23. Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Three
Cole
The sky is painted in shades of orange and pink as I pull up to the mansion and into the garage, the long week heavy on my shoulders. I park the car in its usual spot, the engine’s hum echoing in the garage as I shut it off.
Dragging myself inside, I try to shake off the exhaustion that clings to me.
The work emergency on Saturday had thrown my entire schedule into chaos, and trying to compensate for the lost time on Sunday and Monday over the rest of the week had been nothing short of brutal. Long hours. Endless meetings.
And the gnawing guilt of barely seeing my son.
Tonight, I’d sworn, would be different. I wasn’t going to let Robbie think the time we’d spent together earlier in the week was a fluke. I’d be home for dinner, no matter what it took out of me.
The front door clicks shut behind me as I step into the foyer, greeted by the faint scent of Evelyn’s cooking wafting from the kitchen. It’s warm and inviting, nothing like the protein bar I’d scarfed down this afternoon between meetings .
“Good evening, sir,” Ellis says, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, as he always does.
“Ellis,” I say, inclining my head. “Where’s Robbie?”
“He and Ms. Annie are in the pool,” he replies, his tone as formal as ever. “The preparations were completed this morning, and Master Robbie insisted on having the inaugural swim before dinner.
A faint smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. Of course, he did.
“Thank you,” I say absently, my thoughts already shifting gears.
“Will you require anything before dinner?” Ellis asks.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “That’ll be all.”
Ellis disappears as I make my way through the house toward the back instead of up the stairs where I’d initially planned to do a few last-minute things before dinner. But the thought of seeing Robbie—and, admittedly, Annie—draws me toward the back door instead.
My mind drifts as I walk, unbidden memories of that night with Annie flooding my thoughts.
I haven’t been with her since. Haven’t dared knock on her door. At first, I kept a subtle eye on her, watching for any signs that her mood might crash again. But she seemed fine—more than fine, actually. She’d thrown herself into planning Robbie’s pool party and preparing for the gala like nothing had happened .
And still, I’d kept my distance.
The truth is, guilt had been eating at me ever since. How could I have let it happen? She’s Robbie’s nanny. If she left because of me, Robbie would be the one hurt most of all.
But none of that had mattered when I’d knocked on her door that night. All I could think about was her. The sight of her in those tiny sleep shorts, her nipples straining against the thin fabric of her shirt. The rumpled hair, the rumpled sheets behind her.
Immediately, my mind, my imagination, had run wild. I had to know—like a craving, a thirst—if she’d been touching herself.
I had to taste her… God, I’d tasted her. And fuck, she’d tasted delicious. I’d lost control. Completely.
Ravaged her. Fucked her. Taken her virginity and reveled when she’d come on my tongue, my cock.
The memory sends a bolt of heat through me, followed swiftly by another wave of guilt. And worse, the realization that I hadn’t used a condom. A mistake that still has me cursing myself days later.
She’d been a virgin, and I’m clean, but that didn’t mean that we could just be careless.
The sound of laughter and splashing pulls me from my thoughts as I step out the back door. The sight before me stops me in my tracks.
Robbie stands at the edge of the pool, his little inflatable arm bands bright orange against his skin as he gears up to jump. His face is lit with pure joy, his giggles echoing through the yard. And in the water, waiting for him, is Annie.
She’s waist-deep in the pool, her hands outstretched as she encourages him. And she’s wearing a bikini.
Not just any bikini—a deep emerald green one that hugs her curves in a way that’s impossible to ignore. The top is simple yet stunning, showcasing just enough cleavage to make my throat go dry, while the bottoms sit low on her hips, revealing a toned stomach and just a hint of skin at her thighs.
Thighs that I’d buried my tongue between just a few days ago.
I stand there for a moment, rooted to the spot, torn between wanting to look away and being utterly unable to. The way the late afternoon light glints off the water, casting shimmering patterns on her sun-kissed skin—it’s enough to drive a man mad.
She glances up and sees me then, her eyes widening slightly before her cheeks flush a delicate pink. She knows I’m watching. And I know she knows what I’m thinking.
“Dad!” Robbie’s voice snaps me out of it, and I quickly shift my focus to him as he waves enthusiastically from the pool’s edge. “Look at me!”
“I’m looking,” I call back, making my way toward them. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
With a burst of confidence, Robbie leaps into the pool, his little body hitting the water with a splash. Annie catches him easily, her laughter blending with his as he pops up, water streaming from his hair.
“Good jump!” I say, stopping at the pool’s edge.
Robbie beams, paddling toward the shallow end with Annie’s help.
“Cole,” she says softly, a little breathy.
“Annie,” I reply, my eyes flicking to hers and then, briefly, to the exposed skin of her shoulders. She flushes again, and I suppress the urge to smirk.
“How was your day?” she asks, her tone polite.
“Long,” I admit, rolling up my sleeves as I crouch by the edge of the pool. “But better now.”
Her eyes flicker toward my groin with a feeling I know very well, and she quickly looks away, focusing on Robbie instead.
We continue our polite small talk as Robbie climbs up the stairs and runs back around toward me. Water drips from his hair onto his freckled cheeks, and he grins up at me, his orange arm bands slightly askew.
“Did you see, Dad? I jumped in! Like a cannonball!” he says, spreading his arms wide for emphasis.
“I did,” I reply, reaching out to adjust one of his arm bands. “That was a solid jump. Next time, try tucking your knees up more. That’s how you get the biggest splash. ”
“Really?” His eyes light up as if I’ve just given him the secret to unlocking superpowers. He turns to Annie. “Did you hear that, Annie? I’m going to make a bigger splash!”
She smiles warmly, brushing wet strands of hair out of her face. “I heard. Want to try again?”
“Yeah!” Robbie bounds back toward the pool, his little legs pumping with renewed energy. He pauses briefly to call over his shoulder, “Watch me this time, Dad!”
“I’m watching,” I assure him, straightening up.
As Robbie clambers onto the edge of the pool again, I glance at Annie. She’s watching him too, her expression soft and maternal. Her laughter a moment ago had been so genuine, so full of joy. It’s not a sound I hear often enough around here.
“Thank you for this,” I say, my voice low enough that only she can hear.
She turns to me, startled, her cheeks flushing again. “For what?”
“For... everything.” I gesture vaguely at the pool and at Robbie, who’s now practicing his cannonball pose before leaping into the water with another splash. “He’s happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.”
Her eyes soften, and for a moment, she looks like she might argue. Instead, she simply says, “He’s a great kid.”
A small silence settles between us, broken only by Robbie’s delighted giggles as he resurfaces. I take the opportunity to let my eyes wander—just briefly—over her again.
Her bikini clings to her damp skin, the emerald green setting off her warm, tanned complexion. Drops of water trail down her neck and collarbone, disappearing beneath the fabric.
She catches me looking, her lips parting slightly as her flush deepens. I quickly shift my gaze to Robbie, who’s now climbing out of the pool, dripping water everywhere.
“Did you see, Dad? Was it better this time?” he asks, running up to me again.
“It was great,” I tell him. “You’re getting better every time.”
“I’m gonna do it again!” He takes off once more, his boundless energy leaving me both impressed and exhausted just watching him.
“He’s got a lot of energy,” Annie says, her voice light with amusement.
“That he does,” I agree, my tone distracted as my eyes linger on her again. She’s standing in the pool, the water lapping gently at her waist, her hands resting casually on her hips.
Robbie’s splash pulls my attention back to the pool, and I focus on the sound of his laughter as he resurfaces.
I watch them for a little longer before heading back inside, the sound of their joy following me all the way to my office.