Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
TATUM
O ne second Wren is giggling beside me, having the time of her life with our new friends. The next, some jerk with a dozen Marvin the Martian tattoos—love Marvin if you must, but more than one tattoo of the same cartoon character is pathological in my book—has kidnapped her like a marauding Viking.
My jaw drops, but before I can charge after them, a man who could be Drew’s twin pushes past me, headed for the Marvin lover with murder in his eyes.
“Stay back, honey,” Fred, the head of the Rainbow Warrior Biker Collective says, hooking light fingers through my arm. “Looks like Daddy B is going to take care of it.”
“Who?” I ask.
“Daddy B,” Perry, his partner says with a smirk. “Barrett McGuire is as straight as they come, but he was Fred’s first crush back in high school, so…”
“You never forget your first.” Fred grins as he waves at someone over my shoulder and calls out in a louder voice, “Hey there, Drew. Come join us, handsome!”
I spin, my heart doing a ridiculous somersault at the sight of Drew striding my way in a deep blue suit with an intense expression.
“Your brother can take care of that punk on his own,” Fred adds, motioning Drew closer. “Marvin is annoying, but mostly harmless.”
“Marvin? Is that why he has all the Martian tattoos?” I ask, but I’m still looking at Drew, wondering if I conjured him up with my lustful, longing-filled thoughts. I’ve been checking out the local singles all night, but no one can compare to Drew. That’s one reason why Wren and I ended up dancing with the gay bikers instead of the single guys.
The other reason is that the gay bikers are the funniest, best boys in here.
“Yep, he’s that kind of cheesy bastard,” Fred says cheerfully, slapping Drew on the back as he stops in front of me. “How’s it going, Andrew? Glad to see you out having a good time, but we need to talk about your fashion choices. This outfit screams ‘I don’t know how to leave work at the office,’ not ‘I know how to show ladies a good time.’ You feel me?”
“I hear you, Fred. Good to see you,” Drew says, but he barely glances Fred’s way. His sexy brown eyes are all for me, filled with an emotion I can’t place, but that has me fluttering big time. “I hadn’t planned on coming out tonight, but I was worried about my nanny. Not trying to be overprotective or bossy, but I couldn’t get in touch with her on her cell, so…”
I frown. “What?” I slide my tiny backpack off and open it, looking for my phone.
“Nanny? Is that what you straight people are calling your honeys these days?” Perry teases as he loops his arm through Fred’s. “Come on, babe. I need another whiskey sour.” He pats Drew on the shoulder. “We’ll check on your brother on the way. Make sure he isn’t going to commit a felony on Marvin’s dumb ass.”
“Thank you,” Drew murmurs as I continue to paw through my bag.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “I must have left my phone at my apartment. Wren and I were rushing to get here for the surprise Earth, Wind & Fire cover band that came on earlier. I probably ran out without it.”
“Or a little girl with closely monitored screen time decided to borrow it for the weekend to play math games,” Drew says, making my brows shoot up. “Sarah Beth told my mom you gave her your cell for the weekend, but I figured that probably wasn’t true.”
“Oh, wow,” I say, choosing my words carefully, not wanting to get Sarah Beth in trouble. “Well, no, but I don’t mind if?—”
“It’s okay,” Drew says. “I’ll ground her from her tablet for a week, and I’m sure it won’t happen again. You know she hates getting in trouble.”
“She probably didn’t realize how much I needed it,” I say, hating that Sarah Beth’s going to get grounded because of me. Especially after the rough week she had with Martha. “And maybe I did say something about letting her borrow it and just forgot about it?” He arches a dubious brow, and I flash my most winning smile. “How about we talk to her about it together, figure out what she loves about screen time, and try to meet that need in another way before she gets grounded? That’s what my mom always did with us when we broke the rules. She knew we were good kids, just like Sarah Beth, and if we were doing something we weren’t supposed to, there was usually a compelling reason for it.”
I lift my nearly empty whiskey sour. “Like me. I shouldn’t have had more than one of these, but this is my second and I may get a third because it’s been a stressful week and I feel like blowing off some steam. There’s probably a better way to do that, though, that doesn’t involve risking a hangover. But am I choosing the better way? No, I’m not. And I’m a grown-up. It doesn’t seem fair to punish kids for doing the same thing without talking things over first and trying to help them make better decisions.”
He watches me for a long moment, the tension between us growing so thick I find myself babbling again.
“I mean, learning about her internal motivations now might help her not have three whiskey sours at the honky-tonk when she grows up.” I suck the last of my drink through the tiny black straw, willing the inner voice to settle down and realize this surprise appearance is just about my phone. It doesn’t mean Drew missed me as much as I missed him, even after only a few hours. “So why were you trying to get in touch with me? Did I leave something at your house besides my cell phone?”
“I was worried about you and Wren coming here alone,” he says, glancing behind me, where Fred and Perry have returned and are once again wiggling to the music with the rest of their friends. “But it looks like you found a good group. Fred was in my class in school. He’s a great guy.”
“I thought so,” I say, grinning at Fred over my shoulder, before I turn back to Drew. “I happen to be a pretty good judge of character, you know.”
