Her Boss: Braxton Brothers Series Book One

by Meyer, Anne-Marie

Josh nodded and glanced over at Tanner who was blowing bubbles in the water. Should she just leave him unattended?

  “He’ll be fine. He’s been taking swimming lessons since he could crawl.”

  Josh shot her a smile, but her lack of concern made him uncomfortable. Maybe he’d take the job of breaking up the pool so he could keep an eye on him.

  “I’ll see you at break?” Tricia asked.

  The flirty tone to her voice threw Josh a bit. He hadn’t tried to date anyone since Cindy. And the truth was, he wasn’t even sure how. They’d been together for so long that, now she was gone, he feared the mess he’d become.

  “Sure. If I take one,” he said. Work seemed like a good distraction right now.

  Tricia’s laugh was high-pitched and loud as she swatted his arm. Then she charged off to the house. Now alone with Tanner, Josh squinted over at the boy who was half submerged in the water like a crocodile, studying him.

  He shot him a wave as he wandered over to the jackhammer that was resting against the wall of the pool house. He got out his phone and texted his dad that he was going to get started on demolition for the pool. Jimmy responded with a thumbs up.

  After donning a pair of safety glasses and getting everything situated, Josh turned the jackhammer on and got started. The machine roared to life as he began to break up the concrete and tile at the top of the pool.

  Thirty minutes later, movement next to him drew his attention. A few feet away stood Beth. She was waving her hands, trying to get his attention. Panic coursed through his veins as he flipped the jackhammer off. His hands were numb, but he didn’t care.

  “Where’s Jordan?” were the first words from his mouth.

  Beth had parted her lips to say something, but then stopped. She paused as if she were processing what he’d said, and then her expression morphed into regret.

  “I’m so sorry. Jordan is fine. He’s over there.” She waved over to the inflatable pool. Jordan was talking to Tanner, who’d gotten out a giant pool shark that took up half the space inside his tiny pool.

  His heart returned to normal speed at the sight of his son. He took a deep breath and blew it out. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting you here, so I figured…” He let his voice trial off. He was an idiot. He hoped she didn’t think that he didn’t trust her with watching his son. That, on the first day, he already suspected something disastrous had happened.

  “I’m sorry. I should have texted before.” Her voice had grown quiet, and she dropped her gaze.

  Great. He needed to apologize. “Hey, it’s okay. I probably wouldn’t have even heard with the jackhammer going. I guess I’m just one of those panicky parents.” He reached out and grabbed her hand, hoping she’d look up at him.

  Her gaze whipped up to his and then down to their hands.

  Whoa. That might have been a mistake. “Sorry,” he muttered as he dropped his hand.

  Beth shook her head. “No, it’s okay.” Then she glanced up at him. “I was just dropping off your lunch. Sondra insisted.”

  Josh chuckled. Of course. That was so his mother. “Thanks,” he said and then glanced around. “Where is it?”

  Beth motioned toward the sliding glass doors. “Tricia said she’d put them in the fridge for you.”

  Josh nodded. “Perfect.”

  Beth chewed her lip. “Well, I’m taking Jordan to the park and then to the grocery store. You have no food in your house.”

  Embarrassment flooded Josh’s veins as he thought back to this empty kitchen. He should have prepared better. “I’m so sorry.” He began to reach into his back pocket and pull out his wallet. “You can just get lunch for yourself and Jordan. I’ll pay. And you shouldn’t have to buy my groceries.”

  Beth shook her head but took the hundred he handed her. “It’s okay. I’m happy to help.”

  Their fingers brushed again, and the same tingling sensation rushed up his arm. He cleared his throat as if somehow that would erase this strange connection he felt toward Beth.

  She tucked the money into her purse and smiled at him. “Well, you should get back to work, and I’ve got things to do.”

  Josh nodded. That was probably best. With Beth gone, these strange feelings that seemed to creep up inside of his chest every time he saw her would go away.

  He hoped.

  Chapter Six

  Beth’s mind swam as she crossed the yard and made her way into the house by way of the large sliding glass doors that made up the back of the house. She called to Jordan just before she slipping into the chilly, air-conditioned room. Jordan waved to Tanner and came inside.

