Page 19 of The Billionaire and the Nanny

I know it’s all innocuous. Giving a baby a cracker isn’t going to bond us everlastingly. But for some reason, I hesitate. Penelope stares at me with the softest of smiles on her face. The baby stares at me, too, like give me the damn cracker already. I know I said they needed to keep their distance, and they do, but I don’t want Penelope to think that I’m completely heartless. I want her to know that I’m sensible, practical, that it’s not a good idea to form bonds that will only be broken later on, but for some reason, I want to see her smile rightnow.

Taking the cracker, I hand it to Lilly Belle who slowly reaches out, big blue eyes fixated on my face, and snatches it out of my hand. Except she doesn’t eat it right away. She stares at me and gurgles. “Look at her. She likes you,” Penelope laughs. “Pick her up, Mr. Townsend. You’ll see she’s really yummy.”

I’ve never picked up a baby in my life. From the moment Lilly Belle arrived here, I’ve had someone, whether Wilson or the cleaning lady, Luz, or one of the fired nannies to hold her. I’ve treated her like a nuclear explosive.

But I do know how to compartmentalize. I know how to keep feelings separate from affecting my everyday life. I’m a professional.

I can dothis.

Suddenly, Lilly Belle throws the cracker on the floor and cries out, laughing and giggling and acting totally loopy.

“Why did she do that?” I ask. I’m not used to anyone rejecting my gifts, even if the gift is a bland cracker.

Penelope laughs hard. She loves seeing me confused and befuddled by the tiny troll. “She must have the midnight crazies. Plus, I think she’s just surprised that you’re here, looking at her…” She shifts to pick up the cracker, eyes pausing on me, as she slowly makes her way backup.

The filthy areas of my mind imagine her doing numerous things in that position. Not with the baby present, of course, but my body wants what it wants, and suddenly, the hardness is back, as I imagine her on her knees, bent over. That door better be locked tonight if I decide to go check onit.

The baby’s coos bring me back front and center, and my hard cock melts away. Now I’m looking at my niece pumping her arms and legs like an energeticdoll.

“Oh, yeah. She’s definitely smitten with you. You should pick herup.”

“Some other time,” I say, reaching out to hold the baby’s little hand instead. Look at those fingers. So little. So chubby. Wrapped around my finger which looks so big next to hers. I wish I could hold her, but I can’t. This is already too much as itis.

“How did you get so good at caring for kids? I mean, you’re practically a kid yourself,” Iask.

She scoffs through a smile. “I’m twenty-two next month. And it’s because I have younger siblings. I always had to take care of them to help my mom out. I guess I’m used toit.”

“Like second nature.” I continue to shake Lilly Belle’s little fist. She’s enthralled and watching me intently. I don’t feel as uncomfortable with her stares anymore. I feel like she might actually like me, as Penelopesays.

“Yes.” Penelope comes over and reaches to take Lilly Belle’s other hand. Now we’ve formed a chain and all we would need is for me to take Penelope’s hand and form a circle. “You know, Wilson was right. There are more sides toyou.”

“Wilson is an old fool,” I say, thinking how I’m going to break his kneecaps for talking nicely about me. “You can’t trusthim.”

Then, suddenly remembering where I am, where we are, how these two strangers shouldn’t even be in my life at all right now, I drop the baby’s hand and step away. They shouldn’t be down here. I shouldn’t be here. I should be working, making sure our numbers align and approving new sales campaigns for next month.

Penelope studies me. I know she must think the worst, and part of me wants so badly to show her that I’m not that way all the time. I can be lots of things—funny, clever—all the things nobody associates Townsend Industries with being, all the things my employees and competitors don’t know about me, but it makes no sense to try and impress the nanny. What is so special about this girl that I feel the need for her to like me? It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’tmatter.

Nor does it align with who I am and it needs to stopnow.

That’s why I wanted them upstairs, out of my sight.

At that moment, the doorbell rings. It’s late. Who the hell would be calling at thishour?

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