Working for Him (Dad's Best Friend Age Gap Romance #1)

Chapter 1

Nate

I’m a fucking idiot. Why did I think this would be a good idea? When I think back on the conversation I had with my best friend, I do remember having some reservations about hiring Savannah for the summer.

Somehow, Kyle was able to blast right through them. I haven’t seen Savannah in a while, even though I end up at her parent’s house often. I can’t believe she graduated from high school. In the fall, she’ll start college.

Makes me feel old. I may be a few years younger than her parents, but I’m still old enough to be her dad.

All that generosity comes crashing down on me when Savannah comes walking up to my house at six in the morning wearing a tank top and cut-off shorts. Two years ago, the last time I really spent any time with her, she was a bit of a tomboy.

She’d just gotten her driver’s license, so she’d given me a ride in her car. After that she didn’t seem to be around much when I visited with her parents.

Now Savannah has changed for the better, or for the worse if you can look but not touch. She still has her mother’s long, silky black hair, but that’s where the similarities end.

Where her mom is tall and slim, Savannah hasn’t grown an inch since she was sixteen. Instead of growing taller, she seems to have stayed the same height, but filled out in all the right places. And my men notice.

“That’s the new girl?” Jack whispers to Luis. “Dibs.”

I clear my throat. “No one will lay a finger on Savannah.”

Mark snorts. “Guess Nate’s calling dibs.”

“She’s my friend’s daughter. She needs a summer job and will work as hard as any of you.”

“Friend’s daughter is no relation, boss,” Jack says.

I don’t need the reminder, not when her full lips spread wide in a smile as soon as she spots me behind my truck in the driveway. We all watch her hips sway.

Her thighs and breasts jiggle with each step, making me wonder if she’s wearing a bra. I shake that thought right out of my head. The last thing I need is a hard on at the start of what is sure to be one long ass day.

“Nate,” she says, but then her smile falters as I feel my face fall into a scowl.

“You were expecting me, right?” she asks.

I do my best to clear the sudden overbearing possessiveness that rises up inside me. I’ve never been the possessive type. Is it because I played a protective role as her father’s friend? The thoughts rolling around in my mind right now are not fatherly — at all.

I’m also in shorts, but I have a long-sleeved shirt on because as hot as it gets working outdoors, I hate farmer’s tans on my arms. Plus a long sleeve shirt can cool me off once it’s drenched in sweat.

And if it doesn’t cool me off, I take it off. There’s no in between for me. Savannah’s creamy white skin will be as dark as mine by the time summer’s over if she doesn’t cover up or slather herself in sunblock — yet another image I don’t need in my head.

“Yep. You’re right on time,” I tell her. “Let me introduce you to everyone. This is Mark, Luis, Jack, Rubio, and Curtis.”

Savannah smiles and nods at each of the men as I tell her their names.

I’m about ready to wrap her in a sheet to protect her from the way my men are looking at her.

We usually go off in three teams of two.

I decide right then to take Rubio with me and Savannah, since he’s happily married and won’t hit on her.

“Savannah, you’ll be with me and Rubio today.”

I hear a grumbled “of course” from someone.

“We’ll start teaching you the ins and outs. The daily stuff isn’t usually very complicated.”

“Okay,” she says with a bright smile.

I give each team their list of jobs for the day. We usually meet back here at my house to lock down all the equipment in my extra detached garage.

Rubio helps me load the big cooler into the back seat before climbing in himself, leaving the front seat for Savannah. Though I appreciate his manners, I’m not sure that sitting in the front seat with a full view of Savannah’s body is a good idea.

“I really appreciate you giving me this chance,” she says.

I nod in response as I pull out of the driveway.

“I had a job lined up at a retail store, but then they decided to close the location and all the other jobs that I’m qualified for — which aren’t many — are pretty much taken.”

“I’m sure you have more qualifications than you think you do. You used to do a lot of volunteering.”

“Well, that’s still available, obviously, but doesn’t pay anything. I need to save up for fall. I have a partial scholarship. Mom and Dad are helping me pay some, but I don’t want to graduate with a bunch of debt.”

“That’s smart.”

After a beat of silence, she asks, “can we listen to some music?”

I see Rubio smiling when I glance in the mirror.

It seems Savannah has a need to fill the silence.

It’s probably best to fill it with music rather than let her keep telling me everything about her life.

Next she’ll be telling me about her boyfriend and I’ll start thinking of a million and one ways to kill a teenage boy who probably doesn’t appreciate what he has right in front of him.