Protecting the Babysitter: A Billionaire Alpha Male Romance

by Bloom, Nikki

  Protecting the Babysitter

  A Billionaire Alpha Male Romance

  Nikki Bloom

  © Copyright 2020 by Nikki Bloom. All rights reserved.

  No portion of this document may be reproduced, duplicated, or transmitted in either electronic means or in printed format. This includes, but is not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher, except as permitted by copyright law. For permissions please contact info@nikkibloom.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are fictitious products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, or events is purely coincidental.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Erik

  2. Crystal

  3. Erik

  4. Crystal

  5. Erik

  6. Crystal

  7. Crystal

  8. Erik

  9. Crystal

  10. Erik

  11. Crystal

  12. Erik

  13. Crystal

  14. Erik

  15. Crystal

  16. Erik

  17. Erik

  18. Crystal

  19. Crystal

  20. Crystal

  21. Erik

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  XOXO, Winter

  1. Winter

  2. Winter

  Also By Nikki Bloom

  FREE BOOK OFFER!

  Prologue

  Crystal

  “A new city, a new life… you’ve done this before. You’ll be okay.” Still staring at my reflection, I allowed my words to sink in, hoping my little pep talk would lift my spirit a little. It didn’t. Letting out a huff, I rolled my eyes and plopped down on the edge of the bathtub.

  As I looked around, I only spiraled deeper into despair. Another filthy bathroom in another seedy motel. Visible through the open door was the bedroom with the threadbare rug, the scuffed wooden furniture, and the bed with the questionably clean sheets that I knew I wouldn’t get any sleep on. Sleep no longer came easily for me.

  Ugh. I scrubbed a hand over my face, feeling my frustration mount.

  My gaze dropped to the single travel bag that lay on the bed with everything I owned. When I made a run for it, I had to move so fast. I didn’t get a chance to carry much. My entire life in one bag… how sad. I gazed at the bag with a pout for I didn’t know how long until my vision started to blur, realizing only then that my eyes were filling with tears.

  “I will not cry. I will not cry.”

  Sniffing and wiping away a stray tear that rolled down my cheek, I took a deep breath and reached for my cell phone, which I’d have to get rid of soon. With trembling fingers, I dialed the number of the one person I could call.

  A hesitant “Hello?” sounded on the other end.

  Clearing my throat, I croaked, “It’s me.”

  There was a second’s pause. “Oh, my God! Are you okay? Where are you? Wait, don’t tell me.”

  The rush of words made me smile slightly and the small curve of my lips upward felt so foreign. Just as sleep no longer came easily, neither did my smile. “I’m okay…” I glanced around. “For now.”

  “When you didn’t call, I got so worried. I wondered—”

  “Elle, don’t worry so much about me. I’m fine, I promise.” A huge lie, but necessary to put her at ease. Elle had been my best friend since we were kids. She was like the sister I never had and there was a possibility that I’d never see her again. My eyes filled with fresh tears at the thought. “I shouldn’t even be calling you, but I just wanted to hear your voice.” My voice cracked just a little and I struggled to keep my composure. If I turned on the waterworks, so would Elle, and we’d never get off the phone.

  “You should call. You have to. How am I going to know if you’re alright if—”

  “It’s too dangerous. You have your family to think about. I won’t put you in danger by association. It’s best if you just forget about me... for now at least.”

  “But—”

  “Elle, I mean it.” Massaging my throbbing temple, I sighed. “I miss you like crazy, but I can’t keep calling you. They’ll probably start listening in on your phone calls if they haven’t already. They started watching you since the day I disappeared because if anyone would know where I am, it’s you. No more contact, for now, Elle. I just wanted you to know that I’m...okay.”

  The silence stretched for a while until Elle let out a breath. “How are you so brave and composed right now? I’d be losing my shit. Hell, I’m already losing it, worrying about you.”

  “Then listen to me and stop worrying. Just go on about your normal life.”

  “I can’t—”

  “Promise.”

  She huffs. “Fine. I promise.”

  “Maybe in a while after things have calmed down, I’ll contact you again.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” she grumbled. “We should get help. There must be some way—”

  “There’s no other way. None that’s safe anyway.” If I could have trusted anyone to help, I would still be home. But, unwittingly putting my trust in the wrong person could have dire consequences. It was better not to risk it. “I’m going to hang up.”

  “Okay. I don’t care what you say. I won’t just forget about you. I’ll keep hoping that things change and you’re able to come home.”

  “One of us should keep hope alive, I guess. Goodbye, Elle.”

  “Goodbye.”

  After hanging up the phone, I stared at it and let out a snort. A burner phone. If I wasn’t so miserable I’d laugh. When had my life been reduced to a freaking spy movie? I’d have to dispose of the device soon and get a new one. Again.

  I was so tired of starting over.

