Page 71 of Bad Nanny

The dog leapt off my lap and scurried under my desk as Lex laughed at my expense. “I still can’t believe you brought a dog into work.”

I cupped my dick and wondered if I needed to buy a cup for protection. “Someone had to take her to get checked out, and would you leave a random dog at home with your girlfriend and child?”

He sat down across from my desk. “If I trusted my girlfriend, yes.”

I rolled my eyes and moved my chair back to peer down at the dog cowering under my desk. “You aren’t in trouble, girl. Come here.”

“Actually, I think it has nothing to do with your concern over safety. You love that dog already.”

“Shut up.”

Lex laughed, then suddenly got serious. “I wanted to speak to you about my role here.”

I knew the day would come when we’d have to have this conversation, but not on a day when a dog had its nose shovedbetween my legs, having a sniff. I pushed her head away with a sigh. “What about it?”

“I want more responsibility. I’ve shadowed Noah long enough, and I’ve proven that my social life has no impact on my work performance.” The playful glint usually present on his face was gone, and in its place was a seriousness that rivaled my own.

I rubbed my chin in thought. “You’re right, Lex. You’ve been solid, and your social life hasn’t been an issue. But managing a project isn’t just about showing up and looking the part.”

He nodded. “I know that. I’m not asking for a handout. Give me a real challenge. Let me prove myself.”

He’d picked a real good day to tug at my heartstrings, when they were already flapping all over the place. “I’ll talk it over with Noah. It’s going to be a real test. No special treatment. You deliver, or you don’t.”

“Deal. I won’t let you down.” A broad grin spread across Lex’s face, his usual charisma shining through. As he stood to leave, he shot me a mischievous look. “Love looks good on you, bro.”

As the door clicked shut, I looked down at Honeybun, who had her head resting on my thigh—probably waiting to be invited back onto my lap.

“He wasn’t talking about you.”

Chapter 23

Special Delivery

Gabriel

Six business dayswas a long time to wait to find out if you could keep a dog that had already become part of the family. As much as I’d tried to not fall for her, it was a futile battle. I was more than prepared to pay off any owners who might have come forward, even though Josie reminded me that Los Angeles was big, and it was possible that Honeybun’s family had been searching for her.

I didn’t care.

But now, the waiting period was over, and I had a dog. A dog that I’d taken to work in anticipation of her being ours, and when the call came, I left early and went right down to the shelter with her, paid the fees, and got her microchipped.

I may have also gone to In-N-Out for a pup patty and Starbucks for a pup cup. It was her adoption day, after all.

I walked through the garage door, stopping to unhook Honeybun’s leash. She took off down the hall and straight forthe couch more than likely. I’d given up trying to keep her off it.

The house was quiet, but that wasn’t surprising, since it was Delaney’s nap time. Over the past several weeks, Josie had slowly made the schedule more flexible, but meals and sleep times stayed the same.

Her studio door was cracked, and I knocked softly before opening the door. She was sitting at the new computer she’d bought the other day, earbuds in and focused on whatever she was working on.

She was so focused that she didn’t know I was in the room until I wrapped my arms around her.

“Ah!”

I laughed as she spun away from me. “So focused. What are you working on? A video?”

She clicked the screen, and all the windows flew off to the sides, so I couldn’t see them. “Nothing. Just playing around and keeping my skills from school sharp.”

I raised a brow. “I didn’t know you were into making videos. What do you do? Film yourself with the puppets?”

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