Page 51 of Bully Wolf's Nanny
“Francesca,” Daisy yelped, rushing after her, “that’s not how things are done! You wait for the alpha to come and find you, you don’t—"
But it was too late. Francesca came to a halt in front of the table nestled at the back, cocking one hip and tapping her fingernails against the table to get the attention of the alphas sitting and laughing together over drinks. “Felix,” Francesca purred, “how wonderful to see you.”
Francesca turned and shoved Gracie into Daisy’s arms with far less care than Daisy liked, and she quickly readjusted the baby and stroked soothing circles across her back to stop her crying.
The table of alphas went silent, turning to Francesca with raised eyebrows and irritated looks. Felix’s expression, normally so easy-going and approachable, had hardened, his jaw tightening. Daisy knew him well enough to know that while he was a tolerant man, he was still an alpha.TheAlpha. He demanded respect. Especially in his seat of power.
“Alpha,” Daisy elbowed past Francesca, dipping into a half-curtsy, her eyes downcast in submission, “apologies, Francesca only wanted to thank you for your kind invitation tonight.”
“Daisy!” Felix’s stern expression broke into a wide grin, and he held his hands out for Gracie, who burbled happily at the sight of her godfather. “So good to see you! How is this little tyke?”
Daisy carefully handed Gracie over with a nervous smile. “She’s very well! Enjoying more and more solid foods, and she’s obsessed with the toy piano you got her.”
“Ah, we’ll make a maestro of you yet,” Felix said, tickling Gracie’s stomach, “especially when you have such a talented teacher!”
Daisy looked down again and blushed.
“Where’s Thea got to? Raising hell with my boys, I take it?”
“I’m afraid so,” Daisy replied, “although she’s still cross she can’t run as fast as them.”
“She’ll get there. She’s a spirited one, your daughter. Clever too, if Nicolas is to be believed.”
“Nicolas is never wrong,” Francesca interjected with a false laugh, “and Thea certainly is a…precocious little girl. Always tracking mud into the house. Such fun!”
Felix’s eyes flashed in irritation, and he handed Gracie back to Daisy. “Francesca, I take it.”
“Oh, Felix, don’t be silly, we’ve met before!”
“Hmm,” Felix nodded, his gaze sharp. He glanced to his side, where Dane was lounging back in his chair, a shit-eating grin on his face. Dane caught his eye and stood, stretching his muscled arms over his head before extending his hand.
“Francesca, a pleasure to meet you. I’m Dane. Resident enforcer. Can I buy you a drink?”
Francesca opened her mouth to protest, but Dane was already leading her to the bar with a hand firmly placed between her shoulder blades. He threw a quick wink at Daisy over his shoulder before they disappeared into the crowd.
“I’m really sorry, Felix,” Daisy said, turning back to the alpha. “I tried to tell her not to come over and disturb you like this.”
“It’s not your fault, Daisy,” Felix said, his tone soft. “Now, why don’t I introduce you to the reason for tonight’s little gathering. Daisy, this is Frederick. Frederick, this is Daisy. Nicolas’s nanny.”
The man sitting on Felix’s other side stood, extending his hand. “Call me Rick.”
“Nice to meet you,” Daisy said, unable to help the shiver that ran down her spine as their palms connected.
She hadn’t noticed him before, but now that she had, she found it hard to believe anyone could miss him. He was tall, for one, and just as muscular as Felix. But there was something about his presence, his aura. His wavy chestnut hair was almost too artfully styled to come across as messy and thoughtless, his bright walnut eyes were strangely cold, his clothes purposefully rumpled. It was like he was trying very hard to come across as charmingly warm.
Nicolas, for all his refinement, made no secret of his more vicious tendencies. This man seemed like he was trying very hard to hide them entirely.
“Rick here just got back from Europe,” said Felix, clapping him on the back. “Shifter Accord meetings in London, Berlin, Brussels, all the hot spots. He’s the pack negotiator, and very good at it too.”
“Yes, Nicolas mentioned you were abroad,” Daisy said, pasting a polite smile on her face. “H-how did it go?”
Rick’s smile widened slightly at her stutter. “It went very well thank you. You’re so kind to ask. I must invite you and Nicolas around for dinner sometime.”
“O-oh, well, that’s very kind, but…but you’d probably be better off inviting Francesca. Not me. I’m just the nanny.”
“Is that so?” Rick asked, shifting his weight, his predator eyes flashing to where Dane and Francesca leaned against the bar, “perhaps I’ve been… misinformed.”
“I think we’ll leavethosediscussions for when Nicolas is back, hmm?” Felix’s tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of warning. Rick smirked and sat back down, crossing one long leg over the other.
