10. Dante
Chapter 10
Dante
L ucy didn’t come home last night, and I couldn’t deny that I was worried. Or jealous, my conscience added sarcastically. She had every right to spend the night away from home when she wasn’t on the clock. Still, where in the hell was she? I was half-tempted to call her at around ten in the morning, but an unexpected call from Italy took up time until lunch rolled around.
Lena and I ate lunch at the kitchen table where we had most of our meals unless it was a special occasion, and then we used the formal dining room. The door opened and seconds later Lucy appeared looking fresh and young, and too damn good in capri yoga pants that hugged her body nicely and a loose tank top that showed off plump tits. She was dressed perfectly decent, but my mind was clearly in the gutter when it came to Lucy.
“Good afternoon. I just wanted you to know that I was back.” Her smile was wide but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Everything within me wanted to go to her and ask if she was all right, but Lena rushed from the table and slammed her body against Lucy’s legs. “You came back!”
Lucy dropped down, her brows dipped in concern as she wrapped her arms around my daughter. “Of course I came back. We had fun together this week, didn’t we?”
Lena nodded. “Lots of fun.”
This time her smile was genuine when she pulled back and stared at Lena. “I needed to visit my friend and grab a few of my things to make my room feel like home. Were you worried about me?”
She nodded again and pushed her lip out into a pout. “I thought you were gone forever. Like my mommy.”
“Aw, honey.” She pulled her in for another hug and the gesture was so motherly I felt a pinch inside my chest. “I’m sorry I worried you. Next time I’ll let you know exactly when I’ll be back. Okay?”
“Next time? You’re going away again?
She nodded. “I don’t work on the weekends, so sometimes I might not be here while you spend time with your dad.”
“You could stay with us all the time,” she implored. “Want some breakfast?”
“As delicious as it smells, I need to unload my car and get my things sorted in my room. If I have food now, I’ll probably find another reason to delay. Finish your breakfast and have fun with your dad, okay?”
Lena nodded. “Okay Lucy. But you can come find us anytime you want. Right Daddy?”
My lips twitched. “Of course, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Lena. That’s so thoughtful of you.” She rubbed a hand over Lena’s hair and left the kitchen.
Having her in the house but out of sight was somehow more distracting than having her gone. I knew she was in my house, upstairs, but she stayed in her room for hours. She didn’t emerge even once for a break, which had me reconsidering the small fridge I had Dotty put in the nanny suite.
I didn’t know if she was purposely avoiding me, or if she really wanted to give me and Lena family time without distraction, but I wanted to see her. By the time nine o’clock rolled around, I was ready to go upstairs and tell her to stop avoiding me. Lena had been bathed and tucked into bed for nearly an hour and I managed to get some more work done, but my stomach reminded me of my need for food. I headed upstairs to find Lucy and see if I could tempt her into having dinner with me.
When I found her, she still had on those sexy yoga pants, tempting as hell as she finished off a tall glass of water. “She lives.”
Lucy smiled as she turned to face me. “Barely. You’d think I moved an entire apartment with how tired I feel.” She didn’t look exhausted, she looked beautiful and fresh faced. “Where’s Lena?”
“Bed.” I frowned. “You think I’m so deficient as a parent that she doesn’t have a bedtime?”
“Touchy, touchy, Mr. Rush.” She glanced at her wrist and frowned. “I just didn’t realize it was so late.”
Dammit, she was right. I was touchy, but I shrugged it off. “I thought maybe you were avoiding me again.” I walked over to her.“I already apologized.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “And I accepted.” She set the glass down and glared up at me. “Whatever you think of me Dante, I don’t need every man on the planet to want to get into my pants. Especially these pants,” she huffed as she slid her hands up her thighs. “From House of Rush.”
I blinked innocently at her peeved tone. “Interesting?”
She laughed and humor lit her eyes so I knew she wasn’t too upset, or maybe that was just the hope of a desperate man. “Don’t even try it, I’ll bet you enjoyed that I didn’t know you were a big deal. I’m sure you and your friends had a good laugh at the clueless new nanny.”
Her tone sounded truly hurt and I hated that. I didn’t talk smack about people except business rivals. “I wouldn’t do that Lucy, not ever. It was refreshing to be in a room with someone who didn’t know who I was, who didn’t kowtow to me. You treat me normal, give as good as you get, and even though it’s damned annoying, I like it.”
“Better,” she shot back with a laugh. “You get better than you give.”
I laughed because she seriously never gave an inch, and the more she did it, the more I liked it. “So now that you know who I am, a big deal and all,” she rolled her eyes and I laughed. “Does this mean you’ll be more obedient?” I hoped not, but she wouldn’t be the first woman, hell the first person to change once she realized that I was the elusive somebody .
Lucy laughed even harder as her hand landed on my chest. She patted my chest like a child. “Aw, wouldn’t that be great if the answer was yes?”
Ignore it , I told myself regarding her touch, so hot I felt the fire shoot down my spine. “Yes,” I managed to grunt in response.
“Yeah, it would,” she conceded with a small nod. “But I think I’ll keep things as they are.”
“I would be disappointed if you didn’t.” That much was true, then again if she would just step in line maybe my attraction to her would fade. “Have you eaten dinner?” Or maybe I was just a glutton for punishment, trying to spend more time with a woman who tempted me to break my own rules.
“I haven’t, but I guess now I will.” She glanced at the fridge with low, exhausted shoulders.
“Dotty doesn’t work on the weekends, but these fingers do.” I wiggled them and heat flared in her eyes. Interesting. “For dialing,” I clarified with a laugh. “Get your mind out of the gutter Lucy.”
She stood taller and jutted her chin out. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I let that lie go. For now. “Does pizza work for you?”
“Sure, but only if it comes with some super spicy chicken bites and extra ranch dressing.”
A woman who enjoyed food was refreshing. “I can do that.”
“Then I’m in for dinner. I need to finish up and shower so I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” She glanced down at her wrist and nodded. “Yeah, thirty minutes.”
“So, an hour?” She looked up at me and I arched a brow, daring her to deny it.
Without a word she walked away but she stopped just before entering her bedroom. “Okay fine, an hour.”
I went back downstairs, trying like hell not to think of Lucy in the shower.