  Beth shut the door behind him, the heat of the day still lingering around her.

  “Get everything figured out?” Tricia asked. She was sitting on a barstool in the kitchen with a glass of wine in front of her. She looked tired. After having spent an hour with Jordan, Beth was beginning to understand why.

  She wasn’t even Jordan’s mom and she was tired—she could only imagine what it would be like to be single parent.

  “Yes. Thanks,” she said, shooting Tricia a sympathetic smile.

  Tricia nodded and picked up her champagne flute and took a sip from it. Then she shot Beth a sheepish look. “Juice,” she said, waving toward the deep red liquid. “If I drink it from the wine glass it helps me pretend that it’s the real thing.”

  Feeling stupid that Beth just automatically assumed it was wine, she gave Tricia a big smile. “I totally get that.”

  Tricia traced her finger along the tip of the glass as she got a far off look in her eye. “Things have just been hard since Tanner’s dad left. I just don’t know what to do anymore.” She sighed as she leaned forward on her hand and began rubbing her temples. “I just never thought I’d be going at this alone.”

  Realizing that Tricia needed some support, Beth grabbed the barstool that was right next to her and pulled it out. She sat down and then reached her arm around Tricia’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “I totally get that. Life has a way of kicking us when we already feel down.”

  Tricia tipped her head toward Beth and studied her. Then she pinched her lips together and Beth could see the tears brimming on her lids. Tricia took a deep breath and reached out to fiddle with the glass again.

  “I guess I just thought I’d eventually figure this all out. But I’m drowning. And now, my nanny quit, and I’m all alone.”

  Beth thought back to the gardener and maid she’d walked past on her way into the house, never mind the hoard of men wandering around working on renovations. She wouldn’t call Tricia alone. But, maybe that’s how she truly felt.

  “I’ve wanted to get more work done, but it’s impossible without someone to watch Tanner.” She shot Beth a hopeful look.

  What was she getting at?

  “What happened to your other nanny?” She wasn’t sure why she asked, she just couldn’t help it. Tricia was like a vortex, pulling people in despite their better judgement.

  Tricia took another deep breath, exaggerating the movement in her shoulders. “She had a baby. Quit on me. Just like everyone else,” she wailed.

  Beth chewed her lip as she tried to force the next words down. There was no way she wanted to say what was on the tip of her tongue.

  “All I need is someone to help me with him a few days a week. At least until I can find another nanny.” Tricia turned to Beth, her eyes wide and desperate.

  “I—um…” Was Tricia really asking her to nanny Tanner as well? “Well, I’d have to check with Josh first. But if he’s okay with it, I can’t imagine why I wouldn’t be able to take on Tanner as well.”

  Tricia squealed and wrapped her arms around Beth. “You are a saint, you know that? I mean, I was desperate and in need, and you just showed up and relieved my worries.” She pulled back, and the desperation and worry that had plagued her gaze seemed to have vanished.

  Beth studied her, feeling a bit whiplashed from her change in emotions. But before she could even wonder what that meant, Jordan came up ne
xt to her and patted her arm.

  “Are we going to the park now?” he asked. His eyes were wide and innocent.

  Beth glanced down at him and nodded. “Of course. Let’s go.”

  “You’re going to the park?” Tricia asked.

  Beth nodded, hoping that Tricia wasn’t going to ask her to bring Tanner along. It was her first day of watching Jordan, and she was still trying to get her bearings. “Um, yeah.”

  “Oh, Tanner loves the park. You won’t mind?”

  Beth studied her and then sighed as she nodded. “Sure. Why not. I’m sure Jordan would love someone to play with.”

  Jordan’s enthusiastic nod told her that she’d surmised correctly.

  “Great. Let me grab him and you can go,” Tricia called over her shoulder as she made her way through the back doors.

  Beth took a deep breath. She could do this. After all, how hard could two five-year-olds be? Plus, it was extra money, and that was definitely something she needed right now.

  If those were the positives, was it wrong that she felt so hopeless? How had her life come to this?

