Nora
I showed up at Theo’s house the next morning expecting the usual scene.
Theo with his suit jacket already on.
Travel mug in hand.
Keys jingling as he apologized for rushing out the door.
But instead of finding him ready to rush out for work, he opened the door wearing black gym shorts and a gray tank top.
A tank top that put his biceps on full display. Not just his biceps either, since the fabric dipped low enough at the sides that I was also blessed with an unexpected glimpse of his chest.
And the defined lines along his ribs.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
“Oh,” I said intelligently.
“Sorry.” He glanced down at himself and grimaced. “This isn’t usually how I answer the door, is it?”
“Oh, don’t be sorry,” I blurted, before realizing that sounded way too enthusiastic. “I mean—no worries. I just assumed you’d be halfway out the door like usual.”
“I probably should be.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But I slept past my alarm and got a late start today.”
Did he usually wake up early enough to exercise, shower, and still be ready to leave by six? Because if so, I guess that explained how he stayed ripped while juggling a legal career and single parenthood.
“I see you didn’t want to skip your workout,” I commented, stepping inside.
He shook his head. “I can’t really afford to do that.”
“Afraid your muscles will shrink if you take a day off?” I teased, then immediately slapped my hand over my mouth. “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t say things like that to my boss.”
“You’re fine.” He laughed. “Just because you watch my daughter now doesn’t mean we can’t still joke around. We’re allowed to be friends.”
“Okay, good.” I sighed, not realizing until that moment how much of a relief that was.
“But no,” he said, gesturing for me to follow him down the hallway toward the stairs, “I try to stick to my workout routine whenever I can. I really can’t skip them if I want any chance at keeping my mental health in check.”
“That’s actually impressive,” I said as I followed him downstairs. “I’ve definitely fallen off the bandwagon way harder than I expected since gymnastics season ended.”
“You and Lucy don’t work out together anymore?” He glanced over his shoulder at me.
“Not lately,” I said with a shrug. “She’s been doing weekend workouts with Owen and filling in the gaps at the camp gym, I think.”
“Oh.” He nodded, then led me into a room I hadn’t been in yet at the bottom of the stairs. “Well, if you ever feel like doing something while you’re here waiting for Charlotte to wake up,” he said as he gestured at one of the nicest home gyms I’d ever seen, “feel free to use this room.”
“Really?” I asked, eyes scanning the setup. There were free weights. Racks. A bench. Resistance bands. A stair-stepping machine and a treadmill.
“Someone else might as well put this stuff to use,” he said, picking up a pair of dumbbells and curling them like it was nothing.
“Or,” he added, glancing over at me mid-rep, “you could even come earlier sometime and give me pointers. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of tips with your degree and all that experience. ”
He wanted me to act like his personal trainer?
“You look like you’re doing just fine on your own.” I let my gaze travel along his upper body, driving home the point.
But when a faint flush crept up his neck, I realized once again that I was being inappropriate. So, I hurried to say, “Sorry, there I go again. Commenting on how ripped my boss is.”
“Hey, I’ll take the compliments,” he said, racking his weights. “My ego can always use a good boost.”
“Well, anytime you need a pick-me-up, just let me know and I’ll happily remind you that you’re the best-looking boss I’ve ever had.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And how many bosses have you had exactly?”
“Well,” I said thoughtfully, “I worked for Ky on tour last summer.”
“So I should be glad you find me more attractive than your brother?”
“I mean, he is a super famous pop star,” I said, laughing. “And then there are all the moms who hire me for princess parties.”
He snorted, grabbing a towel and wiping sweat from his neck. “You mean you’re not into middle-aged women?”
“Cassia is gorgeous…” I said, playing along for a moment. Then I shrugged. “But no. Turns out, even the former Miss Connecticut just doesn’t do it for me like a man does.”
“Well,” he said, smiling as he tossed the towel over his shoulder, “I’m glad to hear I win by default then.”
“That you do,” I said lightly.
He smiled, then added, almost as an afterthought, “Well, just so you know, you’re the best-looking nanny I’ve hired. So I guess we’re in the same boat.”
My stomach did a little flip.
“Oh yeah?” I said, doing my best to keep my face neutral. Calm. Totally normal. “W-what exactly did Charlotte’s last nanny look like?”
“I mean… not bad,” he said carefully. “She wasn’t an ogre or anything. But she had a pretty large nose for her face, so—”
“So you’re not into women with enormous noses,” I said dryly.
“That’s not what I meant.” He winced. “It just… wasn’t doing her any favors.”
“Uh huh.” I crossed my arms and nodded slowly.
