Page 29 of The Billionaire & the Nanny: Part 4

“Oh, Kase. Don’t make it sound so much like a request,” the old man says, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with the blanket resting in his lap. If Nettie weren’t right behind him, he’d launch into a whole discussion about how saying please gives servants the impression they have a choice, that the best way to address them is by giving a clear order.

I may be living in a billionaire daughter’s home, and I may be a wealthy man myself, but I didn’t grow up with servants, and I certainly don’t care for pretending like I’m better than they are. Alana—wherever the fuck she is—is at the same level I was when I got out of college. Even though I do wish she’d make her presence known ASAP, she’s not a fucking dog.

“Right,” I say anyway. It’s easier to please the old man than arguing with him.

Luckily, Alana comes out of the restroom at that very moment. It occurs to me right then how she has to take the baby with her in order to go. In fact, she’s with Liam every waking moment, which must be rough. Wiping a bead of sweat, I say, “Mr. Roper, this is Miss Frasier, Liam’s new nanny. She’s doing a spectacular job taking care of your grandson.”

I give Alana an “I’m being generous and you better appreciate it” look.

“Hello, Mr. Roper. Very nice to make your acquaintance. What a lovely wheelchair you have there.”

I nearly slap my forehead. What a lovely wheelchair you have there? I could kill her. With my glare. With laser beams emitting from my forehead into her brain. Bracing for the insult that’s sure to come, I hear laughter coming from the wheelchair.

Roper’s having a coughing-laughing fit. He shakes and lifts his hand to Nettie for something. Nettie reads this gesture to mean he wants a cigar and pulls one out from his bag, lighting it for him. Seriously? He’s going to smoke even though he needs an oxygen mask? And around Liam?

The old man has balls, I’ll give him that.

“Where did you get this one, Kase? Wal-Mart?”

“Le Nanny, sir. New York City’s most reputable.”

Roper gives Alana an up and down glance-over, then notices the baby for the first time. “There’s my grandson. Bring him over to me, girl.”

I see Alana visibly bristle at being called “girl.” She takes tentative steps toward Roper, setting Liam down in his lap. Immediately, Liam cringes, his face fills with worry, and he turns right back around, throwing his arms up for Alana to pick him up.

Part of me cringes as well. “Oh, come on, Liam. Look at your grandpa!” I smile at the baby, encouraging him to stay with the old fart, even though I totally get his trepidation and whining that begins. But another part of me is happy for Alana. Finally, the baby prefers to be with her. I know that’s just human nature—we want what’s familiar to us—but I also think he’s starting to care for his nanny, too.

Points for Alana.

I smile at her across the room. Seemingly shocked by my moment of gratitude, she relaxes and smiles back, reaching down to hold Liam’s little hand instead of taking him away from Roper.

The old man looks up at that moment. He sees it—the smiles between us. Of course, anyone’s allowed to smile at someone else, especially an employer looking to encourage or reward an employee, but Roper seems to know more. I don’t know how he sees it in that fraction of a second, but he does, because the next look he gives me is one of disapproval.

Because Liam starts whining again and throwing his arms toward Alana, I say, “You can go, Miss Frasier. I think the baby needs to spend quality time with his grandfather.”

She nods, appreciative of the chance to get away from this awkward meeting, and disappears.

Immediately, Roper turns his eyes on me. “Like the way you’re spending time with the nanny?”

I hate the way this man feels he can say anything around his nurse. Nettie knows better than to look at me after Roper saying something so personal and insinuating. She takes a seat, choosing to stare at her nails instead.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” I tell him, pit growing in my stomach.

“I’m sure you do.” Roper bounces Liam on his lap, but the kid grows increasingly agitated. “You think I haven’t lived eighty years? I know when a man and woman have had relations.”

“No, sir. I know you’re wise and experienced and by far, the only and best father-in-law I’ve ever had.” I tack on a witty smile for effect. “But I assure you, there is nothing…going on between me and my staff.”

Roper waves away the issue since it’s not what he came to discuss, right as Liam reaches his melting point and lets out a long wail. Time for rescue. I reach down and swoop the baby from his arms. “He’s just hungry. It’s his lunch time right about now. Miss Frasier?”

At that moment, Alana comes around the corner, a scowl on her face, and when she looks at me, it’s clear she’s overheard the conversation. What did she expect? For me to admit we’ve had relations? “Yes, Mr. Hardwin?”

“Could you take Liam for his lunch? He’s a little antsy.”

Another glare at me, and thanks so much for stressing my name in front of the old man. “I’d be delighted to, sir.” Biggest, fakest smile I’ve ever seen from her.

Once Alana’s ushered Liam away to the kitchen, I turn back to Roper. “Anyway, sir, how have you been?”

“Another day above the ground, Kase. The question is, how are you doing? I still can’t believe my Evie is gone. Sometimes I think I hear her talking through the house, but she’s not there.”

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