19. Kiley
CHAPTER NINETEEN
KILEY
It’s been three weeks since I started my new job as Chloe’s temporary nanny, and it has been kicking my butt.
The first week was hard in the sense that I didn’t know what to expect, nor was I prepared for the numerous late nights waiting for Jax to get home from his games.
I was determined to not start spending the night at his place before his first away game no matter how tired Zander and I were driving home late at night.
As we approached having three games in five days, I had to cave in, and we started sleeping over because the late nights were affecting Zander and his behavior.
I could barely sleep that first night since sharing a bed with Zander is quite uncomfortable.
The little monster either takes up the whole bed or wants to sleep right on my side.
Also, knowing that Jax was just across the hall from us in his room had me tossing and turning.
My mind kept wondering if he was awake, what he slept in and if he has started hooking up with random girls again.
I don’t think he has because whenever he’s not at the rink, he’s home with Chloe.
Not that it should matter anyway. What he does in his personal life is his business, and even though he warned me that nothing can happen between us, I still can’t seem to turn off my feelings of wanting him.
No matter how hard I try to keep things “professional” between us, the lines are still getting blurred.
The second week was better with school starting.
Chloe had a great first week of classes, and has already found people to sit with at lunch and has exchanged phone numbers with some of the other girls.
I’ve also discovered that she doesn’t love going to every single home game of Jax’s, which I’m relieved about.
We’ve decided that we will only go to home games during the week if Chloe has no homework and I have no papers to grade.
This has been making it easier to get Zander back on his sleep schedule, which gives me an excuse to be “asleep” with Zander by the time Jax gets home at night.
Tonight’s an exception as I have a lot of work from school I need to catch up on.
Once I put Zander to bed, I open my laptop and start plugging away, entering grades into our computer grading system.
I’m so immersed in work that I don’t realize how many hours have passed until I hear the door open and Jax walk in.
“Hey, you’re up,” he softly comments while putting his keys down on the side table.
I do a double take when I see he’s wearing one of his suits again.
Players are no longer required to dress in business attire like they used to, but Jax is old school and prefers it.
I must say, I like him in them too. My mouth goes dry at how sexy he looks.
This is exactly why I hide in my room when he comes home; seeing him like this gives me fantasies I should not be having of my boss.
Fantasies about what it would be like taking that jacket off of his muscular frame.
How amazing it would feel to slide my hands up his chest and start unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off of him.
The power I would feel of being in control when I would unbuckle his belt, unbutton and unzip his pants and watch them fall down those strong thighs to pool at his ankles.
How hard he would feel when I would slip my hand in his underwear to cup him.
What it would be like to take him in my mouth.
I take a ragged breath. Being horny and not having my vibrator here to relieve myself is not good for my mental psyche.
I blink away my dirty thoughts and glance at the clock to see what time it is. “Wow, I didn’t realize how long I’ve been working. How did the game go?”
He shrugs. “Not that great. We played like shit and lost.” He runs a hand through his hair in frustration.
“I think we’re all a little burned out. Some guys are fighting the flu.
Fortunately, we only have two more weeks until mid-winter break, where we can relax and recharge.
” Jax will get three weeks off, which means I’ll get a break from watching Chloe and get to sleep in my own bed for a little while.
“Are you hungry?” I ask while shutting down my laptop and putting it aside. “I made some lasagna, and there are plenty of leftovers.”
“I would love some,” he confirms. “Let me just go get changed, say hi to Chloe if she’s still awake and I’ll be right back out.” He points at me and smiles. “Please don’t go anywhere. I would really love some company.”
I watch him walk to his bedroom, and warning bells are going off in my head that this isn’t a good idea. I should not be staying up to keep him company in my current state of lustful thinking. But instead of listening to my intuition, I pour myself a glass of wine.
You’re going to regret this tomorrow.
I’m in the middle of taking a sip when he comes out in a white t-shirt that is molded to his chest, shoulders and biceps with black sweatpants that have my imagination going into overdrive. My sipping turns into gulping down the rest of my wine.
“Oh, great idea.” He motions to the bottle of wine. “I think I’ll join you with that.”