  The sliding door opened. Almost instantly, her heart picked up speed. Josh stepped into the kitchen, and the smile on his face almost made her body melt. His cheeks were pink from the heat, and sweat glistened across his brow. Dust from the tile he’d been scrapping covered his hair and clothes. Someone so dirty shouldn’t look so good.

  “Hey, you’re still here,” he said, walking gingerly over to the cupboard and grabbing out a glass.

  Beth nodded, suddenly forgetting how to speak. “Yeah, Tricia cornered me. Asked me if I could watch Tanner for her until she found another nanny.”

  Josh had been filling up his glass with water while studying her. His eyebrows went up as he brought it to his lips and downed the water in a few swallows. Once it was empty, he set it in the sink. “Wow. Well, how do you feel about that?”

  Beth shrugged as she reached out and brushed her fingers across the cool marble countertops. “I was actually going to ask what you thought about it. After all, I did give you my word that I’d watch Jordan. If you don’t want me to divide my focus, I can say no.”

  Josh folded his arms as he stared at Beth. She tried not to notice how the muscles in his forearms rippled from the movement. She also tried to ignore the intensity in his stare. What was he thinking? Did she want to know?

  “It’s up to you,” he said. “I mean, it’s probably going to pay well.” He unfolded his arms and motioned to Tricia’s house. “Plus, that means you’ll probably be hanging out here as well.” He winked at her and her heart picked up speed.

  Hoping her cheeks didn’t look as flushed as they felt, Beth just smiled. “I guess that is an advantage.”

  Josh’s smile wavered as he studied her. Before they could continue their conversation, Tricia came into the kitchen, red-faced and grumbling. She had a firm hand on Tanner’s arm and was dragging him behind her.

  “You’re going to the park,” she said, turning to stare down at Tanner.

  Tanner was a cute kid, even though it looked as if he were giving his mom a run for her money. His loose blond curls cascaded across his forehead, and his bright blue eyes stared at Beth in a challenging sort of way.

  This was going to be interesting.

  “Ms. Beth, Tanner. Tanner, Ms. Beth,” Tricia said, motioning between the two of them. Beth gave him a smile. All he did was stare back at her.

  Tricia dipped down so she could meet Tanner’s eyes. “You listen to Ms. Beth, do you hear? No more running off.”

  Beth’s ears perked up. So, he was a runner. She was going to have to remember that.

  Tanner didn’t acknowledge Tricia as she gave him a few more commands and then led him over to where Beth stood.

  “I’ll pay a thousand a week until I find a new nanny,” Tricia said, her eyes wide in desperation.

  Beth tried to prevent her jaw from dropping, but from the satisfied look on Tricia’s face, her reaction was good enough. Right now, a thousand dollars would make such a difference for Beth and her mom. “Um, sure. I guess I can work with that.”

  Movement behind Tricia drew Beth’s attention to Josh, who was shooting her a thumbs up. Beth smiled and dropped her attention to Tanner. He was laying on the ground, kicking the barstool next to him.

  “Ready to go to the park?” she asked.

  Tanner glanced up at her and shrugged.

  “It’ll be fun,” Beth tried again, reaching down to help him stand. He kept his body limp, which required Beth to heave him up onto her shoulder. “I guess we better get this sack of potatoes to the car,” she said, smiling down at Jordan.

  “Yay,” he cheered as he followed after Beth.

  They walked through the front door and out to her car, the early afternoon heat surrounding them. She let out her breath as she dumped Tanner into the booster seat that Tricia had the gardener bring out to her and buckled him in. He didn’t protest, but he also didn’t move to help her.

  Once everyone was situated, Beth pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. This was going to be interesting. She had a feeling that her once normal life was about to change drastically.

  * * *

  Sweat clung to Beth’s body as she wrangled Tanner into his seat and shut the door. Complicated didn’t even begin to describe this kid. He refused to listen, ran after a guy with a dog, and disappeared from view for a good fifteen minutes before Beth found him wading into a nearby creek.

  After buckling him into his seat, she slammed the door and collapsed against the car, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. Jordan was staring up at her. The expression on his face mimicked her sentiments. What the heck was wrong with that kid?

