It’s been months since I’ve had a drink of whiskey or a whore in my bed. Because I want to be a better man for both of them.
“I’m going to do this because I have no choice, but you’d better not ever pull any motherfucking bullshit like this with me again or we’re done. I mean it, Doug. Done.”
He grins. “Got it.”
I’m walking him out when he sees Leighton and goes completely motionless.
She is sitting on a quilt in the living room floor with Scarlett doing her daily physical therapy exercises. “Good girl, Scarlett. You’re getting stronger every day.”
“Who the fuck do we have here?” he says.
I really wanted to avoid this introduction, but I can see that it’s going to happen regardless of what I want.
I walk into the living room, Doug trailing in behind me. “This is Leighton Mitchell. She’s Scarlett’s nanny. This is Doug Lytal, my manager.”
“Very nice to meet you.”
Leighton’s smile is sweet and genuine, but the grin I see on Doug’s face is covetous. I know the filthy thoughts going through his head about her. And it pisses me off to the nth degree.
“Trust me. The pleasure is all mine, Miss Mitchell.”
I’m cutting this introduction short before Doug can try fucking around with Leighton. “Sorry to interrupt Scarlett’s therapy exercises. We’ll get out of your hair.”
I walk toward the front door, hopefully ending any chance of Doug engaging Leighton further.
“What day do we pull out?”
“Thursday.” Doug uses his thumb to point over his shoulder in the direction of my living room. “What the hell, River?”
“What?” I ask, pretending to not know what he means.
“Your nanny.”
“Mydaughter’snanny.”
“That’s not a normal nanny. That’s a hot-as-fuck nanny.”
“I didn’t hire her because she’s hot. I needed someone who was capable of caring for a child with Scarlett’s needs. She was her nurse in the intensive care nursery. She’s highly qualified.”
“You’re fucking her.”
“I’m not fucking her.” But I damn sure wouldn’t turn down the opportunity.
“The hot nanny is the reason that you don’t want to leave.”
“No, my daughter is the reason that I don’t want to leave.”
“If you’re not fucking the nanny then you won’t mind if I go in there and ask her out on a date.”
No way in hell that’s happening. “I do mind. I need her, and I’m afraid that she’ll leave if you fuck her over like you do every other woman you come in contact with.”
“You’re such a damn liar. You don’t want me to have her because you’re fucking her.”
I’m ready to punch him between his beady eyes. “Stop talking about her like that. She’s not that kind of girl.”
“You like her.”
I do like her, but I’ll never admit that to Doug.
“I can tell by the look on your face that fucking her is on your mind. I bet your cock is raw from all of the jerking off you’ve been doing at night while you think about her being down the hall.”
I’m done with this conversation. “What time are we leaving on Thursday?”
“Seven.”
I can’t believe this asshole is forcing me into this.
“I’ll be there.”