Page 38 of Nanny for the Damaged Ex-SEAL

From the corner of my eye, I see him get up. He's approaching, but he doesn't stop in front of me or say anything. He only gives Ethan's hair a ruffle and goes over to the kitchen. I raise my head a little to see him getting chicken out of the freezer. He opens the cabinets to get ingredients out of them.

"What's Daddy making?"

"Who knows," I reply, and Ethan snickers.

He's humming now and looking like he's enjoying himself. Then I see the woman stand up. Her heels clank on the floor as she comes toward us. I don't raise my head up. I stare at the floor instead, at her legs. She has on pink heels. Kittens, they call them. The tips are pointy, and her legs are lean and femininely muscular. I watch as she gets closer, and I wait for her to walk past us, but she doesn't. She stops in front of us.

"Doing your homework?" she asks Ethan.

"Yes, Aria is helping me."

"Oh, that's so nice of Aria. Thank you, Aria."

I look up now and smile wryly at her. She's beautiful. She has the type of face you see on models. Not too pretty, but striking. A face that has angles that catch the studio light just right. It makes my stomach knot. A woman who could pass for a model but for her height; she isn't too tall. Her breasts look like they’ve been done; they are round and huge and are threatening to burst through the top she has on. But I don't know much about plastic surgery, maybe it’s genetics.

She looks like she’s in her mid or late thirties. Oh, he's going for someone closer to his age now? Does he think I'm too young for him? Does he see me as just a little baby? I'm a twenty-eight-year-old woman. A grown ass woman. I'm not a baby. The last time I was a baby was twenty-eight years ago. He may be older, but that doesn't make me a baby. I stare at her as she turns to go join Connor. She's skinny. Does he like them skinny? His ex-wife was slim too. But I'm not. I've got flesh, sufficient flesh. My hips are curvy and my thighs jiggle when I run. If he's into skinny women, then why did he sleep with me?

I've been so stupid. He used me. He used me to satisfy his sexual urge. Was I so desperate that I fell for the antics of a man who hated me for years? I want to slap myself. After what I went through with Jake, I can't believe I let this happen. I'm supposed to get wiser with experience, but it seems I'm getting dumber. I'm so mad at myself. Now, he's here with another woman he'd love to fuck. He’s probably fucked her too. And here I am watching them flirt. I'm ashamed of myself.

He says something I can't hear properly, and the woman laughs. I can't stand it. I can't sit here and watch him flirt with someone else. No.

"Are you ready to go upstairs for your bath?" I say to Ethan.

"My homework isn’t done. I have one left."

"I'll help you do it tomorrow before school," I offer, and he nods his head as though he's been waiting for something to take him away from his homework.

I shut his books and stack them on one side of the table. I pull him up.

"Going to bed?" the woman turns to ask.

Ethan nods. "I'm going to have my bath and I’ll sleep after."

"I'll be up to say good night when you're done with your bath," Connor says.

"Goodnight, Ethan," the woman says.

"Good night," Ethan replies.

I pull him, fuming with anger.Goodnight, Ethan my foot,I mumble to myself as we mount the stairs.Why are you so angry, Aria? You were the one who wanted to keep your distance from him. But I tell myself that I'm not mad about the woman being here. I'm only mad because he decided to address me as Ethan's nanny. But I know deep down it's a lie. I'm lying to myself.

"Aria, is that Daddy's friend?"

We're only halfway up the stairs and they can still hear us. So, I don't reply, I only put my index finger to my lips to hush him. He puts his index finger to his lips too.

When we’re in his room and I'm taking off his clothes, he asks again. "Is that Daddy’s friend?"

"Yes, that's Daddy's friend."

"Is she Daddy's friend like Ashlyn is my friend?"

I smile despite not wanting to. "Yes, just like Ashlyn is your friend."

I don't tell him that she's more than that to his dad because he wouldn't understand.

Just as we're coming out of the bathroom, Connor comes in.

"Daddy, are you done cooking?"

---