6
Paige
Nova and I spend the afternoon having a tea party together before leading her out of the playroom.
Dante and Moreno are having a heated conversation across the hallway in another room. I can’t quite make out what is being said. Only their tones make me want to run in the other direction.
I steer clear of bothering either of them. I’m sure they’re busy.
“How about we go to the park,” I say to Nova.
The guard at the front entrance has disappeared.
Good.
It was warm when we arrived, so Nova won’t need a coat. I lead her out the front door and toward my car.
“You’re going to need a car seat,” I mutter to myself.
The front door swings open from behind.
“What are you doing?” Moreno bellows.
“I was going to take Nova to the park, but I need to borrow a car seat from your truck.” I assume he has one buckled into the backseat.
He huffs out a loud breath. “Absolutely not. You’re not taking her off the premises.”
“What? Why not? Do you not trust me?” I ask.
“I don’t know you.” He grabs my car keys from my hand and pockets them. “Nova, get inside!” Moreno points to the door, demanding she returns to the house.
She sulks and kicks her feet against the ground as she walks, dirtying her pristine white shoes. Eventually, Nova scuttles inside the foyer.
Moreno steps toward the house and slams the door shut, leaving the two of us to speak alone.
My stomach is doing somersaults.
His eyes darken as he steps closer, invading my personal space. “You aren’t to take her off the property.”
“Ever? No field trips or afternoons at the playground?” I can’t believe how unreasonable he’s being. Is he angry with Nova or with me?
“That’s right.” He folds his arms across his chest. “If you want to take her to the park, there’s a nice garden through the kitchen that you can take her to visit.”
I open my mouth to object, but he yanks the front door open. “Inside, now!”
I shiver at his tone. Maybe I should reconsider this job, but Nova needs me. She needs a nanny who is warm, kind, patient, and loving. I’m not sure Moreno, her father, is any of those things.
“You don’t have to be so gruff,” I mutter as I enter back inside the foyer.
Moreno slams the door shut, and the house vibrates.
Nova’s bright baby blues are wide. She takes a step back and then runs back to the playroom.
“Nova!” Moreno shouts for her to return.
“I’ll get her,” I say and head for the playroom, wanting to get away from Moreno.
He grabs my wrist. “Not so fast.” He yanks me back to his side. “You and I, we’re not finished.”