  “Let’s go, buddy,” she said, pushing away the hair that clung to her face and mustering a smile.

  Jordan, on the other hand, had been a saint. He spent most of the time playing in the sand or swinging. He tried to play with Tanner, but Tanner moved to the beat of his own drum.

  Jordan nodded and climbed into the car and buckled himself in. Beth took a deep breath and pulled open the driver’s door. After she was buckled, she started the engine and pulled away from the park.

  Her stomach rumbled. Somehow, in the chaos of the day, they hadn’t eaten lunch. Which meant, these two little boys were hungry. Wow. She was the worst nanny.

  “Hungry?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

  There was a cheer from the backseat. It wasn’t the most nutritious, but Beth drove to McDonald’s and ordered them each a Happy Meal. Once they were happily eating in the backseat, she headed back to Tricia’s house.

  When she pulled into Tricia’s driveway, she took note of Josh’s truck that was still in the driveway. He was still here. Excitement coursed through her veins until she saw her reflection in the rearview mirror. She looked crazed and sweaty.

  She attempted to adjust her hair and dabbed at the makeup smears under her eyes.

  Tanner and Jordan had already jumped from the car and were racing up to the door. Realizing that she was still on duty, she grabbed as much garbage as she could from the back and got out.

  “Wait up, guys,” she said as she rushed over to the garbage bin and dumped the lunch trash into before taking off after them. Just as she shut the door behind her, she backed up, running straight into a brick wall—at least what felt like a brick wall.

  “Humph,” she said, reaching out to steady herself. Instead of finding sheetrock, two hands wrapped around her arms, and a deep chuckle caused her stomach to lighten.

  “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Josh asked with a hint of teasing in his voice.

  Beth glanced up at him, suddenly realizing how close they were standing. Desperate to maintain some mystery between them, Beth stepped back, breaking his hold on her. Right now, she was pretty sure she was as smelly as she was sweaty.

  “Sorry,” she said, tucking some of her hair behind her ear and peering up at him.

  Josh studi
ed her for a moment before his heartwarming half-smile emerged. “It’s okay. I’m just happy I was here to save you.” Then he winked. Again.

  Beth nodded as she forced down the feelings that were bubbling up inside of her. Why was she so ridiculous to think that he could possibly like her? He hadn’t done anything years ago, when they were kids, so the chances of him suddenly declaring his love for her were almost non-existent. She just needed to get that through her head and then she’d be fine.

  “Thanks,” she managed, glancing around. “Where are the boys?”

  Josh studied her for a moment longer before glancing toward the living room. “They went through there. Tanner said something about dinosaurs, and Jordan was all ears.”

  “Oh, you’re back,” Tricia’s voice cut up their conversation as she appeared next to them.

  Beth couldn’t help but notice how close they were standing to each other. Pushing that thought from her mind, she nodded at Tricia. “Yeah. Tanner is…” How could she put this delicately?

  Tricia’s face fell. “Oh, no. What did he do?” She moved toward the living room. “Tanner!”

  This was the last thing Beth wanted, getting Tanner in trouble. He was just a spirited kid. Plus, maybe he needed some time to adjust to her. “I meant to say, sweet. Tanner is a sweet kid.” Beth raised her hand, hoping to stop Tricia from getting upset.

  Tricia pinched her lips together and studied Beth. Then a look of relief washed over her face. “Oh good.” Then she crinkled her nose. “Isn’t he the best?”

  Well, best was probably pushing it. Spoiled would be how Beth would categorize him. But she figured that she shouldn’t be calling the child she was nannying spoiled on the first day. “Yes,” she said, nodding.

  She glanced at Josh, who was watching her. Exhaustion took over, and suddenly she was ready to move on. “We didn’t make it to the grocery store,” she said, giving Josh a sheepish look.

  Josh shrugged. “It’s okay. Actually, I was going to see if I could catch a ride to the office? Dad said I could go finish getting things ready and spend some time with Jordan.” A forlorn look passed over his face, and for a moment, Beth allowed herself to wonder what that meant.