Page 14 of Curvy Nanny for the Grumpy Single Dad

I mentally patted myself on the back for only staring at her ass for a few seconds when I actually really wanted to stare until she disappeared from my view.

Chapter 9

Lucy

“Wow, you ordered from my favorite barbecue place? You must’ve really missed me.” I smiled across the table at Toni as we unpacked the bags of food that smelled so delicious my stomach growled in response.

Toni shrugged, but the blush that stained her pale cheeks told me she had, in fact, missed having me around the apartment. “You haven’t called.” She didn’t look up, and I frowned. Toni was the tough one, but clearly my oversight had hurt her.

“I’m sorry Toni, getting settled has been harder this time around.” I knew she would have questions, and since I owed her an apology, I folded them together. “Because I failed to check in with you, I’m going to give you the best gift in the world.”

She pulled out the last aluminum container and sat. “Oh yeah? I’m listening.”

As we made up our plates and ate, I gave Toni the rundown of my week, starting with the interview. “Imagine my surprise when the door opened and the father turned out to be that gorgeous prick who caused the accident.”

“No!” Her wide green eyes filled with the same shock I’d felt in the moment.

“Yep. And it turns out that he’s even more entitled than I initially thought! Though I suppose that comes with living in a mansion and stuff.”

“A mansion, like a real life mansion, or just a big suburban home?”

“No Toni, an actual mansion. It’s a big sprawling ranch style mansion, complete with a circle driveway, a small well-kept wooded area just beyond the manicured backyard. It’s stunning.” It was the perfect playground for an imaginative little girl like Lena.

“How did he react to you showing up on his doorstep?”

I laughed and rolled my eyes, giving her the whole story until she cried with laughter. “He actually thought I was there trying to get money from him for my car.”

“Oh wow. You set him straight?”

I nodded. “I did. There’s something about him that makes me feel bolder and sassier. I hold my own with him, and I don’t’ think he’s used to that, because he turns his grumpy meter up just for me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she waved a dismissive hand. “He’s grumpy as all get out, but what I really want to know is, how hot he really is. Was that day on the road just a trick of the light, or was my vision impaired by my hangover that day?”

“I wish!” I groaned and shook my head. “He’s even sexier, especially when he smiles. And when he’s dressed casually. He does sinful things to a pair of denim.” The thought of him in those jeans was enough to fill my mind with dirty thoughts of tugging those jeans off his long legs. “Thankfully he’s irritating as heck, or else I might find it hard to stay professional. Well that, and the fact that he thinks I’m hideous.”

Which still hurt me like heck. I know not everyone would find me attractive, hell most men didn’t, but hearing it said out loud like that stung.

Toni scowled and smacked a fist on the table. “I’ll beat his gorgeous face to a pulp Luce, just say the word.”

I smiled, filled with gratitude to have a friend like Toni. “I handled it, and he apologized.” I would try not to feel too bad that he never actually said he found me attractive, just apologized for hurting my feelings.

Toni grinned. “He probably said that to warn his friend off making a move on you. I saw the way he looked at you that first day, like he wanted to eat you alive.”

“You’re mistaken,” I assured her. “I heard it with my own ears.” I shook off thoughts of Dante and his non-attraction to me. “Anyway, enough of my drama, how was your week?”

Toni smiled knowingly, but thankfully she didn’t call me out for my obvious and clumsy change of topic. “It was all right. Serenity got me set up with a new assignment, some guy who now has custody of his niece, but I have another week before I report for duty.”

“That’s good, right?”

She nodded. “Of course. I’m happy, but what am I gonna do for another week?”

“Learn to relax? Go out and do all the things you won’t be able to do once you’re back on the clock?” Toni didn’t actually need the money she made as a nanny, which made it even more surprising that she didn’t enjoy being idle.

“Ugh, that’s horrible advice,” she groaned. “I’ll get the house straightened out, so when either of us come back for the weekends, it’s not full of dust and dirty dishes.” She got up from the table to retrieve beers for both of us. “I’ll find a way to keep busy. I just hope the uncle isn’t as difficult as your sexy dad, though some eye candy would be nice.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s great eye candy until he opens his mouth.” I cracked open my beer and raised it for a toast. “Here’s hoping that your next boss is better than Dante Rush.”

Toni froze at my words and her green eyes went wide in shock. “What did you say?”

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