Page 38 of Bad Nanny

I grabbed the back of her neck and brought her lips to mine while she zipped up my pants and buttoned them. I’d never been one for messing around in public, but it was turning me on more than expected. It put me just on the right side of excited and nervous, which, for me, was a heady combination.

My hands gathered Josie’s hair into a makeshift ponytail and pulled her head to the side, giving me access to her neck. I had the overwhelming urge to mark her. She moaned as I sucked her skin, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

Our lips met again, and I needed to end this before I bent her over the hood of my car.

“Excuse me.”

Josie and I both jumped and turned our heads to the rear of the car to find two men standing there. One had a baseball hat pulled down low, and as soon as his eyes landed on Josie, he dropped the other man’s hand.

“Dad?” Josie’s voice shook, and I didn’t know if it was because her dad saw us making out—and hopefully only that—or because he was out with a man.

Brett cleared his throat. “Josie.”

The other man looked between Brett and Josie, flipping hiskeys in his hand. “Well, this is awkward.” He appeared to be about the same age as Brett and was lean, with glasses.

Brett’s eyes narrowed on me. “Gabriel.”

“Brett.” I kept my voice indifferent, even though I felt anything but.

There’s nothing he could do about me dating his daughter, besides kick my ass. I’d most likely lose, since he had the hockey thing going on, but it would be a good fight.

“Well, since everyone is saying names, I’m Mateo.” The man gave an awkward wave. “We were just leaving and you’re blocking my door.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” Josie ducked into the car, and that was my cue to leave.

I’d normally walk around the back of my car out of habit, but with the way Brett was staring at me, I shut Josie’s door and headed around the front.

I had barely squeezed between the car and building when Brett pushed me against the wall. He might have been in his fifties, but the man was fast.

He grabbed the front of my shirt, and I held my hands up in surrender. “We’re grown adults.”

“You’re her boss.” His voice was filled with so much anger that I flinched.

“Dad, stop.” Josie had popped back out of the car.

Brett’s grip on my shirt slackened, his gaze flicking to Josie before coming back to me. “You’re. Her. Boss.”

“I understand you’re upset about this, sir.” I didn’t want to be cordial, but I tapped into my de-escalation strategies. “Let’s all take a minute to cool off.”

“Dad, let him go.” Josie hadn’t moved from the passenger side,but her scared voice held enough weight to pierce through the standoff.

Mateo, who had been awkwardly shuffling his feet, finally spoke up. “Brett, come on, let’s not do this here.”

With one last searing look, Brett allowed Mateo to pull him away. I watched them go to their car, my heart still hammering in my chest.

Josie was already back in the car, and I opened my door and dropped into the seat, locking the doors as soon as I was safely inside. “Definitely going to start wearing knee guards just in case he comes after me with his hockey stick.”

“I’d be more concerned about your balls.” Josie sniffled through a soft laugh.

“Please don’t be upset about this.” I reached over and tilted her chin up. “He needs time to process.”

“I had a feeling he’d react this way when he found out, but seeing it is a different thing entirely. He’s way too overprotective... It’s no wonder Nora is moving to New York.” The car next to us backed out, and Josie let out a shaky breath. “He’s seeing someone.”

I brushed away another tear that fell. “Okay...these tears aren’t because your father was about to pummel my face? Are you crying because he’s seeing a man?”

Her brows furrowed, and she shook her head vigorously. “No, not that. He hasn’t dated anyone since my mom. I mean, I’m a little shocked he’s with a man, but he told me and Nora a long time ago he was bisexual.”

“You think he hasn’t dated anyone for over a decade?” I hated to break it to her, but it was highly unlikely that Brett had been celibate.

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