it was wrong to harbor inappropriate feelings of lust for her. As she pointed out, she was the nanny and much too young for him. But then again, he couldn’t sleep a wink from thoughts of holding her again and wanting to spread her pretty brown thighs and plunge his cock deep inside of her.

Victor didn’t remember a time when he wanted a woman with such urgency. He hadn’t lied to her last night when he admitted to wanting to run his hands along her curves ever since he’d seen her naked. Her gorgeous body had kept him awake many nights with an erection so painful he’s resorted to masturbating—something he hadn’t done in a long time. Shit, he was too old to feel this way, especially about someone who worked in his employ, but he couldn’t let her go either.

“First of all, my name is Victor. I thought we decided on that already.”

She shook her head vehemently. “I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

He lifted a brow. “Who’s in charge here?”

“You are, but you can’t make me do something that makes me uncomfortable, especially since I’m leaving soon anyway.”

“And it would make you uncomfortable using my first name?”

“Yes.”

“I see. How about we compromise then. You can call me Mr. Meade when other people are around and Victor, when it’s just you and me.”

She shrugged. “If that’s what you want, but I really don’t see the point considering I won’t be around.”

“Did I say I was going to fire you? If anyone is to blame it would be me for taking advantage of you in your emotional state.”

“I shouldn’t have let it happen.”

---