Protecting the Babysitter: A Billionaire Alpha Male Romance

by Bloom, Nikki

  Sliding her a glass, I leaned against the counter across from her and sipped from my own, my gaze steady on her.

  “It isn’t polite to stare,” she said. “What?”

  “Just wondering if you took the opportunity to sneak off and look through my things while I was gone this evening because that would mean you're interested in me.”

  She clutched her chest in obvious dismay. “I would never! People trust me to stay in their homes with their kids, I’m not that type―”

  “That was a joke.” I thought my teasing grin would have alluded to that.

  “O-oh.” Red-faced, she stared into her glass and then took a huge gulp.

  “Has anyone ever told you that you need to loosen up just a bit?” I held my thumb and index finger a couple of centimeters apart and eyed her with raised brows.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Are you saying I’m uptight?”

  “Honestly...yes.”

  I was prepared for the backlash of my honesty, but she surprised me when she simply let out a hmph and took another sip of wine. After a while, she huffed, “You’re probably right.”

  Holding back my smile and my offer to take her to bed to help her loosen up, I turned my attention to my drink. I had to tread carefully with Crystal. One wrong word might have her running. Plus, I could tell she wasn’t the type to fall into bed with a man she’d just met that same day.

  “How was your business dinner?” she asked.

  “Great. Another client willing to spend millions.” Lifting my shoulders, I added, “It was just like every other meeting.”

  “Every meeting ends with you making millions and you’re so nonchalant about it?” Amusement lit her features.

  “It’s just money.”

  “Uh huh. So, what is it that you do?”

  Glad that Crystal was showing an ounce of interest in me, I quickly shared. “I’m into computer software. I’ve always been a computer geek so naturally, I moved in that career path. I mean, it made sense since computers are taking over the world. It was a smart move because my start-up company took off like a rocket a few years ago and I expanded pretty quickly.”

  Crystal was grinning and I wondered what had her so amused. “What?” I asked.

  “You’re a computer geek? And here I had you pegged as something else.”

  Brows kicking up, I smiled. “Let me guess, a dumb jock who speeds around in sports cars all day?”

  “Well, I never thought you were in any way dumb, but the rest…” she shrugged and lifted her glass to her lips.

  “Gee thanks,” I laughed. “Now that you know I’m actually a man of substance, do you hate me less now?”

  She gasped. “What makes you think I hate you? I don’t even know you.”

  “You have a strong dislike then.”

  “Oh, my God, no. If that’s the impression I gave, I’m sorry. It’s the way I behaved this afternoon, isn’t it? Look, I’m sorry.”

  “For what exactly?”

  “Calling you irresponsible. The whole lecture. I was...in a mood.”

  “I don’t know. I found our encounter rather stimulating.”

  A mixture of reactions flashed in Crystal’s eyes―a teasing glint and a hint of feistiness that I hadn’t seen before. It was like she was a different woman when she purred, “Intrigued that a woman didn’t swoon at your feet, were you?”

  By the time I could make a witty comeback, she blinked and that fiery woman I’d glimpsed was gone. In a flash, she slammed her glass down and was sliding off her stool before I could even figure out what in the name of massive-mood-swings just happened. “I should go,” she said, already heading out of the kitchen.

  “What? Crystal, hold on a sec.” I raced after her, confused as hell. I thought we were getting along famously. “Hey, slow down, will you? What’s the rush?”

  “It’s getting late.”

  With a resigned sigh, I felt my back pocket for my wallet. “Do I pay you everything on Sunday evening or do I pay after each day?”

  She held up a hand. “Everything on Sunday is fine.”

  Well, at least I knew she was coming back tomorrow. “Stick around and let me call an Uber. I’d take you home, but I can’t leave Mason.”

  “Of course not. I’ll catch a cab downstairs.”

  Jaws clenched, I forced myself not to argue. “Maybe you can bring a few things tomorrow and stay over until Sunday to avoid traveling so late. I’ve got guest rooms.” She didn’t answer and I dropped the subject. It was worth a try. Clearing my throat, I suggested, “You can use the private elevator.”

