Sinful Nanny (Sinful Reads #5)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

FLORA

Harper’s words echo around my head.

“Hey, hey. Eyes on me. You’ve got this, I promise.”

I’m losing my head over this. I have been up the past two nights petrified that I am going to fuck this up for Travis, and for me.

Rolling out of bed, I hastily move to the kitchen. My eyes are dry, and with each blink I find it harder to keep them open.

Travis spins around and gives me a smile.

“Still not sleeping?” I shake my head. “I’ll be working late tonight, loads to do, plus now you’re Edward’s nanny… well, he will definitely up my work load,” he gives a shrug of his shoulders.

Travis is a workaholic, but it’s got worse over the last six months. I kept thinking he was having an affair at work, but after a lot of reassuring, it turns out that Edward is delegating a lot more than he used to.

Edward is a widow, but by what I have heard, their relationship was just a business transaction, nothing more to it. But a child still lost their mum.

Whether it was business or not, it is still heartbreaking.

Travis slips me from my thoughts as he places a kiss on my forehead. “See you in the morning,” he gives a wide smile and disappears out of our apartment.

This has become the new normal for us. By the time he is home, I am fast asleep.

I don’t like it, but he has made it very clear that work will always come before me and our relationship.

Our sex is scheduled around his work calendar, it can never be spontaneous, I never feel desired .

It’s just sex.

A tick off a never-ending to do list for Travis.

Sighing, I pop the kettle on and wait for it to boil. I needed coffee and a lot of it.

Today was the day I was meeting my new boss and I was dreading it.

Dressed in black yoga leggings, a white vest and a black zip up yoga jacket, I slipped my feet into my trainers. I wanted to be comfortable.

Edward’s little girl is nearly four. Old enough to talk, young enough to still want me to do everything with her.

Brushing my fingers through the ends of my dirty blonde hair, I inhale sharply.

Swiping my phone and bag off the hook by the front door, I make my way to the elevator and onto the pavement where Edward’s driver is waiting for me.

A blacked out town car sits kerbside. Nerves bubble inside of me.

I needed to remember that this is temporary. He only wants me for eight weeks whilst his usual nanny is dealing with a family bereavement.

Travis has always said how hard-faced and cold-hearted Edward is, which makes me even more anxious to work there.

“Miss,” the smartly dressed driver appears and opens my door. He must be in his thirties maybe, with dark hair and eyes.

“Thank you,” I whisper because for some reason, my voice has disappeared.

Nodding, I duck and slip into the back of the luxurious car and swallow down the nerves. My phone pings in my bag and I reach inside for it, it’s the girls and I smile softly.

Harper

Good luck today babe! You’ll smash it.

Lily

You’ve got this, it’s only eight weeks. Xx

Taylor

Good luck in your new job! Hopefully he is a hottie

I roll my eyes.

Hallie

We can’t wait to hear allllll the details over dinner and book club on Friday xx

Bella

Don’t be nervous, you’ll smash this! X

I type a quick reply thanking them then sit back and watch the minutes slip past as we drive into Mayfair. The car slows outside a white town house. Iron cast railings, steps leading up towards a black front door and cherry blossom trees lining the pavements.

I always wonder what kind of people live in these houses, it’s a dream of mine someday to own one… I scoff, it really is just a dream.

Before I can even try and open my door, the driver is there once more.

Thanking him, he walks up to the front door with me and knocks loudly on the silver knocker. I keep my head down and knot my fingers in front of me.

It feels like hours pass when really it’s a second or so and the door opens wide. My eyes lift when I see a pair of black oxfords on the door mat.

Tall, broad, and devastatingly handsome.

Blond hair, blue eyes, tanned skin.

I would place him in his mid-forties, maybe.

He is wearing a white shirt, slightly unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up that show his veiny forearms and large hands.

“You must be Flora,” he gives a half smile and steps aside before thanking his driver and dismissing him.

“Hi,” my voice squeaks before my cheeks flame red as his eyes sweep over me.

I walk into the impressive hallway and slip my shoes off just as he closes the door.

“Come,” he nods down towards the long marble floored hallway and I follow like an obedient puppy dog.

He leads me into a large kitchen area and pulls a stool out at the breakfast bar. I sit, nerves rattling deep inside of me as he flicks the kettle on then turns and looks at me, fingers curled around the worksurface.

“So, Flora,” he smirks as if testing the way my name rolls off his tongue. “You have plenty of experience with childcare, why have you not been offered a long term nanny position?”

His question startles me for a moment, my mouth opening before it closes again, the sound of the kettle growing louder.

“I just haven’t found the right family…” I trail off, twisting the thin ring on my middle finger round, “or maybe the right family hasn’t found me.”

He nods, turning and reaching for two mugs.

“Tea?” he asks, but doesn’t turn to look at me.

“Please.”

“How do you like it?”

My heart bangs in my chest.

“One sugar and milk.”

“Strong?”

“How it comes.”

Silence ripples around the room as he strains the teabag and then walks across towards where I am sitting and handing me my tea.

“Thank you.” Why am I blushing?

“I just thought it might be worth us having a little chat before Delilah comes back.”

I nod. “She is a very sweet soul,” he drops his head and I see a hint of a smile play against his lips.

“I bet she is,” my voice is low.

His eyes meet mine for a moment, and that’s when I notice his eyes are more opal, shades of green blurring into the soft blue. They’re real pretty.

“Please don’t be offended if she goes mute when she sees you, it takes her a while to warm up.”

“I wouldn’t, I completely understand,” I take a mouthful of my tea.

“Also,” he rubs his lips together, “she has a thing about placing her hand on your cheek, it can last seconds, it can last minutes… but when she is comfortable, she’ll do it,” he laughs gently.

“That’s really sweet,” I smile at him and he returns it.

“Her dinner is at four-forty-five…” he pauses for a moment and furrows his brows, “you can cook right?”

“Yes, I can cook,” I shake my head from side to side.

“Sorry, I just assumed… you’re just very young…”

“I’m twenty-three,” another laugh bubbles from me, “I’m hardly young.”

“Compared to me, you’re young and I couldn’t cook at your age,” he shrugs one shoulder up and sighs.

“My mum passed when I was young, I didn’t know my dad…” I have no idea why I am sharing this. “I lived with my grandma, she taught me from a young age how to cook. I make everything from scratch; of course, here and there I like the odd takeaway or a lazy dinner,” I drop my head, “but it’s all I have left of her so I like to cook her recipes when I can.”

Silence coats the room for a moment.

“I bet Travis enjoys that,” and I sigh, lifting my head before tilting it to the side.

“When he is home,” the smile that was living on my lips slowly starts to fade. “He works a lot of late nights…” I trail off, “you keep him busy.”

“Right, yes,” he clenches his jaw as he takes a mouthful of his own tea, and uneasiness settles in my stomach. “She has playtime between five-thirty and six and then it’s bath, teeth, story and bed for seven. Is that going to be okay?”

“Absolutely, I’ll only be going home to an empty house,” I admit, and sadness fills me.

“There will be some nights I require stay overs, but I will tell you in advance,” he pushes off his stool and I mirror him as he glances up at the clock.

“Sounds great,” I am a little too enthusiastic.

He takes my cup and places it on the side before standing toe to toe with me.

My head is tilted back as I look up at him, his neck craned looking down at me.

There is a significant height difference. I feel tiny compared to him.

“I’m looking forward to working with you,” he smiles for just a moment before the key in the front door has him stepping away from me, and only then do I feel like I can breathe.