“But honestly,” he went on, clearly trying to recover, “it worked in her favor because when I was hiring, I was determined to not hire a nanny I was attracted to.” He gave me a look that said he hoped I understood his intentions were pure.
“I’ve heard too many horror stories from my divorce lawyer friends. It rarely ends well.”
“Oh…” I said, wondering where that left me.
He’d said I was his best-looking nanny. But not that I was necessarily good-looking.
Did he think I was ugly then?
Just… slightly less ugly than the last one…?
He studied my face. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” I said quickly, waving a hand. “You’re fine.”
He frowned. “If you’re worried about me trying anything,” he said carefully, “I promise I have no intentions of making the same mistakes those guys did.”
“Good to know,” I muttered, feeling somehow worse.
“Okay.” He stepped closer, searching my face again, even more confused. “What did I say now?”
“Nothing.” I exhaled. “I just didn’t realize you found me so repulsive.”
“Repulsive?” His eyes widened. “What are you talking about? Why would you think that?”
“You said you were determined not to hire a nanny you were attracted to,” I said, suddenly too aware of myself.
“And I get that you’ve only ever seen me as Lucy’s friend.
I never expected you to think I was cute or anything.
I just didn’t realize I was that off-putting.
Is it the freckles? The hair? I know it gets big when it’s humid. ”
“What?” he said, completely thrown.
“It’s fine.” I shrugged, suddenly embarrassed that we were even having this conversation. “Sorry. I’m overreacting. I think I’m just second-guessing everything since dating hasn’t exactly been successful lately.”
“I love your freckles,” he said immediately. “And your hair.”
I blinked.
“But there’s still no chance you’d ever be tempted by me as your nanny?” I found myself saying, even though I knew it was stupid.
“I didn’t say that.” He shook his head, then paused, something clicking into place.
“Nora.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Of course, I think you’re attractive.
I just… You’ve always been Lucy’s friend.
And I’m so much older than you. And because we’ve been friends for so long, I honestly didn’t think we’d ever run into any of those problems when I hired you. ”
“Okay,” I said, feeling ridiculous.
“Any guy would be lucky to date you.” He chuckled softly. “I promise I didn’t agree to be your wingman because I thought you needed help. I did it because I needed help, and it only seemed fair to return the favor.”
“Okay,” I said again, still mortified.
He dipped his head slightly, like he was trying to read something on my face. “You can’t honestly say you’d want someone like me chasing after you, can you? A guy in his thirties with a kid and all kinds of baggage.”
“You just barely turned thirty,” I said, crossing my arms. “You’re not ancient.”
“I’m eight years older than you,” he said with a laugh. “I’m literally a widower. That word alone makes me feel ninety. Hell, I’ve already got like two bulging discs in my back.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. My back is dumb.” He sighed, then looked at me more earnestly. “Can you forgive me? I wasn’t trying to lump you in with Charlotte’s last nanny. You’re way cuter. And way more fun.”
Cute… but not beautiful.
Not even pretty.
Ugh. I really shouldn’t care.
But for some stupid reason, I did. I cared what Theo Archibald, the hot single dad with big muscles and hypnotizing eyes, thought about me.
“Sorry. I’m being dumb.” I rubbed my face. “I didn’t sleep well last night, and I get weird when I’m tired. And obviously, I shouldn’t want you secretly pining after me. That would be… very weird.”
“Yes…” He nodded, eyeing me carefully, like he was now scared to say anything else.
For a second, neither of us spoke, as if we’d both realized at the same time that maybe we’d wandered a little too far into territory we weren’t supposed to be standing in.
“Anyway,” Theo said, clearing his throat. “I should probably shower and get ready for work.”
“Right.” I nodded a little too quickly. “Of course.”
He took a step toward the door, then paused and glanced back at me. “But really, if you ever feel like using the gym in the mornings, go for it. You’re already here early. Might as well take advantage of it, if you want.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Thanks.”
“And I’m not suggesting it because I think you need to work out or anything,” he added quickly, like he was already having PTSD from our conversation.
“You look great. Honestly, you’re probably in better shape than me.
” He winced. “And now I’m commenting on a woman’s body just like Miles did last week, aren’t I? ”
“You’re fine.” I laughed despite myself.
He relaxed a little at that, slinging the towel back over his shoulder. “Well. On that note, I’m going to go shower so I can stop putting my foot in my mouth and actually get to work at some point today.”
“Sounds like a good plan.”
And hopefully, by the time he got home and I had to face him again, he’d somehow forget this embarrassing conversation had ever happened.