  “No, I’ll use the one I came up in.” She took hurried steps to the front door.

  Christ, the woman was difficult. It seemed she couldn’t get away from me soon enough. For some reason, I just kept trying. I’d become a masochist in the space of one evening. “Crystal, wait.” Palm on the door, above her head, I waited for her to either turn around and knee me in the balls or spit out an insult. To my surprise, she did neither. She just stared up at me expectantly. “Tell me something about yourself before you go. One thing.” We were close enough so that if I leaned forward a few inches, our lips would touch. Exercising incredible will power, I resisted the temptation.

  “You already know all there is you need to know. I work at Mason’s school and I babysit.”

  “I want to know more.” And it was beyond me why I suddenly had that desire. Usually, the bare minimum was all I needed to know about a woman: name, age, and that they didn’t entertain the foolish thought of a long-term relationship.

  “Why?” she breathed.

  “I’m interested.”

  “There’s nothing interesting to tell.”

  Eyes roaming her face, I refuted, “I doubt that.” There was mystery behind those golden orbs of hers. There was almost a haunting quality about her eyes and it made me wonder what was hidden there.

  “Goodnight, Erik.”

  Letting out a frustrated sigh, I shook my head. “Do you deliberately try to be mysterious or does it come naturally?”

  “I don’t try to be anything.”

  “Either way, I’ll figure you out, Crystal Scott.” She visibly swallowed and I swear I heard a slight hitch in her breath. I knew fear when I saw it and Crystal was afraid. But of what? It couldn’t possibly be me.

  “What makes you think you’ll get the chance? Goodnight, Erik,” she repeated.

  Taking the hint, I backed away and allowed her to open the door. “Good night, Crystal.”

  The door closed and I remain rooted to the spot, staring at it. There was more to Crystal Scott than met the eye. She wasn’t just some average teacher’s aide/babysitter even if that was what she wanted me to believe. Those haunted eyes of hers held secrets that I wanted to uncover.

  6

  Crystal

  It was a mistake. A huge mistake. After I left Erik’s place last night―hot and bothered beyond belief after our little exchange―I foolishly decided to take him up on his offer and stay overnight. Saturday morning, I arrived with my things and let him know that his idea had seemed practical. Hey, I needed to jump on every opportunity I could to save. Cab fare from Erik’s place to mine was a bitch, and my pride wouldn’t allow me to accept when he offered to pay.

  And I’d gathered that Erik wasn’t a serial killer, so I figured it was totally safe to overnight it. It wouldn’t be the first time I spent the night at an employer’s place. A few times I’d been asked to babysit overnight after the parents had scoped me out a bit and decided I was trustworthy. Erik hadn’t batted an eyelash when I made my announcement about staying, but Mason had been over the moon.

  “Yay! Crystal is staying!” he’d shouted while jumping up and down on one of Erik’s expensive sofas. That had made me cringe. Just a few minutes before, I’d told him he could call me Crystal, but he had to remember to go back to Miss Scott on Monday morning at school―we then pinky swore to it.

  After Mason had his excitement under control, we’d started t
he day. I kept him occupied while his uncle had meetings, and in the evening I made them both dinner. I think I blushed more than ever in the history of blushing when Erik praised my culinary skills. Mason did too, but I had a feeling that kid would have eaten anything he was given even if it was horrible just so he could get back to his cartoons.

  All in all, Saturday had gone smoothly and comfortably for the most part, despite my body’s unwanted reactions in moments when Erik was near. Then Sunday came around and the day was off to an awkward start. It all began when I ran into Erik in the kitchen.

  I was bleary-eyed even after washing my face because I’d spent the night tossing and turning in the massive bed in the guest room. It was one of the most comfortable beds I’d ever lain in yet, sleep eluded me. If I didn’t get a good night’s sleep soon, I was going to start tearing my hair out. My mind just never ceased to race a hundred miles per second when I tried to relax. I headed to the kitchen, figuring I’d get some much needed caffeine before anyone else woke up.

