Chapter 8 Sniffles #2
“It’s only a bathroom.”
“This guest suite is bigger than my home in Holly Creek, where five of us live.” She coughed into her elbow, and the sound rattled in her chest. “Griffin, I can’t stay—”
“You can, and you will. Er, because Theo needs you, of course. You’ve quickly made it to the top of the list of all the nannies he’s ever had.
I think you may even be his favorite of all my employees, knocking Brock off easily.
” I crossed my arms. “Get some rest. I’ll have food and medicine sent over and call my doctor.
Can you listen for the deliveries and the doctor to arrive?
Maybe I should set you up on the couch instead so you’ll hear the door? ”
“I don’t need a house call from your personal physician.” Her laugh was weak, edged with disbelief. “I’m not dying. It’s just a little bug. I’ll rest and be fine.”
Whoever created the word fine should be flogged.
“Humor me.”
She met my eyes, and for a second, a familiar heat flickered between us—the same from that night at the lake, banked but not entirely gone.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
Because the thought of her sleeping in that car made me want to punch myself. Because Theo lit up when she was around. Because I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since August.
“Because you work for me,” I said instead. “And I take care of what’s mine.”
Her breath hitched, but she didn’t argue.
I pointed to the bed. “Rest. And do me a favor. Keep your phone handy and reply to my texts.”
She pulled off my trench and handed it back. Then took out her phone from her pocket—an ancient flip one, for Christ’s sake. “I would, but it runs out of power too often; the battery is so old. The other night I used up all its juice and my measly data plan sending you those photos, and—”
“I’ve heard enough. I’ll have a new phone under my plan delivered, too. Can’t have an employee of mine without one.”
“Employee… right.” She sunk onto the bed and removed her thin coat. No matter how sick she was, I fought the urge to undress her the rest of the way, and slide under the covers to keep her warm next to my body. “I’d better rest now.”
“You do that. I’ll check on you later.” My mind swirled around everything I’d learned about her today. I should probably cancel the private investigator. This was the full picture... wasn’t it? She was broke, far from home, and too determined and prideful to make it on her own to say anything.
I took advantage of her kindness, making her my nanny on day one.
Atlas’s warnings, joking or real, crowded the edges of my mind about a poor woman needing money and taking advantage of me. Jessa would certainly fit the profile. But my gut told me she was too proud to be like that. Anyone could see the fighter inside of her.
At the office, I couldn’t focus as Sam discussed media strategy for the public offering. We also received new numbers from our manufacturing plant and our distribution division. But my head was back in my guest bedroom with Jessa.
My personal doctor should arrive there any minute to examine her. Atlas was all set to get Theo from school and to his game. Brock had dropped off the best and latest new phone for her to use.
I’d already sent two deliveries to her. One with the soup, juice, tissues, vitamin C and zinc. And another containing expensive flannel pajamas, a robe, and a cashmere throw.
I had just clicked the buy button on a third box filled with books, a tablet loaded with movies, and a snack basket, when Sam stalked past while facilitating the meeting.
I quickly closed another tab I had open containing an order for fresh flowers, unsure if three bouquets would brighten the guest room and cheer her up or five?
My fingers on shopping sites became trigger-happy, emotionally spending money to compensate for a lot of things. It’d been some time since I had a woman to do all of this for. I used to love spoiling Elsa. The things I’d do for her—
“Griffin? You with us? Hello?” Sam interrupted me mid-purchase of a new car for Jessa. Probably a good thing, too. The Mercedes GLE SUV might have been taking things too far. Although I had already put Brock on the job of getting her beat-up car towed and fixed by my mechanic.
“What? Yeah. Of course. You were saying something about um…”
“Your next media interview with Larry Bing on the finance channel,” he prompted.
“Yep. That. Continue.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment in front of my other executives in the room.
I really tried to pay attention until Jessa texted me. Finally.
Jessa: I’m supposed to rest. How can I, with a constant stream of deliveries at the door?
Griffin: How are you feeling? Did the soup arrive?
Jessa: It was delicious and warm. Just what my throat needed. Thank you.
My cock twitched under the desk. Why’d my mind go to something else warm I could send down her throat? What was it about her? Was I so needy for someone to care for all this time?
It put me in dangerous territory when she was only supposed to be the nanny. Or was I lying to myself—Jessa had me there from the moment we met.
“Jesus, Griffin. Snap out of it,” Sam barked. “Everybody leave us. I need a moment alone with him.”
People filed out of the room. I shoved my phone in my pocket and stalked to the windows, running both hands through my hair.
“I’m fine, Sam.” That word came in handy.
“You’re somewhere else, not here. Do I need to remind you what’s at stake?”
“No, you are a walking billboard reminder of it daily. Thanks,” I scoffed, dripping with sarcasm. “What time is the event this afternoon?”
“Three.”
“I need to hit the company gym, work off some of this pent-up energy. Don’t worry. I’ll be fresh and ready to focus by the time we leave.”
I grabbed my gym bag and walked out with him, and he pressed on.
“Pent-up? Accelerating the marriage plan could help with that problem. And may I remind you we have the West Games Charity Benefit coming up soon? You should be there with a woman who wears your ring on her finger. It’s a perfect place to present yourself in public as a claimed man, not a single playboy. ”
“That’s the least of my worries right now.”
“My job is to take the load off your shoulders. Let me find you someone to stand beside you.”
“You do your job well. But some things only I can manage. I’ll see you later.
” We parted ways at the executive level gym.
For the next hour, I let my trainer on staff beat up my body with sprints and leg work until I was certain that I’d compartmentalized my life.
Back on track, focused once again on the job at hand and not things at home.
Although after my shower, I paused drying off. I hit the buy button on that pretty blue Mercedes for her. No more sleeping in cars for Jessa. And if she did, at least it’d be in the lap of safety and luxury.
Sam would never let me hear the end of it if he knew, but this wasn’t crossing a line. Certain employees of mine needed reliable transportation.
I pressed my palms against my eyes, exhaustion dragging through. Tomorrow I’d set boundaries, restore some distance, get back to the plan.
Tonight, she was safe under my roof. Close enough to check on her. Or to reach for if I dared. Dangerous in every way I didn’t want to admit.