Page 54 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

When I made my way inside, I was glad it wasn’t too crowded. The low thumping music didn’t overpower the hum of conversations. I scanned the room, my heart hammering in my chest because there was no sign of Mia yet. Finally, I spotted a familiar blonde head in the far left corner at the back of the room, and I let out a relieved breath. Her back was turned, and her head was down, so she didn’t see or hear me approach. She gasped when I slid into the seat across from her.

“Jesusfuck, Mia. You scared the shit out of me…andyour brother,” I growled, but then I froze when I took in her face.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and mascara created black tracks down her cheeks. She looked utterly distraught. In that moment, I experienced a myriad of emotions. Relief that she was alive and well, confusion about why she was sitting alone in a bar crying, and murderous rage because I wanted to kill the person who’d caused her misery. The last to hit was a wave of unease because hell if I knew what to do with a woman’s tears. Sensitivity and the ability to comfort weren’t my strong suits.

“Michael… Oh, God…” She started to frantically wipe her tears with her sleeves, which smeared mascara all over the off-white material. Like an idiot, I just gawked at her until my logical self scolded me into action. I grabbed a handful of napkins from the holder in the center of the table and handed them to her.

She gazed at me with wide eyes as she dabbed at her face.

“What the hell happened, Mia? Are you alright? That’s a stupid question. Obviously, you’re not. Tell me what’s wrong.”Jesus. Since when did I panic and ramble like this?

She sniffed and then groaned. “You can’t see me like this… What are you doing here, and did you say something about my brother?”

“He called the house. He’s been looking for you.”

She hung her head. “I’m sorry he bothered you.”

“It was no bother.” I glanced around the room and then brought my attention back to her. There was an empty bottle and a glass on one side of the table. Mia followed my gaze.

“It’s just wine,” she said. “I don’t have a drinking problem or anything crazy like that. I never drink on the clock, I swear. I don’t drink and drive at all. That’s why I’m still here. After I spiraled and had a few drinks, I realized I couldn’t drive, and I just sat here… I’mresponsiblewith your child, Michael.Always. I’d never?—”

“Mia.” My voice was firm but gentle because it seemed she was on the verge of hysteria. “Calm down.”

She pulled in a sharp breath and went quiet.

“You don’t have to tell me how responsible you are with Poppy. I know you are. You’re free to do whatever you want in your personal time.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t bring your car back on time.”

“There was no curfew on the car.”

“I wouldn’t have let anything happen to it. I made sure to stay on the good side of town.”

I grunted my slight amusement. “I was more worried about you than the damn car, Mia.”

She stared up at me with soulful doe eyes that made me want to fix everything for her even though I didn’t even know what was wrong.

“How did you find me?” she asked.

“After about a dozen unanswered calls, I resorted to using the tracker. Not that I have it on there because I don’t trust you. It came with the vehicle…”

She nodded. “I get it.”

“I was just so worried,” I said. “What happened?”

Mia shook her head and sighed heavily. “You don’t have to do this. My personal problems have nothing to do with you. I don’t want to waste your time.”

“Goddamn it, Mia. Tell me what happened. Did that ass you’re dating do something to you? I’ll fucking kill him…”

I stopped when I registered my feral tone.

Mia gawking at me.

“I mean…” I rubbed my nape and gave her a sheepish look.Ah hell.

Mia sat back, and her eyebrows furrowed. “What ass am I dating? I’m not dating…”

“Oh.” My gaze slid away from her. “I thought… That guy you went out with a few weeks ago…”

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