Page 36 of Worst Nanny Ever
She gets the movie cued up, then gives me a sidelong look. “How many times have you seen these movies?”
“Probably more than you.”
I start humming the theme music, and her delighted gasp is more soothing than the beer.
I expect her to hit play, but instead she pauses, tapping a finger to her lips. “I’m about to be nosy.”
“Do you ever stop?” I tease.
“No. So…did you ever want to be a lead singer? Ollie told me you sound like some singer whose name I’ve never heard of. I assume he meant it as a compliment.”
That part makes me smile. At least I’ve done something to impress my kid. “No, zero interest.”
“Why?”
“I like playing the drums.” That’s true, but the explanation feels small and inaccurate. I like plenty of things, like soft sheets and an organized refrigerator. My need to play is different. “I crave it.”
Her lips part, and for a second the only thing I can focus on is the fullness of her bottom lip and the small freckle at the corner of her mouth.
I look away, my eyes coming to rest on the screen—it’s paused on an image of my father in a Hawaiian shirt with what is very clearly a stuffed parrot perched on his shoulder.
“I didn’t want any of that, Hannah.” I gesture to it. “There were six of these movies, and they became his whole life. Twelve hours of film. It was all he wanted to talk about, all he wanted to be. His entire life can be summed up by them. It didn’t matter to him that there were other people who needed him, other opportunities he could have pursued. So, no, I don’t care about being famous or being recognized. I’d rather not. No one really recognizes the drummer. Rob’s not into that kind of thing either, but it doesn’t bother him.”
I feel her studying me, her green eyes full of curiosity, the way Ollie looks when he actually meets an equation he can’t immediately solve.
“You’re more interesting than I thought you’d be,” she finally says.
I laugh, shaking my head slightly. “Interestingandsurprising. What a banner night for me.”
“Yeah,” she says thoughtfully. “I guess it is.”
There’s a buzzing awareness between us, and our bodies are still sealed together beneath that blanket I didn’t want, which is quickly becoming my favorite blanket in the world. She’s already right next to me, so close I’m breathing in that maddening scent, feeling the press of her, but it’s not close enough. I want to pull her onto my lap and feel the silk of her hair against my face—and, yeah, the pressure of her body against my dick—but I’m not an idiot.
She’s not here for me.
Still, it’s the kind of night that can make a man forget reality.
So I take the remote from her, our fingers brushing, and turn on the movie—waking myself up.
CHAPTER TEN
HANNAH
“I’m definitely not into Travis,” I tell Sophie, glowering at her and Briar across the table from me. It’s Saturday, and we’re having breakfast at Tea of Fortune. It’s like they’re presenting themselves as a united front to grill me. “He isn’t my type, and I’m guessing I’m not his.”
Sophie shrugs, clearly ready to play peacemaker, but Briar says, “I thought we promised not to lie to each other.”
“I’mnotlying,” I insist, even though I keep thinking about the other night. Watching that movie snuggled up next to him…
I fell asleep with my head on his shoulder and woke up during the final credits, practically in his arms. My hand was on his chest, so I could feel his heartbeat thrumming through me. I looked up at him and found him looking down at me, the longer hair at the top of his head brushing my face.
“I guess you don’t like the movie as much as you thought you did,” he’d said.
“Maybe it was the company that was lacking,”I’d replied, but it took me several seconds to find the will to move. I liked being there, cocooned with him. I felt safe.
I’d wanted to stay in a way that scared me.
I definitely wasn’t ready to tell my friends about it, though. Not after I’d pledged never to touch anyone connected to Rob.
