Reality crashed down hard.
I’d just kissed my boss.
He’d fired the last however many nannies for trying to sleep with him.
What was I doing? Thinking? Oh my god.
I pulled away and took three steps back. “I’m so sorry, King. I don’t know what—how… I, uh…”
I couldn’t get my brain to function. All I could think was that I’d just told the best job I’d ever had goodbye.
Literally.
“I gotta go.”
Not wanting to hang around and hear all the ways I was fired, I covered my teary—again—eyes and raced out of the room.
Chapter Twelve
King
What did I do?
Did I seriously just kiss my nanny?
Me?
Shit.
I sank into a kitchen stool with a groan.
I couldn’t believe I’d turned into that kind of guy. The kind who came on to vulnerable women. Hell, she hadliterallybeen crying. I’d been trying to comfort her.
And then I kissed her.
Damn. I was repulsed by myself. She had been all soft and vulnerable, and I’d swooped in like a B-movie villain.
No doubt she’d probably quit. And I couldn’t blame her.
I had to apologize to her.
And no, the irony wasn’t lost on me. Butthis‘I’m sorry’ would be totally heartfelt, and not a reflex like Briar’s. And not just because if she left, Zoe and I’d be hosed. Briar deserved to hear an honest apology from me. Followed by a promise not to repeat my stupid behavior. I had to make this right.
Knowing time would only make the situation and regrets worse, I dragged my feet upstairs like it was a walk to the gallows. There wasn’t any light coming from under Briar’s door,but she couldn’t be asleep already. No doubt she was busy packing her bag.
I knocked softly. And waited.
And waited.
I lifted my hand to knock again when the door slowly opened a crack.
Briar’s red, blotchy face appeared in the small gap.
I hadn’t thought it was possible to feel lower than I had in the kitchen earlier. Clearly, I was wrong. “Briar—”
“I’m so sorry, King.” She cut me off, the words spewing from her without any apparent filter. “I never should’ve kissed you. You were just being so sweet and comforting. And I don’t think I have to tell you that you’re ridiculously attractive. I forgot who I am and who you are. It was completely unprofessional. I shouldn’t have done it. I’m so sorry.”
I blinked at her a few times in shock. That was a lot to unpack. Wait. “Why are you apologizing to me? I kissed you.”