Protecting the Babysitter: A Billionaire Alpha Male Romance

by Bloom, Nikki

“That’s what they all say before they fall,” Christine taunted.

  Her words gave me pause. Why did she sound so sure? And why the hell was I starting to sweat? I gulped, wondering what she knew that I didn’t, then I realized that I was being ridiculous. Rolling my eyes, I sneered, “Count me out of the rest of the male population that succumb to the folly of domesticity.”

  “What am I going to do with you?” Christine sighed. “Whatever. Just pick Mason up from school at two-thirty and be an adult for the weekend. That’s all you have to do. I’ll drop his booster seat off at your office on my way to the airport. I’m hanging up now.”

  “Christine—”

  “Thank you. Love you, baby brother.”

  Chris—”

  She hung up and I gaped at my phone before throwing it onto the passenger’s seat with an aggravated growl. “Damn it!”

  2

  Crystal

  Just when I thought things were going well, my paranoia managed to swoop in and destroy my sense of security. Blowing out a breath, I told myself that I was being ridiculous. I was thousands of miles from New York and it had been four months since anyone had caught up to me. The memory of that terrifying night in Colorado—the fourth time I’d been found—made me shiver. The memory often surfaced and made me jumpy, but I usually managed to suppress it.

  Four months. It was the longest I’d gone without incident and I’d actually started to feel safe… well, as safe as I’d ever feel. I was able to stay in one location long enough to feel like I had somewhat of a real life again.

  “I’m okay, everything is okay,” I chanted as I ducked out of the building and headed down the stone steps. My constant moving had taken a toll physically and financially, and I really wanted to stay where I was for as long as possible. Seattle was nice, made better by my new job. Three months working with kids as a teacher’s aide had really lifted my spirits. I loved kids, and I was overjoyed when by some miracle I’d landed the job with my fake identification. I tried not to think about that part too much, or the possibility of being discovered, to avoid another panic attack.

  That little glitch aside, I’d been having a great time with my first graders and babysitting on nights and weekends for extra cash. The pure inner joy and innocence of children just made me feel better about life no matter how messed up mine was.

  “Hey, Miss Scott!”

  My head snapped up and I saw one of my students sitting on the bottom step. Glancing back at the brick school building and then around the empty sidewalk, I frowned. “Mason, what are you still doing here?” It was almost three-thirty and the school compound was deserted with only a few teachers left inside.

  “I’m waiting for my ride,” he said and continued playing with the stick in his hand.

  I felt my concern grow, watching as he shrugged his tiny shoulders nonchalantly. Most six-year-olds would probably be hysterical but not Mason. I’d interacted with him a lot and had gathered that he was a pretty calm kid.

  I gazed worriedly in the direction of the bus stop. With my paranoia at an all-time high, all I wanted to do was get home and lock myself in my apartment for the weekend. I deliberately hadn’t taken on any babysitting gig tonight or for the next couple of days because I was a ball of nervous energy and kids tended to pick up on emotions. But I couldn’t leave Mason alone.

  So, I sat down beside him on the step with a smile and ruffled his sandy blond hair. “Mind if I wait with you?”

  He grinned up at me, his freckled cheeks tinted pink and one of his front teeth missing. I melted on the spot. What an adorable kid. “Okay.”

  “So, where’s your mom?” Christine Crawford was never late picking up her son.

  “She’s in Cal’fornia.”

  My smile dropped. “What? Who’s supposed to come and get you?”

  Again, Mason gifted me with a broad smile. “My uncle. He’s the coolest. We’re going to have lots of fun for the weekend.”

  My brows shot up. I’d never met Mason’s uncle, but he couldn’t be all that cool if he was an hour late. Irresponsible was more like it. How could he leave his six-year-old nephew waiting on him for so long? If he knew he was going to be late, the responsible thing to do would have been to call the school and have Mason in the care of a teacher until he arrived.

  “That sounds great,” I said with forced cheer, not wanting to rain on little Mason’s parade.

  “Uh huh. Mommy said I should have a great time with Uncle Erik because sometimes he acts like my age.”

