3. Avery
Chapter three
Avery
It’s bedlam. Absolute bedlam. I’m running on five hours of sleep, one too-strong cup of coffee, and a lot of misplaced optimism. My coat’s half on, my scarf is missing, and I’m mentally kicking myself for not leaving ten minutes earlier.
The Uber’s idling at the curb, and as I head for the front door, I hear Dad’s heavy footsteps coming down the stairs.
He’s still in his robe, hair sticking up in all directions.
“Have a good day at work, darling,” he mutters through a yawn, rubbing his face.
“And don’t forget, your brother’s coming over for dinner tonight. ”
“Okay, but no promises, Dad. My new client today… well, if all goes well, it’s a live-in position. I’ll call you later.” I lean up, plant a quick kiss on his cheek, and toss my coat on as I head out the door, my briefcase swinging in one hand.
The morning sun is bright against the crisp February sky, but the air has that bitter chill that goes straight through you.
I tug my coat tighter as I rush down the path and past Dad’s old sedan sitting awkwardly between the driveway and the lawn. The Uber driver is already tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, clearly unimpressed with my lateness.
Sliding into the back seat, I barely have the door shut before I blurt out, “Please hurry, I’m late.”
He gives me a glance in the rearview mirror, says nothing, and then punches the gas. I lurch back into the seat, clutching my briefcase for dear life as we shoot down April Street.
By the time we hit Main Street, I’m silently praying the universe cuts me a break. The traffic isn’t horrendous, but it’s not exactly smooth sailing either. Finally, we turn into Drayton Close, and I start to piece myself together.
The road is wide and clean, lined with elegant houses that sit back on well-manicured lawns. Tall trees sway gently in the breeze, and there’s that faint hum of quiet wealth that you can feel but don’t need to comment on.
Up ahead, two massive cream-colored pillars frame the entrance to an estate.
The car slows as we pass through the pillars and onto a long driveway that seems to stretch forever.
The Uber glides to a stop in front of a sprawling estate, all sharp lines and grandeur. I check my watch—7:35. Late.
“Thank you,” I mutter to the driver as I grab my briefcase and practically leap out of the car. The door slams shut behind me as I jog up to the front entrance, my breath visible in the chilly air.
Standing in front of the oversized door, I take a second to catch my breath before ringing the bell. The sound echoes faintly, and I wait, mentally bracing myself for whatever—or whoever—is about to greet me.
The door swings open to reveal a woman in her early sixties, neatly dressed in a crisp black uniform. Her gray-streaked hair is pulled into a no-nonsense bun, and her expression is polite but unreadable. “Good morning,” she greets with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Hello, I’m Avery Bennett from Evergreen Nannies.” My voice is steady and professional.
Her smile softens just a touch. “Welcome, Ms. Bennett. I’m Clara, the housemaid. Please follow me to the sitting room. Mr. Hayes will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you very much.” I step inside and am immediately greeted by a rush of warmth—and opulence. The hallway is a masterpiece of clean lines and muted colors, with tasteful art hung at precise intervals. Subtle, elegant luxury.
Clara leads me through the house, and we pass what looks like a library, a formal dining room, and a staircase that could easily double as the setting for a period drama. The faint scent of fresh flowers lingers in the air.
As we enter the sitting room, I catch a flicker of movement. There, behind the curtain, is a little girl, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief.
Clara gestures to one of the armchairs. “Please make yourself comfortable. Mr. Hayes will be here in a moment.”
“Thank you,” I reply, lowering myself into the chair.
Hayes?? - - couldn’t be.
The leather is ridiculously soft, and I have to resist the urge to sink back into it completely. My eyes meet the girl’s as she peeks out again from her hiding spot.
“Hello there!” I offer her a warm smile. “You must be Maddie. I’m Avery.”
She hesitates for a second before stepping out from behind the curtain. Her brown hair is slightly messy, and there’s a streak of what looks like marker on her cheek. “Yeah, that’s me. Are you the new nanny?”
“I am.” I nod, keeping my tone friendly. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you and having some fun together.”
She doesn’t respond, just crosses her arms and eyes me like she’s trying to figure out if I’m worth her time. Before I can say anything else, footsteps echo, and I look up.
I nearly have a coronary.
Holy fuck, fuck, fuck… no, no, no, it’s him.
Gray.
That is when the penny drops. Of course. Gray, Grayson Hayes, Jake’s old best friend, the man who unintentionally turned me into a lovesick teenager, and, more recently, the guy I sat in front of by mistake at the wrong restaurant.
