Page 55 of Nanny for the SEALs

“You’re complacent. You knew it was happening and you didn’t stop it.”

Asher glared at Brady. “I cannot watch Brady every second of every day. He sneaks candy to Dustin.”

“And Micah,” Brady said. “I’m not trying to play favorites just because Dustin’s mine. Micah was good yesterday, too.”

“No more candy,” I warned. “If it happens again, I’m going to force-feed chocolate to you until you vomit. Understood?”

“I got it. Sorry.” Brady cocked his head and examined me. “You ever consider becoming a SEAL?”

“No. Why?”

“No reason,” Brady replied. “You just remind me of someone I met once.”

Being away from the kids in the evenings was one problem. Another was that I was getting sick of staying at the Four Seasons.

Yeah, I know that sounds dumb. Room service, massages, and soaking in a tub each night? Who could get sick of that?

But it was still a hotel. At the end of the day, it didn’t feel like a home. And there was only so many times a person could eat steak before getting sick of it. Sometimes a girl just wanted a juicy cheeseburger.

While the kids were down for their naps, I texted Rogan and asked if he could pop upstairs to talk.

“Got a question for you,” I said when he arrived. “If you have a few minutes.”

“Is this a booty call?” He looked at his watch. “Because I have a conference call in ten minutes.”

I smiled. “What would we do with the other nine minutes and forty seconds?”

He barked a laugh. “YouknowI can last longer than that.”

“I sure do.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek and said, “This isn’t a booty call. I wanted to ask you something. When you first offered me the job, you said you would put me up in the Four Seasons…OrI could stay here.”

A dark eyebrow rose on Rogan’s head. “Getting sick of being pampered?”

“The main thing is I need to be here more,” I replied. “At least for the first few weeks of watching the kids. To make sure everything is consistent for them.”

Rogan sat on the back of the couch and crossed his arms. “You think we’re not doing a good job.”

“Bradyisn’t doing a good job,” I clarified. “He’s sneaking candy to the boys at night. It’s undermining my whole system of stickers and rewards.”

Rogan grimaced. “I thought I smelled chocolate on Micah’s breath when I tucked him in last night.” He nodded thoughtfully. “We have the guest bedroom at the end of the hall. It’s yours if you want it.”

“I think that would be best.” I sighed. “Maurice is going to be sad that he can’t visit me anymore.”

“My expense account will be happy about it.” Rogan muttered.

“The only downside is it meanswecan’t have fun anymore.” I pressed my body against his. “Unless you sneak into my room late at night. But then we’d have to bequiet.”

Rogan didn’t react the way I expected, with a smile or a sexy kiss. He frowned and said, “Brady already knows.”

I pulled back. “How did that happen?”

“He figured it out last night. I kind of got my ass chewed out.”

“Does this mean we can’t…” I trailed off, unwilling to say the words.

“We’ll see. I need to talk to Asher about it. I promised Brady I would tell him.” He waved a hand. “That’s a bad excuse. Ishouldtell Asher about us. We’re family, and we shouldn’t keep secrets.”

Fear flared in the back of my head: fear that the fun we’d been having might be at an end. I didn’t want to accept it. Like a person who was drowning, my mind flailed around for anything to cling to.

---