Page 50 of Nanny for the Damaged Ex-SEAL

I laugh out loud. "We saw each other two weeks ago."

"Two weeks ago? That's like two centuries ago in my calendar."

I hug her.

"This is a beautiful place. I didn't know Connor had this kind of money. It's huge. I had no idea military retirement pays so well."

"It doesn't."

"So how did he afford to get a place like this?"

"He inherited the house.”

“And how did he furnish it?”

“I don't know. Business. He does business."

"What type of business."

"I never asked him."

"So, he's just going to let all of this go to waste?"

"Go to waste, how?"

"He doesn't date. This house is too big for him."

"He doesn't live here alone. I live here, and Ethan too, remember?"

She waves a hand at me, dismissing me. "I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about a girlfriend. A wife. That type of thing."

I tense up because I never hide things from Bria. We share everything with each other, but I’m scared to tell her about Connor and me. I know my family will never accept us. Dad would get all overprotective, and Amy would skin us both alive. I'll never be able to tell them that this is the man I want. I will never be able to tell them about how he makes me feel. How he takes care of me and makes sure I'm good. How he makes my heart flutter. I wish I could. I wish he wasn't Amy's cousin. I wish he wasn't related to her. I wish his age and the fact that I’m his son’s nanny wouldn’t make them suspicious of his intentions, but I know they will be. How do I break it to them? What do I say? That I'm fucking my stepmom's cousin? That out of all the men in America, I chose the one person who's practically like family? I wince and hand over a glass of juice to her.

She takes the glass from me. "I don't think he's ready to settle down. Losing his wife got him good. I don't think he'll ever be happy again. I saw him a few months ago, and his eyes were so sad. Poor man. He'll never recover."

Chapter 18

Connor

Iamsocompletelyhappy. For the first time in a long time, I can confidently say that. And I realize that this wouldn't have happened if I hadn’t let Aria into my life. She's the reason I'm cheesing so hard at 8 a.m.

But.

Yes, there's a but.

I sometimes worry that we won't be able to take it to the next level without our family's approval. I've succeeded in fighting my feelings of betrayal toward Cassy. Our trip to San Marino has cleared any doubt I had in my mind over that. But it's been replaced by my worries about the family’s reaction if they find out. I know Amy, she won't stand for it. Amy is ten years older than I am. So, she's always been that voice of reason when I need it. But the one thing I should be telling her is the one thing I can't.

And Charles, Charles will be appalled. He'll forbid me from ever stepping foot in his house again. He'll warn me to stay away from his daughter. I don't blame him. To him, she’ll always be his little girl, and I’m a lot older than she is, and am family that he trusts.

I hear footsteps on the stairs. It's Aria; she's back from dropping Ethan off at school.

She pushes my door open. "Oh my God. I can't believe you're still in bed."

"I'm daydreaming."

She snorts. "About what?"

"You."

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