Page 18 of Knot Just Their Nanny
Not wanting to disturb them, I back out and pull the door softly closed. Going back to the kitchen, I dish up my dinner and eat it at the kitchen island, messing about on my phone. By the time I’m finished and have tidied up, Benjamin still hasn’t come down. I leave the Spag Bol in the pan, where he can warm it later if he comes down and head to the lounge to read my book for a bit. It’s the first time I’ve really had some time on my own where I wasn’t sleeping. My mind wanders back to Liam, and I feelmore and more as if this is something Iwantto explore. Slowly. A walk to the lake in the afternoon or coffee somewhere close by. But Benjamin won’t like it, and that is something that I have to consider regardless of whether it’s really his business who I date or not. If he’s paying me to take care of his daughter, then I absolutely have to take his feelings into account.
Liam’s idea of not telling Benjamin isn’t a good one. Secrets come out, and it will probably be worse if Benjamin finds out later. But is that the only way I’ll get to meet up with Liam? Maybe secrets at the beginning while we figure shit out aren’t the worst idea.
“Fuck,” I mutter, flinging my head back against the couch. I’ve been here for two days and already things are getting complicated.
The more I think about it, the more my head spins with the ‘what-ifs’ and potential complications of getting involved with not just an alpha, but Liam. He’s got charm by the bucketload, but as Benjamin pointed out—there’s a trail of broken hearts in his wake.
I shove the thoughts aside and try to focus on my book, but the words blur on the page. I can’t seem to shake off the image of Benjamin asleep with Mia, nor can I ignore the slight twinge in my chest at how cute it is. For an alpha who’s been through hell recently, he’s holding up like a trooper.
The clock ticks away, and eventually, my eyelids grow heavy. Stretching out on the couch, I decide I’ll shut my eyes for just a moment…
“Zara?” The soft voice snaps my eyes open, and I blink to find Benjamin standing over me. “Sorry to wake you. I just wanted to say thanks for dinner.”
“No problem,” I yawn, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. “Mia sleeping okay?”
“Yeah. I’ve put her in her cot.”
“I’ll go up. I’m beat.”
“Uhm…” He says, giving me a weird stare.
“What is it?” I ask, wondering if I have Bolognese sauce up my face.
“I put the crib in your room. I hope that’s okay. I just thought with you sleeping in the armchair… it’s not good for getting any rest, and I know Mia is up half the night, so?—”
“Thanks,” I cut off his rambling with a smile. “I appreciate that.”
“Just say,” he says with an intense stare that gives me goosebumps. “Don’t suffer because I’m not thinking far enough ahead.”
“Okay,” I say with a nod. “I will. Thanks.”
He nods and moves past me toward the kitchen. “Night Zara.”
“Good night, Benjamin.”
I watch him disappear into the kitchen. Maybe there’s more softness under that rough-around-the-edges exterior than I gave him credit for.
Dragging myself off the couch, I plod upstairs to my room. A little smile tugs at my lips when I see the crib nestled in the corner; it makes the space feel more like home. The baby monitor is on the bedside cabinet. Mia is sound asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm that calms me more than any meditation app ever could.
I change into my pyjamas and slide into bed, listening to the quiet of the house settle around me like a familiar blanket. My mind keeps rewinding to Benjamin’s face when he was thanking me. It makes me wonder if we could become friends despite the awkward start.
As I settle down and try to sleep, my mind drifts back to Liam. Tall, confident Liam with that cheeky grin plastered across his stupidly handsome face.
What am I doing even considering getting involved with someone who could potentially bring drama into this already complicated household? Still, part of me buzzes with excitement at the thought of seeing him again.
I’ll sleep on it and see how I feel about it in the morning.
Chapter 11
Henry
It’s getting late, but I’ve finally gone over Ben’s financials with a fine-toothed comb.
It’s not looking good. Withoutherincome and interest rates going up, he’s going to run into some trouble, especially with the drop in his own income from all the time he’s taken off since that bitch walked out. I never liked her, but Ben wouldn’t listen. She was self-centred from the start. But I’m not going to tell him I told you so. There is no point, and it would only make both of us feel worse.
Still, it’s happened, and now things have to change. I don’t believe getting rid of Zara is the answer, either. He needs her there so he can go and work. It’s a bit of a tricky situation.
Picking up the phone, I dial Ben.
