Page 57 of Knot Just Their Nanny
“It’s beautiful,” she whispers, running her fingers over the fabric. “Henry... this is too much.”
I shove my hands into my pockets, suddenly unsure what to do with them. “It’s just a blanket,” I say, even though we both know it’s more than that.
She unfolds it, running her hands over the fabric. “Thank you. This is so thoughtful.” She stands up, and I brace myself, unsure of what’s coming.
Then she hugs me, quick and tight, and something in me unclenches. She gets it. She gets that this isn’t just any old blanket but a piece of me given to her in soft woven threads.
“It’s nothing,” I manage to get out, though we both know it’s everything but nothing.
“Nothing?” She laughs, and it’s music to my ears. “This is one of the nicest things anyone’s done for me.”
I try to play it cool, shrugging casually like it was some random find. “Well, I’m glad you like it. It seemed perfect for you.”
Zara’s eyes meet mine, and there’s a moment where everything seems to still, where the only thing I’m aware of is her gaze locked on mine, heavy with something unspoken. “I’ll cherish it,” she says softly.
The intensity of the moment makes me want to look away, but I can’t; it’s like she’s seeing right through me. Then she breaks the spell with a smile and a playful nudge of her elbow into my ribs. “You’re going to make someone a very good mate one day, Henry.”
The words are teasing, but they light a fire in my belly that I’ve been trying hard to ignore. Zara walks over to the couch, draping the blanket across the back and smoothing it down with pride. She pats it fondly before turning back toward me.
“So, what’s been going on with you besides blanket shopping?” she asks with genuine interest as we both sit down on the couch.
“Not much,” I say. “Just thinking about making some changes.” Staring into her forest green eyes, I know that the decision I had already made but was waiting to get everything properly into place is about to be moved forward. As much as I want to tell myself this is for Ben’s benefit and he could do with the financial ease, I’m kidding myself. I feel left out with Liam here getting cosy with Zara, and I want to be a part of that aswell. I want to explore this natural attraction I have to her and see if it’s real or just wishful thinking and my sense of wanting to settle down.
“What kind of changes?” she asks, but then Mia cries through the baby monitor, drawing her to her feet. “Sorry, duty calls.”
“Of course,” I murmur and watch her go. “I’ll see you later.”
I pull out my phone and text a message to the estate agent I know, enquiring about listing my place. It’s a solid house with good bones and great views; it’ll rent out in no time, and the extra cash here will ease things for Ben even more before he finds himself in a mountain of debt with no way out.
But as much as this is about helping a mate, it’s also selfish. I want to be near Zara, see her more often, and learn the little things that make her laugh, or the quiet moments when she thinks no one’s watching. I want to be part of her world, woven into the fabric of her days.
The agent replies almost immediately, enthusiastic about the prospect. This is the first step towards something new, something that feels a lot like hope for the future. My future.
Chapter 31
Henry
After leaving Zara, I head to the office to try to concentrate on work, but all I can think about is Zara’s arms wrapped around me. Knowing that I have to push forward with my plan, I decide it’s time to clear this with Ben before I go any further.
The drive is short, nothing is too far away in this part of the country, and I push open the door to Ben’s office building.
It’s nearing lunchtime, so he should be able to take a break and talk with me. Stepping into the lobby, I feel like I’m walking into a beehive. The place is alive, with people zipping past me left and right. They’re all caught up in their own worlds, clutching papers and tapping away on their phones.
The air hums with chatter, and there’s incoming calls that echoes off the walls. Everyone here moves with purpose like they’ve got important places to be and even more important things to do.
Colleagues are huddled in pairs or groups, some leaning over desks while others stand in doorways. They talk fast, their words spilling out in quick bursts as if every second counts double. I watch them, feeling a bit out of place with my jeans and casual shirt amidst their sea of suits and ties. Again, a perk of workingfor myself. But I brush it off; I’m not here for them. I’m here for Ben.
My heart thumps a steady beat, not too fast, but enough to remind me of what’s at stake. This chat with Ben is going to change things between us, hopefully for the better. I shove my hands into my pockets, trying to appear nonchalant as I navigate through the maze of activity, making my way to where I know he’ll be.
“Excuse me,” I mutter as I edge past a couple of people deep in conversation. They barely glance at me, too caught up in whatever problem-solving they’re doing. I finally catch sight of him, tucked away at his desk.
“Hey,” I mutter as I walk up to him. He’s hunched over a blueprint, a pencil behind his ear. He’s so engrossed in his work, he doesn’t notice me until I’m standing right in front of his desk. I clear my throat, and Ben’s head snaps up, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Henry. What brings you here? Is it Mia?”
“No, Mia and Zara are both fine, as far as I know.” I mean, I don’t know for sure, so I can’t insist. “But can we have a chat about something?”
He blinks at me, then nods. “Sure. The meeting room is empty right now.” He stands up, stretching to his full height, and I follow him like a shadow.
