Page 27 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

“I really don’t want to,” I muttered.

His face remained in that annoying cool expression of his, but amusement flickered in his eyes. “Fine. I’ll get to the point. I’m here to offer you your job back.”

The hell you say?

Although my heart leaped, I couldn’t look too desperate.“Why?”

He lifted one shoulder nonchalantly. “I changed my mind.”

My derisive snort bounced off the walls. “You don’t really expect me to believe that, do you?”

His expression was schooled for a moment longer before he caved. I was sure if he wanted to keep up his grim facade, he would have. He had that stoney look perfected. However, Michael seemed to willingly drop his mask around me. I’d noticed how many times he had during our date and our erotic encounter after. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Did he like me or didn’t he…? It was nearly impossible to tell.

“Poppy is miserable,” he admitted.

My eyes narrowed to slits as I watched him. It killed him that he had to ask me to come back, I could tell. Stepping aside, I gestured for him to come in. He couldn’t help giving me one of his annoyed scowls as he brushed past me, and I smirked. Mr. Alpha Male didn’t have the upper hand for once, and I was living for it.

“Please, have a seat, Mr. Jackson. We can discuss terms,” I said primly.

I saw the slightest tick in his jaw, and I folded my lips to hide my smug smile.

“My surname isn’t really Jackson. It’s Hayes.”

I canted my head. “But Amber said?—”

“She didn’t want to reveal who I was until she was sure of… whatever it was she was looking for.”

For a moment, I was too caught up in confusion to realize where MichaelHayeswas heading to take a seat. When I did, I jumped in front of him to stop him from sitting where I had hid the bottles behind the pillows. “Wait, not there.”

He cast a sideways glance at me, and my face heated up as I pointed to the other sofa.

Michael sat and held me in his stare while I took my seat facing him. “I owe you an apology,” he said.

“For?”

“Thinking that you were an insane stalker.”

I snorted loudly. “Well, I guess I can give you grace for that. I mean, if I were you, I’d be horrified to find my one-night stand who I wasn’t supposed to see again, standing in my kitchen.”

He shrugged. “You really had no idea who I was when I fired you. It was hard to believe you didn’t. I thought you applied for the job to get back at me…” He sighed. “You know what? That doesn’t matter now. Amber explained how she kept you in the dark. I’m sorry.”

I shook my head as I did the math. So that was why all the pictures I’d glimpsed the first day disappeared. I’d been curious but was too afraid of seeming nosey to ask. “It’s fine. I’m relieved that you at least know I’m not a psycho stalker out for revenge.” No wonder he looked as if he’d seen a ghost when he found me in his home.

“Let’s move on from that misunderstanding,” he suggested.

“If anyone is crazy in this scenario, it’s you and your assistant,” I grumbled. I couldn’t believe Amber lied.Michael Jackson?At the time, I thought it was an amusing coincidence, but now I felt so stupid.

“Again, I’m sorry. As you said, let’s discuss terms.”

“First, tell me how Poppy is doing. What do you mean she’s miserable?”

“That’s not relevant to you taking the job I’m offering.”

“Everything about Poppy is relevant.”

Michael went quiet for a moment. He then tilted his head to study me intently. After a while, something like approval flickered in his eyes. I felt like I’d passed some sort of test.

“She misses you,” he shared. “I don’t know what spell you put on her, but she hasn’t cracked a smile since you left.”

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