  Dragging my feet because I was too exhausted to lift them, I turned the corner into the kitchen. I was rubbing my burning eyes, so I didn’t see that I wasn’t alone until I dropped my hands and my eyes collided with a set of blues. On instinct, I let out an ear-splitting scream and turned to skedaddle.

  “Crystal, it’s me. My God, woman, I think you woke the entire building.”

  Chest heaving, I spun back around to see Erik standing on the other side of the island with a coffee pot in one hand. “I... I’m so sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to be up so early.” And because I suffered from severe paranoia on occasion and because I’d been jumpy from nightmares that perpetually haunted me, naturally, I thought he was an intruder. It was ridiculous when I thought about it. We were on the fiftieth floor and I’d learned from my short time there that Erik’s penthouse was a fortress with state of the art security that he designed himself, not to mention that an intruder would have to get past security in the lobby to even get to us.

  His brows shot up. “You call five a.m early? It’s practically afternoon.”

  After my panic cleared, I was hit with the fact that Erik was shirtless and damn, what a specimen he was. For someone who spent his days behind a desk, he was perfectly toned. Tongue-tied, my eyes, of their own accord, traveled downward, taking in chiseled pecs with a sexy, masculine dusting of hair, and abs that I suddenly wanted to run my palms over. There was a narrow trail of hair from his abdomen that disappeared beneath the waist of his low slung sweatpants. Underneath his immaculate suits and overall polished businessman appearance, Erik was a manly man.

  Sweet baby Jesus.

  Dragging my eyes back to his face, I found my tongue. “I’ll get out of your way.”

  He frowned. “Nonsense. Have a seat while I put on some coffee. I can guess that’s what you came for.”

  I nodded meekly, thinking that, yes, I did come for coffee, but I saw something else I wanted too. Him.

  He smiled. “We can share a cup or two in peace before that little ball of energy wakes up. Sometimes he makes me feel so old.”

  Hesitantly, I moved toward a chair. I should have gone back to my room because I realized that my body was on an entirely different page than my logical mind when it came to Erik. I gazed at his back while he set up the coffee machine, watching his muscles bunch with each movement. “Old? How old are you?”

  He glanced over one shoulder. “Thirty-one. I know ladies don’t like to be asked their age, which I think is ridiculous, but how old are you?”

  I mentally kicked myself for asking him anything. I inadvertently opened the door to having to share information about myself. Reluctantly, I answered just to be polite. “I think it’s ridiculous too. I’m twenty-four.”

  Turning around, Erik leaned back against the counter and folded his arms across his chest. The movement caused his biceps to bulge and I swore I felt a bit of drool at the corner of my mouth. Erik in a suit was an incredible sight to behold. Erik bare-chested was drool-worthy.

  “Ah, you see, Crystal? You shared something with me and the world didn’t end.”

  My cheeks flamed and he grinned triumphantly.

  “Well, don’t expect to get much else,” I muttered.

  Erik’s brows lifted and his eyes danced with amusement. “I don’t know. I’m pretty good at getting what I want.”

  He was subtle about it but I caught the look of appreciation in his eyes when he swept over my top half with those maddening orbs. It was then that I remembered I was still in my pajamas, which consisted of shorts and a flimsy tank top. Feeling self-conscious, I was tempted to jump up and run out of the room. For goodness’ sake, stop acting like a jumpy teenager.

  Squaring my shoulders, I met his gaze. “You shouldn’t want everything you see. Not everything is good for you.” I certainly wasn’t good for him. He was wealthy, handsome, and charismatic. He needed someone who would complement him, bring him happiness. The only things I had to offer were secrets and danger.

  Erik tilted his head to one side to study me too intently. I think I nearly melted under his intense scrutiny until he finally spoke. “Let me worry about what’s good for me or not.”

