Chasing His Nanny: A dad's best friend, age gap, single dad romance (Chasing Her Book 1)

10. Bree

When I woke up in Bast’s arms, I felt giddy. Just knowing he slept with me for the entire night. When I expected him to leave me and sneak off to his room.

The children weren’t in the house. Still, I never expected it.

I can’t decide if it was hot or romantic the way he spooned me. His wide chest flushed against my back, and his dick pressing against my ass.

That was the hot bit. What I really loved was the way he held me. And the way his breath fanned against my neck, as his right hand splayed across my rib cage.

Maybe he wants more.

After all, he tended me in the bath after our lovemaking, washing my body and between my legs with such care I never wanted it to end. And he kissed me this morning before he left my room to go have a shower.

I smile. I can’t get over him holding like I was his.

Yawning as I stretch my limbs and roll over off the soft bed. Then I trek into the bathroom, brush my teeth and switch on the shower.

I linger more than necessary as I wash my body and think about last night.

After getting dried off, I brush my hair out, and tie it up in a ponytail before I dress in a pair of jeans and a pale blue tee-shirt, and I make my way to the kitchen.

I rest on my elbows on the counter, staring out of the window while I wait for the coffee machine to spew out a much needed caffeine hit.

“The children should be home in an hour.” I twist to see Bast walking into the kitchen, dressed in casual gray sweatpants and a crisp white tee-shirt.

“I never knew you did casual.”

“You just never noticed.”

I smile. “I noticed everything about you.”

I know I’m sounding like a stalker, but I no longer care. I want him to know how much I want him and I don’t care about our differences.

Maybe he does.

You’re not a catch.

He’s a doctor and you’re his nanny.

“Sorry,” I whisper.

“Why?”

But before he can answer, we hear squeals and a knock at the door.

“We got here at the same time,” Mom says, nodding to the twins, who gave their father a kiss before rushing to my side. “We wanted to take you out for breakfast for a chat.”

“Why?” I ask. Mother does nothing unless she wants something.

Hettie grasps my leg. “I wanted to play with you today.”

I turn to my mother. “I’m working.”

“We need to talk.”

“Sorry I’m busy.”

She turns to Bast. I don’t know what has gotten in her, but her lip turns up on one side as anger coats her features. “Do you want to tell her father how it happened?”

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

Mom crosses her arms and scoffs. “Do you want an audience for this? Or are you coming for breakfast to talk about it?”

“Don’t raise your voice in front of my children,” Bast hisses. “If you want to speak, go to the living room.”

“I’ll take the children for a hot chocolate,” James says.

“No.” The children’s grandmother Marie’s face is coated with confusion. “I have a feeling we need to hear what she wants to say.”

I swallow, wondering what the hell everyone is thinking.

“I’ll take the children away from here,” I mumble as I take Hettie and Havana into their playroom and ask, “Do you girls want to watch a movie?”

Their grandfather, James, follows us. He smiles and says, “I’ll stay with them.”

“Thank you.”

“I know you are good for these girls,” he says, eyes shining. “They spoke non-stop about you.”

“I feel the same way about them. I love them.”

He nods. “I can see it in the way they gravitate to you, and you to them. Our daughter wasn’t so loving.”

“Sorry,” I whisper.

“Did Bast tell you anything about Madeline?”

“Nothing personal. Nothing about her as a mom.”

He nods. “He always protected her. I think he blames himself.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m not keeping up.”

“I know that Marie will find it hard at first, but you have my blessing. The children have to come first.”

“I’m still confused.”

“You and Bast. I see the way you look at him.”

My heart hammers against my rib cage. Am I that obvious?

“And the way he looks at you.”

I wish he did.

James is obviously wanting someone permanently in his granddaughter’s lives. “We’re not a couple.”

He smiles. “I also overheard your mother talking to your father as they got out of their car. She’s pretty adamant that you’re leaving here with her today because something is going on between you and she is going to stop it.”

“It’s not her choice.” I blink hard and shake my head. “But thanks for the warning.”

After showing James where everything was in the playroom and starting a movie on the television, I stride into the living room, ready for a showdown.

My father, Brendan, sits in silence.

My mother, Anna’s eyes are full of fury as she sees me walking into the room. “If you’re going to have a secret relationship, you really shouldn’t be making out like teenagers outside this house.”

I decide to feign ignorance. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend nothing is going on. I have my sources.” Dad stands for a moment, staring between me and Bast. “Is something going on between you? Is it true?”

Marie crosses her arms and waits for an answer.

“Of course it is. That’s why she refuses to meet Daniel.”

“I can find a boyfriend myself! Thank you very much,” I yell at my mother.

Brendan furrows his brow. “He is fifteen years older than you, Breanna.”

“We’re not…” I try to tell her nothing is going on but stop when Bast interrupts me.

“Thirteen years.”

Father grunts, then clears his throat as he glares at his friend. “Thirteen... Fifteen... What does it matter? You’re too old for her.”

