Page 18 of The Billionaire and the Nanny

Ethan

Being closerto the source of my obsession will only make it worse.

I knew, when I opened my mouth to say I’d be working from home, that was the case, but I couldn’t stop myself from saying it. Normally, I look forward to going to the office. Staying home makes me feel uneasy. Finding things to tell Wilson makes me feel uneasy, filling the silence makes me feel uneasy.

But here I am, and I’m not entirely surewhy.

I told her to stay away from the downstairs area near my office. I can’t exactly work if the baby is crying. Ah, screw the baby. I can’t work knowing that Penelope is wandering around, swaying that sweet ass and sending me the softest, slightest of fragrances. Probably undetectable to most, but for me, it’s like blood to a shark. Still, I can’t afford that douche-y Robert guy coming aroundhere.

If he danced in his underwear for her when he was a kid, what would he do now for her attention?

That’s how it starts, conversation on the steps. Smiles. Before you know it, she’s inviting him in when I’m not here, and no way, I can’t have that. Why can’t I have it? Because I don’t want guys I don’t know around Lilly Belle? Because I don’t want my nanny to have a social life, or because I want her all to myself?

“Looks like the young lady has been banished from the west wing.” It’s Wilson standing at the doorway to my office, folded newspaper under hisarm.

“Banished? Wilson, you know as well as I do that I can’t have any distractions while I’m working. It’s a big enough house. Don’t give me thatshit.”

He ignores my cussing, the way he always has. “You don’t want them near you,” he says in that tone. That all-knowing fatherly tone I hate. Love. Hate. “However, you can’t act like a beast in your own castle either, demanding that the princesses remain locked and out of your sight. They’re free individuals.”

“Yes. Yes, I can, Wilson, and that’s what I’m going to do. It’s my house.”

“Oh,” he says, eyes wide with mock surprise. “I forgot. Your house.” Then, he walks off silently, leaving me in a swirling mist of my own thoughts. I hate when Wilson does that—talks to me like I’m a moron. I wish he’d go bother someone else. Then, I remember…I’d have no one if hedid.

* * *

After a few days,I’m working in my office, going over numbers when I hear the refrigerator door open nearby. “Wilson?” I call out. I could use a tall glass of cold water.

A gurgly goo-goo sound is my only reply. Knowing that most babies cannot come down the stairs and open refrigerator doors at nearly eight months, I wait for Penelope to explain why she’s down here. “It’s me, Mr. Townsend.”

“Lurking around, breaking rules, are we?” I step out of my office and stand in the kitchen doorway. She’s wearing pink leggings with clouds on them, her hair up in a messy ponytail, looking as adorable as ever. The leggings are a mistake. They outline every curve on her lower body, her toned calves, and that ass I can’t get out of my head. Now I know I won’t be finishing my work for today, and that pisses me off. The baby sits in a bouncy chair with a wire frame on top of the counter.

“I’m sorry. Lilly Belle needed a snack, and we’re out upstairs. I should’ve asked Wilson to get me some before he left. Sorry.”

The baby stops bouncing in her chair to examine me. I feel awkward that she doesn’t know me very well, even though that’s entirely my fault.

“I’m sure I asked you to keep the baby upstairs while I’m working, didn’t I?” I say, unrelenting.

Closing a drawer shut, Penelope lets out a frustrated sigh. “You can’t keep a baby locked away, Mr. Townsend. And it’s Lilly Belle. You should try saying her name. She’s your niece. She was hungry, so I’m looking for the baby crackers.”

“Are babies supposed to eat crackers at thisage?”

“Yes, Mr. Townsend. They’re not super crunchy or anything. They dissolve on the tongue and are perfectly safe.” She continues to rummage through the cabinets while Lilly Belle continues to stare at me like I’m the beast Wilson said Iwas.

I walk up to Penelope and peer into the cabinets with her. I know what crackers she’s talking about. They’re inside of a gallon zipped bag in the back row. So close to her, I smell her scent wafting off her skin. It’s an earthy, feminine scent, way better than all that fake shit women put on. Suddenly, my blood races through my body. I’m immediatelyhard.

Slowly, she backs up, aware that we’re so close. I can almost hear her heart beating through her skin and shirt. Her hazel eyes flash at me, with flecks of gold, as she holds her breath. I reach in and pull out the zipped bag. “Is this what you’re looking for?” I hold it near her chest.

If the baby weren’t here, I might throw her against the counter and suck her tits before fucking herhard.

Clutching the bag close, she nods without a word, staring at me as though she’s heard my thoughts.

“Ah, the sassy one has lost all ability to talk back. Maybe I should stand close to you more often.” I arch an eyebrow and then move over to Lilly Belle, shoving my hands in my pockets and staring at her. She’s actually a really pretty baby. My sister and her husband didgood.

“You can, um…” Penelope clears her throat. “You can pick her up, youknow.”

“I can see her fromhere.”

“She’s not going to bite you.” Penelope laughs, reaching into the box and pulling out an octagon shaped pale wafer that looks like it would taste awful and stale. “In fact, why don’t you give it toher?”

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