Page 72 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

I chuckled as I took Poppy. She’d put her all into her role as flower girl. She really did prance. “Come on, the car is waiting.”

“Aren’t you traveling with the others? I can take Poppy back to the hotel while you enjoy the reception.”

“No, you should enjoy it, too. It’ll be fine.” We reached the car, and I held up a hand, signaling to the driver not to bother coming out. I opened the back door and waited for Mia to get in. When I slid in beside her, she scooted further away. It was subtle, but I caught it. Blowing out a breath, I held my tongue. After the reception we were going to talk, and she wouldn’t get out of it this time.

30

MICHAEL

I had officially reached a level of patheticness I’d never descended to before. There I was at one of the most joyous occasions of my friend’s life and instead of enjoying myself and making the rounds like a normal best man, I was glued to one spot watching Mia.

Not just watching. I lurked and spiedon her like a creep. She couldn’t see me in the corner where I stood, throwing back champagne that was hardly strong enough to stop me from stewing in fury.

Every time a man approached her, my gut twisted. The attention she was receiving from the opposite sex was plenty. Who could blame the single men in the room for going after her? She was absolutely gorgeous, and she radiated warmth.

I’d been trying to act cool, trying to convince myself that I had no reason to be jealous. Plus, it wasn’t like me to want to rip every man’s face off for talking to a woman I was interested in. I was typically a calm and collected guy in every circumstance, but watching men circle her like vultures, I was anything but calm.

It started with Olivia’s younger brother, who had wandered over to where Mia sat. After a quick conversation with too muchdamn smiling, he disappeared. I was relieved. To my chagrin, another guy approached her. That was how it continued for the past hour. I could just walk over to her and put a stop to all of it, but then I’d give myself away. Everyone would know that I had a major thing for her. Not that I gave a fuck, but I wasn’t sure how Mia would feel if I staked my claim in front of everyone.

Remembering how miserable and embarrassed she was when my family practically caught us red handed after wild sex in a treehouse, I figured she wouldn’t appreciate me punching every guy who talked to her at this reception. Another horny vulture waltzed over to her. It was Alex’s employee and protege. The man was around twenty-five, closer to Mia’s age. He was youthful and fun as was Mia.

I happened to know that he made good money as Alex’s right hand man, and he wasn’t as emotionally scarred, cold, and cynical as I could be. He didn’t have a child either. I swallowed hard as I watched them. Mia lit up and laughed at something he said. Maybe it was better for her to be with a man like that. Doubts about telling her how I felt about her slithered in. If I really cared about her, I’d stand back and let her move forward with someone who was much better suited for her, right?

My fingers tightened around my glass, but then I remembered that the delicate thing might splinter and loosened my grip. Pulling in a breath to keep from storming over there and interrupting, I looked away from Mia and the latest man trying to get her attention.

Instead, I focused on Poppy who was with her “funnest uncle,” Alex. They were dancing, and Alex looked ridiculous entertaining my six-year-old with silly dance moves. Olivia was close by. Whatever Poppy said to her had her laughing uproariously. I smiled. Her personality was as different from mine as it could be… Thank God. I had Mia to thank for hergrowing confidence. My gaze skated back to her. I was about to look away when I did a double take.

That guy she was talking to earlier was gone. Spencer stood beside her. Immediately, I was back on edge. Spencer was one of my best friends. I knew the guy better than most. He could smooth-talk the habit off a nun. He had an accent that women seemed to fall over themselves for…fuck. Now, he was standing next to Mia, looking at her with that easy, flirtatious grin I’d seen him use a thousand times. No woman was safe from Spencer, and I suspected none of them wanted to be. There was no way he was going to getmywoman, though. I’d kill him…

I slammed my glass down on a nearby table and marched in their direction. Spencer leaned in close to Mia, a little too close for my comfort. When Mia smiled up at him, I snarled and walked faster.

“Everything alright, Mike?” Jamie asked as I passed him. “You look…”

Murderous. Surely that was how I looked. I didn’t stop to hear what else he had to say or to respond. By the time I reached Mia and Spencer, I was seething.

“Spencer,” I bit out.

He glanced at me. “Michael, mate! Just chatting with your lovely guest here.”

“Back the fuck off,” I growled.

Both Spencer and Mia’s gazes snapped to me.

“Excuse me?” Spencer straightened up, his casual posture stiffening as he took in my expression.

“You heard me. Get away from her. Now.”

Mia’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened.

As Spencer’s gaze swiveled from me to Mia, he seemingly did the math. He raised his hands in surrender, though his eyes gleamed with amusement. The bastard wasalwaysamused. “Whoa, mate. Relax. Mia and I were just talking.”

“Yeah, Spence, I know what youtalkto the ladies about.”

His eyes narrowed on me, but he stood down. “Mia, perhaps we’ll talk later.”

“There will be no fucking later, Spencer,” I growled. “Keep your dick away from her.”

Mia gasped.“Michael!”

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