Page 2 of The Billionaire and the Nanny: Part 2

“The very one,” I answer, adding a stifled, nervous laugh. Why did I say that? It wasn’t even funny or witty. “Yes, pleased to meet you,” I add, walking forward and extending a handshake in his direction.

He stands and our hands connect. He’s got big, warm, manly hands. Something about this man’s hands immediately makes me feel small and timid, feminine and meek. His gaze rips right through me, those steely gray-blue orbs, scrutinizing everything about me as though he’s summed me up in mere moments of looking atme.

“Have a seat,” he orders, sitting back down again himself, glancing at my chest for a nanosecond, then back up at myface.

“Of course. Thanks for having me.” I sit and place my hands on my lap, then on the armrest, then on my lap again. I fold them and unfold them, waiting while he reviews my file. My knee begins bouncing, and I force myself tostop.

“Tell me about your experience with children,” he says without glancing at me. “You can’t be more than what, twenty?”

Wait. Is this the guy in charge of hiring? I can’t see him being a Dad, but then again, this is New York City, so anything’s possible.

“Twenty-two,” I correcthim.

“Ah. A mere baby yourself.”

He’s trying to rattle me. I can do this. No need to feel nervous. I’ve already been here longer than the first girl who entered. Obviously, I can’t lead with the fact that I don’t have much experience with children, so I go with the positives. “I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, and—”

“Do you have experience with infants?” he cuts me off, marking something on the sheet with hispen.

“No, butI—”

“That will be all. Thank you for your time.” He gives me a curt nod, and even though he’s definitely handsome, there’s a level of intolerance in his face. He doesn’t give people much of a chance, doeshe?

“That’s it?” I grip the armrest.

He looks up. “Yes, that’s quite enough. The agency should have sent me a more qualified applicant.”

“You didn’t really let me explain,” I say much to my own surprise.

“Why should I let you explain? You don’t meet my needs.”

“But I do…meet your needs.” I swallow softly. “Sir.”

A slow, smartass smile unfurls on his face. “Hawthorn. Zayden Hawthorn,” he says, pressing a fingertip to his cheek. He’s amused and seems open to hearing more of this display of defiance. “Go on, Miss Rainville.”

His name sounds familiar though I don’t know where I’ve heard it, and now that I think about it, his face looks familiar, too. I think about what I’m going to say now that I have his full attention. “Yes. I, uh…have a deep desire to learn, Mr. Hawthorn. You’ll find that it’s my strongest trait.”

This particular combination of words amuses him even more, and I want—to—die. “Is that so? Tell mewhy.”

“Well, first of all, I’m from a small town nobody’s ever heard of. And already I’ve worked my way through college, and now I’m working my way through New York City. I can only go up fromhere.”

His nostrils flare. “Or you could godown.”

I swallow hard and feel my nipples stiffen as I try to figure out if he’s playing with me. “I don’t understand what you mean. Sir.”

“I mean, this city has a way of chewing people up and spitting them out. What did you think I meant?”

You could godown.

The phrase has layers of meaning, and immediately I imagine myself wrapping my lips around his cock, sucking, as he forces himself deeper into my mouth, then shooting everything, hot and sticky down my throat…

He snaps his fingers and I startle, realizing I was drifting off into that fantasy, and I lick my lips nervously, then steel myself to meet his gaze. “I won’t be chewed up and spit out,” I reply with conviction. “I’m going to make it here. I promise youthat.”

“Good for you. But again, nothing to do with caring for an infant.” He slaps closed the file and shifts, as if readying himself to stand.

I can’t let him dismiss me the way he dismissed the others. I have to keep fighting, no matter what, until he kicks me out of here. “It’s got everything to do with caring for an infant,” I say, eliciting a raised eyebrow from him. Holy shit, he’s hot. Sexy as fuck and knows it. I glance away for fear of losing my train of thought again just looking at him. Already, my hands sweat, my heart pounds, and an unfamiliar tightness tugs at my belly.

“I’m curious to see how you’re going to support your claim, Miss Rainville.”

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