Page 8 of Say You'll Stay

That’s not a lie.

Chapter Six

WEST

Ishould have gone to her sooner. I don’t know why I didn’t. Was it pride? Was it hurt feelings? When I was discharged, I went straight home only to find out she’d moved. When the Army fixed its fucked-up logistics, I found a letter where she wrote to tell me of a nanny position she’d accepted. I followed her here and found her living in a mansion bigger than the mayor’s house from back home. Her boss was one of the richest men in the world.

I couldn’t compete with that on my retired sergeant’s salary, and decided I’d earn money and come back to her. I bought The Academy for her. When she didn’t come to me, I laid a trap for the stepson and figured I’d blackmail her into my bed by agreeing not to press charges for trying to steal test results in exchange for her by my side.

The sadness in her eyes, the air of desperation that holds her frame tight, kills me. I shouldn’t have waited this long. I lean against my desk.

“Tell me what you want. Not what you need, but what you want, Vasey.”

She doesn’t comply with my unstated order. “I’m a nanny now.”

“For Thomas Ware.”

“You know?” She seems surprised.

I get the sense that if I’m completely honest with her, that I’ve been watching her for months now, that she’s going to be pissed off and leave. “Ware’s very wealthy, and I own a school for wealthy kids.”

She nods. “That’s right. I’m surprised you own this. It doesn’t seem like something you’d be interested in.”

“Are you referring to my less than great performance in high school? I admit scholarly shi-stuff has never been on my list of must-haves, but this seemed like a good investment.”

“Really? A school?”

“For wealthy kids.”

She gives me a disbelieving look.

“Okay, it’s a good tax write-off. Like a charity.”

“But for wealthy kids,” she adds.

“Something like that.” Fuck, none of this sounds very believable. I might as well tell her the truth. “I bought it for you.”

She bursts out laughing. And doesn’t stop. I get up and go pour her a glass of water.

“Thanks,” she sputters with eyes wet and cheeks red. She looks edible. I could take a bite of her right now.

“It wasn’t a joke.”

“Sure.” She rolls her eyes as she takes a drink.

“Why would I buy a school if not to give it to a school teacher?”

She sets the glass carefully on the table next to her. All traces of laughter are gone. “I’m not a school teacher, I’m a nanny, and if you bought this for me, you’ve made a big mistake. I only ever wanted you. I didn’t need money or things. I just needed you.”

“You know why I left.” I hate that we’re rehashing this.

She rises. Her mouth is pinched tight. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

“Is it Ware? Do you love him?”

“No. Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s my boss.”

“As if that has stopped anyone before,” I scoff.

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