Confessions from a Naughty Nanny

by Rayne, Piper

  “True enough.” I picture the girl in front of me going through the loss of her parents while the same age as my son and my heart sinks.

  We come to the edge of a rock and I signal for us to sit down.

  She sits and pulls out her water, downing a bit before she speaks again. “Each of us has our own wounds from losing them so young. My twin, Sedona, seems to have all her shit together. I’m the fuckup. The one who doesn’t fit into the puzzle no matter how many ways you try to jam me in.”

  “Have you considered that maybe it’s your family and not this town that makes you feel vulnerable?”

  She pulls her legs up to her chest and rests her chin on her knees. Admiring the view in front of us, she speaks low. “My family is a whole other can I’m not ready to open.”

  I examine Phoenix looking so childlike, as though her legs can protect her from all her turmoil washing out of her like waves to the shore.

  “My dad thought I was going to take over his company,” I say.

  She leans her cheek on her legs and looks at me. “Really?”

  Now I divert my gaze to the glorious scene in front of us. “Yeah. Imagine his disappointment when I said I was moving to LA to pursue a career in music. I always felt like he was rooting for me to fail so I’d have to come back home with my head down. But over the years, he’s come around. But in the small town I’m from, everyone just assumes you’re sticking around and if you go to college, you come home afterward.”

  “The pressure of expectations.”

  “Exactly. Did you go to college?”

  “No.”

  Okay, it’s clear from her voice that college is a touchy subject. Time to get back on track and the real reason we’re discussing all of this in the first place. “So the song… your love-hate relationship with Lake Starlight. There are things you love about living in a small town. Tell me about those.”

  Her lips tip up in a smile. “I love my family. This is where my parents grew up. When I’m in the gazebo, that’s where my parents once sat. Downtown is where they walked us in strollers. Where their own dreams were born and fulfilled. But there’s another side that I never knew existed until they died. Maybe it’s different for my other siblings, because they were older, but rumors were all over the place when they died. How did they die? Were they drunk on that snowmobile? Rumors about my dad having an affair. Why would people say stuff like that when their nine children were now orphans?” She shakes her head. A tear trickles down her cheek, but she wipes it away. “It was so long ago. I have no idea why it still bothers me.” She stands and heads up the trail without another word.

  “Do you think there’s truth to the rumors?”

  She whips around, the dark eyes I usually find calming shooting lasers at me. “My mom was my dad’s whole life. My dad’s blood alcohol level came back showing he’d had a drink, but he was not drunk. My mom was…” She shakes her head. “Just no. I’m not upset because they’re speaking the truth. Jesus, Griffin, I thought you of all people would get it.”

  She turns her back to me and walks steadily up the incline. I follow her, feeling like a dick for asking. Because she’s right. I know exactly what it’s like when people speak untruths. We reach the top of a hill that overlooks the glacier and a large lake.

  “Hey.” I grab her arm, but she yanks it out of my grip. “I didn’t mean it like that. I was just asking.” Then I look at her face. Her red-rimmed eyes make my heart squeeze painfully. I’m a shithead. Pulling her into my body, I wrap my arms around her shaking torso. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  It only lasts ten seconds before she draws out of my arms and wipes her tears. “This little experiment is over. I’ll sing the song how I want. Thank you for the offer, but I’m done.”

  Without taking in the view, she heads down the pathway, leaving me behind.

  Fifteen

  Phoenix

  I hear him behind me the entire walk back to the parking lot. He’s yet to approach me though.

  “Phoenix, I’m sorry.”

  My footsteps slow, and he catches up to me. “Obviously you’ve figured out what to bring up to make me mad.”

  He chuckles once. “I shouldn’t have overstepped. I get it. I mean, LA isn’t a small town, and I was an adult when people started spreading shit about me, but it hurts and makes you not trust anyone easily. But I want to be someone you trust.”

