Page 31 of Bully Wolf's Nanny
“Okay then,” she said, before her brain had time to think better of it, “I’ll go to New York with you.”
As the moon rose higher in the sky, shining off his black fur, she imagined his crystal blue eyes became a shade darker.
Chapter 10 - Nicolas
Nicolas may have described the trip to New York as a vacation, but so far, he wasn’t getting to enjoy it.
While Daisy and the girls explored the sights of New York—carefully and surreptitiously guarded by private security, of course—Nicolas had spent most of his time stuck in the office talking to boring old men about various business mergers and acquisitions. The deal with Harper Incorporated was on the brink of success, and he needed to be there to ensure its smooth passage.
But by the time Saturday evening rolled around, he found himself well and truly fed up.
“I think you gentlemen will be able to hold down the fort until Monday,” he said to the assembled board, standing abruptly from his chair and interrupting whatever conversations had been happening. “Better yet, everyone should go home. I imagine Nero tower will still be standing in two days’ time.”
There was an appreciative chuckle from the room, and Nicolas gave all the necessary farewells before entering the lift, pressing in the security code that would take him up to his private suite in the penthouse of the skyscraper.
Truthfully, it had been killing him for several hours that Daisy and the girls were there, in the same very building as him, and he could not join them. He had promised them a vacation, and so far, he had barely been present for any of it. He would make it up to them.
Daisy in particular. After all, he had planned the evening meticulously, and he was about ready to get started.
The elevator ride was short, and Nicolas stepped into his suite, already rolling up the sleeves of his crisp Armani shirt. He followed the sounds of laughter and music through to the living room, only to find all the cushions and pillows in the entire apartment piled into the center of the room, not to mention a good number of the blankets, too.
“Hello?” he called out.
“Nicolas!” Thea’s muffled voice came from somewhere inside the pillow mountain, and after a series of grunts and huffs of effort the little girl emerged, dark hair messy and eyes gleaming.
“We built a pillow fort!”
“I can see that,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Is your mother in there somewhere?”
“Yes,” came Daisy's soft voice from somewhere in the middle of the pile.
Nicolas fought back a chuckle. “Are you going to come out, or do I need to come in there and get you myself?”
“I can manage!” Daisy crawled out, Gracie squealing with amusement in her arms. Just like her daughter, Daisy’s blonde hair was sticking in every which direction, her clothes wrinkled, but her smile bright and happy.
“There’s my girl,” Nicolas said, crouching down to take Gracie from Daisy’s arms. He didn’t miss the slight bob in her throat at his words. “Have you had a good day?”
Gracie babbled a series of nonsense sounds that Nicolas translated into something along the lines of ‘yes, it’s been excellent, but your absence was noted and there will be consequences.’
He rocked his daughter, tapping her little button nose once. “I know, I know. I’m late. How can you ever forgive me.”
“You missed The Lion King!” Thea announced, the disdain plain on her face. “It was a-may-zing!!”
“I’m sure it was,” replied Nicolas, ruffling her hair, “but tomorrow, I’ll go with you to see any musical you like. How about that?”
Thea’s blue eyes widened, mischief flashing across them. “…Mamma Mia?”
He fought back a groan, but he had given his word. “Fine. Mamma Mia. I’m sure it will be riveting.”
Daisy chuckled, smoothing down her daughter’s hair. “Wouldn’t you rather see Wicked?”
Thea chewed her lip, before looking back to Nicolas with hopeful eyes. “…Both?”
“Hah!” Nicolas crouched down so that he was eye level with her. “I like a girl who knows what she wants. But I’ve yet to meet a girl who could convince me to see two musicals in a row.”
Thea pouted. “Fine. Just Mamma Mia.”
“Good girl,” he said fondly, before standing back up. “Now, I’ve arranged for you girls to have a babysitter come over. I’m taking your mother out to dinner.”
