Chapter 2
Daisy
Tuesday Before Thanksgiving
Almost thirty and still living paycheck to paycheck. I should be worrying about bills, not daydreaming about my boss.
“Why oh why do I have to have the hots for my boss?” I mutter under my breath.
Because he’s hot as sin—tan skin that always looks sun-kissed, deep, soulful brown eyes that speak louder than his words, a shadow of a beard that I’d kill to touch. Scratchy in all the right places, especially between my thighs. Thoughtful, caring, and one heck of a dad.
And maybe this crush of mine didn’t come out of nowhere. I still remember the first time Manny walked into my studio, nervous as hell, asking me a question I never saw coming.
“Hey, Daisy. I was hoping I could catch you before the studio closed.”
“Hey, Manny,” I smiled, surprised to see him here. What can I do for you?”
He hesitated, removing his glasses to clean them with his shirt. “I need to ask you something. “Maybe you’d like to grab a bite with me while we chat?”
I tilt my head, curious. “Manny, I’d love to have dinner with you, but you’re making me nervous. Just say it?”
He exhaled hard and wiped sweat from his forehead. “I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but I gained full custody of my son.”
“Oh, yes. I’ve heard something about it. Congratulations,” I chirp with way more enthusiasm than I should have.
“Thanks. Well, the thing is I need a nanny. I’ve been interviewing, but so far I’ve come up empty handed. “The truth is, I’ve seen you interact with kids before. At the town fair, with Ruin’s twins… you’re a natural.
I blink, caught off guard. “Are you asking me to be Tommy’s nanny?”
“Yes.” His answer was simple. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think my son would be in the best hands.”
Yeah, the whole infuriating package.
I still catch myself replaying that first day, wondering if that’s when everything really started.
But memories don’t pay the bills, and life keeps moving.
Now, it’s Tuesday morning, and I’m pulling up to Manny’s house around nine.
On school days, I’d be here at seven sharp, but today I let myself sleep in.
Of course I knew he wouldn't be here this week—he shares his calendar with me, so I always know where he is.
Manny splits his time between Serene Lookout—a rehab facility perched on the mountain—and a couple of shifts each week at the Asheville hospital. Because of course he does. Manny Gutierrez isn’t just hot; he’s a great doctor, a dad, and a man with a heart as big as the Appalachians.
Sigh.
If he only looked at me the way I look at him.
But men like him don’t waste time on women like me.
What would he ever see in me? I’m just a small-town girl hustling to keep my yoga studio from going under.
Summer keeps me afloat—goat yoga in the Serene Lookout barn pays enough to make ends meet through winter—but the rest of the year, it’s a grind.
Taking care of Tommy covers rent and utilities, which is a big help.
As much as I love my family, the last thing I want is to go back to Pine Knoll and admit I’m a broke thirty-year-old yoga instructor.
Dad would hand me a blank check, no questions asked.
He has always said how his children are his greatest accomplishment—and I love him for that—but I need to prove something to myself.
That’s why I accepted the nanny position. If I keep working hard, there’s no way I’m going to fail. Besides, taking care of Tommy is no hardship. He’s such a smart, kind, and grounded kid. I genuinely love spending time with him.
When I step into the house, it’s eerily quiet. My mind immediately wanders to Tommy. He’s the life of this place, always filling it with noise and laughter. Without him, the silence feels heavy.
I make my way toward the kitchen, pausing in the family room to peel off my jacket and scarf. A quick scan tells me where to start—Tommy’s Legos are everywhere, an entire city sprawling between the coffee table and the rug.
I crouch down and carefully sort the blocks, separating the pieces before rearranging his little creations and tucking the extras back into their container. The last thing I want is to step on one—or worse, vacuum them up.
I glance at the hockey gear scattered throughout the mudroom and smile.
Tommy practices hockey twice a week, and one of the biggest perks of moving to Azalea Creek was joining Xander González’s hockey school.
Tommy is probably Xander’s biggest fan—well, besides Rain.
The fact that he gets to learn how to play the sport from his idol is priceless.
I bend to pick up his pads, and the sharp whiff of BO nearly knocks me out. “Ugh, how can a ten-year-old smell this bad?” I gag, holding the gear at arm’s length.
I hurry to the laundry room, toss everything into the washer, and let it soak. No one’s dying in this house on my watch—not from funky fumes. I know I’m overreacting, but if there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s foul smells.
