Page 11 of Bad Nanny

“That’s probably part of it. She’s obsessed with Penelope. She even tried to take her in the bath.” He put the basket under one arm and took my rolling suitcase from me.

“It will probably be a good idea to hand wash her once in a while.” I grabbed the last bag from my trunk and flung the duffel overmy shoulder.

Nora peered around the end of her SUV. “Do I even want to know what you’re referring to?”

“I’ll let you use your imagination.” I took a box of books from her and winked as Gabriel and I walked past.

Gabriel chuckled, and I damn near dropped the box.

As the last box was carried in, Gabriel stood at the threshold of the studio, Delaney’s hand in his. He looked like he wanted to say something, his mouth opening once, then closing.

“Thanks for all your help.” I smiled at Delaney before meeting Gabriel’s eyes. Why, oh why, was he so handsome? After seeing him smile at his daughter and even laugh at my banter with Nora, I was halfway to being in love.

“If you need anything, send me a text.” With a final glance at me, Gabriel turned and walked away, Delaney bouncing beside him.

Nora watched them go before turning to me and clutching her hands to her chest. “Oh, Mr. Badden, will you please be my daddy? I’ve been a very naughty girl.”

“Nora Marie!” I went to the open door and, luckily, Gabriel and Delaney were nowhere in sight. “What if he heard you?”

She shrugged. “I’m sure he knows he’s attractive. If only he wasn’t thirty. Quite the change from the guys you normally like.”

I shut the door and pinned her with a glare as I turned around to face her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Calm down.” She plopped down on the couch before toeing off her shoes. “I mean you usually like guys your age...and not ones who will tie you up and ravish you all night with his tongue.”

“Can we not have this conversation?” I groaned, dropping onto the couch. “And how do you know none of my boyfriends have tied me up?”

She cocked a brow, a playful smirk spreading across her face. “Have they?”

I grabbed a pillow and smacked her with it. “I don’t kiss and tell, like you do. Stop objectifying my boss.”

Nora snorted. “You’re allowed to find him attractive.”

“Do you find the players you’re coaching attractive?” I smirked, challenging her.

She waved off the question with a casual flick of her wrist. “I don’t let myself go there. My success hinges on maintaining professional boundaries. Instead, I opt for a night out and a willing man to heat up my sheets.”

I grimaced. The thought of engaging in a random hookup had never appealed to me. “I can’t do that. It’s not me.”

“You could if you wanted to. It’s just that you’ve never given it a shot, and you haven’t had the right wingwoman to guide you.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“You’re spending way too much time around hockey players.” There was more to it than that; my sister was allergic to relationships—her words, not mine. I didn’t blame her, after watching my dad struggle after my mom’s death.She was his ride or die, and as far as I knew, he hadn’t dated anyone since.

“Maybe being around Paige and her men will convince me that a relationship is the way to go, but until then...” Nora stood and stretched her back. “We should unpack and go out. You don’t have that much to put away.”

Nora’s best friend had moved to New York City the year before and found herself a trio of men who came as a package deal. They started out as her one night stand but turned into more. My interactions with Paige had been limited, but she had to be one kick-ass chick to handle three dicks.

I leaned forward and pulled the lid off a plastic storage tote. “I’m not going prowling. We can go out to dinner and have drinks, since I don’t have any food.”

“But you do have food.” Nora went to the refrigerator and opened it. “Such a thoughtful daddy.”

I picked up a sealed bag of panty liners and threw them across the short distance, nailing her in the head. “Call himdaddyone more time, and next time, I’ll throw a tampon box at you.”

“Damn, sis. Good aim. You should have played softball.”

I scrunched up my nose and stood, picking up the tote to take to the bathroom. Nora had always been into sports, both on and off the ice.

Me? I’d been on the ice once, and it was one time too many. There was nothing fun about freezing my ass off and bruises from falling. And then there were the skates that made skaters into Edward Scissorfeet. No, thank you.

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