While he pours himself a glass, I take the lasagna out of the fridge, make him a plate and heat it up in the microwave. When I turn around, he’s refilling my glass with more wine.
“Have one drink with me while I eat.” He walks over to me and hands me the glass, his gaze never leaving mine. “Please?” Our fingers lightly brush against each other with the transfer of the glass, and I feel the air slowly shift.
“Sure,” I murmur, and the microwave beeping reminds me to grab the food. I take his plate and my wineglass and set them down on the dining room table. He grabs some silverware and a napkin and joins me.
“Was Chloe asleep?” I inquire, wondering if she’s going to come out and join her dad or not.
“She was half asleep. I guess today was a busy day for her?”
I nod. “Yes, she auditioned for the spring musical.”
His face lights up. “That’s right. She told me it was fun when I talked with her earlier. What did she say to you about it?”
“She thought she did well and said she’ll be happy with any part she gets, even if it’s small and not a lead.”
“I’m so relieved to hear this.” He sits down in front of his food and picks up his fork. “This looks delicious, thank you for making it.” He turns serious. “You know you don’t need to be making meals. That’s what the petty cash fund is for.”
Jax has an envelope filled with cash that he told me to use whenever I take the kids out or get food.
I used it the first week when we were taking Chloe to all of our favorite places in the city and for some food, but that has been it.
Jax uses a grocery delivery service that he set up to deliver food every week.
He told me to add whatever I wanted to it for me and Zander, so I did.
I feel cooking is the least I can do for him.
“I like to cook, so it’s no big deal. Chloe seems to eat everything, which helps.”
He nods while chewing and then swallows. “Okay, truth time. How’s it really going? Don’t hold anything back. I can handle it.”
I chuckle and appreciate him asking. “Alright, truth? The first week sucked.”
He throws his head back and laughs, and I have to shush him to be quiet due to Zander sleeping.
“Sorry,” he whispers. “On both accounts.”
“None of it’s your fault. I just didn’t know what to expect. I should’ve studied the schedule better and realized going to the games every other day and then driving home late at night wasn’t going to work out for Zander.” I shrug. “Lesson learned, and we adjusted.”
“Yes, I don’t expect you guys to come to the weekday games.”
I study him closely. “Does it bother you that we don’t?”
“It doesn’t bother me, but I do like it when you guys come. Oddly enough, it makes me feel less alone knowing you’re all there.”
My heart shouldn’t be racing the way it is to his confession. He probably only means Chloe and is just including Zander and me to be nice.
“You need to do what’s best for you and the kids. You’re the one taking them to school and dealing with their grumpy butts in the morning.”
I giggle. “True, but I’m very grateful you wake up at the same time we do and make breakfast for everyone, even me.”
It’s been a very pleasant surprise seeing how hands on Jax is in the mornings. I didn’t have any expectations that he would wake up at the same time we would. After all, hockey is a very physical sport, and I’m sure his body needs all the rest it can get for recovery.
“You need to eat too.”
“Yes, but you don’t have to go out of your way to make me anything.”
He places his hand over mine and squeezes. “I like doing it, Kiley.”
I turn my hand over under his and squeeze back.
I look down at our hands and realize just how much I like holding his.
It’s warm and strong, and I imagine other places on my body that I would like to feel his hands on.
Stop it, Kiley, he’s your boss, I internally yell at myself and remove my hand from his grasp.
He clears his throat, and my gaze goes back to his. “How do you think Chloe is adjusting?” he asks while shifting in his seat. He takes a sip of his wine, and I have to make every effort not to stare at his lips.
“I think she’s doing amazing for someone her age who left her mom, her everyday environment and moved to a new city.”
“Really?” He questions, as if he needs more reassurance. “Because it has been weighing on me, wondering if we did the right thing by having her come here.”
“You wouldn’t be a great dad if you weren’t worrying about her.
I think it was the right move. I know she misses her mom and family, but I make sure she calls them when I’m here.
If she gets this role in the play, then I think she’ll be so busy that she won’t have much time to think about what she’s missing back in Kelowna. ”