Page 35 of My Not So Wicked Boss (My Not So Wicked 3)

With all that in mind, I was determined to at least broach the subject with Miles. So after dinner and doing soccer drills with Chloe in the backyard, which really turned into us trying to teach Henry how to dribble the ball because he didn’t like to be ignored and he had us wrapped around his cute pudgy fingers, I took the little tyke back to the main house for a bath and bed. Henry was so worn out from playing hard all day he quickly drifted asleep halfway through the first bedtime story. It was then I made my nightly trek to Miles’s office. This time, though, I walked a lot slower.

Before I knocked on Miles’s door, I tried to think of some ways to casually bring up how he could do better as Henry’s guardian. Not sure how casual that could be. I inhaled and exhaled, then knocked. The turning of the whiteboard could be heard, then his footsteps. His life was like one big ritual and he was sucking me into it.

He opened the door and like always, he hit me with his warm smile. “Aspen, it’s good to see you.”

I handed him the monitor. “Can I speak to you?” I held my hands behind my back wringing them.

“Would you like to come in?” he asked, hopeful.

“Yes.”

His face brightened. “Splendid. Please take a seat.”

I found myself in front of his desk with him right next to me. This time, though, I think he was even closer than the last time.

“How was your day?” he started off.

“It was nice. We spent most of it with my parents.”

“I hope Henry wasn’t too much trouble.”

“Not at all. My parents were taken with him. He’s a real charmer.”

“He gets that from me.” Miles winked.

I may have believed that if he actually spent real time with Henry.

Miles laughed when I didn’t reply. “You find me arrogant.”

I bit my lip. “Maybe.”

Miles leaned back in his chair. “There is probably some truth there.”

“Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery,” I teased.

Miles placed his hands behind his head. “I do like you, Aspen.”

I scanned his immaculately clean office, nervous, not knowing how to respond. I think I could like him. Maybe I already did. But there were some things I didn’t like, and those needed to be addressed first.

Miles interrupted my train of thought. “I saw you playing football out back. You and your daughter are good.”

My gaze locked with his. I had no idea he was watching us. “Were we being too loud?”

“Not at all. I was taking a break and noticed.”

“You could have joined us. I think Henry would have liked that.”

“I wouldn’t have wanted to show you up,” he said uncomfortably. “Besides, you Americans don’t even call it by its proper name.”

“That’s not true.”

Miles’s brow cocked. “I think you are mistaken.”

“I don’t think so.” I flashed him my best smirk. “The word soccer originated in Britain around two hundred years ago, but when it became too ‘Americanized,’ your people stopped using it.”

“My people?” he barked out a laugh. “I’m going to have to fact-check you on this.”

“Check away.”

“You are cheeky.”

“You have no idea.”

“I think I do.” The mood suddenly shifted in the room from playful to serious. “You are also brilliant. My publisher is raving about you. Your social media posts have sales up and me trending, so thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I folded my hands in my lap and began to wring them. With him happy about my job performance, I thought maybe this was a good time to bring up my concerns. I took a breath, and after one more good wring of my hands, I rested them on my legs and leaned forward. “Would you mind if we talked about Henry?”

“Not at all.” His brow pinched. “Is he misbehaving?”

“No. He’s a sweet boy. Rambunctious as all little boys are, but honestly, he’s a doll. I love taking care of him.”

“And you’re marvelous at it.”

“Thank you. But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Miles tilted his head.

“You see, as much as I love taking care of him, I shouldn’t be the only person. He needs you.”

Miles’s ears pinked and his body became rigid.

“Henry is still hurting, as I know you are too, but you are his parent now, for all intents and purposes, and it’s important for him and you to be together for the little moments, like bedtime, dinnertime, and playtime. Surely you don’t need to work all day, every day.” I ended with an apprehensive smile.

He didn’t return it. In fact, his glare had me losing my smile in a hurry.

He cleared his throat before sitting up as straight as possible. “Here’s the thing, love.” The edge in his tone said he did not mean that as a term of endearment. “You don’t know the kind of pressure I’m under, and you bloody well don’t know what I’ve been through the last several weeks. I love my nephew and I hired you to be his nanny, not mine.”

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