Page 31 of Beneficial Misfortune

“And please, call me Nathan.”

I’m not sure what the sound that leaves my mouth is—half squeak, half some kind of acknowledgment, one hundred percent embarrassment.

His lips turn up even more, and…why am I sweating? How does this man have such an effect on me?

“Your room is just down the hall, first door you passed on your right.” With that, he turns and leaves, and I’m left watching him as he goes, my cheeks burning up like I’m an elementary girl with her first crush.

Only I’m not. I'm a grown-ass woman, and he’s my boss…

Chapter 10

Iarrived at the house early in the afternoon, but by the time Addison was finished showing me everything, including my new room that’s almost the size of my whole apartment, it’s about dinner time.

My stomach grumbles just as Nathaniel… Nathan calls for us to come downstairs.

“Oh, it’s dinnertime! Uncle and Des will be home soon!” Addison says, rushing out the bedroom door without a glance back.

“Well, Ruby, that’s my cue, I guess,” I tell the dog, offering him one more ear scratch and heading out, only for him to decide to come with me.

I won’t lie. When Addison had first told me about Ruby, I hadn’t pictured this huge dog. Nathaniel had seemed a bit worried when Addison first insisted I meet him, but after hovering for a few, he left, which I took as a good sign.

I’ve never had a dog before, or any other animal really, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. He’s definitely intimidating, but I think he might like me.

Maybe?

As if to answer my question, he nudges my hand as I make it to the bottom of the stairs. Something about such a large dog asking for my attention melts my heart, and I stop for a moment to give him a few pets again. Spoiled pup.

I follow the sound of Addison’s excited chatter and Ruby, who knows the way better than I do. This place is huge. It’s going to take some getting used to.

It’s not until I turn the corner into the dining room that I realize Addison’s voice isn’t the only one I’d heard. I come face to face with two familiar men I never thought I’d see again.

Nathan and Addison sit at the table, but they aren’t alone. Nathan had mentioned that his brother and son, as well as his nephew, lived at the house. I’d met Oliver, and he seemed nice enough, if not a little standoffish, but I hadn’t asked much about the other two. Addison had spoken highly of them, and I knew Nathan’s brother was also his partner at their company thanks to my Google search, but I’d never asked for their names or more information.

My big brother, Des…

Addison’s words echo through my head, and I could smack myself. I’d thought it was a nickname, not a shortened form of his name.

Alex and Desmond sit at the table, staring at me much the same way I stand staring at them, in pure disbelief.

“Ms. Kat, Ms. Kat!” Addison shouts, running over to grab my hand and pull me toward the table when I make no move to go to it myself. “This is my brother, Des, and my Uncle Alex!”

She’s so excited that she doesn’t seem the least bit put off that I’m not really present. Instead, my mind is racing, going over everything that’s happened in the last few weeks, as I wonder how the hell I missed this.

How had I never asked their names? Nathan had talked about them a little bit. Had I just missed it? No, there's no way… Right?

Shit. Shit. Shit.

This can’t be happening.

I’d just agreed to nanny for Nathan. Now I have to find a way to tell my new boss I have to quit. There’s no way I can stay here knowing what I’ve done. And shockingly enough, sleeping with his son and brother isn't even the worst of it. I’d slept with a man who had a child and possibly a wife, or at the very least, someone who would call him dear.

Again, shit.

“Uncle Alex, this is Ms. Kat. She’s my new nanny!”

“Katherine,” my name rolls off his lips in a deep, husky whisper, as if he’s testing the way it will feel to say it again. He reaches out for Addison, and she happily climbs up on his lap with a grin, seemingly unaware of the way her uncle is devouring me with his eyes.

I look from him to Desmond and back to Addison, and something doesn’t add up…

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