Page 30 of That First Night
“Y-yes,” I say back in a hoarse whisper, still refusing to turn around. “It’s more than okay.”
“I wanted to make sure you had something for today so I had Rosie get whatever she could find.”
I allow myself to pause at his words for a minute and then I slowly turn to face Thomas. When I do, I can’t help but check him out from across the kitchen. He’s casually leaning against the archway that leads into the kitchen with both his arms and legs crossed. His dark hair is scruffy from bed head and he’s wearing a plain black t-shirt that allows me to really get a glimpse of his tattooed forearm porn and gray sweatpants. Gray. Fucking. Sweatpants. Do guys not understand what gray sweatpants do to women? This man is standing here with not only forearm porn but gray fucking sweatpants.I am so fucked.
He pushes himself off the wall and walks into the kitchen. I still haven’t said anything because I’m rendered speechless from the sight in front of me. He’s a navy-blue suit guy without a doubt, but seeing him like this, in his most relaxed state, is my new favorite thing in the world.
“Good morning, JJ.” He kisses the top of James' head and messes his hair. “What are we making?”
“Waffles, Daddy!” James screams. “The funtetti ones!”
We laugh at how excited James gets over the waffles and Thomas moves to grab the waffle maker. “Sit,” he orders. “I’ve got this.”
Thomas moves around the kitchen with ease as he whips up some waffles for James. After he serves them to James, he begins to mix another batch of waffles with different ingredients. I realize quickly that this batch is for me. He’s making vegan waffles and my mind can’t stop spinning at the events that have taken place this morning.
Did he look up this recipe so he could make me breakfast?
He throws a few sprinkles in it as well and serves them to me with sliced strawberries on top. As he slides the plate across the island, he gives me a wink and moves to clean up the kitchen.
“T-thank you,” is all I can find the words to say. I take a bite, “Wow, these are the most delicious waffles I have ever had.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiles at me. “Glad you like them. It was my first time trying the recipe. I looked it up last night after you fell asleep on the couch because I wanted to make sure you had something good for your first meal here.”
I pause mid-bite to give him a smile, but I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks and I know that I am blushing at his statement.
“I was supposed to take the day off, but a meeting has come up and I have to go into the office for an hour or two,” he says as his smile falls from his face. “I hate to ask you this when you don’t officially start until Monday, but do you think you could hang out with James until I get back?”
“Of course,” I reply, without hesitation. “I don’t mind spending the day with him and getting to know him a little bit better.”
“It would only be for an hour or two.”
“Take all the time you need,” I say, shaking my head at him and then moving my hand to mess up James' hair. “We’ll be fine.”
“I really appreciate it, Peyton. I’m going to get ready.” He nods, turning to look at James, “James, be good for Ms. Peyton today, okay?”
“Of course, Daddy,” he says through a mouthful of waffles. “I’m going to show her all my dinosaurs upstairs and teach her how to RAWR like me.”
“I can’t wait to see them, buddy,” I say to James.
Thomas leaves to get ready for work while James continues to eat his waffles. I try to finish mine, but my stomach feels all sorts of weird feelings about everything that has happened this morning… Shit, I’ve only been awake an hour and I haven’t even started the job yet.
I have an uncomfortable feeling in my chest as my heart begins to pound wildly.
These two are going to make me fall in love with them, aren’t they?
The last thing I want is to fall for my boss.
My meeting went longer than expected. I sent Peyton a text to let her know that I would be longer than planned and she assured me that all was well at home and sent a video of James dressed up in last year's Halloween costume. Which, of course, was a dinosaur. James was running around his playroom doing his signature RAWR and in the background, I could hear Peyton laughing.
I was already smiling at the antics of James, but her laugh made me break into the biggest shit-eating grin on my face. She just has that effect on me.
She also said that she’s perfectly okay at the house with James if I have to spend more time at the office. She’s extremely understanding, which is a trait I am not used to, especially from a female.
Since taking over this business, my job has always come first because it has allowed me to afford things for James and give him the best life possible. But lately, I have been wanting to slow down my work hours and spend more time with James since he’s at an age that he’s going to start noticing my absence a lot more. I’m also trying to tell myself that it has nothing to do with the new nanny living in my house.
Snapping my head to the office door when I hear it open, I see Marc and Oliver walk in. Marc takes his usual seat directly across from my desk while Oliver takes his seat on the sofa with his legs propped up on the coffee table.
“How many times do I have to tell you, get your fucking feet off my table, Ollie.”
