Page 2 of One Weekend in Greece

“I’m sure you have something better to do with your time than annoy me,” I tell him in a bored voice.

He laughs, and immediately, I feel lighter. I’ve missed my best friend. Being in our thirties now, being parents and having to work, it’s been hard to find time together. Noah is a successful attorney, though it’s still weird to imagine him being serious in a courtroom.

“Still a sour prick. You’d think it was money and long hours at the hospital that turned you into such a rigid bastard, but nope, you really were just born that way.”

“Your point, Noah? Let’s get to the point. I need to hurry home. I had a shitty date, and my night has gotten even worse because another nanny quit.”

Noah bursts out laughing so loud that I have to pull the phone away from my ear.

“Yes,” I say dryly. “Ha. Ha.”

“This actually works out. The stars are aligning, my moody friend. Nicole needs a temporary job until she starts working for some big marketing company.”

My chest tightens at her name. Nicole is Noah’s baby sister, twelve years younger than us. She’s what, twenty-two now? I do not need her in close proximity to me. Nicole is my secret fantasy. She was always the kid sister hanging around. Fun. Sweet. Friendly. For the longest time, the only difference between her and Noah was their age. Until she became seventeen.

Good Lord, did she blossom overnight. I’d never felt like such a creep. This was Nicole! Our family friend’s daughter. My best friend’s sister. I’d known her for years. With her being underage, it was easy to dismiss the attraction, but now she’s all grown up. Still… it feels morally wrong, and again, she’s like family.

Well, I’m sure she sees me as family. I quit viewing her that way as soon as she developed into a woman. I’m probably a major jerk in her eyes because I’ve made it a point to keep a safe distance from her. Plus, Noah is the most overprotective brother, and he adores his baby sister. Everyone was terrified to be caught looking at Nicole growing up.

I clear my throat. “What does that have to do with stars? She’s looking for a job. I don’t know how?—”

“Duh. She’d be a perfect nanny for Dafni. She already knows her, and by the time she needs to leave, the other nanny’s maternity leave will be over. Win-win, bro.”

Fuck no, bro. I don’t say that, of course. “I… I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“It’s an amazing idea. Don’t overthink it.”

“Wait, why are you pushing this so hard?”

“Nicole has been whining about needing a job, and instead of living with Mom and Dad, she asked if she could stay with me. You know I can’t say no to her, buuut it puts a damper on me bringing someone back to my place. Anyway, you were just bitching about needing a nanny. Boom! Let me help you out. Noah saves the motherfuckin’ day.”

“The fact that you have a law degree is astonishing.”

“Fuck you. I’ll tell Nicole. She’ll be there tomorrow morning. Hey, and is it cool if she stays there? You usually have live-in nannies, right?”

I about have a heart attack right then and there. “What?”

“Perfect. This is working out beautifully. And if she annoys you, you won’t even have to see her in that mansion. Maybe print her out a map, though. Also, watch your male staff. I know you will. Nicole is like a sister to you. If anyone annoys her, looks at her too long, or makes a move on my baby sister, I’ll have their balls.”

What is happening?

Panic begins to rise. I’m losing control. Before I can even register that he’s telling me goodbye, the call has ended. This isn’t good. Noah is worried about the staff, but that idiot doesn’t realize he should be worried about his best friend. He’s sending that poor girl straight to my house.

I’ve managed to avoid her for a year. She came to Dafni’s birthday party because I couldn’t not invite her. The Wilsons are always invited to everything that involves Dafni, and they love her as much as my family does. Christ, she was stunning.

“There’s the most beautiful girl in the world!” Nicole cheered as Dafni ran to her with arms stretched wide. My daughter leapt into her arms and, on cue, Nicole spun her around in a tight hug.

When Nicole placed Dafni’s tiny feet firmly back on the ground, she raised up and our eyes met. Those beautiful blue eyes popped against her raven-colored hair and sun-kissed skin. Her shy smile had me struggling to swallow or form words. I gave her a curt nod with what I’m sure looked like a grimace. I was miserable the entire party because I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her toned body. Her whimsical attitude. Her too loud laugh that would be obnoxious coming from anyone else, but with her, is contagious and fun.

I forced myself to ignore how amazing she was with Dafni. How my daughter followed her around like a puppy and only wanted to play with her despite the other kids in attendance. I snarled with envy at how everyone else in my family could easily interact with Nicole because they weren’t consumed with lust like me. Guilt ate at me every single time her parents spoke to me or Noah joked about how goofy his sister was. If only anyone knew what I was thinking when I watched her.

I’d dismissed the staff so the party would be more of an intimate affair. More like a birthday party that me and my sister, Vivian, had growing up. This meant cleanup was up to me, which I thought would be my escape from Nicole. I carry the dishes and place them into the sink, then bump into someone as I take a step back.

“Oops!” Nicole says and then giggles. She sidesteps me and places the plates she was carrying into the sink. “Sorry about that. You know, most people use paper plates for cake at kid parties.”

“I don’t like how flimsy they are,” I force out. My eyes zero in on the frosting at the right corner of her lips. Rich and creamy white frosting. My eyes must give me away, because her smile slowly fades, her nostrils flaring as she stares up at me.

Knowing I shouldn’t, I still do it. I use my thumb to wipe off the icing, and then, without breaking eye contact, I bring it to my lips and suck off the sugary sweetness. Before I can make any other mistakes, I walk away from her, and I don’t say another word or send her another look for the rest of the evening.

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