  Starting over was hard, and there I was doing it again. One would think I’d have gotten accustomed to it with how many times I’ve done it, but each time the apprehension and despair only got worse. I let out a long, tired sigh and got up. When I caught my reflection once again, I took note of the differences in myself. My eyes once shone with more life than they did presently, and my smile wasn’t buried so deep under hopelessness that it was practically non-existent.

  The change wasn’t just on the outside. Where I was once effervescent with a positive outlook on life, full of passion, I was now perpetually sad and...dull. It was like I was a completely different person. I was a different person.

  “A different person.” Lifting a hand to touch my long, wavy blonde mane, I blinked as I was hit with an epiphany. If I got better at hiding, maybe I wouldn’t have to start over so often. All along, I’d been running as...well, me. It dawned on me that it was time to really become someone else. I left my old life behind so why not become someone else in name and appearance? No paper trail or link to who I once was... it made sense.

  Pulling my hair from its ponytail and watching the strands cascade down my back, I studied my face from all angles, wondering how I’d look as a redhead. Wrinkling my nose, I decided against it.

  “No way.” I needed to be as low key as possible. “Something unassuming... a brunette.” Smiling and feeling slightly better than I had in a long time, I nodded. “New city, new life, new me. I’ll be unrecognizable.” Hopefully. “And I’ll stay hidden this time…

  1

  Erik

  My eyes fluttered open against the sunlight fighting its way through th
e spaces in the curtains, and for a second I was at peace. Taking a deep breath, I stretched and then froze when I felt the warm body next to me. My moment of peace was shattered as last night came rushing back. Too much alcohol. A hotel room. An old lover. Shit!

  Sitting up in bed, I eyed the mass of chestnut hair strewn on the pillow next to mine with mounting terror. The tiny flicker of hope that I hadn’t fallen into bed with whom I vaguely remembered falling into bed with died when she rolled over. Scrubbing a hand over my face, I gave myself a mental kick in the ass and glared at the empty bottle of vodka sitting on a table across the room with contempt.

  Of all the women to wake beside, it had to be Rebecca. Gazing down at her, I shook my head. What a beauty, with her luxurious hair, long limbs, and flawless skin. At the same time… what a nut job!

  I knew that if I didn’t get myself out of the hotel room and away from her pronto, there would be hell to pay. Rebecca was one of those women who had selective hearing. A man told her that he wanted nothing more than a fun fling—a few rolls in the sack with no strings attached—and she completely disregarded it and latched on like a leech. And it was hell to get her off. If I could just escape before she woke up…

  Slowly, I eased out of bed, eyeing her from my periphery. Just as my feet landed on the carpet, she stirred and I froze, hoping like hell she’d remain asleep. To my dismay, the mattress dipped and bounced, and I felt arms winding around my shoulders. I tensed immediately. If I wasn’t so annoyed, I’d be turned on by her bare breasts pressing into my back.

  “Good morning, handsome,” she purred.

  “Rebecca,” I greeted dryly.

  “You weren’t going to leave me here all alone, were you?”

  Closing my eyes, I prayed for patience because I knew that once I said something she didn’t want to hear, I’d be in for a hard time. “I’m late for work.”

  “You’re the boss,” she replied and laughed. “You don’t have to go in, darling.”

  Darling. The word rolling off her lips made me cringe. We were so far from the place where she got to use endearments. Gently, I took her arms and removed them from around my shoulders before standing. “I have to go, Rebecca. You can stay and enjoy the room until check out.”

  “Come on, Erik. Stay with me. I’ll make it worth your while.” Green eyes twinkled with carnal intent as they dropped to my naked lower half. If it were any other woman but Rebecca, I would have considered. But agreeing to spend another minute more with her would be like a marriage proposal in her sick mind. I’d learned my lesson the first time I was with her.

  “No. I’m sorry I have to go.”

  I turned to search for my clothes and she whined, “I’ll see you later, right? How about dinner?”

  Stifling a groan, I reached for my underwear and pulled them on instead of heading to the bathroom for a shower. I’d run home to shower and change instead because I could see where things were heading and I needed to get out of the hotel room and away from Rebecca ASAP. “You know the answer to that.”

  Shoving her hair out of her face, she delivered a pout that I assumed was supposed to sway my decision. “Just because we broke up, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

  Her sly smile rubbed me the wrong way, especially following her ludicrous claim. “Rebecca,” I bit out, “we couldn’t have broken up when we were never together.”

  Sheet clutched to her chest and eyes lit with outrage, she gasped, “Our time to you meant nothing? You...you...cad.”

  Brows lifted, I stared at her silently for a few seconds and then shrugged. I’d been called worse and she wasn’t wrong. I could remind her that our time together was indeed nothing more than sex and it was she who refused to accept that fact. But why waste my breath repeating something I’d already told her?

