Page 19 of Bully Wolf's Nanny
Daisy shifted slightly, pausing before answering, “…Yes?”
“Excellent!” Felix clapped her on the shoulder. “You and your daughter are welcome in our hearth and home! I’m afraid I’ve got to steal your boss for a moment, but please make yourself comfortable. The bar is open, and I believe the women are having a lively debate about the best route for a hike next weekend! I’m sure they’d appreciate fresh input.”
She nodded, her eyes wide. Before he let Felix drag him away, he stooped down to talk in her ear again. “I’m sure we won’t be long. Will you be okay?”
Her shoulders stiffened slightly as his breath caressed the bare skin, but then she gave him a nervous smile. “Of course. Take as long as you need. I’ll watch the girls.”
“Thank you,” he said, before straightening to his full height and following Felix to his table at the back of the room.
Ever since Felix had taken over, he’d always loved the Pine Shadow Club. Nothing was new or shiny or sleek, but it was undeniable how cozy the place was. From the warm rich cedar beams to the well-loved rugs littering the floorboards, every inch of it was a testament to what Felix was building. And Nicolas wouldn’t change any of it.
Well, perhaps the computer system, but that was an argument he’d lost many times over.
“So,” Felix said, pushing a pint of beer towards him as they sat, his eyebrows waggling. “I’m glad to see you take my suggestion after all. And Daisy Copperfield of all people. What a turn of fate that is.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nicolas replied, his voice clipped. “She was the most qualified for the job. And you were right. It’ll be good to get back into the thick of things again.”
It was undeniable that Daisy was already proving herself very capable in her care of Gracie. He watched as she hesitantly approached a group of mothers, smiled as they welcomed her with open arms and cooed with her over Gracie. In the low, warm lighting of the room, her golden hair shone like a beacon, her green eyes sparkled.
“Hmm.” Felix swirled his beer around his glass. “Is that why you can’t take your eyes off of her?”
Nicolas’s gaze snapped back to Felix. “I’m watching my daughter.”
“Of course you are.”
“Look, what happened in the past with Daisy is in the past. We have a professional working relationship. Nothing untoward is happening or will happen.”
Felix shrugged. “Whatever you say. But I have to ask,” he leaned forward, lowering his voice, “you haven’t told her the truth, have you?”
Nicolas swallowed, his throat suddenly tight.
“No. I haven’t.”
“Nicolas, it’s been so long, surely now, after all this time, you can be honest—"
“I can’t,” Nicolas said, baring his teeth, “it’s in the past. It’s finished. None of it matters now.”
He didn’t look at Felix as his friend took a long drink from his glass, placing it down with slightly more force than was necessary. “I just want you to be happy, Nicolas. You put up with so much bullshit from the Old Guard. We all did, but your father…what he did…”
“I don’t want to talk about my father,” snapped Nicolas, eyes narrowing as they found Daisy again. She was smiling shyly as one of the other women waved her hands animatedly, clearly in the middle of some story or other.
“I just want you to be happy,” Felix said again. Nicolas swallowed.
“I am happy,” he said. “I have Gracie. She’s all I need.”
Felix hummed again, but thankfully let the subject drop.
A loud commotion from the entrance drew his attention, and he looked up to see Dane tumble in sporting a fresh new set of bruises and scrapes. He pushed his long black hair out of his face with a winning smile, the muscles in his torso rippling through his black T-shirt.
It had the desired effect.
Nicolas rolled his eyes as several young females swarmed around him, batting their eyelashes, whimpering at his injuries. Dane lapped up every ounce of attention.
“Ah, fuck,” Felix muttered, “I’m gonna need another beer to deal with this.”
“Did you send him north again?” Nicolas also rose to meet his pack brother.
“It was supposed to be a diplomatic mission. Peaceful negotiations.”