Back in the family room, I fold the blankets, fluff the pillows, and make sure everything looks picture-perfect.
As I head toward the kitchen, my eyes land on a framed photo of Manny and Tommy at the fall festival. A smile spreads across my lips, and last Friday’s memory rises sharp and bittersweet.
Tommy had clung to me, his little face crumpling. “Are you sure you can't sleep here with me?” Puppy-dog eyes, the kind that always undo me. I had to take a steadying breath to keep the tears at bay.
It’s incredible how close I’ve gotten to the angel since they moved here last August.
Luckily, I didn’t have time to lie to his cute face because Manny came through the door.
“Now, Tommy,” he said in that gentle, unbending tone.
“Let’s not overstep on Daisy’s boundaries.
” He pulled his son close. “Remember, she spends most of her days with you. I’m sure she needs a break and has things to do on her own. ”
It had been on the tip of my tongue to correct him. To say there was nothing else I’d rather do than spend time with them. But Manny’s the dad. He sets the rules.
“But Papi, it’s so much more fun when she’s around,” Tommy argued, his voice wobbling. I had to turn away, blinking fast as tears slipped free.
“Wait a minute,” Manny teased. “Are you implying that I’m no fun?” He tickled Tommy until the boy collapsed in a fit of giggles.
I laughed too, wiping my cheeks, finally able to breathe. How could I ever claim I had something better to do than this?
“Okay, okay. Please stop, Papi. Please,” Tommy squealed between fits of laughter.
When the chaos settled, he added hopefully, “Maybe we could ask her to have dinner with us? She doesn’t have to spend the night.”
My heart clenched. I wanted to say yes right there, but when I looked at Manny, I hesitated. What if he didn’t want me hanging around?
“That’s something we’ll have to ask her,” Manny said, his brown gaze trained on me.
A bolt of electricity raced down my spine, pooling hot and heavy in my core.
“I’d love to have dinner with y’all, if it’s not an imposition,” I said timidly, lowering my eyes.
Tommy beamed and tugged me toward the kitchen, announcing pizza and Godzilla night.
But when I glanced back, Manny was still watching me. And in that split second before I looked away, there was heat in his eyes.
Had I imagined it?
My eyes dropped to his lips, so soft and inviting. I looked back up, and the heat was gone.
Definitely imagining things.
I shake off the memory and slide Tommy’s game console back onto the TV shelf. A smile spreads on my lips when I see the cover of the game we’ve been playing lately. I miss him. I wish he didn’t have to go away for weeks at a time. But if I were the mom, I’d want to see him too.
Who am I kidding? If it were me, I’d never let Manny and Tommy go. That’s the truth.
After making sure everything is spotless in the family room, I head to the basement, where Manny still has lots of unpacked boxes. I want to see if I can sort them by category, and hopefully he’ll go through them during Christmas.
Even now, the warmth of that night clings to me, but the silence of the house reminds me where I am—and who I can’t have.
Once I finish organizing the basement, I head upstairs to check the bedrooms, making sure everything feels clean and fresh. Manny deserves to come home to a house that feels cared for.
Before removing the sheets from his bed, a wicked thought crosses my mind. It’s wrong on so many levels, but he’s at work, and there are no cameras in the house.
I checked.
This will just be my dirty little secret.
I know this crosses lines I can’t uncross—but God, I can’t help myself. I peel off my yoga pants and T-shirt. Today’s top is an Eras Tour tee—I’m sure Taylor won’t want to see me pleasuring myself while thinking about my boss in his bed.
I slide under his blankets, instantly surrounded by Manny’s scent—musk and citrus. I inhale deeply, close my eyes, and imagine him stretched out right here.
Does he jerk off in bed? Or is he a shower kind of man? The thought of Manny naked, water dripping down his golden skin, sends a shot of electricity racing through me.
My right hand drifts to my belly, then lower, slipping under my panties. I’m already wet.
What wouldn’t I give for a night with Manny. I bet he’s a generous lover—caring and devoted. The same way he is with everything else in his life.
My other hand teases my nipple as my middle finger slides inside me. A gasp escapes me at the intrusion. Feeling my finger all wet and warm makes me squirm against his sheets.
And then I picture those gray sweatpants. The way they leave nothing to the imagination. I’m sure his cock would stretch me until I see stars.
My pace picks up, rubbing my clit as I insert two more fingers. I’ve touched myself thinking of Manny more than I care to admit, but being here, in his bed, I’ve never felt so keyed up.
