Page 24 of Teasing

Welcome to the club.

“Yeah. They moved in a few weeks ago. I’m actually going to be helping Maverick... kinda.” I trail off. How do I tell him about Rosie when Maverick’s so protective of her? But how do I not? If Camden is going to be living here, he’s going to find out about her either way. And why does that feel like betraying Maverick?

“Helping him how?”

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s grab your bags and get you settled. I want to hear all about Texas.” It’s not like I’m lying. I really do want to hear about his old team, and deflection always worked best with Camden.

If Vivi were here, she’d have called me out on my tactics as soon as Camden walked away. Guess that’s the difference between a brother and a sister.

EMMIE

What...? I drink water. There are ice cubes in my coffee.

—Emmie’s Secret Thoughts

The house is back to its normal empty silence by the time I get out of the shower the next morning. Camden has always been an early riser. He can’t stand to be late. Was always the first guy to be at practice and the last guy to leave. Like he had something to prove, but it wasn’t to everyone else. He was proving it to himself. I guess some things never change.

Me, on the other hand, I was born two weeks late.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never been on time for anything in my life.

Which is why I’m rushing to get dressed and out of the house at the moment.

Pretty sure the snooze button is the devil luring you to the dark side, but I still hit that sucker a few times this morning.

With wet hair and absolutely no makeup on, I slip into a cotton sundress and grab the bag of goodies I put together last night. A quick glance at the clock has my stomach groaning.

Please let them have a coffee maker because if I make my iced coffee now, I’ll be late... Later than I already am.

Shoot. Guess I’m foregoing caffeine. Never a good way to start the day.

With nervous excitement, I hurry through the damp grass and dart across both yards, and okay, maybe I have a Mary Poppins tune or two playing in my mind as I get ready for my first day as a nanny. I may have gone a little overboard with my plans for today, but in all fairness, there’s so much Rosie and I can do. We’re going to have a fantastic summer.

At least I hope we are.

Maverick’s massive black double doors are slightly intimidating with their blurred windows and wrought-iron accents. Their thickness dulls the music slipping through them, but it’s there, and I can’t quite place the beat as my excitement turns to butterflies... just a little.

It’s not the idea of spending my summer with Rosie, or of working with her allergies, or even the idea of the incredibly famous family she comes from that has me anxious. Nope, it’s the idea of seeing her father again. Her standoffish, sometimes jerky, overbearing father.

The one I kind of wish I disliked. I mean, it’s not like he isn’t a little intimidating, and I don’t intimidate easily. Vivi made sure of that. She refuses to let us believe there’s anyone we should be intimidated by. Especially no man. She’s always been good at that. Better than me. But there’s just something about this man. He’s so darn grumpy. Like it’s his job in life to resist smiling unless he’s looking at Briar Rose.

I’ve decided it’s going to be my own personal mission to get him to loosen up and smell the roses a little. I smile at my own little play on words then laugh at myself. I’ve definitely spent too much time alone, but that doesn’t change the fact that life is too short to spend it pissy, and it’s definitely too short not to soak it all in and enjoy. Jamie and Ryker don’t seem to have any problem calling Maverick out on his attitude, so maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to work a different angle.

I’m determined to make this happen, whether he wants it or not.

Pep talk done, I raise my hand just as the door opens, and a smiling Jamie steps aside. “Hey’ya, Emmie. Come on in.” His eyes trail over me as his lips tip up in a devious smirk. I don’t know him well, but even I can tell he’s up to something. “You look tired. Late night?”

“She looks late, period,” Maverick grumbles and shoves Jamie out of the way. Another worn gray t-shirt hugs his broad shoulders, and basketball shorts that would probably be loose-fitting on someone else stretch around ridiculously muscular quads.

My goodness... am I drooling? New mantra—Do not drool around your boss.“Come on. Let’s go into the kitchen. I want to go over a few things before Rosie gets up.”

“Yes, sir.” I smile and don’t miss the way Maverick frowns back at me like I just poured orange juice in his coffee.

Ohh . . . Coffee. I can smell it.

There’s definitely coffee brewing somewhere.

“You don’t have to call me sir,” he grumbles and grabs a three-ring binder from the kitchen counter. “Here. Take this.”

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