  We stop at his truck and he unlocks it with the fob, the headlights blinking twice. “It’s my fault. I said I had a love-hate relationship with this town. The hate seems larger at this point because when I think about what I hate, it’s linked to my parents. Founder’s Day always brings them front and center in my mind, and I feel cheated by life. You know? That splinters out to what my family expects from me now, and then you get Phoenix the bomb blowing up in front of your eyes.”

  He steps closer to me, his hand sliding along the hood of his truck. I don’t move. “I’m wondering if I know the real Phoenix. First you were so amenable I thought you were a robot. Then you started laughing, joking, and making a few smartass comments. Now the blowup. Tell me, who is Phoenix Bailey?” I open my mouth, but he places his finger on my lips. “And I don’t want to know who she is in someone else’s eyes. I want to know what you see in the mirror every day.”

  When is his psychoanalyzing going to end? A small part of me likes that he’s trying to figure me out, because maybe that means he cares. I’m reluctant to tell him who I really am, but I might as well see if he can handle it.

  “I’m passionate, and I protect myself fiercely. I don’t like bullshit, and I hate two-faced people. I say what I want without worrying too much about repercussions. If I want something, rarely does anything stop me, but lately a heavy dose of self-doubt has stopped me from being the fighter I always believed I was. Are we being completely honest?”

  He nods.

  “And we still have the one-for-one agreement?”

  He rolls his eyes but nods with a smirk.

  “I also have the hots for my boss. Your turn,” I say in a soft voice.

  His hand moves away from me a bit. He glances around then locks eyes with me. “I’m also passionate about my work. Most of the time too passionate, which means long hours. I’m obsessive. So much so that I just made a woman cry because I had to keep digging. I love discovering new talent, so I’m not surprised that after only a month here and hearing you sing, I’m ready to dive in. My son is the most important thing in the world to me.” He stops briefly and licks his lips as though he’s nervous. “And I’m the cliché dad bad movies are made about, because I want to nail the nanny.”

  I draw back, but he steps forward.

  “What do you suppose we do about that?” I ask.

  “Well, we could sleep together.”

  “And what happens when it doesn’t work out?”

  “I should also mention that I’m a very optimistic person.”

  I step closer until we’re almost chest to chest. “By optimistic, you mean…”

  “I’d like to think we’re adults. Either it’s out of our systems or we enjoy sleeping together and maybe do it more than once.”

  I pretend to think about it. “Hmm… and what if it’s not out of our systems and we continue to sleep together? Are you suggesting a secret relationship?”

  His fingers graze my cheek as he moves a loose strand blowing in the breeze behind my ear. “We take it slow. No need for labels. Maybe I don’t satisfy you?” He laughs. “Nope. I guarantee I’ll satisfy you.”

  I know he would. My gaze dips to his crotch.

  “I see you’re considering my suggestion.”

  “And Maverick?” I ask, thinking surely mentioning his son will cool him off and bring in a dose of reality.

  “He goes to school. We’d have all day to play naughty nanny. Maybe mix it up with messy maid, kinky cook.”

  I grin. “I can’t say the offer doesn’t appeal to me, but I don’t even know how you kiss. Ho
w do I know I want to take things further?”

  He leans forward, and I wet my lips in anticipation that I’ll finally feel the mouth I’ve stared at for weeks. The closer he draws, the worse this idea sounds. What am I expecting from Griffin? That if I sleep with him, he’ll help me more? He’s already doing that, but what if after he gets me in bed, he doesn’t think he needs to help me?

  I push away all my negative thoughts. I’ve done far stupider things than sleep with my boss, so I meet him halfway and our lips brush once. The electricity that’s always present between us ignites. I’m ready for more—until his phone vibrates on my leg.

  He tears his lips off mine and shoves his hand into his pocket. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Looking down, he sighs and swipes his thumb across the screen. “Griffin Thorne.” His eyes widen then close tightly. He nods as he says, “Uh huh.”

  He ushers me inside the truck, but he’s already hung up before he climbs into the driver’s side.

