Page 12 of The Nanny's Bossy Billionaire

“Nessa.” I smile regretfully, knowing she thought that reaction was for her. It was. Only it wasn’t. Shit, I need to get laid. I need to wipe that woman off my mind.

“Congratulations,” she breathes, leaning in to kiss my dimple and my chin. It’s something Vanessa alone does to me. Suddenly I don’t want her mouth anywhere near me, however innocent.

The boys—Ryan, Wyatt, and Lee are making faces at me from behind her. This thing between Vanessa and me has been going on for a couple of years now. An interior designer, she remodeled Wyatt’s office space two years ago and he’d introduced us. I was honest with her from the beginning and told her I wasn’t in the market for a relationship and wouldn’t be looking for one in the future.

Three months ago, she told me she was in love with me and that my being spotted with random women was hurting herfeelings. I told Vanessa none of those girls could hold a candle to her. She was smart, sexy, and any man would be lucky to be with her. She’d replied that if what I said was true, why wasn’t I with her?

I didn’t have an answer for her, so she’d left. And now she’s back.

“You look great.” Her eyes roam over me.

“You too,” I say.

The boys come over before we can say more and start clapping me on the back. Vanessa moves to chat with Dan.

I’m surprised they restrained themselves this long. Ryan and I go way back, growing up in Seattle. Our families are close. While Ryan was being groomed to become CEO of his family’s shipping company, I was to take over the Bennetts’ hotel and real estate business. Unlike me, my twin wasn’t the least bit interested in the family business. Ryan and I became like brothers, having shared similar upbringing and interests and having the weight of the future of the family business on our shoulders. We had a falling out in high school when he found out about his sister’s crush on me. I’d been out cold in Ryan’s bed when she’d impulsively jumped into the bed and kissed me. Ryan walked in, fists flying first before asking questions.

We reconnected at NYU, where we also met Wyatt, an investment banker. Lee’s firm handles my accounting, and I swear he gets a kick out of giving me orders, which he likes to call “financial advice.” Lee and I formed a friendship when he became the youngest partner in his company and took over my account.

“So,” Lee says. “Five hundred million, huh? You trying for gazillionaire, Xaviboy?” I’d sold the GIS software for that much.

Wyatt chips in, “I mean, with the way you suck at poker, it’s either you do something like this or end up on thestreets.”

My friends hoot loudly.

“Piss off,” I say. When it came to poker, my friends could wipe the floor with my ass. I know they cheat, but I just haven’t figured out how.

“Knock it off, idiots. He’ll start crying now,” Ryan says, and I shake my head.

I can tell they want to party. Wyatt and Ryan have been throwing me hints to come up with something so we could leave.

“Just hear me out.” Ryan points meaningfully at the ceiling. My helicopter is on the roof. “One word. Vegas. We’ll take the heli to the airport. I can have my jet ready in thirty. A mini party mile high and hit Vegas in four hours.”

“Actually, I was thinking of the club, but Vegas will also do nicely,” Lee adds.

“We arenotgoing to Vegas!” I say before Zoey hears them.

“Can you guys pretend you at least want to be here?” Zoey has returned from tucking Lisa in and apparently heard us.

“Of course we want to be here,” Lee says. “We’re enjoying the party.”

Wyatt and Ryan sip their champagne to avoid lying to Zoey. Lee is less of an asshole compared to the others.

“You’re too nice, Lee,” Zoey says. “But I know those two would rather have music loud enough to burst their eardrums. I just wanted to show my brother how very proud of him we all are.”

“And I appreciate it,” I say, hugging her from behind. She ruffles my hair.

“Does that mean we can go?” Wyatt says, and Lee elbows him.

“They’re having a moment, dickhead,” Lee says.

“It’s fine.” Zoey sighs. “You can have him. I have to pack for the trip anyway.”

Dan dislocated his shoulder three months ago in a skiing injury in Aspen. He’d gone on the trip with the other senior partners at Morgan Walton & Saunders as a yearly tradition. Dr. Pereira, the firm’s orthopedic surgeon in Aspen, had repaired the dislocation non-operatively but advised he might need surgery on his rotator cuff if he continued to have pain. Dan had been fine for the first couple weeks while he kept his left shoulder rested, but once he returned to his usual activities, he found he struggled with swimming and golfing.

Everyone starts gathering their things, saying goodbye to Zoey and Dan, and wishing them a safe trip.

“Vegas!” Wyatt yells.

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