Page 21 of The Nanny's Bossy Billionaire

We’re playing a game of billiards and discussing business when he says, “By the way, Vanessa’s been asking for you.”

“She knows how to reach me,” I reply, wishing the woman would just give up already.

“She wouldn’t be bugging me if she could reach you.”

“You know she came back for you, Xavi,” he says when I remain silent.

“I hope not. Nessa is great and she knows it. Any man would be lucky to have her.”

“But not you.”

“She wants a relationship. That’s just not something on the table for me. Ever.”

“Xavi…” He gets that stupid, pitying look in his eyes.

“Drop it, Ryan,” I snap. “Hell, you sound like Zoey.”

“Sure.” Ryan shrugs.

He changes the topic to our upcoming trip to Cancun. I had forgotten about Alex’s wedding because the last few weeks have been so hectic with trying to close the GIS deal.

Alex is a good friend of ours and the CEO of Pinter, one of the largest liquor companies in the States. His wedding is in three weeks. We had the final fitting for the groomsmen a couple of months ago.

“We should all leave early enough, on theday. Alex will blow a gasket if we miss the rehearsal and you can be the tardiest s.o.b.” Ryan has such a stick up his ass with timing. I feel the beginnings of a headache.

Ryan is saying something about everyone going separately, but I’m no longer paying attention.

“Uh-huh,” I grunt, hitting the ball with more force than necessary.

I fucking hate weddings.Too bad I can’t avoid this one. Maybe if I had something—someone—to take my mind off things…?

By the time Ryan leaves, it’s almost eight p.m. Brooke will leave at eight and return to her life. I may never see her again. I put the check in my back pocket and head downstairs to see her before she slips away.

I find her exactly the way I did yesterday morning, standing by the full-length window, admiring the Manhattan skyline. She looks serene. She turns to face me as I enter.

I catch the remnants of wonder in her eyes and the wistful smile playing across her pouty lips before they tighten and her spine stiffens slightly, belying the tension seeping into her as I approach. She looks about to bolt although she doesn’t move an inch, she only turns back to the view. My fists curl. I want her soft and open when she’s with me.

I stand beside her, taking in the view I’ve grown bored of, and try to see it afresh from her eyes. We stand like that for some time.

“Lisa’s down for the count?” I ask.

“Oh yeah, just about tucked her in. I thought it might be an issue with all the ice cream but she was super exhausted; she was struggling to keep her eyes open. Are Zoey and Dan still due in tonight?”

“Yes.” I glance at my watch. “Flight lands in an hour or so.”

She nods her head, saying nothing.

“You were really good with Lisa,” I say.

“Thanks. She’s a sweet kid. I can’t believe she shaved off Coral’s eyebrow.”

“She likes you, trust me. She threw a babysitter’s purse over the rooftop terrace once. Said she wanted to see if it could fly. Hell of a headache trying to get it back. The babysitter quit too. Same day if I remember well.”

Brooke laughs incredulously. I’m shocked at how much I love the sound.

She turns back to the window. “You know, I’ve lived in this city my entire life, but I’ve never seen it from this vantage point. This is just… it’s magical.”

“You should see it at sunset from a helicopter.” It’s out of my mouth before I can fully process what I just said. I continue though. “Not just any helicopter. An open helicopter with your feet hanging out and the wind hitting your face.” I remember the last time I did that and wait for the flash of pain the memory brings. It doesn’t come.

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