Mom stands, her hands splayed on her hips. “She is. And you need to come home with us today, Bree. Or you are disinherited.”

Bast laughs and shakes his head at Anna. “You know nothing about your daughter, do you?”

She glares at him.

“She doesn’t want your money. She wants you to see her. She wants you to pick up the phone once in a while and ask what she wants to do. Not tell her what you expect of her. She does stupid shit to get attention, because you’ve never given her any. How often do you tell her you love her?”

“She’s always got everything she wanted.”

“But not your love,” I whisper as I think about all the dinner parties they had. I had to show their friends my report card to show how clever I was. A straight ‘A’ student–I had to be. And once I gave the illusion of being the perfect child, I was sent to my room.

It’s the reason my father is so adamant he wanted me to follow him into law. He wanted his perfectly educated daughter to take over his business. Not once did they listen to me. Not once did they hear me tell them I preferred the arts.

I don’t pretend I’m a perfect artist. I can’t draw intricate details to save my life. But I love color. I love vibrancy on a page. I love how it makes me feel happy.

Just like I have since the day I came to live with Bast, Hettie, and Havana. They’ve turned my black and white world into color.

Mom is still gasping at Bast, probably not bothered one iota that I’ve mentioned not having any love. She just hates that others can see through her perfectly coiffured life for the joke it is.

And just as she always does. She gets angry and turns to Bast with a scowl. “Geri was more than eager to call me this morning and ask if it was my Bree on a date with Doctor Havers.”

“You know her?” Bast asks.

“We go back years.”

“And Geri knows nothing. I was Bast’s plus one. It wasn’t a date and if your friend wasn’t so fucking rude...”

“Breanna—“ my father hisses. “Language.”

“I won’t swear again, but not because of you, but because I don’t want Hettie and Havana to overhear.”

“You’ve changed, Breanna,” my father says before he turns to Bast. “And you’ve betrayed me.”

Mom interrupts, so she can continue and take over as usual. “She saw you coming out of a room, both flustered.”

I sigh.

Bast clears his throat as he looks at me for a moment before he says, “She followed us, because she was jealous I was with Bree.”

“So you’re admitting it now.” Anna folds her arms over her chest and gives a look of jubilation.

“Yes.”

“Bast,” I murmur.

“And I’m not having you come here and upset Bree. You may not like this, but I’m in love with her. I tried to stop my feelings for her, but I can’t,” Bast blurts. “And if she’ll have me and my children in her life forever, we...”

“You love me?” I respond, shocked.

Mom’s mouth falls open, but she stays quiet.

Dad roars. “Forever! She’s too young for you.”

All I can think is, he wants me.

This man I’ve secretly been in love with loves me.

My heart is beating so wildly as I stroll to Bast’s side and link my fingers in his. “And he’s my forever. I love him and his daughters, and you’ll have to live with it or live without me.”

Bast squeezes my hand so tightly.

Silence all around. Marie glances at me and Bast with wide eyes.

Mom laughs, breaking the silence that has beckoned, “If you stay here, you really are disinherited.”

“I’m sure there is are plenty deserving causes that would love your money,” I say.

Dad will hate that, but not as much as her. She’s used their money against me too many times, and the reason I was so happy when I got a paid job.

“Stop talking about disinheriting her,” Dad says, twisting to Mom before his eyes land on Bast again. “Talk. Tell me the moment a man in his mid-thirties set his sights on my twenty-two-year-old daughter.”

Bast squeezes my hand. “It crept up on me.” He shrugs his shoulders. “One day she was your daughter and the next she was all I thought about.”

I suck back a ragged breath.

“And from that moment, I couldn’t unsee her, despite trying.”

I bite down on my bottom lip to stop myself from crying.

Dad’s eyes shut tight. “But not hard enough.”

“Are you pregnant?” Mom asks.

I laugh. “No.”

I don’t want to tell her last night was our first time together and we still haven’t had sex or a proper date. It really is none of her business.

“Do you really have to ask that?” Dad mutters.

“I never wanted to hurt you. And I promise I tried to stop my feelings for Bree, but I couldn’t and I’m not going to put them back in the box. They are out now.” Bast turns to me and smiles before he says, “Because you’re mine aren’t you?”

I smile. “I am.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll cut off your balls.” Dad stands from his chair and paces the floor.

“Dad!”

Bast strokes his thumb over the back of my hand. “I won’t hurt her.”

Dad takes in a deep breath as he stops pacing, sighs, and looks between me and Bast. “It’s obvious how much you care for each other, and you deserve happiness after...”

He stares at Marie who grimaces, but she says to Bast, “He does. And the children do too. It’s time for you to be happy again.”

A single tear slips down my cheek as I wait for Mom’s approval.

“What am I going to tell Daniel? He really thought you and him...”

“That’s your problem,” Father says. “You should have stopped your meddling ways.”

I don’t know if she’ll ever come around.