Page 65 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

“Mia?” I leaned closer. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and smiled, but I could tell it was forced. “N-nothing.”

My gaze narrowed on her face.

“I’m fine, really,” she insisted. “I just…” She blew out a loud gust of air that ruffled the tendrils of hair that framed her face. “I hate that your father does that to you. It isn’t fair. Heshould pay his own way out of the trouble he gets himself into…”

I tilted my head and frowned as I continued to study her. I got the strange feeling that there was much more she wasn’t saying. Suspicion raised its ugly head, and I immediately got thrown into the past. I knew when someone wasn’t telling me something important. Or perhaps it was that overly skeptical part of me making me see something that wasn’t there.

Mia wasn’t like the harpy I’d gotten involved with years ago. Sure, she’d lied to me once about her age and name, but I told her I didn’t like it, and we had moved past that. She was an open book now. So, I let it go when she repeated, “I’m fine, Michael.”

I nodded and relaxed again. Settling back in my chair, I resumed my exploration of her legs and continued venting about Dad. “Sometimes I entertain thoughts of ignoring him and leaving him to dig his way out of trouble, but then I think about Mom and Poppy. They adore the old bastard, and if I hang him out to dry, he might very well end up behind bars or, god forbid, dead.”

“Michael, don’t call your father an old bastard.”

I lifted an eyebrow.

“He’s just… troubled, that’s all,” she said.

I snorted derisively. “Troubled? Teenagers aretroubled. The man is pushing seventy. He should have his shit together by now.”

Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she swallowed hard. “I guess you’re right. Maybe some people have a harder time than others getting their shit together.”

“Maybe,” I murmured, my eyes glued to her face. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Positive.” In true Mia fashion, her gaze slid back to me, and she perked up… so fast, I started to doubt the misery I thought I saw flicker across her face just now. “I think it’s time you took a break from brooding.”

I grunted my amusement. “Is that so?”

“Uh-huh. I need to get you in a better mood. You know, like I did the last time I was in your office.”

Just like that, I perked up too. Memories of the last incident she spoke about had a permanent residence in my head. Even now the erotic images played out like a silent film in my mind. Mia spread wide on my desk, naked from the waist down. Us intertwined in a passionate, sensual dance on the floor. I wasn’t even sure how we’d ended up down there…

“How about you work on getting me in a better mood in bed?” I asked. There were some things I wanted to do to her that required a more comfortable surface than the carpet.

Interest sparked in her eyes. “Yours or mine?”

“Yours is closer.”

Wearing the most sinful smirk I’d ever see, she shuffled out of my hold and hopped off my desk. “I’ll be waiting. Don’t be too long, Michael.”

I stared at her as she sauntered to the door, hypnotized by the sway of her hips. I blew out a long, audible breath, hoping to rein in the excitement that flared whenever the possibility of sex with Mia arose. It hit me for the hundredth time how deep I was in with her and sometimes I didn’t want to think about it. There was always that fear lingering at the back of my mind of things completely blowing up in my face.

However, as the sound of her footsteps retreated down the hallway, I dismissed the thoughts and got up to follow her.

27

MIA

I placed a plate of pancakes in front of Poppy and asked, “How do they look?”

She inspected the golden circles that were far from perfect and nodded. “Better.”

“Good. Now, tell me how they taste.”

She took a bite of one, and I watched her with bated breath. The amount of anticipation I felt about a six-year-old’s critique of my pancakes bordered on ridiculous. I was an awful cook, but since taking on the role of a nanny, I figured I had to learn how to put together simple meals. I wanted to make sure Poppy ate healthy at all times. It was amazing how fast I’d developed maternal instincts that I once swore I’d never have.

Poppy’s eyeballs rolled around as she chewed. “Um…” Her face lit up. “They taste like pancakes this time!”

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