  “Maverick got into a fight at school,” he says.

  I cringe then bite my lip. Shit. Maybe I won’t have to worry about any of this because I may be unemployed soon.

  * * *

  Griffin is quiet on the way to the school, but it’s clear he’s brooding. I really hope Maverick isn’t at fault. I told him that eventually he’d have to end what’s happening with Chad Billings. I should probably tell Griffin now, before we arrive at the school, about the money Maverick was giving Chad, but I know he’ll be pissed.

  Before I’m able to decide, we’re at the school.

  Damn.

  We get buzzed through the entrance and walk to the office.

  “Phoenix Bailey,” Betty Lansing, the office assistant, says.

  She’s still here?

  “Hi, Mrs. Lansing. How are you?”

  She holds up her finger. “Give me one moment with this gentleman and we’ll catch up.”

  Griffin looks at me over his shoulder then turns to Betty. “I’m Griffin Thorne. I received a call about my son, Maverick.”

  Betty’s smile drops and her expression says Maverick probably isn’t the innocent one in this situation. I’m familiar with the judgmental look on her face. “Let me call Principal Nutters.” She picks up her phone.

  I somehow manage to suppress a smirk at the principal’s last name.

  After a brief conversation with Betty, Principal Nutters comes out of his office, Maverick by his side. Thankfully, he doesn’t know me because I was out of here before he moved into town.

  “Mr. Thorne, please come in. Maverick, go have a seat.”

  Griffin nonverbally asks me to keep an eye on him, and I nod.

  Maverick exchanges a look with Griffin as he leaves the principal’s office and the door shuts behind him.

  “What happened?” I lead Maverick over to the chairs along the window, not interested in catching up with Mrs. Lansing.

  “Chad said he wanted ten dollars a day.”

  I run my hand down my face. Damn Billings. “So what happened?”

  “I told him no. And he said I’d be sorry. You were right. I had to end it.”

  I lean in and whisper, “Meaning?”

  “I hit him, and blood squirted out his nose.” He examines his hands as though there should be some evidence of his act.

  I cringe. “Yikes.”

  “What? You told me to do that!” he whines. “The principal said I might be suspended.”

  I glance at Betty, who’s trying to act as though she’s stapling, but she’s listening. Just like she did when Austin had to pick me up after I kneed Jackson Irving in the balls. She told everyone at her church meeting. One person told another and another until Grandma Dori was at our door by seven o’clock telling Austin he wasn’t handling me well.

  “Did you tell Principal Nutters what Chad Billings was doing to you?”

  “I tried, but he said that I hit Chad, so I’m the one at fault. Does suspended mean I’m kicked out of school?”

  I’m surprised he appears scared. I put my hand on his leg. “Don’t you worry. You’re not getting suspended.”

  As I say the words, Griffin comes out of the principal’s office—and his expression says Maverick’s been suspended. But I wait for him to round the desk and meet us by the chairs.

  Griffin runs his hand through his long hair. “He’ll be at home for two days.”

  “Oh no.” I stand.

  Griffin takes my arm and leans in. “Just let it go. I spoke my piece.”

  “I need to speak mine.”

  I free myself, which doesn’t take much effort. Griffin only sighs.

  “Phoenix, you can’t go in there,” Betty says.

  I put up my hand. I’m twenty-two now, not eight. “I’ll only be a moment.”

  I open the door to the principal’s office, but Betty stands and tries to stop me. Sadly, my defiance toward authority has only grown through the years, and unfortunately for her I’m faster. I shut the door in her face and turn around. Principal Nutters is in mid-bite of a carrot, looking up from his Scholastic book flyer.

  “Hi,” I say.

  “Hello.” He looks out the window of his door to Betty as if she’ll give him an explanation as to why I’m standing in his office.

  “I’m Phoenix Bailey, Maverick’s nanny.”

  He places his nub of a carrot on a napkin, next to his sandwich—which is cut in triangles—and an open bag of plain potato chips. I guess he’s young at heart too, because all he’s missing is a juice box. Did his mommy pack his lunch?

