Page 46 of The Billionaire & the Nanny: Part 4

Alana

After that dumbkid took Liam’s beanie in the park earlier today, it took 12.8 seconds for him to catch a cold. So now, I’m rocking him near the fireplace, hoping he’ll fall asleep after hours of whining from not being able to breathe.

“Alright, buddy, alright. I’ll ask your daddy to get you something to help on his way home from the party.” I could order something from the corner store now, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable opening the door to a stranger without Liam here.

“Babababaa….”

“I know, buddy.” Pulling out my phone, I compose a text, knowing I won’t get the baby medicine for another couple hours, even though something tells me Liam’s going to be up half the night anyway. I’m only a few letters in when I hear the front door opening.

Not expecting Kase for a while—it’s not even 10 PM yet, and his father-in-law lives up in the Westchester area—I stand, clutching Liam against me. We both stop breathing to listen. Footsteps stomp through the hall in a hurry, heading upstairs. What the hell? Kase would at least tell me it’s him and he’s home.

“Hello?” I call out, my stomach in my throat. If there’s an intruder, my best bet is to go outside with Liam, run off, and get to safety. I hurry into the foyer, about to grab both our coats, when I hear a familiar voice cursing and then the sound of a wall or door being punched. “Kase?”

“It’s me, Alana. Don’t come up here.”

Something is wrong—very wrong. “What is it? What happened?” I start up the steps but stop. I might think I know him well, but you don’t really know a person until you’ve seen them through thick and thin.

Liam’s blue eyes are wide and soaking in the sounds upstairs. He looks to me for answers, but I don’t have any. I hum a little song until he lays his head down on my chest. We stand there so long, waiting for Kase to make an appearance that eventually, Liam falls asleep through my pacing and singing. Slowly, I make my way over to the play room where I can put him to sleep in his play pen. I’d much prefer putting him to bed for the night upstairs in his crib, but I don’t trust Kase right now.

He goes down easily. I put Liam’s blue bunny next to him and cover him with his cozy blanket, then close the door, leaving it ajar. Time to go see what’s going on. Did something happen at the party?

At the foot of the stairs, I call up, “Kase?”

Suddenly, a flurry of heavy footsteps sounds down the upstairs hall, and he descends the stairs in a hurry. I wish I could tell him he looks handsome in the suit he’s wearing, because it does, and I was too annoyed with him earlier to tell him, but there’s something in his face. Something serious has happened.

Over his shoulder, a bag is slung. “Move, please.” He brushes past me toward the door.

“Where are you going?” I hold onto his arm instinctively.

He pauses to look at it, then yanks his arm away. “Away from here.”

“What’s wrong?”

He pauses, hangs his head, half in shame, half in despair. For a moment, I think he’s going to lose it. “I don’t know, Alana. I just…I need to get out of here.”

“Kase…” I rush over to him, hold his arms firmly, and look up at him. “Tell me what happened. We can talk about this, whatever it is. Just…don’t go.” Panic rises in my chest. If he leaves, what’ll happen? Do I stay put with Liam? Do I report his leaving to the police, tell them that my employer took off without a trace?

“I have to leave, Alana. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of for a few days—”

“What? No. Kase, please.” I tug on his jacket, but he only pushes me back and re-slings his bag over his shoulder. “Where are you going?”

“No fucking clue.”

“Please tell me what’s happening. I can help.”

“You can’t help, Alana!” he shouts. His icy glare on me is a warning. I’m pushing him. But I can’t simply let him go either. Liam needs him—I need him.

“Why are you acting like this?” I beg.

“I’m not who you think I am.”

“Who are you, a murderer? Are you wanted in fifty states? Because, if you are, I still don’t think I could undo the way I feel for you, Kase. Tell me what’s going on. Please.” Overwhelming emotion overcomes me. “I love you.”

He stares at me, long and hard. “You don’t know what love is until you’ve lost the most important person to you, Alana. You have no clue.”

“I know enough,” I fight back. “No, I haven’t lost a wife like you have, but—”

“I haven’t lost a wife, Alana!” He pinches the bridge of his nose and breathes slowly until he’s calm. He looks at me. “I was never married. I didn’t love Liam’s mother.” So, it’s as I thought…he only married her because of the baby. But then… “In fact, I’m not even Liam’s father.”

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