Page 22 of Offside Devil

Her green eyes find mine. She hesitates like she’s waiting for me to laugh in her face. Like she’s expecting me to yank the opportunity away again.

When I don’t, she nods. “I’ll take it.”

12

ZANE

I’m supposed to feel better.

I needed to figure out how I was going to exist while taking care of a kid, and I did that. Mira is Aiden’s new nanny. That’s one big item crossed off the checklist.

What I didn’t anticipate is twenty more items being added the second Mira walked out my front door.

So far the list is endless iterations of the same thing: don’t fuck Aiden’s nanny.

Don’t think about fucking Aiden’s nanny.

Don’t even mention to anyone that you might want to fuck Aiden’s nanny.

And for the love of all that is holy, don’t even begin to think about throwing Aiden’s nanny on the couch, ripping up the hem of that way-too-short dress, and devouring her until kingdom come. Don’t think about how her toes would curl. Don’t think about how pretty her moans would be. Don’t?—

Yeah, things are going swell.

Paige was the last thing even close to a serious relationship I’ve had in five years. Now, she’s dead and I’m raising the son I didn’t know I had. If all of the sentimental bullshit people say about having kids is true, I don’t think there’s any chance I’ll regret taking Aiden in. Nonetheless, this whole situation is one giant red flag whipping in the wind for getting involved with any other woman anytime soon. Maybe ever.

And if and when I do, it will definitely not be Aiden’s nanny.

I poke my head in Aiden’s room to see he’s in a small huddle under his sheets. It’s the first nap he’s taken since he got here, so I slip out as quietly as I can.

Usually, I’d go to the gym right now or take off on a run. If it was a rest day, I’d go somewhere for dinner and sit at the bar. If anyone interesting stuck out to me, maybe I’d bring them back here. Or maybe I’d go to her place.

All of that is now off the table.

“This is so fucking bizarre,” I mutter to myself.

Before I can come up with something to do, there’s a loud knock on my door.

Probably Mira coming back because she forgot something, but I’m too worried about the knocking waking Aiden up to look around and see what it could be.

Don’t fuck Aiden’s nanny, I remind myself as I open the door. Don’t fuck?—

“Forget something?” The words are out of my mouth before I register that it isn’t Mira standing on my doorstep.

The man is almost as tall as I am. He’s standing so close to the door, taking up most of the frame, that I almost miss Aiden’s social worker, Jodie Barnes, standing just behind him.

“Mr. Whitaker,” she begins, angling herself around the strange man standing between us. “I’m sorry for dropping in unannounced, but we’re?—”

“We’re here to check up on your… situation,” he finishes with a sneering drawl. He looks past me like he’s expecting to see Aiden dangling from the ceiling by his toes. “Where is Andrew?”

“Aiden,” Jodie whispers.

The man waves her off like it doesn’t matter and strides forward.

Before he can get inside, I step into the hallway to block him. “Who are you?”

He opens his mouth to answer and my phone rings. I wouldn’t usually answer it, but it’s Hanna. Plus, I’m seconds away from throwing this preening asshole down an open elevator shaft. It might be smart for me to take a breather.

“Excuse me.” I turn away and answer the call. “What’s up? I’m busy.”

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