Page 18 of The Nanny's Bossy Billionaire

Lisa had changed clothes so many times, each time running upstairs wanting to show her uncle Xavi.

I clear up the leftovers of lunch and start restoring order to the living room. I follow the trail of strewn toys and clothes into the elevator, which opens into Xavier’s penthouse. It’s silent. Just as I suspected, the carnage is substantial here too. I collect the toys and stuff them into the pillowcase I had taken for that purpose, wondering how someone so little could createthis amount of mess in such a short time.

I spot the stuffed giraffe discarded on the top of the floating stairs and pad gently to get it. I suspect Xavier is asleep as well. It wouldn’t surprise me; Lisa could wear out an elephant.

The stairs lead directly into an open-plan bedroom decorated in gold and black tones. The large four-poster bed dominates the space. There’s a wide door on the opposite wall that I suspect leads into a closet or office. My gaze is drawn back to the bed. It’s empty but recently slept in. I know this is Xavier’s bedroom and it feels like I’m intruding into his private space.

I quickly pick up the princess doll on the bed and another stuffed animal near the bedside lamp and I’m about to leave when the wide door suddenly swings open and Xavier walks out.

He’s dripping wet, has a towel wrapped around his narrow hips, and is drying his hair with another one. He spots me immediately, pausing. I’m sure I look like a deer caught in headlights.

Don’t look at him!

“I was getting her bunny,” I say, trying, and failing, to avert my eyes, waving the stuffed bunny in my hand. Or is it the cow? I can’t tell because I’m not looking at it.

Xavier approaches slowly, his eyes taking on a predatory gleam. He stops inches from me while I concentrate on keeping my breathing even. God, he smells so good. My eyes inadvertently follow droplets of water that run over the golden skin of his pectorals, down tight abdominal muscles which taper into a defined V. I snap my eyes back up to somewhere above his shoulder.

“So, what’s the plan?” His voice has dropped an octave.

“What are you talking about?” I’m surprised at how calm I sound.

“How long is this nanny act going to last? You can tell me. I won’t be mad.”

“Not everything is about you,” I say, feeling myself getting angry. “Some of us have real problems and have to work. I don’t care about you. If I had known Zoey was your sister, I wouldn’t have agreed to work for her.”

“Really?” He sounds incredulous. He fingers the loose tendril that has escaped my high bun, moving it behind my ear, then his index finger traces the shell of my ear. “So this is just about work?”

I back away a few steps. I don’t appreciate how my body is betraying me right now. I shouldn’t enjoy his hands on my skin this much. I back up until I feel the wall on my back. Xavier moves with me, keeping the same distance despite my retreat. He places his palm flat on the wall behind me.

“Why are you running away from me?”

“I’m not.” I lie.

He puts his other arm around my waist and pulls me against him, and I gasp when I feel his hardness. He moves more tendrils away from my face, then holds my chin, brushing his thumb back and forth over my bottom lip. Desire explodes in my groin. I turn my head away. Instead, his thumb moves to the dark spot above my lip and he rubs that instead.

“Look at me.” I avoid his gaze.

“Playing hard to get, huh?” he says. “It looks good on you.”

He takes my chin again, and I lose the battle, raising my eyes to his. He’s so close I can see the golden specks in his green irises. His gaze lowers to my lips and I can feel them start to tingle. He licks his own lips. There’s an answering clench in my core and I feel myself getting wet. Xavier lowers his head until I can feel hisbreath on me. My eyes fall closed and I pant softly. We stay like that, exchanging breaths until I moan and strain toward him.

He whispers into my mouth, “There’s another toy on the other side of the bed.” And abruptly releases me.

“Wha—?” I open my dazed eyes as he steps backward.

“Oh, you thought I was going to kiss you?” He smirks. “No offense, Brooke, but you’re not my type.”

Shocked beyond belief and humiliated, I say, “Oh really? I’m not your type now?”

“You never were,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re sexy. Very sexy.” I’m disgusted when his eyes rake me up and down, lingering on my chest. “You’re just not the kind of girl I would want to be seen with.”

I don’t know where it comes from but the next moment my palm flies across his face. He absorbs the blow, still smirking. I’m more ashamed that I hit him.

I feel sick, tears prickling the back of my eyes. I need to get out of here before I embarrass myself completely by dissolving into tears. I pick up the pillowcase of stuffed animals that had somehow fallen to the ground and walk out of his room with as much dignity as I can.

“Hey.” I can still hear the stupid smirk on his face. “There’s more bunnies on the other side of the bed if you want to get them.”

I don’t break my stride or look back.

---