9. New Nanny, New Feelings #3
Nadine nibbled at the corners of her lips. Her poker face wasn’t as good as she thought. The tingling twitch in her lips was telling on her. She thought she was doing a good job of acting like she didn’t know Zaire, pretending that the night between them didn’t exist.
Zaire sighed. “Listen, I know how to remain professional. I have five years’ experience as a nanny. I’m here to take care of EJ…and anything else you may need. I’m here for you. I just wanted to get that out of the way. That’s all.”
It was the way that she said anything and you that made Nadine wet in the seat of her panties. Or maybe she was hearing things. This was a bad idea. Seriously bad.
Nadine wanted to say no, to tell Zaire to leave, that she’ll find a new nanny. Hell, she could move meetings and things around at work and try to handle it all. Nadine didn’t need the distraction that was Zaire Baxter in her life. Not right now. Her head was already screwed up enough.
“Listen,” Zaire began. “If this is going to be awkward for you, you can find someone else from the agency. Other than now, I promise not to bring it up anymore. I swear…”
“Trust me, it won’t,” interrupted Nadine, holding her hands up. “Besides, I already know the agency has very few available nannies with your qualifications.”
“Are you sure?”
Nadine looked at Zaire. Her face was etched in worry.
That was the truth. The agency did tell her that they had very few nannies on standby.
Getting Zaire on such short notice was a miracle in itself.
Nadine could try to keep it together. Of course she could.
This adjustment would only be for a few weeks until she headed back into the office.
Her schedule would limit her interactions with her anyway. At least, she hoped.
“Absolutely.” Nadine finally responded.
“I promise you have my utmost discretion.” Zaire sighed, her shoulders finally relaxing. “Besides, I really need this job! ”
Nadine gave a small smile. “Alright. In the meantime, I’ll email you the schedule and any other information. If you have any questions, I’ll be in my office working. It’s right down the hall.”
“Oh? You aren’t going into the office?” asked Zaire.
“No. Unfortunately our building is having an HVAC issue that is extensive. So I’ll be working from home for the next few weeks. It’s temporary. ”
“Oh, I see. I’ll promise to be out of your way.”
“I doubt you’d be in my way.”
There was an awkward beat of silence between them. Nadine eventually began to move her feet, gathering her phone and moving to the other side of the island. “Well, again. My office is down the hall.”
Zaire nodded. “Ok. Let me get started on the breakfast dishes while you work. If you need anything, let me know.”
Nadine thought that maybe she sensed a bit of unease in Zaire’s voice, but brushed it off, preparing to head into her office. Before she turned the corner, she pivoted back to the kitchen. “The agency said you’re in grad school. What are you studying?”
Zaire gave a wide smile. “Oh, I’m getting my PhD in child psychology from Emory.”
Well, fuck me. Another therapist.
Nadine plastered on a smile. “That’s…great. Feel free to study or whatever during your down time. If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting.”
Nadine power walked down the hall and sat at her desk in the office, staring at her computer.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This had the makings of a disaster if she ever saw one.
She felt trapped and would be for at least three weeks with a woman nearly half her fucking age.
Just that alone should have told Nadine’s brain to shut off whatever thoughts she was having, but it wouldn’t.
How the hell was she going to keep her cool?
Being in close proximity had Nadine so flustered.
And Eddie.. Fuck… Eddie. What is he going to think?
“Nadine, you there?” Mitchell’s nasally voice asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Shit. Nadine hadn’t realized that her meeting had already started. She’d been staring off into the distance, on mute.
“Sorry Mitchell, I forgot I was on mute. Can you give me a summary of the meeting with DigiCo? Any explanation of the discrepancies?”
Mitchell rolled his eyes as he looked back down at his paper. “As I was saying…”
This asshole. Nadine put herself back on mute and shook her head. She tried her best to concentrate for the rest of the meeting, but it was difficult. She could hear Zaire moving around the house. Flitting like a butterfly in her orbit.
Nadine had to make it through the next three weeks.
Three weeks and she’d be back in the office.
In the meantime, Eddie knowing who Zaire was would probably put shit into a serious tailspin.
What would he think? Would he ask her to quit?
Would he even care? For now, she prayed that he wouldn’t know. He couldn’t.
Maybe Glinda would come back, and life could return to normal. At least that’s what Nadine hoped. Given the state of Glinda’s sister’s health, that wish was far-fetched.
But was that what she wanted?