  “Nice to meet you,” he says.

  “May I sit?” I point at the chair in front of him, but I don’t wait for permission.

  The door opens a second later.

  “Sorry, Principal Nutters.” Griffin’s rough voice fills the room. “I’ll escort her out.”

  Escort me out? If Griffin Thorne wants to know who I really am, he should pull up a chair because I’m about to show him.

  I put up my hand to stop him. “Principal Nutters, I know you’re new to this town, so I don’t expect you to know about the Billings, but my assumption is that Chad Billings—much like his relatives—have been through this principal’s office more than a time or two. Chad tore Maverick’s shirt then proceeded to blackmail him for five dollars every day in order not to do so again. Now, I told Maverick that Chad would one day come looking for more, and it seems that day was today. He decided he wanted ten dollars a day.” I cross my legs. “Aren’t there lunch aides outside during recess? Who’s watching the kids? I’m surprised this hasn’t been observed before.”

  “Why didn’t Maverick mention this?” Principal Nutters asks.

  Griffin groans behind me. I’m surprised he’s allowing me to take the lead.

  “Because he’s the new kid,” I say. “He was probably scared and doesn’t want to make enemies or be a tattletale. Don’t you remember what it was like to be eight years old?”

  Based on his lunch, I’d have thought it’d be really easy for him to relate.

  “I can see that.”

  “So don’t you think Chad Billings should be called in and asked to explain? I’m sure you’ll use discretion where Maverick is concerned.”

  He nods and picks up his phone. “Betty, can you please call Chad Billings to the office?” He hangs up the phone. “Okay, I’ll send Maverick back to class, and you two can go home. I’ll call once I get to the bottom of this.”

  I stand and catch Griffin’s smirk. “Thank you for investigating this further, Principal Nutters.”

  “Can I give you some advice, Miss Bailey?” Principal Nutters says when I reach the door, and I turn around to face him. “You should probably inform the school when Maverick comes home and tells you something like that.”

  “With all due respect, Principal Nutters, in my experience, the tattletale always loses.”

  He says nothing—probably because he knows I’m correct.

  “Have a good day.” I walk by Griffin and out the door.


  Maverick waves to me and I give him a thumbs-up. Let’s just hope the punch in the face taught Chad Billings to pick on someone else.

  “Let’s go,” Griffin mumbles, opening the door for me.

  “Bye, Phoenix, give my best to your grandmother,” Betty says.

  I wave bye to Betty and make my way to Griffin’s truck.

  “I think we need to talk,” he says once we’re pulling away from the curb.

  I am so fired.

  Sixteen

  Griffin

  I can’t even decipher my mood as we pull away from the curb of the elementary school. I want to kick an eight-year-old’s ass while at the same time I’m hurt that Maverick trusted Phoenix over me. And why the hell didn’t she tell me my son was being bullied for money?

  “Before you say anything, I think it’s safe to say we’re even now,” Phoenix says.

  I glance in her direction before turning out of the parking lot. “Even?”

  “Yeah, for what you did on the hike and for me hiding the fact Maverick was paying his bully.”

  I chuckle. “I’m not sure I see it quite the same.”

  “You hurt me in an effort to try to make me feel the words of a song. I hurt you by not telling you Maverick was stealing money out of your loose change jar to pay Chad Billings. We’re even.”

  “He took the money from me?” I ask, bypassing downtown to head to our house.

  She swivels in her seat to face me. “How else did you think he’d get the money?”

  “I figured you gave it to him.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Listen. I want you to tell me this stuff, but at the same time, I understand why you didn’t. I would’ve gone to the school immediately and Maverick would have probably been picked on the rest of his life here.”

  I glance over and see her smiling. “Are you saying you agree that I did the right thing?”

  We stop at a light and I take the opportunity to really look at her. “In hindsight, maybe. On the upside, I guess it means my nanny isn’t stealing from me.”