Page 16 of Curvy Nanny for the Grumpy Single Dad

I didn’t know if she was purposely avoiding me, or if she really wanted to give me and Lena family time without distraction, but I wanted to see her. By the time nine o’clock rolled around, I was ready to go upstairs and tell her to stop avoiding me. Lena had been bathed and tucked into bed for nearly an hour and I managed to get some more work done, but my stomach reminded me of my need for food. I headed upstairs to find Lucy and see if I could tempt her into having dinner with me.

When I found her, she still had on those sexy yoga pants, tempting as hell as she finished off a tall glass of water. “She lives.”

Lucy smiled as she turned to face me. “Barely. You’d think I moved an entire apartment with how tired I feel.” She didn’t look exhausted, she looked beautiful and fresh faced. “Where’s Lena?”

“Bed.” I frowned. “You think I’m so deficient as a parent that she doesn’t have a bedtime?”

“Touchy, touchy, Mr. Rush.” She glanced at her wrist and frowned. “I just didn’t realize it was so late.”

Dammit, she was right. I was touchy, but I shrugged it off. “I thought maybe you were avoiding me again.” I walked over to her.“I already apologized.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “And I accepted.” She set the glass down and glared up at me. “Whatever you think of me Dante, I don’t need every man on the planet to want to get into my pants. Especially these pants,” she huffed as she slid her hands up her thighs. “From House of Rush.”

I blinked innocently at her peeved tone. “Interesting?”

She laughed and humor lit her eyes so I knew she wasn’t too upset, or maybe that was just the hope of a desperate man. “Don’t even try it, I’ll bet you enjoyed that I didn’t know you were a big deal. I’m sure you and your friends had a good laugh at the clueless new nanny.”

Her tone sounded truly hurt and I hated that. I didn’t talk smack about people except business rivals. “I wouldn’t do that Lucy, not ever. It was refreshing to be in a room with someone who didn’t know who I was, who didn’t kowtow to me. You treat me normal, give as good as you get, and even though it’s damned annoying, I like it.”

“Better,” she shot back with a laugh. “You get better than you give.”

I laughed because she seriously never gave an inch, and the more she did it, the more I liked it. “So now that you know who I am, a big deal and all,” she rolled her eyes and I laughed. “Does this mean you’ll be more obedient?” I hoped not, but she wouldn’t be the first woman, hell the first person to change once she realized that I was the elusive somebody.

Lucy laughed even harder as her hand landed on my chest. She patted my chest like a child. “Aw, wouldn’t that be great if the answer was yes?”

Ignore it, I told myself regarding her touch, so hot I felt the fire shoot down my spine. “Yes,” I managed to grunt in response.

“Yeah, it would,” she conceded with a small nod. “But I think I’ll keep things as they are.”

“I would be disappointed if you didn’t.” That much was true, then again if she would just step in line maybe my attraction to her would fade. “Have you eaten dinner?” Or maybe I was just a glutton for punishment, trying to spend more time with a woman who tempted me to break my own rules.

“I haven’t, but I guess now I will.” She glanced at the fridge with low, exhausted shoulders.

“Dotty doesn’t work on the weekends, but these fingers do.” I wiggled them and heat flared in her eyes. Interesting. “For dialing,” I clarified with a laugh. “Get your mind out of the gutter Lucy.”

She stood taller and jutted her chin out. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I let that lie go. For now. “Does pizza work for you?”

“Sure, but only if it comes with some super spicy chicken bites and extra ranch dressing.”

A woman who enjoyed food was refreshing. “I can do that.”

“Then I’m in for dinner. I need to finish up and shower so I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” She glanced down at her wrist and nodded. “Yeah, thirty minutes.”

“So, an hour?” She looked up at me and I arched a brow, daring her to deny it.

Without a word she walked away but she stopped just before entering her bedroom. “Okay fine, an hour.”

I went back downstairs, trying like hell not to think of Lucy in the shower.

Chapter 11

Lucy

“You made it in twenty minutes,” Dante said with a sexy little smirk as I trotted down the staircase. “Impressive.”

“You think so?” I asked the question as I walked through what he called the sitting room and into the kitchen to grab a bottle opener for the craft beers Toni had given me. I handed one to Dante with a wide smile.

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