“And wise,” he says. “As usual, I think you’re right about Sarah Beth. We should try your way first.”
I beam up at him. “Oh good! I’m so glad you think so. The more we can raise kids who know why they do the things they do—good and bad—the better society we’ll have in the future, right?”
“You’re right. About all of that. There’s just one thing you got wrong,” he says, taking my glass and setting it down on a tall table at the edge of the dance floor.
I follow him, my pulse spiking as I cock my head. “And what’s that?”
“You’re not having a third whiskey sour.”
I arch a brow. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Wouldn’t you rather ‘blow off steam’ without risking the hangover?”
Before I can answer—or figure out exactly what he means—his arm is around my waist and his lips are on mine. And just like the last time we kissed, my entire body lights up and my chest fills with a giddy, electric feeling. But it’s more complicated this time. This time, I know this is way more than sexual. This time there’s relief and gratitude and…fear mixed in there, as well.
Relief that I don’t have to go the rest of my life without kissing Drew again.
Gratitude that I’m pretty sure I get to take him home with me tonight.
And fear that this is only a lapse in judgment for him, a one and done “mistake” he’ll regret tomorrow before he walks out the door for good.
Maybe after firing me?
I pull back, but before I can ask him if this means he’s changed his mind about having a work relationship and a personal relationship, Wren appears at my side, her face flushed and her eyes glittering with rage.
“I’m sorry, Tatum, but I have to go home,” she says, glancing briefly at Drew before adding, “Drew, can you give me a ride or?—”
“I’ll drive you home in your SUV and they can take my truck,” the man who looks like Drew’s twin says, pushing keys into Drew’s hand. “Just leave the truck in your driveway. I’ll come get it in the morning.”
“You’re not driving me home, Barrett,” Wren says, glaring up at him like she’d enjoy murdering him.
Slowly. With her tiny bare hands.
I’m not sure what he did to piss her off, but it seems like we’re both in a sticky situation with our employers tonight…
“I am driving you home,” Barrett says. “You’re drunk and behaving irrationally.”
“I am not drunk!” Wren shouts, her eyes flashing so brightly I’m pretty sure they’re starting to glow in the dark. “And you don’t get to decide what’s rational for me. Not on my night off. Or at any other time for that matter.”
Barrett murmurs something that sounds like “ridiculous,” and Wren explodes.
“I’m not ridiculous!” She pokes him in his muscled chest. “You’re ridiculous and I’m about to prove it. Goodbye Tatum, I’ll call you tomorrow.” Without another word, she storms toward the front door of the club.
“Nice to meet you, Tatum,” Barrett says, even though we haven’t actually been introduced, before starting after her, a familiar determination in his stride.
“Your brother?” I ask, just to be one-hundred percent sure. “And Wren’s boss?”
“The same,” Drew says, holding up the keys. “Should we get out of here? Before Barrett comes back and decides to boss us around?”
“Will he be able to find a way home?” I ask. “Because I’m pretty sure Wren is serious about going home alone.”
Drew nods. “Yeah, he’ll be fine. He can call a taxi. Or ask a friend for a ride. We know more people here than I expected.” He flashes me a sheepish smile. “It actually doesn’t seem that bad. I might have been being a little…overprotective again.”
I pull in a breath, fighting the giddy part of me that loves his protective side, the part that desperately wants another night with him, no matter what the cost. That part would gladly put my job and future as Sarah Beth’s caretaker on the line for more co-ed naked fun time, but I can’t let it call the shots.
Maybe I could have a few days ago, before I really knew and loved Sarah Beth, but things are different now. I know her, I adore her, and I believe she needs me in her life. Me , not some other nanny who won’t understand how much she needs magic and pretend and someone who really knows how to listen.
Sarah Beth is a kindred spirit and when you’re lucky enough to find one of those, you don’t let them down.
I don’t want just another hot night with Drew, either. I want him , all of him. I want his heart and his humor and all the love I know he’s capable of giving to the right person.
And I want that person to be me.
So, as much as it pains me to put a single obstacle in the way of getting him naked and on top of me, I say, “I would love to take you home and do bad things to you all night, especially now that I don’t have any jewelry in the way. But you said this was a bad idea. You said you couldn’t date the nanny. Remember?”
His expression sobering, he nods. “I do remember. But I’ve been thinking.”
I wait a beat for him to finish, my stomach full of butterflies. When he doesn’t, I prompt, “Thinking about…?”
“About you,” he says, curling his fingers around the curve of my hip, making my blood rush faster. “About us. All the time, actually. When I’m at work and at home and in the shower and reading Sarah Beth a bedtime story and cleaning the oatmeal gunk from the sink drain. You’re always there, in my head, and no matter how much I see you, it’s never enough. Not nearly enough.”
I bite my lip, fighting a smile, not wanting to celebrate prematurely. But I can’t help confessing, “I think about you, too.”
“Good.” He pulls me closer, sending the tingle situation shooting off the charts. “Believe me, I’m not taking this lightly. The way you are with Sarah Beth… You’re an angel, Tatum.”
