Page 28 of Faking it with the Billionaire
“Is that all it is? You don’t think they’re qualified because I’m confident that with what I’m paying, I’ll get the best that money can buy. All of these girls have a degree in elementary education. Some of them have spent the last couple of years teaching grade school.”
“You’re not hiring a tutor. You need a nanny,” I say as if that emphasizes my point, but I don’t think it does.
“And they’re plenty qualified. But if you don’t think they’re the best candidates, for whatever reason, I’ll contact the agency and have them suggest a dozen more whom you can vet.” He runs a hand through his hair and lets out a heavy sigh.
Am I being unfair?
I want what’s best for Bristol, and if one of these girls is the best thing for her, shouldn’t I look past the fact that they’re cute? Maybe one of them is happily married, and I won’t have to worry—I wince at my own thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” Kyler asks, studying me. I hate how much he’s an open book, and although I try to keep my thoughts and feelings buried away, I’m not great at it.
“It’s nothing.”
He steps closer. “Tell me,” he says, his tone stern. “If it involves a nanny or my daughter, out with it.”
I inhale sharply and exhale a nervous breath. “I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea when you hire a nanny who’s cuter than I am.”
“You’re jealous,” he states. It’s an accusation, not a question.
I lower my voice, making sure Bristol doesn’t overhear us, as I step closer. “I’m just worried about your image. If you’re paying me to be your girlfriend, what will everyone think when you bring home an even hotter nanny?”
His gaze flickers, and he glances me over like he’s studying my body, trying to decide if I’m right or not. “I’m not hiring a fifty-year-old woman to watch my kid. Someone older wouldn’t be able to keep up with Bristol and all her afterschool activities.”
“I’m not jealous,” I counter, but my heart slams against my ribcage, and my stomach is a bundle of knots.
He nods slowly, but he’s not buying my story. “You’re right. We do need to keep up appearances when we bring in the new hire. You’ll need to come to a few of my games. No one is going to believe you’re my girlfriend if you’re never around.”
My eyes flicker with concern. “What about your daughter? I can’t protect her if I’m at the arena.”
“You’ll bring her with you, and the nanny can come too,” Kyler says with a shrug. “It’ll make it more believable if you go out with me and the guys for drinks. Can’t bring a kid to the bar, and the nanny can take Bristol home and tuck her into bed.”
“I can’t protect Bristol if I’m not around her,” I say.
Did he forget why he hired me?
His gaze flinches. “Yeah, I know. It’s fine if we have Mitchell chauffeuring Bristol and the nanny back to the house. He has Special Forces training and can handle anything thrown at him.”
“Why isn’t he Bristol’s bodyguard?”
“He is when he drives her around, but I need someone who can look out for me too. He can’t be in two places at once.”
“Wait. He’s your bodyguard?” Why didn’t anyone mention that Kyler had a bodyguard?
“I don’t need anyone protecting me, but I trust Mitchell, and I’d rather have someone on my payroll who has his level of expertise.”
“Exactly! That’s why I think these nannies are less than stellar. They’re too young to have enough experience.” The money can’t be a factor in determining who he’s hiring. He has plenty of it, given his net worth.
“This discussion is over,” Kyler says. Shaking his head, he walks out of the kitchen, probably trying to get away from me.
* * *
I send the list of potential candidates over to Jaxson at Eagle Tactical to run a detailed background and analysis on each of the girls applying for the position. It takes a few days to get the results, but all of them are clean, with not so much as a parking ticket or moving violation, ever.
No criminal records.
They all graduated with honors and have stellar letters of recommendation. It’s almost as if they’re too good to be true, but I choose three candidates and leave those files on the kitchen counter for him.
Kyler can choose which nanny he wants to hire out of the three. I’ll just have to accept that someone else will be in his life. Not that it should matter. I’m hired as his daughter’s bodyguard.
