Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE
ADDISON
Did that really just happen? I face-palm for the tenth time in twenty minutes as I relive—in vivid detail—my humiliating interaction with Mr. Noble on the staircase. Even worse, I’d actually had this whole speech prepared for when I saw him next, since the only impression I’d given him to that point was that of a bumbling idiot who should never be put in charge of a child, let alone three. The plan had been to impress him with my intelligence and warmth while reassuring him that his children were in excellent hands. Instead, I mentally undressed him and acted like an idiotic love-sick monkey.
“You doing okay?” DeeDee, the housekeeper, asks.
I didn’t even hear her enter the kitchen, although I should have anticipated her presence. When I got to the kitchen after the incident on the stairs, it was already spotless—as was the toy room when I went to tidy it up. I’m not used to being in a house with a full-time housekeeper. In my previous nanny jobs, I was expected to pitch in with the cooking and cleaning. I don’t mind at all, so this will take getting used to.
I manage a small smile. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
She nods, tucking a dish towel over the oven handle. “I don’t doubt it. Those three are a handful. Sweet, but a handful.”
That brings a genuine smile to my face. “They’re certainly energetic, but I love that.”
“Better you than me,” she responds, brushing her hands over her ample hips. “I’ll stick to my vacuum and the stove. At least they don’t talk back.” She crosses to said stove and snaps the overhead light off. “I’m heading home. See you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, DeeDee.” I have the kitchen to myself, leaving me to replay my interaction with my boss, yet again.
But, damn, he is sex on a stick. I saw pictures of him before I came to work here, of course, but the real deal is worlds different. His presence fills every space he occupies, including the huge entryway of this house. He exudes a certain power and confidence I’ve never encountered. Even his stance screams I’m in charge and I know exactly how to get what I want. The thought has my sex tingling and my breasts clamoring to volunteer themselves for whatever Alex Noble might want.
Ugh. I can’t think about him like that. He’s my boss. And I need this job like I need air to breathe. Having a live-in nanny position means I can save my entire paycheck for Mom and Vince, rather than using it for rent and food. If I lose this job, we’ll be up shit’s creek, so I need to stay focused and keep my libido in check.
I decide to peek in on the boys to make sure they’re asleep before heading to my room. That means I have to revisit the scene of the crime (face-palm number eleven), but this time I scurry up the stairs and find all three boys sound asleep. Tristan is using Everett’s stomach as a pillow, but the sleeping Everett doesn’t appear to mind. It makes my heart melt a bit. And it makes me wonder for the umpteenth time where in the hell their mother is.
DeeDee isn’t one to gossip—at all—so I didn’t get anywhere when I asked her about it. All I know is that Mr. Noble lives here alone with his three sons, and there is no sign of their mom anywhere. Not even a photo, as far as I’ve seen.
I push the thought aside and continue to my room at the end of the long hallway. Pushing open the door, I admire again the cheerful yellow shade of the walls and the gorgeous floral drapes. A puffy white duvet covers the four-poster bed, and I impulsively launch myself onto it, bouncing a few times before settling and reaching over to the bedside table for my e-reader.
A book—that’s what I need to distract myself. I roll over onto my back and resume my place in The Highlander’s Mistress , needing to find out if Ian managed to win Adaira’s heart, even though he’d already won her maidenhood. I chuckle to myself at the thought. I’d give Ian my maidenhood in a second—if I still had it, that is. All he’d have to do is crook a finger and I’d be done.
In reality, though, I’m not sure I’ll ever get laid again. Spending all of one’s time with kids doesn’t exactly make it easy to meet men. Sure, I dated boys in high school and college, but they were just that— boys . I’d thought I would meet at least one or two grown adult men in my early twenties, but the only candidates were the same old immature boys, only now they had beards.
But love and sex are luxuries I can’t afford to dwell on anymore. The only thing I need to focus on is keeping this high-paying job that might bail my family out of the mess my jerk of a brother got us into. No time left for boys or men.
But I have my books, so at least there’s that. And I may have a little friend tucked in the bedside table drawer to help me along when I need it. With Ian at the front of my mind and my new boss at the back, something tells me I’d better start investing in batteries.