22. Tate #2
“Paisley, Lexi and I would like to tell you something.” He cleared his throat, stepping closer to me. My pulse calmed down a bit. “Remember when you asked me a while ago if I ever wanted a lady in my life? Well, Lexi and I are dating. We’re?—”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Paisley’s face exploded in a grin. She clapped her hands and then started shimmying her hips, the way I did when I was happy about something. Then she hugged Tate around his middle, staring up at him before looking at me.
“I’m going back to try more dresses.”
She did a little dance as she went back into the changing room. She’d even forgotten to ask our opinion on the dress she had on.
Tate trained his gaze on me, and the air between us instantly charged. He took me a few feet away from the dressing room to the back of the store before stepping right into my personal space, tilting my chin up.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes. Why?”
“We never spoke about telling Paisley.”
“It was your call, Tate. She’s your daughter. I… didn’t even know if you wanted to tell her at all.”
“Fuck yes, I did.” His gaze intensified. “For weeks, it’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
Oh man. Those flutters in my belly were out of control now. And so was my grin.
“Really?” I definitely felt like dancing, but we were in a store, so I stayed put.
When Tate brought his hands to my waist, I felt the touch of his fingers, even through my cotton dress.
“Yes, Lexi. You’re in my life, and I want everyone to know it. I was serious when I said I want you all the time. And I don’t mean in bed. I like spending time with you. Pouring you wine in the evening. Watching you pretend to look for the TV remote when you’re raiding the stash of chocolate.”
“I don’t do that every evening,” I countered, even though I kind of did. And he’d noticed!
“Today, I wasn’t thrilled about coming to this place, but knowing you were going to be here made everything better.”
I couldn’t help myself and shimmied a bit. “Oh, good. I like this arrangement. I give my opinion to Paisley. You make me swoon and fan myself when she’s in the changing room. Everyone’s happy.”
I wasn’t just happy. I was over the moon.
He wanted Paisley to know .
Even though his parents and siblings knew about us, sharing this with his daughter meant so much more.
When Paisley called my name, I nodded toward the changing room. We headed that direction, and when we were within earshot, I said, “I’m here.”
"I don't like the pink one, Lexi," Paisley called from inside the changing room, "but they also have one in green."
"I can go get it for you," I said. "Where is it?"
"Right next to the entrance."
"I'll be right back," I said.
Tate groaned, but I slapped his hand, and he reluctantly dropped it from my waist.
I went to the rack with clothes near the entrance and quickly found the green version of the dress Paisley was trying on. When I returned, the sales associate was there as well, checking in with her through the curtain.
"No, it's okay. Lexi is bringing me the dress," Paisley was saying.
"Okay." She stepped back, looking at me and smiling at the dress. "I think that one is going to look great with her eyes."
"I think so too," I said. "I’m her nanny, and we talk about clothes and fashion a lot." I gave Paisley the dress, poking my head inside. "You want me to take anything back?"
"No, I'm good," Paisley said, pushing me back out.
When I turned around, to my astonishment, the sales associate was flirting with Tate, who was standing next to the pink armchair. She was playing with her hair between her fingers and looking up at him between her eyelashes.
"Anything you and your daughter need, let me know."
"We're good," Tate said, coming up to me. A second later, he put an arm around my shoulder, kissing my temple. "Lexi's a genius when it comes to finding clothes for Paisley, but we'll let you know if we need any help."
Her smile dropped. She looked at me, eyes cold. "Right, okay. I'll wait at the front, at the cash register." She stepped away quickly, but Tate still didn't let go of me.
"I can't believe I turned my back once and someone's already flirting with you." I knew I sounded jealous, but damn, she moved fast. Of course, with the way Tate looked, it was no surprise.
"Why did you tell her you were the nanny? You know you’re more than that, Lexi. I'm more than happy to tell everyone that we’re together." He turned me around, looking straight at my mouth. " Everyone , Lexi.”
“But I am Paisley’s nanny.”
“If you want, I’ll fire you now, just so we’re clear.” Amusement danced in his eyes. “You’re also my girlfriend.”
Oh man. I was swooning again.
“I don’t want you to fire me. I love the job. But we probably should talk about you paying me. It doesn’t feel right if I’m your girlfriend.”
He stared at me incredulously. “You’re one of a kind. We can talk about that another time. Now, I have an idea.”
“Do tell.”
“My brother Travis announced that he’s throwing a party in two weeks.”
"Oh, I haven't met him yet. It's his birthday?”
"No. He finalized the sale of his tech startup, and he wants to celebrate 'in style,' as he calls it. I want you there, with me."
"Sure. Will there be any more kids besides Paisley? I can probably watch about six or seven."
He pressed a thumb at the corner of my mouth.
"Stop that, Lexi. You’re not going as Paisley's nanny. I want you to go there with me as my date, my woman. I told you I want everyone to know. I mean, my family knows. But I want us to go there together."
Something crept up inside me, filling me with a burst of joy. The impulse to shimmy my hips and break out in a dance right here in the store was stronger than ever.
"Together,” I repeated, then murmured, “Tate, I would love to." I couldn't deny it. My feelings for him were deepening. And with that, the chances of getting heartbroken were also growing, because I knew Tate still hadn’t healed from his divorce.
“Now, keep your hands to yourself while I help Paisley, mister.”
He grinned. “Your wish is my command.”
“Really?”
“For now.”
I raised a brow. “Oh, you have ulterior motives? Care to share? Is it part of your plan to convince me to come home with you?”
“Yes.”
“Ha! You don’t have to work too much to sell me on that. You and Paisley are there. And the not-so-secret stash of excellent chocolate too.”