  I was momentarily stunned into silence, but my amusement was just too much and I couldn’t hold back my roar of laughter. Clutching my chest, my roar simmered down to a snicker. How long had it been since I really laughed? Glancing at Mason with a grateful smile, I shook my head. I couldn’t imagine anyone not loving children, especially one like Mason. “Well, I hope you have loads of fun this weekend. Maybe you can tell me all about it on Monday.”

  Mason and I chatted for a little while longer until I started getting antsy. Sitting on a step in front of a school so much out in the open wasn’t where I wanted to be. Suddenly, my imagination started to run wild with thoughts of being spotted.

  I started my mantra. “I’m okay, everything is okay.”

  “Are you okay, Miss Scott? You’re talking to yourself.” Mason blinked innocently up at me and I forced out a smile.

  “Was I? Well, adults do that sometimes.”

  Mason’s bewildered expression almost sent me into another fit of giggles, but there was a sudden screech of tires in the distance and our heads swung in the direction of the sound. I frowned, watching a car speed down the street.

  “Uncle Erik!”

  I couldn’t contain my shock. That maniac racing toward us was Mason’s uncle? Good grief.

  “Look, Miss Scott. That’s Uncle Erik’s car. Isn’t it awesome?”

  I eyed the sports car that clearly cost more than most people’s yearly salaries. “I guess.”

  “It’s electric. Uncle Erik says it’s good for the envi’orment. That’s why I want one. He says he’s going to buy me one when I can see above the dashboard, but I’m not supposed to tell mommy because she’ll have a heart attack.”

  I let out another laugh. “We don’t want that.” Mason’s excitement and obvious adoration for his uncle kind of redeemed the man. Kind of. His car came to a screeching halt in front of us. He was still a maniac. To my utter surprise, the man that unfolded himself from the ostentatious sports car literally took my breath away. The sight of him caused a hitch in my breathing and my heart forgot to beat for a second or two. That had never happened to me before.

  Okay, Mason’s maniac uncle was drop-dead gorgeous. I could only make out so much from afar, but I could see enough to know that he had the face and body of a movie star—no—a Greek god was more accurate... Adonis. He was over six feet of toned muscles by the way he filled out his immaculate suit. And his raven hair, styled in a tapered cut, swayed with the wind. Of course he’d rock a bad boy haircut. He had bad boy stamped all over him. Each step he took was full of confidence bordering on arrogance. As a woman who’d never been into the bad boy type, why was I ready to swoon over one?

  Only when Mason threw down the stick he was amusing himself with and sprang up to race toward the man did I snap out of my strange and very unwanted lustful haze. Being on the run had left me super sex-deprived. That had to be why I was reacting the way I was to a complete stranger. Blinking rapidly, I got up and watched the two.

  Mason’s uncle groaned, “Mason, I’m so sorry little buddy. I got caught up in a meeting and I forgot—”

  Mason cut him off by launching himself upward and his uncle caught him with a rumble of laughter in reaction. The deep, smooth sound had my abdominal muscles clenching. Oh, my God, I had to stop this. So, I reminded my traitorous body that I was supposed to be annoyed with Mason’s uncle.

  As annoyed as I was, I had to admit that boy and man made a damned adorable picture. Clearly, they loved ea
ch other. Just when I started to feel like an intruder, standing uncomfortably off to the side, staring at the two of them, I was hit with a blue gaze that instantly reminded me of the most beautiful, precious sapphire stones. Ignoring the fluttering in my chest, I met his gaze for the briefest of seconds and looked away.

  “Who’s that, Mason?” His deep, sexy baritone should be outlawed because it made a woman think about things she shouldn’t be thinking about doing to a stranger.

  “That’s Miss Scott. She was waiting with me. I told her about your car, Uncle Erik, and how you’re going to get me one when I get taller, and I told her you’re the coolest,” Mason rushed out excitedly.

  Blue eyes swept over me from head to toe, sending my body temperature skyrocketing. Surely it wasn’t normal that I practically felt his eyes on me as if they were his fingers caressing everywhere they landed. How did he do that?

  “Did you?” Erik intoned and smiled. “You’re the best wingman ever, little buddy.” His eyes were still on me as he held palm up for a high five from Mason.

