Page 31 of Bad Nanny

Gabriel made a noise of disgust. “That sounds completely inappropriate. Puppets should be for children, not used in some perverted way. People are paying to watch a puppet talk dirty?”

My eyes widened at his assessment of something hehadn’t even seen. “Puppets aren’t only for kids. Besides, the puppet is an adult woman, isn’t she?”

Gabriel turned slightly to look at me, his leg brushing mine. “You’d be okay if men were getting off to one of your puppets?”

Well, actually, yes, since it’s one of my puppets.It would have been so easy to make the comment outloud and have the secret be out there, but I stopped myself.

“Jesus, man, lighten up. It’s a woman puppet and she even has boobs. You need to watch it and see.” Noah grabbed one of the phones that had been sitting on the table, and I was about to die of mortification.

Luckily, Delaney saved the day with a giggle as she repeated Noah with childish glee. “Puppet boobs!”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened. “Let’s talk about something else. I don’t need to see whatever it is you want to show me.”

Even though I didn’t want him to see it, his dismissal and disgust made my eyes sting. This was why I didn’t tell anyone about it; I knew there would be mixed feelings, especially since it involved less-than-wholesome content.

I took a bite of my hot dog to stop myself from showing my emotions. The last thing I needed was to reveal my secret identity as Sarah Swoon.

Chapter 11

Hard and Fast

Gabriel

It can’t beanything more.

I’d said it, and I’d meant it. Every time I tried to push her away, I ended up pulling her closer. Would it be so bad if we went there? So many things could go wrong if we headed down that path.

But what if they didn’t go wrong?

It had been two weeks since I first heard her say “fuckballs,” and I’d been consumed by the thought of her being mine ever since. Not once in my thirty years had a woman captivated me to the point I daydreamed about her in my arms.

Like now. Right in the middle of a meeting with my brothers.

“Earth to Gabe.” Lex threw a pen at me, and I leaned back, letting it fall to the ground. “Jesus, man. Your head is in the clouds.”

I bent and picked up the weapon, clicking it open before throwing it back at him. It got him right on his hand, leaving a blue mark. “It’s been a long week.”

It was only Wednesday, but I was ready for the weekend. We’d been working late this week, our clients needier with the school year and athletic seasons quickly approaching. Plus, there was the added anxiety of letting Josie put some flexibility into Delaney’s schedule.

So far, I’d only noticed positive changes in Delaney. She had always been more comfortable at home, but her level of comfort was exceeding what I’d seen from her before, even when her mother was still in the picture.

“You’re going on a date Saturday.” Noah had a knowing smirk on his face, and I glanced between him and Lex.

“Excuse me?”

Lex scowled at me, rubbing at the mark on his hand. “A date. Where you take a woman out to get to know her better. Or did you forget what one was?”

“I’m not letting either of you set me up. I have no interest in dating, especially not anyone you two pick for me.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been on a real date with the intention of starting a relationship.

I’d been more of a hookup person, and after I became a father at twenty-five, I cut way back. Before then, I’d been like Noah and Lex, possibly worse.

“We’ll take care of all the details. All you have to do is ask Josie.” Lex picked up his phone. “I know just the place.”

“I’m not asking out my nanny.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “She’s too young, and it would make things complicated.”

Noah shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe the words coming from my mouth. “Aren’t things already complicated? And don’t give us that age bullshit. Mom and Dad are six years apart.”

“Well... what about her dad? This isn’t going to bode well for business.” I was really grasping at straws now.

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