Page 31 of The Nanny is Off Limits

“Life rarely goes the way we think it will.”

“How did you think yours would go? You’re still so young. You can still take your life any way you want to go.”

She chuckles. “I think my life is kind of set now too. I feel as if I’m so conditioned to take care of everyone else and their needs that I don’t even know what it isIwant. Something that’s just for me. I’m here for school but I’ll probably go back to Ohio when I graduate.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I don’t know. I like Maryland but being away from my dad can be tough.”

“Are you guys close?”

“Yeah.” She winces. “Probably another sore subject with my younger sister because she says I’m the favorite.” She rolls her eyes. “Which is such BS by the way. Eden is the favorite. I was just…the only one who could help and it took a lot off of my dad. So our bond is different. He trusts me with everything. A lot of things are in my name. I’m his power of attorney…” She waves her hand as if to say et cetera. “Normal oldest sibling things plus some. You get it, I’m sure.”

I knew the pressures of being an older sibling well. “Of course.”

“Not to mention, my dad was pretty pissed when she got pregnant.”

The fact that her sister was the same age Margot is now, sends a wave of anxiety through me and it worries me that I don’t know for sure if her and Gabe are doing…wellthat. “I’m shocked he didn’t kill whoever the dad is.” I chuckle, thinking about what I’d do in that situation and I’m pretty sure it involves having to pull some strings to avoid jail time.

“Oh, believe me, the only reason he didn’t when he found out was because the father wasn’t eighteen yet and he didn’t want to go to jail for endangering a minor. By the time he turned eighteen, my niece was two and my father was in love with being a grandfather. My sister married him and they’re happy, but sometimes I think my father is just waiting for him to step a toe out of line, so he can beat the hell out of him for it all.”

Sometime later, we’re still sitting outside in relative silence when Margot slides the glass door open. “Hi?” Her eyes ping-pong back and forth between us and Elianna gives her a warm smile.

“Hey, are you hungry?” she asks as she stands up.

“No, I ate at the movies,” she says while staring at me with a look I’d never seen before.

“Well, I’m going to put the food away then,” Elianna says before sliding past Margot, rubbing her shoulder as she passes. “I like this lip color.” She points and then closes the door behind her.

Margot stares after her before turning her annoyed eyes—that at the moment remind me of her mother—to me. “You’re drinking with the nanny now?” She raises an eyebrow at me and I narrow my gaze at her.

“No? Just me. You see? Only one glass.” I hold it up. She crosses her arms over her chest. “Yes?”

“And how would you feel if Gabe and I were sitting outside in the dark like this.” It’s not exactly dark with the lanterns I have lining the terrace but it definitely gives it a sensual glow.

“Pretty angry because you’re not old enough to drink,” I tell her, not liking where this conversation is headed.

“You know what I’m saying.”

“Actually, Margot, I don’t.”

I can feel the tension between us but she doesn’t press it further. “Whatever. I’m going to my room.” She doesn’t wait for a reply before she’s back inside, and just like that all of those earlier feelings are back.

The following day is Saturday and my first weekend off since I started. Mr. Kincaid tried to give me last weekend off but not only did I not have any plans, he ended up needing to be at his office in D.C. for most of the weekend. I had no problem staying home.

But tonight, Jacqueline is all but forcing me out for one of the city’s fall bar crawls. My plan is to stay the night at her apartment in case I do get a little drunk. I don’t want any of the Kincaids seeing me like that.Even if something tells me Rowan would be proud that I finally did something besides worrying about everyone else.

“Now you’re sure you don’t need me to stay? I can cancel,” I say to Mr. Kincaid who’s sitting on the couch, dressed down and looking deliciously relaxed, with Isla who has one of her dolls in her lap while she brushes her hair. I giggle as I listen to her talking to her doll and telling her tostop moving so much.

“No, you go and enjoy yourself. We’ll be fine.” He lifts his arm and stretches it along the back of the couch, a move that is so simple, and yet it makes the complicated feelings I have for this man go haywire.

“Where are you going?” Isla asks without looking up at me.

“Just out with one of my friends.”

“Is she your best friend?” She gathers the doll’s hair into a ponytail before letting it fall in cute frustration.

“Yes, I would say so.”

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