He looks as shocked as I feel, though his confusion morphs quickly into something unreadable. “You!” His voice is sharp, his brow furrowed. “You’re Avery Bennett. Jake’s sister. I… oh, shit.”
His gaze flicks to Maddie, who’s now sitting cross-legged on the floor like she’s watching a particularly juicy TV drama.
“I would never have recognized you, and I certainly didn’t recognize you the other night at ‘The Athena’. Damn, you’ve grown into such a… a…” His voice trails off, almost as if he’s talking to himself.
I don’t respond. I can’t. My brain is short-circuiting as all those stupid teenage fantasies, and that particular steamy dream I had about him the other night come flooding back. Not to mention how he used to tease me.
Avery, get it together—fast.
“Uh, yep. That’s me.” My voice comes out a little too bright, a little too high. “Small world, huh?”
“Umm. And mind telling me what that was all about in the restaurant the other night?”
“Well…” Suddenly words fail me. “Long story.”
Maddie chooses this moment to crawl over to me, her little hands reaching for my sneakers. “What are you doing?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light even as my mind spins at a million miles per hour.
She grins up at me, untying one of my laces. “Seeing if you fold under interrogation.”
Gray’s hand runs through his hair, and he exhales sharply. “Maddie, please leave Avery’s shoes alone.”
“But I like them,” Maddie protests, now fully focused on undoing the other shoe’s laces.
This cannot be happening. I lean down and gently pull her hands away, trying to ignore the way Gray’s presence is making my skin tingle. “How about we play a game later after you get back from school, Maddie? Something fun?”
Maddie shrugs and flops back onto the floor, clearly unimpressed.
Gray leans against the doorframe, his eyes locked on me. “So… Avery Bennett,” he says slowly as if testing the words. “The Evergreen Nannies sent you?”
I meet his gaze, trying not to let the heat creeping up my neck show. “That’s right. I was told you needed someone reliable.”
There’s a beat of silence before Maddie pipes up from the floor, “She seems okay-ish.”
Gray’s lips twitch—almost a smile, but not quite. “We’ll see about that.”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. Professional. Calm. Definitely not thinking about how infuriatingly attractive he still is. “Well, Mr. Hayes,” I say, standing and smoothing down my skirt. “Shall we discuss the details?”
His eyes narrow slightly, but he steps aside, motioning for me to follow him. Maddie, of course, is right on my heels.
This is going to be… interesting.
As soon as we step into the hallway, Gray stops abruptly and turns toward Maddie, who’s already spinning in slow circles for no reason other than to test everyone's patience.
“Maddie,” his tone is stern but calm. “Go upstairs, clean up, and get ready for school.”
Maddie freezes mid-spin and tilts her head like she’s calculating her next move. “I can’t go to school today.”
Gray’s eyebrows shoot up. “And why not?”
“I have… a sore toe.” She wiggles her foot dramatically as if this will solidify her case.
Gray sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. His patience is clearly hanging by a thread. “Upstairs. Now.”
Maddie crosses her arms, pouting. “But my toe—”
“Maddie!” His voice is sharper now, firm enough to make even me straighten up a little. “Upstairs. NOW.”
She lets out an exaggerated huff, rolls her eyes at him, and slowly stomps toward the stairs. It’s a painfully animated stomp, where she drags each step out like she’s walking through quicksand.
I glance at Gray. “I see the mornings are a real joy around here.”
His lips twitch, but he doesn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, he gestures down the hallway. “Follow me.”
We walk through more of the house, passing a small mahogany table with what looks like an antique china ornament on it, then more artwork and furnishings. As we approach a set of double doors, I catch a faint whiff of his cologne—woodsy, with a hint of spice.
He opens one of the doors and steps inside his study, holding it open for me. The room is cozy but masculine—dark wood furniture, leather chairs, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. He closes the door behind us, and I immediately feel the shift in atmosphere.
Gray gestures to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit.”
I do as he says, settling into the chair and watching as he walks around to the other side of the desk. He doesn’t sit down immediately, though. Instead, he leans against the edge of the desk, his hands resting on its surface, staring at me like he’s trying to decide what to say.
And of course, my eyes immediately go there. Between his legs. My mind begins racing as I imagine him ripping his shirt off, swinging it around, and throwing it across his study as he swaggers toward me undoing his pants.
Nope. Nope. Stop it, Avery. Eyes up.