Page 11 of Nanny for the Don

I offer her my glass, raising it slightly.“Cheers?”

She pauses just before our glasses touch. “What should we drink to?”

“To a very fruitful working relationship.”

Our glasses clink softly, the sound somehow more intimate than it should be. I take a sip, letting the whiskey burn its way down, and as I lower my glass, I catch her gaze lingering on me. In that moment, I feel a pull—dangerous, undeniable.

There’s something about the way she looks at me, the way she holds herself with both confidence and vulnerability, that makes it hard to remember why I’m supposed to keep my distance.

The firelight flickers across her face, casting shadows that accentuate the curve of her lips and the depth of her eyes.

For a moment, everything else fades—the house, the snow falling outside, the responsibilities waiting in the other room.

All I can focus on is her, and the very,verydangerous draw I feel toward her.

Chapter 6

Willow

“Now you,” he says.

I blink, confused. “Now me what?” I ask, taking a sip of the wine, immediately second-guessing whether it’s a bad idea to even have a single glass with my boss.

The way he’s looking at me, the effect he has on me—my body’s reacting way too intensely, and I can already feel a hot, wet ache pooling between my legs just from being this close to him.

“I want you to tell me one of your favorite books,” he says, his eyes flicking down to the mystery novel on the armrest.my book. “I enjoy a good light read every now and then.”

My cheeks flush, embarrassed by my choice. “I don’t normally read stuff like this,” I admit, trying to play it off. “I just wanted something mindless.”

He watches me closely, and I feel a little exposed, like he can see right through my excuses. Needing to distract myself, I get up and head to the bookshelf, scanning the spines.

As I run my fingers over the titles, I think about the steamy books I actually love—the ones I devour when I’m alone. . The ones with scandalous plots and steamy scenes that make my heart race. There’s no way in hell I’m telling him aboutthose.

I keep searching, trying to find something that won’t give too much away, all the while hyper-aware of him standing behind me, watching my every move, my skin tingling under his gaze.

I reach forPride and Prejudiceby Jane Austen, a classic that always hits the spot. Holding it up, I turn to him.

He arches an eyebrow, intrigued. “Why that one?” he asks.

I smile, feeling a bit more confident now. “I read this when I was a girl, and it changed my life. Elizabeth Bennet is everything—smart, witty, and not afraid to stand up for herself. She’s got this fire in her that I’ve always admired. Plus, the banter between her and Mr. Darcy? Iconic. It showed me that you can be strong and still have a soft spot for romance.”

I’m getting carried away, the passion in my voice growing as I continue. “It’s like, as a girl, you’re sometimes taught to be quiet, to be nice, but this book showed me that being strong and outspoken isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s something to embrace.”

I’m completely lost in the memory of how much this story shaped me. “It made me see that you can be both strong and soft, that you don’t have to choose. You can be passionate and still care deeply about people. It was a game-changer for me.”

For a moment, I’m in my own world, reliving the impact this book had on me, completely forgetting where I am and who I’m with.

When I finally snap back to reality, I glance over at Nico. He’s staring at me, silent and intense. I raise an eyebrow. “What?”

He gives a small, almost amused smile. “I was just enjoying listening to you talk.”

My cheeks heat up, and I laugh nervously. “I tend to ramble when I’m nervous.”

He leans in slightly, his gaze still locked on mine. “Why are you nervous?”

I hesitate, feeling the tension rise between us. “Well, my boss is standing right here,” I say, trying to keep it light, though the thought in my head is much more explicit:While I’m barely wearing anything.But I keep that part to myself, biting my lip as the air between us thickens with unspoken words..

He’s still watching me, his eyes dark and hungry, like he’s ready to devour me right here and now. My heart skips a beat, and I feel a strange blend of nerves and arousal swirling in my stomach. I’m starting to think I should get out of herenow, before I do something I might regret—something I know I shouldn’t want as much as I do.

---