“Hardly.” I shoot a pointed glance down at my scandalously skimpy dancing outfit.
“You’re my kind of angel,” he says, not hesitating for a second. “You’re everything I hoped for in a nanny and so much more. I wouldn’t put that at risk for anything except…this feeling that I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t tell you the way you make me feel.”
“How do I make you feel?” I ask, breathless with hope.
“Like I might find that happy ending someday, after all,” he whispers.
“I’d bet my hands on it,” I say, my chest tight with emotion as I loop my arms around his neck. “And I promise you, we’ll keep what’s best for Sarah Beth at the top of our minds every step of the way.”
“You’re what’s best for Sarah Beth,” he says, making my chest ache. “I knew that the second you pulled out that crown for Princess Pancake breakfast. And when you threatened Carrie, you made me your fan for life. If we break up, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you around. Even if it breaks my heart.”
“I won’t break your heart,” I say, my lips drifting closer to his. “I promise.”
“Oh my God, it’s like a movie,” a hushed, but not nearly hushed enough, voice rasps from a few feet away. “They’re so adorable! I’m shipping them so hard!”
I glance over my shoulder to see Fred with his elbow propped on the tall table and his chin in hand, watching us with a dreamy expression. Beside him, Perry swirls his straw through his fresh whiskey sour with a happy sigh, “Happy endings are the best endings.”
Fred giggles, clearly a little tipsy. “Happy endings. That reminds me of that massage parlor in St. Paul. Remember Bjorn? The Nordic guy with giant hands?”
Perry wrinkles his nose. “Bring up one of your exes again and the only happy ending you’ll be getting tonight is in your dreams, darlin’.”
“Should we get out of here?” Drew asks, amusement in his voice.
I smile up at him. “We should. But let me give Fred and Perry my number first. I’m going to join them for biker brunch next Sunday. It’s like Princess Pancakes except with bikers and mimosas.”
“You can come too, handsome,” Perry says, batting his eyelashes at Drew as I take Fred’s offered phone and punch in my digits. “As long as you wear leather. Call me crazy, but I think you’d look great in a pair of skintight black pants.”
Drew laughs. “Thanks, but I usually spend Sunday mornings in my pajamas with my daughter.”
“Bring her along. The more the merrier,” Fred enthuses with a red-cheeked grin, proving he’s the happiest drunk around. He leans in, putting his arm around my shoulders and adding in his too-loud whisper, “Ride him like a Harley on a perfect spring day with the wind in your hair, sweetheart. Do it for me and all the people who have crushed on McGuire men throughout the years. And for America. Consider it your goddamned patriotic duty.”
Perry rolls his eyes as he moves Fred’s drink to the middle of the table. “Okay, drunky. Let’s get you some water and cheese fries. I think we need to soak up a little of that alcohol before we have any more whiskey.”
“ Oooo , cheese fries,” Fred says, his big blue eyes lighting up. “I love cheat day! And cheese!” He puts his arm around Perry, pressing a sloppy kiss to his partner’s cheek that makes the other man laugh. “And you, babe. You’re the fucking best. Bjorn can suck a pickled egg.”
As they head for the bar to order, I turn back to Drew. “Shall we? And you can share your favorite drunk foods on the way back to my place?”
“Pizza,” he says without hesitation as he takes my hand and leads me through the crowd toward the door. “And latkes with sour cream from the diner on Third Street. And cheesy scrambled eggs with extra buttery toast, just like Sarah Beth likes them.”
I arch a brow. “So, you did have a wild phase.”
“I did,” he says with a wink. “But now I keep my wild side under wraps. It only comes out to play on weekends with beautiful redheads.”
I smile and squeeze his hand, waiting until we step out into the cold air to whisper in a voice for his ears only, “That’s good, but just FYI, this redhead also enjoys orgasms on Tuesdays. And Thursdays. And any other night her boss wants her to stay for dinner and do bad things to him after his daughter is tucked in for the night.”
“You mean your boyfriend,” he corrects. “After six o’clock, I’m not your boss anymore.”
Boyfriend! He wants to be my boyfriend!
Never has the word made me so giddy.
“I mean, unless you feel it’s too soon to be exclusive,” he adds, the hint of nervousness in his voice making the butterflies in my stomach go wild.
I tighten my grip on his hand and stop at the corner of the building, needing his eyes on me when I say, “It’s not too soon.”
“No?” he asks, pulling me closer in the red light from the glowing cowboy atop the bar.
“Nope. Not even close.” I lean into his strong chest. “I would be honored and thrilled to be your girlfriend.”
We kiss and it’s even better than the kiss inside. Every time I touch this man, every time I feel his hands on me, it’s better than the last. My fresh start hit a speed bump there for a while, but now things are working out better than I ever dreamed they would. I’m making cool new friends, love my job taking care of Sarah Beth, and have the best, most adorable, sexiest boss in the world, who I’m pretty sure I’m also already madly in love with.
And now he’s my boyfriend!
It’s like a fairy tale with only good fairies in it.
So, basically, I should have known it was all about to go to shit.
I really should have.