Page 53 of One Sweet Lie

“No.” He stood and moved closer, tilting my chin up with his fingertips. “I’m glad you came in here and brought this up, because I’ve been thinking about it, too.”

“You have?”

“Yes.” His eyes locked on mine. “I wanted to apologize for my terrible, temporary lapse in judgement.”

“What?”

“I can assure you, Miss Hawthorne,” he said, his voice firm, “that something like that will never happen between us again.”

“That’s all it was to you? Alapse?”

“You know I’m not a fan of repeating myself.”

“You wanted to fuck me,” I said. “You wanted me to come with you and ride your cock like I rode your hand. I know that’s what you were thinking.”

“Should I tell the hiring agency to add ‘psychic’ to your list of qualifications?” he asked. “Your next family might appreciate that.”

I hate you...

“I’ll take your silence as a yes, so I’ll remember that,” he said. “Nonetheless, you’re just a nanny to me, Miss Hawthorne. That’s it.”

I shook my head, stunned at his coldness.

“Anything else?” he asked. “I was getting ready for bed when you came in here unannounced.”

“Yes, I do have something else.” I crossed my arms. “When do you plan to spend some extensive quality time with your children?”

“When I’m not working.”

“And when will that be?”

“I’ll let you know.”

“For what it’s worth,” I said, wanting to sting him like he’d stung me, “your children are currently on track to hate you evenmore than I do. Unlike me, you won’t be able topay themto stick around.”

He arched his brow. “You’re only here because you’re getting paid?”

“Forget one of my paychecks and see.”

Silence.

“I think it’s time for you to leave, Miss Hawthorne.”

“I agree,Mr. Dawson.” I stepped back. “Thanks for making our boundaries so much clearer.”

“You’re welcome.”

I walked away, feeling an ache in my chest, but it’s what I deserved.

He didn’t want me as I’d thought, and it was all in my head.

If he saw me as a “lapse of judgement,” as a nanny and nothing more, I was determined to fulfill the rest of my term by avoiding him at all costs.

By becoming the best fucking ‘just a nanny’ ever.

TWENTY-ONE (B)

PIERCE

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