  It was hard to feel bad when I was positive that I made myself and my intentions absolutely clear before falling into bed with any woman. Yeah, maybe I was a rake, but I’d misled no woman. Ever. Buttoning my shirt, I searched the room for my phone.

  Rebecca was on her feet, moving toward me. Things could get ugly if she turned on the hysterics. What was I thinking taking her back to my room? Damn my raging libido...and vodka.

  “I miss you, Erik. We were so good together.”

  “You miss my credit cards,” I mumbled absently, still searching for my missing phone.

  “You think I was only interested in your money?”

  “I didn’t say that.” Spotting my cell between the cushions of a satin sofa, I reached for it. “Of course you were interested in me, but you fell more in love with my hefty bank account.” Phone in hand, I turned to face Rebecca. “Oh come on,” I groaned when I saw her eyes water and her lower lip began to quiver.

  “Why did you invite me back to your room if you had no interest in rekindling our romance?”

  “As I recall, you invited yourself up.” And because I was too horny and drunk and took temporary leave of my senses, I accepted. My discomfort mounted the longer Rebecca stared at me with sad eyes and crocodile tears. This was why I always tried to make my escape before they woke up—to avoid the painfully awkward morning after.

  “If you’d only stay a while so we could talk about us,” Rebecca continued to press.

  “Goddamn it, Rebecca, there is no—”

  My phone rang out and I heaved a relieved sigh and quickly answer. “Hello?”

  “Erik, thank God I got you.”

  It was my sister, Christine. I could kiss her for the timely save. “Good morning. Yes, I know I’m late. I’m on my way right now.”

  “What?” Christine’s tone rang with confusion. “What are you... Oh, my God, are you using me again? I can’t believe you,” she scoffed.

  Swallowing a smile, I covered the speaker and whispered to a frowning Rebecca, “Very important matter that I have to attend to. You understand?”

  She pouted even harder but nodded.

  I wasted no time speeding toward the door. Speaking into the phone, I continued the charade. “Just push the meeting back about thirty minutes. I’ll be there shortly.”

  Slamming the door, I took long strides to the stairs. “Hey, sis, sorry about that but thanks for another great save.”

  “You’re despicable.”

  Laughing, I shrugged. “Good thing your love is unconditional.”

  “Uh huh. So, I guess your friend’s birthday party was a blast.”

  “I wouldn’t call it a party. It was more of a few friends celebrating another over a few drinks... okay, many drinks.”

  “And many women I bet,” Christine added.

  “One woman for me and it was a huge mistake.”

  “A mistake? Hmm, you’re usually more calculated with your philandering.”

  “Christine.”

  “Oh, please, save your indignation. I know what you get up to, baby brother.”

  Struck speechless, I strolled through the lobby and out the door, to find my car. “Enough about my exploits. What’s up? I know you didn’t call me to hear about my night.”

  Christine sighed, “I need a favor.”

  Sliding into my car, I gave the hotel one last look and let out a breath, grateful that I’d gotten away from Rebecca unscathed. I wasn’t so lucky last time. “Sure. What do you need?”

  “I need you to babysit.”

  “What?”

  “I have to take an emergency business trip and I need you to babysit Mason for the weekend.”

  The entire weekend? Whoa, hold on. What happened to his usual babysitter?” I adored my sister and my nephew, and I’d do anything for them...except babysit Mason for an entire weekend. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

  “She already made plans for the weekend that she can’t get out of. It’s an emergency, Erik. Help me out.”

  “I don’t do kids, Chris, you know that.”

  “What? Is your nephew going to cramp your style? It’s one weekend, Erik.”

  “It’s not about cramping my style.”
The sound of a zipper closing sounded on the other end of the line. “Are you packing? When are you leaving?”

  “This morning,” Christine announced. “So you’ll have to pick Mason up from school later and keep him until Monday morning. I’ll be back early to get him ready for school.”

  “Wait a minute, I haven’t agreed.”

  “You’re doing this. I can’t get anyone else on such short notice. And you owe me for saving you from another awkward morning after.” She paused. “What’s the problem? You love spending time with Mason.”

  “Sure I do. When you’re in the next room to take over in case of disaster. I know jack squat about kids.”

  Christine’s giggle filtered through the speaker, making me scowl. I couldn’t believe she was doing this to me. I knew I was going to do it regardless of how terrified I felt because I could refuse my older sister nothing. But I was still peeved.

  “You’re not that bad with kids.”

  “Neither Mason nor I might survive the weekend, Christine. Think about that before you leave your precious son in my incapable hands.”

  Hearty laughter boomed. “Stop being so dramatic, you wuss. All you have to do is feed the kid and put on some cartoons. You’ll both be fine. It’ll be great practice for when you have yours.”

  I almost gagged. Me? Have kids? It was almost laughable. I couldn’t even commit to a woman for more than a week for goodness sake. “I doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon...if ever. I happen to love my bachelor lifestyle and I’m not giving it up just yet.”