Page 33 of The Billionaire and the Nanny: Part 2

Suddenly, the plane dips and rights itself again. I shriek, my nails digging into Zayden’s jeans. “What’d you do that for? Please, don’t. Please don’t dothat.”

“Let’s not forget who’s in controlhere.”

Yes, it’s hard to forget. He pretty much runs the show. My life is in his hands, I get it. He gets to decide if he’s going to keep Olivia, he gets to decide if he’s going to fire me or keep me at my job, and he gets to decide how far we go in this relationship. What happens if his decisions don’t suit me? Do I want to keep having sex with Zayden night after night without delving deeper into a more serious relationship?

How far do we go before I start demanding more again?

I don’t want to ask about that now while we’re having a good time, but if things get more serious, I’ll need to know. I can deal with him not being Olivia’s primary caretaker if and when her mother gets out of prison, but I can’t deal with him not taking an active part in her life. I don’t just mean sending her money either. I mean having a visitation schedule, seeing her regularly, and fighting the courts for more access to his daughter.

This relationship is twisted and unhealthy in some ways, but I can’t stop the way I feel about him. Those emotions aren’t just physical either. There’s something between us that neither of us can fathom or understand. If I tell my friends about Zayden and me now, they’ll only say I feel that way because he’s my first. They’ll say that being Olivia’s nanny and being with her father in the same house pretending as though we were a family is dangerous. That I’m only setting myself up forhurt.

Maybe Iam.

But that doesn’t mean I can just flip a switch and stop either.

About halfway to our destination near Bear Mountain, Zayden says, “Put your hands on the controls like this. You’re going tofly.”

“What? No way, Zayden!”

“Just do it, Bailey. Nothing’s gonna happen. Come on. Like this. Look at my hands.” He shows me how to hold the controls and then dips it forward and back again ever so slightly. “Do that and you’ll feel thepull.”

“Oh, my God, I hate you right now,” I say, putting my hands where he tells me and following his instructions. Warm hands rest over mine, showing me how to push forward on the controls. I feel the plane dip then he pulls back again.

“See? You’re flying. Still hateme?”

“No. Oh, my God, I can’t believe I’m doing this.” But I do, and the more I do it, it gets easier and less scary, and besides, it only lasts a couple of minutes. My heart pounds inside my chest but I feel amazing.

When we land, immediately there’s a fancy black sports convertible waiting for us. We drive around, ending up at a small town called Cold Spring where we have lunch and walk around. For once, there’s no baby between us in public. Just us, buying hot chocolate and checking out a bunch of antique stores along the way. Zayden holds my hand, and for a day at least, it feels like I have a boyfriend.

Dare I say it feels normal? Like we’ve known each other our whole lives?

How did I live before meeting Zayden? I almost can’t remember.

With a guy like Zayden, I’d never get bored. We’d always find some new place to fly off to, have new experiences, and find new things to talk about. I’m usually cautious with relationships and putting myself out there. It’s the reason I haven’t had a boyfriend yet. But damn, I have to say…if this is how it is? I could get used toit.

* * *

When we finally arrive back home aftera long day of plane rides, car rides, and more car rides back to the city, it’s nearly midnight, and I’m officially bushed. The babysitter says goodbye, tells us that Olivia’s first tooth came in, and that she had a good day. I’m jealous that I wasn’t here to see her first tooth come through, then I remember I’m not her mother and don’t need to be the first to see her milestones. I’m a caretaker, just like the babysitter.

So why do I feel so envious?

I feel like I should’ve been the first to see my little girl’s tooth comein.

“Let’s go see her,” I tell Zayden, running up the stairs that are beginning to feel like home tome.

“You can see her. Tell her I sayhi.”

“Zayden, come on, you’re her daddy. It’s not going to kill you to check in on her. We’ve had a great day. Come on, let’s end it with some cuteness viewing.” I enter Olivia’s pretty bedroom and find the chunky monkey asleep in her crib on her side, her cute little mouth slightlyopen.

To my surprise, Zayden actually listened. He came into the room with me and now stands by my side, hands in pockets, staring down at her like he’s not sure what to think.

I can tell he wants to hold her. I know Zayden more now, and he can be a sweet guy. There’s no way he can look at such a gorgeous little baby that’s half him and not want to hug her. She’s not even mine 1% and I want to. “She loves you, you know,” I whisper. “I see it when she looks atyou.”

“She hatesme.”

“She does not, Zayden. She’s curious because you watch her but you rarely interact. Why not let that guard down sometimes? You’ll find that she’s a lot of fun to be around.” On the wall next to me, I pass my hand underneath the antibacterial gel dispenser and rub it all over my hands. Then taking the tip of my finger, I swipe it inside her mouth lightly to find that her lower tooth has indeed come out. “Look, feelhere.”

“Nah, I’ve been touching airplanes allday.”

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