  The silence that followed was so uncomfortable, it was deafening, and the tension that increased with each second felt as if it would snap. I felt terrible, wondering if I'd offend him because the smirk that usually graced his lips disappeared. Anyone listening from the outside would have thought our exchange was innocent and nothing to cause offense, but Erik and I were both aware of what we were addressing. He shouldn’t want anything to do with me beyond hiring me to assist him with looking after his nephew. But then, he wouldn’t know how dangerous his interest in me could be for him, did he? And I couldn’t come out and tell him.

  Dropping my gaze from his, I began formulating an apology, but he spoke. “Can I get you anything with your coffee?”

  I shook my head, no. And from then on, the rest of the day when we were in each other’s presence was downright awkward.

  * * *

  I didn’t leave as planned later that night because the light shower that had started in the afternoon turned into a raging downpour, and Erik insisted I stay the night and he’d take me home in the morning. I figured, why not? I mean, I already spent one night and it wasn’t so bad, with the exception of our encounter in the kitchen that morning.

  Sitting in the guest room, I stared at the three grand sitting on the nightstand. I guess all of my uneasiness around Erik was worth it. At least, I had enough to get a car. It wouldn’t be anything all that nice, but I could kiss my anxiety attacks every time I boarded a bus goodbye. I always felt like everyone was staring at me when I sat on a bus―like they knew my secret. Ridiculous, I know. All I had to worry about was getting a fake driver’s license that matched the name on my other fake IDs. I knew a guy.

  Oh god. Just listen to me. I knew a guy who engaged in illegal activities and I was his best freaking customer. What did that make me?

  “A criminal too,” I groaned. I dove face-first onto a pillow and let out a frustrated shriek. I was on the verge of tears again and I seriously didn’t want to break down. I’d hold off on that until I got back to my crappy apartment.

  Glancing at the time on my phone, I decided to take a walk to Erik’s living room. I wanted to enjoy the view of the beautifully lit city before I left tomorrow. It was well past midnight, so surely, Erik was sleeping.

  I ventured out into the dimly lit living room, my gaze already fixed on the view outside the window. Observing Seattle at night from such a height was indeed incredible. I stopped in front of a window and pressed my palms to it to stare outside.

  “Gorgeous, isn’t it?”

  Heart in my mouth, I wheeled around to see Erik, sitting with his feet propped up on the center table. “Holy fuck,” I hissed, trying to steady my galloping pulse.

  His eyes widened. “And here I thought you were too straight-laced to use profanity. You’re just full of surprises,
aren’t you?” His tone rang with amusement.

  Hand held to my chest, I felt heat flood my face. “I don’t make it a habit, but one or two will slip out, especially if someone scares the crap out of me.”

  His lips lifted. “I’m sorry for frightening you again. You scare way too easily.”

  With good reason. “I thought you’d be asleep.”

  “I thought the same about you.”

  Lifting my shoulders, I chose not to reply to his comment. “Are you up enjoying the view?” I hiked a thumb over my shoulder at the window.

  “No, I was thinking.”

  I was about to wish him goodnight and go back to my room, but that would only lead to thoughts that could cause another panic attack. So, I asked, “Am I interrupting?”

  “Not at all. You’re free to join me.”

  I eyed the spot next to him dubiously and he chuckled. “If you sit beside me, I won’t bite, I promise. Unless you’re into that sort of thing,” he purred.

  Rolling my eyes, I joined him on the same sofa―mostly because it was the one facing the window and the view was what brought me out in the first place. “Since I’m officially no longer in your employ, I’m going to go ahead and tell you that you’re incorrigible.”

  Laughing, he said, “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since we met. I’ll take it.”

  Of course I laughed. Erik made me laugh―when he wasn’t infuriating me or making me hot and bothered with his teasing and flirting. I doubted I’d see him again after that night and I actually liked him, so I played nice. “What were you thinking about?”

  He turned to me with a smirk. “A pretty but impossible brunette who shuts me down at every turn. She’s been driving me mad yet, I can’t stop thinking about getting a taste of her.”

  Slack-jawed, I stared at him for a long moment. Heat crept from my neck to my face, and I’m pretty sure I blushed to the tips of my hair.