Chapter 9 #2
I want to lean down and kiss her head, but don’t want to wake her up at the same time.
Instead, I head for my closet, change out of my jeans and shirt and into some pajama pants with a plain white shirt before heading toward the kitchen for a glass of water.
But as I stalk back down the hallway, I run smack into Elodie as she steps out of the bathroom.
“Ooof!”
“Shit!”
Elodie loses her balance and falls to the floor, her towel coming loose to reveal her entire backside, including her bare ass perched in the air that, unfortunately, I can’t stop staring at.
“Henley?” Elodie asks, face down on the carpet, snapping me out of the transfixed state I’m in.
Fuck, she’s perfect. Round globes, silky white skin, and a tattoo of a heart just above her right butt cheek.
Jesus Christ. I could lick that ink. Dainty tattoos are so fucking sexy.
“Henley!” she says louder this time.
“Yeah?”
“My towel. I’m, uh…”
“Shit.” I turn away from her, facing the opposite direction. “I’m not looking. You can get up now.”
Groaning, she says, “Oh my God. This is so embarrassing.”
My eyes drop down to my cock getting hard in my pants, the flimsy fabric doing nothing to hide how my body is reacting to seeing her half naked.
“It’s fine.”
“Yeah, easy for you to say. You’re not the one that just flashed your boss your bare ass.”
Fuck. Stop picturing it, Henley.
“I didn’t see anything,” I lie.
“Yeah, sure,” she scoffs as I hear the sound of her coming up from the floor. Her heavy breathing fills the silence between us until she says, “Okay. I’m decent.”
Reluctantly, I twist around slowly to face her, and if I thought her ass was beautiful, it has nothing on her face fresh from the shower. “You okay?”
She brushes her wet hair from her face. “Nothing is hurt except my pride, fortunately.”
Chuckling, I say, “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Arching a brow, she crosses her arms over her chest. “I thought you didn’t see anything?”
“I didn’t. I mean…”
She pinches the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. “I’m mortified, Henley.”
“Again,” I say, dipping my eyes down her body and then back up, secretly loving the way her cheeks are pinker than I’ve ever seen them, “Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Henley…” Her voice is breathy, almost like her heart is racing just as hard as mine.
Needing to change the subject, I say, “How was tonight?”
She clears her throat, pulling her towel tighter around her body. “Uh, it was fine. Remy got a little fussy around seven, like usual, but once she pooped, she was happy and fell right asleep.”
“It’s crazy what a solid shit does for that kid’s mood.”
We share a laugh. “Yeah.” Elodie bites on her bottom lip before moving past me. “Well, I should probably get dressed.”
“Okay.” But as she gets closer, the familiar smell of lavender hits my nostrils. “Did you—did you use Remy’s body wash?”
Elodie freezes right next to me, our shoulders touching, but both of us facing away from each other, avoiding the other’s eyes. “No.”
“Why do you smell like it then?”
“I—I bought shampoo and conditioner with the same scent so it soothes her when I hold her.”
My eyes snap to hers as her head moves slowly toward mine. “You bought shampoo for yourself to help calm my kid?”
Her brows draw together. “Yeah. Is that okay?”
Fuck, this girl is trouble with a capital T.
As if I wasn’t struggling with my attraction toward her already, she goes and does something like this.
I didn’t even fucking know that lavender was supposed to be calming until Elodie told me when we were shopping for the thousands of baby items I needed.
And I can’t deny that the body wash does help Remy relax after her bath.
But for Elodie to change what she uses to help my daughter? The strongest urge to kiss her slams into me.
Our eyes remain locked, our chests rising and falling with each of our shallow breaths.
Elodie’s eyes dip down to my lips, and mine follow suit.
I bet she tastes incredible. I bet her lips are so fucking soft, like pillows, and they get swollen from being used.
God, she’d look so fucking perfect on her knees for me too, those lips wrapped around my…
“Henley,” she says breathlessly.
“I don’t deserve you,” I say, the admission catching me and her off guard.
“Yes, you do. You and Remy both deserve someone who puts you first. And when you look for your next nanny, make sure you find that.”
As if she just poured a bucket of water on the fire raging in my body, her words remind me of the timeline we’re on.
Only three months remain until she’s gone, out of mine and Remy’s life forever.
“Get some sleep, Elodie,” I grate out, clenching my teeth and pulling my eyes from hers.
I can practically hear her eyes roll. “Good night to you too, Henley.”
As I finish my trek down the hall, I hear her bedroom door softly shut, allowing me to exhale heavily.
“Fuck.” Pushing my hand through my hair, I think back to the image of Elodie’s ass and how my body reacted to her.
This is the longest dry spell you’ve had in a while, Henley. You would have reacted like that if you saw any woman’s bare ass right now.
My mind is trying to convince me that my reaction is normal, but deep down, I know better.
I think my friends were right and it’s time I accept it.
I’ve got the hots for my nanny, and it’s just one more problem I can add to my list.