  Mason delivered a hard high five, looking mighty proud of himself, although I was sure he had no idea what a wingman was. My lips twitched and I barely managed to hold back a laugh. My amusement vanished when Mason’s hot uncle moved my way with Mason still propped up in one arm. My God, how did women resist such a creature? I took him in as subtly as I could, admiring every angle of his masculine features. Even the stubble lining his square jaw was sexy. And I wasn’t even a fan of facial hair.

  He held out his free hand. “Hi, Miss Scott. I’m Erik Crawford, Mason’s uncle.”

  Momentarily flustered by his proximity, I gave myself a mental smack on the forehead to come out of my stupor. “P-please, call me Crystal. Nice to meet you.” Our connected hands sent a thrill through me, wreaking havoc on my body, and I quickly pulled out of his grasp.

  “Nice to meet you. If I had teachers that looked like you in school, I would have paid more attention,” he drawled.

  My jaw slackened. Never had a parent so blatantly flirted with me before, and in front of a student no less. My eyes flickered to Mason who was completely oblivious to what was going on. He had pulled a cell phone from his uncle’s breast pocket and was busy fiddling with it.

  Erik’s lips curled into a boyish grin. His smile was almost identical to the one Mason had given me earlier, only Erik had all of his teeth. The family resemblance was unmistakable and I could picture Mason melting female hearts everywhere with his smile in a few years just like his uncle.

  Swallowing my unreasonable attraction to the man, I glared. “You’re welcome for keeping your nephew company while you were an hour late, Mr. Crawford.”

  Erik’s smile slowly faded and he at least had the decency to look contrite as I glowered at him.

  3

  Erik

  I gawked at the brunette who was staring daggers at me. Well, that was a first. Usually, when I hit a woman with my charming smile, she melted at my feet. I wasn’t being cocky… it really did always work. My intention was to charm the hell out of Mason’s teacher and somehow get her to forget that I was so late picking up the kid, and I hoped like hell that Christine wouldn’t hear about it. She would murder me.

  I already felt like shit. I couldn't believe I’d forgotten that I was supposed to collect Mason from school. That is why a man like me didn’t have kids nor wanted them. Clearing my throat, I explained, “I know I’m very late and I feel awful. I was in a meeting and I lost track of time…”

  Crystal Scott only lifted a brow and appeared more annoyed.

  “Thank you for staying with him. Perhaps there’s some way I can repay you. Dinner maybe?”

  Amber eyes swirled with a mixture of disbelief and irritation. “Are you seriously using this situation to get a date?”

  I grimaced and shifted Mason in my arms. No amount of charm was working on Miss Scott. Damn, Mason’s teacher was a tough one. So, I went on the defensive. “Hey, I didn’t say anything about a date.” Although, I certainly wouldn’t mind a date that ended with us naked and entwined in bed. I gave her another once over—the third one since I’d hopped out of my car and seen her standing there. Despite her dull gray dress, her curves were still very much visible. They were mouthwatering.

  Crystal Scott was far from my type. She was pretty and all, but I was getting an uptight vibe from her, and I was a man who liked to have fun. She didn’t appear to be the type I could have fun with. That no-nonsense stare she was giving me should be a turn off. Should. Yet, her indifference only piqued my interest.

  She turned her cute little nose up at me and stated, “You shouldn’t be inviting your nephew’s teacher out for anything—”

  “Miss Scott... Crystal, I get it. Forget I even suggested such a thing.”

  “Good and I hope you practice more responsibility where your nephew is concerned from now on, Mr. Crawford. Be on time the next time you’re charged with picking him up. Anything could have happened out here.”

  Unbelievable. The woman was lecturing me about responsibility as if I was one of her students. Even more unbelievable— I found it...stimulating. Maybe I was losing my mind. First, I fell back into bed with someone I had no business going back there with and now I found the schoolmarm lecturing me hot. The spark of attraction that I was feeling made absolutely no sense. Though I had to admit, Crystal Scott was a looker if one looked beyond the unassuming attire and uptight attitude. Her sweet oval face had features that some women paid for. She had full, enticing lips that were just begging to be kissed, a pert nose sitting above them, and high cheekbones that made her classically beautiful. She had the most mesmerizing amber eyes I’d ever gazed into—like molten gold. The almond-shaped orbs were fringed with long, thick lashes that fanned her cheeks each time she blinked.

