Page 10 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

“Right.” I reached into my purse for my card.

“I said I’ve got the check, Jane,” Michael declared.

I almost winced at the sound of my fake moniker. “But?—”

“It’s not a problem,” he said as he signaled our waitress.

Sitting through the process of him paying for our dinner was an awkward affair. We didn’t exchange another word, and Michael kept giving me these skeptical glances that made me want to roll my eyes.

When we were finally on our way out of the restaurant, he held the door open for me. He was such a gentleman despite obviously being pissed.

When we stepped outside, the night breeze teased my hair, and it gently whipped around my face. His dark brown mane moved with the wind too, and I had this urge to thread my fingers through it. It just looked so silky.

He gave the valet his ticket and shoved his hands into his pockets. It was crazy that he dined at fancy restaurants with valet parking like this so often. Of course, I’d gathered that Michael was well off at first glance based on his clothes, accessories, and even the way he carried himself. However, I didn’t care about that. I just wanted a decent guy to ease back into the dating pool with, and he seemed to be a good option.

“I know what you’re thinking Michael,” I said

“Do you?” When the valet took off, he finally looked at me. “Did you leave your side gig as a clairvoyant out of your profile, too?”

My lips twitched with the beginning of a smile. There was the humor and sarcasm that I knew he didn’t show often. “No, but now that you mention it, I should give it a try since I’m between jobs.”

His only response was a raised eyebrow.

My amusement vanished because he didn’t laugh as I’d hoped. “You’re thinking that I’m exactly who you feared I’d be. A looney toon on the internet.”

That skeptical eyebrow stayed arched.

“I’m not,”I assured him.

His eyebrow hiked up some more.

That damn eyebrow! I huffed. “You know what? Forget it.” There was no point arguing my case. Michael No-last-name was done with me. “I’m sorry,” I said, giving him one more remorseful look. “And thanks again for dinner.”

“You’re welcome,” he bit out.

“I guess…” My eyeballs rolled around as I searched for something else to say. I finally settled on, “Goodbye Michael.”

As I took off down the sidewalk, Michael called, “Jane?”

I stopped and looked back. He stood beside a car that looked as if it could be sold to feed a small country. “Where are you going?” He frowned. “I assumed you drove here.”

“I didn’t…” I’d been forced to sell my car to cover a couple months’ rent because my ex-boyfriend was an awful human being who left me in a financial ditch. Thinking about the problems I’d valiantly been trying to keep from overwhelming me worsened the sting of my failed date.

For a moment, Michael looked conflicted as he glanced at his car and back at me. My lips twisted wryly. I could see his internal battle playing out. He was likely thinking:Should I be a gentleman and risk letting the lying, crazy person into my car or forget about her?

In the end, the gentleman that I had gathered he was won the battle. “I’ll give you a ride,” he said.

“Thanks, but that’s not necessary. I’ll be fine.”

“It’s late. Get in,” he ordered as he gestured to his fancy car.

I scoffed, yet his stern command didn’t turn me off. I cursed myself for liking it because I hated it when anyone else gave me orders. It seemed he was accustomed to getting what he wanted when he dished out commands. He stared at me with expectancy as if he knew I wouldn’t dare defy him. I eyed Michael through squinted eyes because I still didn’t know him likethat. Should I get into his car?

“I don’t bite,” he said impatiently. “And you’re the liar in this scenario, remember?”

My suspicious look turned into a scathing glare. There was the slightest twitch at one corner of Michael’s lip. Despite everything, he was teasing me. Damn him for being so attractive and nice.

“Fine,” I said as I approached him. “It’s not like I have anything to worry about. You wouldn’t touch this disgusting twenty-one-year-old with a ten-foot pole.”

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