“Where are you going?” Clare asks.
“Out.” I can’t deal with her. If she wants this to be strictly business, then she can watch my kid and focus on being the best nanny she can while Amelia is still in her care.
I ride the elevator down and storm outside, needing the fresh air to help me regroup. Focus.
But all I can think about is her body under me; her fingers digging into my back, clawing at me.
One night, and I’m going to have to forget it ever happened.
One damn good night. The best I’ve had. And it wasn’t just the act itself that was dynamite, it washer. The fact that I’m falling head over heels for a girl I shouldn’t care about.
She’s my kid’s nanny.
Not to mention the age difference. Plus, I’m the fucking boss.Herboss. Screwing her was a mistake.
Even if it was unbelievable, in a good way. The best way. Perhaps what happens in Paris should stay in Paris. Can we walk away from what happened and pretend it was just a dream, a fantasy?
I stalk through the city, walking until my legs are tired but not nearly as sore as my heart, the wound that I caused by sleeping with my employee.
It’s not like we’re not grown adults. We both knew what could happen.
I didn’t expect Avril to appear and screw everything up. I head back toward the hotel when my legs ache and burn. I keep the pace up, sweat beading on my forehead.
Clare doesn’t call or text. Not that I expect she would. Amelia should be distracted with schoolwork, and with the headphones on, hopefully she missed our fight.
Up ahead, I can see the tall building, our hotel, around the corner. I jog across the street and turn the corner, ramming right into Avril.
For fuck’s sake. Do I have to deal with her twice in one day?
“This must be a cruel joke,” I mutter.
“Really, is it that bad being in my presence?” Avril asks. Her eyes are cool but alluring as she reaches for my arm. “Your daughter isn’t around?”
“She’s back at the hotel with the nanny,” I say. I shake her hand off my arm. I’m not interested in starting up anything with Avril. She was a fuck buddy, nothing else. We had always agreed to keep it casual between us. Although, that had been more my doing. She wanted a ring, an exotic wedding, and the digits to my bank account.
Her fingers reach for my chest, her hand soft and delicate as she tries to seduce me. Usually, I’m wearing a suit, a tie, and she’s coy, even if it’s an act. “Do you want to come back to my place?” Avril asks, being straightforward with what she wants.
“While I appreciate the offer, I can’t do that.”
“Because of the nanny or your daughter?” Avril asks.
“Both.” I grimace and decide that I’m not answering any more of her questions. I head back toward the hotel, wanting to get away from Avril and go inside and cool off, rest, and maybe even grab a beer and a shower.
Avril gets the hint and leaves me be. Maybe she realizes that it’s over, that I’m done with whatever it was that we had. Friends with benefits? We were never friends. We solely embraced the benefits part of that arrangement.
I’m sure I smell like the outdoors from my walk. My feet are sore, and I slip out of my shoes the minute I make it up to the penthouse.
Amelia is still on the couch in front of her tablet, working on her assignments and homework.
Clare stands by the fridge, grabbing herself a bottle of water. She glances up when I step inside, noticing I’m back, but she doesn’t say anything.
Her silence breaks my heart a thousand times over.
“I’m sorry,” I say, wanting to undo the mistakes I’ve made.
“For what?” Clare asks. She opens the water and takes a swig, her eyes never leaving mine.
I don’t answer her, at least not yet.