“Fuck me, Manny. Fuck me hard,” I pant, not worrying that anyone can hear me.
I push my fingers deeper, my palm grinding against my clit, and I explode. My body arches, then collapses, limp and trembling, a ragged smile pulling at my lips.
“Daisy?”
That deep rumble of his slams me out of my post-orgasm bliss.
Shit.
He’s here. Why the hell is he here? He was supposed to be working.
“In here,” I call before my brain catches up—and immediately regret it. Why did I say that? I’m half-naked in his room, and the air reeks of sex.
I bolt off the bed, grab my clothes, and dart to the ensuite bathroom. My hands shake as I quickly pull on my pants and shirt and wash my hands. My hair is a mess after I squirmed in Manny’s bed. I try smoothing it down, but it’s hopeless.
When I finally open the door, he’s right there, smiling warmly. The smile falters the moment our eyes meet, and I panic.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, erasing the distance between us in three strides.
“Yes, of course,” I say too brightly, forcing a sugary smile. “I just didn’t expect you home so early. I thought you were working late.”
I catch the moment he realizes he surprised me—his brows shoot up to his forehead.
“Oh, my goodness. You’re right. I’m not sure where my head is today,” he chuckles.
The sound shouldn’t make me feel hot and bothered all over again, but here I am, fighting the urge to rub my thighs together just to take the edge off the ache in my core.
“Are you feeling alright? You seem flustered.”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing. If only he knew how flustered I really am.
“Oh yes, I’m fine. I was just about to change your linens, but I needed to use the bathroom first. I hope that’s okay,” I say lightly.
His cheeks darken. Is he blushing?
“Yes, of course. I’ve told you many times—this is your house too. You don’t need to apologize.”
He steps closer, and I swear I must still be riding the aftershocks of my orgasm, because I rise onto my toes and lean toward him.
To my surprise, he doesn’t back away.
Instead, his hands settle at my waist, steadying me.
My heart beats with anticipation. Is this really happening? Am I finally going to kiss Manny?
But his next words douse the fantasy.
“I really appreciate you helping me around the house when Tommy’s not here, but I can’t help but feel embarrassed about it.”
I stumble back, heat flooding my cheeks.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep.” I duck my head so he won’t see how much it stings.
Of course he wasn’t going to kiss me. He doesn’t see me that way. I’m just the help. Just Tommy’s nanny.
“I’ll be on my way, then. I’ll see you next Monday.”
I move to pass Manny and get to the door as fast as I can, but his arm blocks me.
“Wait, please.” His breath rushes out. “I’m sorry—that came out wrong.” He turns fully toward me, his frame crowding the small space between us.
“What I meant is I'm a grown-ass man, and I feel bad having you doing something as simple as changing my sheets.” He holds my gaze. “There’s nothing you can do to make me upset. I just feel bad having you do those things for me.”
He leans down, his breath ghosting across my lips. I close my eyes as his face moves closer—then his phone rings.
“Cono,” he curses under his breath before answering. He turns away and speaks rapidly in Spanish.
When he hangs up, his shoulders slump. I know, in that instant, that the kiss I’d imagined isn’t going to happen.
“I really don’t want to go back to the hospital and leave you after—” he starts, then trails off. I want to ask him to finish, but instead he says, “—but I have to go.”
He scratches his head and heads towards the door. “I actually came home to pick up something I thought would help me with a patient who only speaks Spanish, but then I heard noises coming out of my room and…” His voice fades, distant, like he’s far away.
Did he hear me fingering myself in his bed? I want to die and bury myself so deep that no one would ever find me again.
I follow him down the hallway to his studio, my heart banging in my throat. I must look like a deer in headlights, and his wicked smirk tells me he knows exactly what’s on my mind.
“Can we table this for another time?” he asks, eyes searching mine.
When I don’t answer, he adds, “I’m truly dying to kiss you, Dais. But I want to do it right.”
My mouth falls open.
“I want our first kiss to be engraved in your memory, not a quick kiss that you will forget just because I was rushed.”
I can’t find words, so I just nod. Manny squeezes my arm, leans in to brush a kiss across my cheek, and then he’s gone—out the door, leaving me breathless.
The front door clicks shut, and I crumble to the floor.
Did he really hear me? And still, he wants to kiss me?
Oh my God. It’s both embarrassing and arousing at the same time. It feels so wrong but so right.
I already can’t wait to see him again.