  Realizing that I was staring at her, she tucked a lock of her straight, dark brown hair behind her ear and I felt a sliver of satisfaction. Our eyes met and I was held captive, confused and a bit concerned by the magnetism I detected along with the growing tension.

  It was Mason who broke the spell by squirming in my hand, drawing my attention to him. “Uncle Erik, let’s go. I’m gonna miss my favorite cartoon and I’m hungry.”

  I set him on his feet. “Alright, we’re going soon.”

  “You’re taking him home in that?” Crystal peered around me at my sleek, silver Concept One.

  I shrugged. “I have his booster seat.” Crystal shook her head and snorted. I growled, “I think I’ve had enough of your judgment for the afternoon, Miss Scott...it is Miss, isn’t it?” I asked hopefully.

  Her laugh took me by surprise and caressed me like butterfly wings and I swallowed. I didn’t think a laugh had ever caused a stir in my loins before. “Are you still flirting with me, Mr. Crawford?”

  Glancing down at Mason who had found a game on my phone to occupy himself, I grinned and shrugged. “Despite your negative judgment, a man still has to try. And it’s Erik.”

  I saw her lips twitch and I found myself wanting— needing— to see her smile. To my disappointment, her smile didn’t come to full bloom. “I see where Mason gets his wicked sense of humor.” She glanced up at me through her lashes, “I wasn’t judging. A booster seat in that tiny sports car is just comical, that’s all.”

  Throwing my hands up, I replied, “Well, I don’t have any soccer mom cars parked in my garage. We all have to make do with what we’ve got.”

  She smiled then and for some reason, I felt like fist-pumping the air. “I suppose,” she muttered.

  “You know, Crystal, you should smile more, it’s a pretty sight.”

  Her smile instantly dropped and she cleared her throat, returning to the somber schoolmarm. “I should get going. I’ll see you on Monday, Mason.”

  The little boy’s head snapped up. “Hey, Miss Scott, you should come over. We’ll have ice cream for dinner. Uncle Erik will let us have anything we want.”

  I was shocked by Mason’s unexpected invitation as
Crystal appeared to be, but I was pleased. I bit back a smile, wanting to give Mason another high five. The kid was a better wingman than any of my grown friends could ever be.

  Crystal glanced at Mason and then at me with horror. “Ice cream? For dinner?”

  I shrugged. “Whatever the kid wants.” I had to bribe the little guy into not telling his mother that I’d forgotten to pick him up on time. Crystal shook her head and gave me a disapproving look but said nothing. And a light bulb went off in my head. I wondered if Crystal would mind helping me out for a couple of days. There were a few things I already had planned, and I really could use the help. “You seem to disapprove. Seeing as how you think I’m so irresponsible, you should hang out with Mason and me for the weekend, to ensure both our safety and our good health...teach.”

  “I’m not actually his teacher. I’m a teacher’s aide.”

  “Doesn’t mean you can’t babysit the two of us,” I retorted with a chuckle.

  Crystal rolled her eyes. “I do a little babysitting on the side, and while I believe that you need a babysitter more than Mason does—”

  “Ah, she has a sense of humor.”

  “—I can’t.”

  “Come on, I’ll pay you.” She cocked a brow and I clarified, “You said you do babysitting on the side. I’m hiring you.”

  “No.”

  “What’s the going rate? A couple thousand for this evening and the next two days? Done.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “Not enough? Name your price.”

  “Try about fifteen dollars an hour. Thousands,” she repeated with a laugh. “Not only are you irresponsible, Erik, you’re also out of touch.”

  Stirred by amusement, and by the way my name rolled off of her tongue, I took a step closer to Crystal with a hand placed lightly on Mason’s head to ensure he was still at my side. Up close, I saw her pupils dilate and her nostrils flare before she took a subtle retreating step. With a smirk, I declared, “So many insults on our first meeting. You’re bad for a man’s ego.”