Page 26 of The Nanny's Bossy Billionaire

“Sure, you can. We could even return on Sunday if you wanted to stay after the reception to enjoy Cancun.”

“Xavier!”

“Alright! I promise, though, you’ll be fine. I’ll look after you.”

I don’t dwell on how good that statement makes me feel.

“How long has it been since you went on a holiday?” Xavier coaxes.

I can’t remember. I admit I’m tempted. Still, I balk.

“But why do you want to take me?”

He growled in frustration. “Enough with the excuses, Brooke. You’re coming with me.” His tone has an authoritative bite that raises goosebumps on my flesh.

I’m silent for a bit. Then I take a breath and say, “Okay.”

“Good girl,” he says. “And Brooke?”

“Yes?” I’m breathless.

“Thank you,” he whispers and hangs up.

It’s ridiculous that I feel that whisper echo all the way down to my toes.

Chapter Ten

Brooke

I don’t see Xavierfor the following three weeks, but we speak a few times on the phone to discuss the wedding. I’m surprised by how easy he is to talk to when he’s not being a jerk. Or super bossy. I learn Zoey and Dan are coming for the wedding too and so are his friends, most of whom are in New York. We’ll be taking his jet with Zoey and Dan, but his friends will meet us there.

He asks about Steve, and I tell him about him being in gambling rehab. He also asks about the rest of my family, and I, too, inquire shyly about his.

He and Zoey are the only children of Richard and Sunita Bennett, who are soon due back from a three-month-long transatlantic cruise. The Bennetts come from generations of real estate wealth. His parents are retired and live in Seattle, and Xavier has taken over the company.

Stella is surprised to hear about the wedding being in Mexico but also green with envy, whining about how she hasn’t hada holiday in forever. Although she’s busy trying to clear her schedule for Cherise’s tour, which happens to be on the same weekend as the wedding, she has taken it as her personal mission to style me for the upcoming wedding, stating that as she was the one who bagged me a billionaire, it was her duty to ensure that I keep him. So, I spend a few evenings under Stella’s watchful eye, perfecting my makeup skills since she’s not going to be there with me.

On one of our calls, Xavier casually said that if I wanted to go shopping for outfits he could take me. I firmly turned him down and he immediately dropped the issue. I figured he’d asked just to be polite, not because he was concerned about how I would look. After the phone call, I’d run back to Stella in desperation because I really had no idea what to wear. We decided on renting an Elie Saab dress for the wedding and she loaned me one for the rehearsal dinner.

Xavier had his driver pick me up on Friday while he finished up with meetings and I’m now waiting for him in the Bentley outside the high-rise building where his office is. The moment he steps out of the revolving doors and strides toward the car, all the composure I’d gained in the past three weeks evaporates into thin air. He’s devastatingly handsome in a suit.

Deep in conversation, he gets into the car, gives me a smile, and continues talking on the phone. I take the opportunity to watch him. His size makes the space suddenly too small. He loosens his tie and undoes the first couple of buttons on his snow-white crisp shirt, and reclines against the back of the seat. I’m surrounded by his voice and masculine scent. His nearness is like a magnetic force field pulling my body into his.

Why do I have to be so affected by this man?

“Look, I’m out of New York for the next few days, but I expect Mark to get the bug fixed tomorrow and the whole report should be on my desk by Monday at the latest.”

He reaches into the center console and offers me a bottle of water, then fetches one for himself. When I start ogling him as he drinks deeply, I mentally kick myself, tear my eyes away from him to look outside the window, and retreat into my protective shell.

“Gail will get you anything you need and she’s available this weekend, so I expect you to make full use of her resourcefulness.”

He hangs up the phone and turns to me.

“Brooke,” he says, “I’m sorry, I’ve been caught up in work, trying to clear my schedule for this trip.”

“Don’t apologize,” I say to him.

“I should have come to pick you up,” he insists.

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