by Alexa Hart
The one thing that manages to take my mind off of my complicated relationship status is ballet. I’ve been teaching ballet classes and I finally feel more myself than I have in over a year. The teacher I subbed for the first night I took Lily to class ended up moving to New York and Madame Volkov asked me to help cover that class plus an adult beginner class during the day, and a toddler and mommy class once a week. Since I don’t do much for Lily while she’s at school, I’ve been spending my days at the studio teaching and helping out. Madame Volkov has hinted about a permanent position for me and I am thrilled. I had no idea what to do after I quit ballet and I was really starting to worry that I was going to be stuck being a terrible bartender for the rest of my life, but this is a job I could turn into something. With steady work I could pay off my debt and maybe even save up for a studio of my own. It’s been a long time since I’ve allowed myself to dream this big. And in a twisted way, I have Dax to thank for all of it.
Only today, I’ve had another dream come true. One I was never expecting. At least not yet. I’ve always wanted a marriage and maybe a white picket fence, two or three kids… but my period is a week late and I’m worried I may have started working on that dream a lot sooner than I had planned. After I take Lily to school, I swing by the pharmacy before dance class to grab a pregnancy test.
I’ve been on the pill for years. I know I missed a day after my late-night rescue of Dax, but I didn’t think much of it then, it was just one dose. Now, as a stare at the faint, pink double lines on the test, I realize I am officially in WAY over my head. I’m pregnant. With the Bastard of Boston’s baby. I shove the test into my bag and head off to teach my classes.
I’ve just finished the toddler class and I’m straightening up the room when I notice Finn grinning at me from the doorway. Again, I’m taken by how much he looks like Dax, but somehow, I don’t find him nearly as attractive.
“Hey, Hannah,” he says.
“What are you doing here?” I turn to face him.
“What? I can’t come to take a dance lesson from the most beautiful teacher in the Northeast?” He teases as he steps towards me.
“Well, whoever this teacher is, she must be very busy,” I say. “And not interested in professional playboys!”
He chuckles. “You’re a lot like Angelina,” he says.
“Excuse me?”
“She’s also always preferred the more serious brother.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I blush. “Seriously, Finn, why are you here?” I ask. I don’t know why, but hearing about Angelina makes me uncomfortable. I’ve been waiting for Dax to open up more about her, this doesn’t feel like a conversation I should be having with Finn.
“I wanted to take you out to lunch,” he says.
“Oh, no thanks. I’m busy.”
He laughs. “Ouch. It took you all of one hot second to shoot me down. But seriously, come on. You look down. I may not be great at business like my brother, but I am good at cheering beautiful women up.”
“I don’t know,” I say. But then I wonder what kind of information I might be able to get out of Finn over lunch. Maybe I can find out how Dax reacted to Angelina’s pregnancy or how much he really hates Charles Finch. Getting those answers might help me figure out how to handle all of this.
“Come on,” he lifts his hands up. “I promise, I can be charming.”
“Okay,” I nod. “But only because I am hungry. Give me a minute to change.”
Finn drives a flashy red corvette, of course he does, he loves the attention. Finn got all the money without the hardship and it definitely shows. He’s so carefree, so charming. I find myself wishing I had a brother like him. The only sibling I have is a half-brother I’ve never met, Charles’ son, but he doesn’t even know I exist, and believe me, he has a reputation for being anything but charming.
Finn swerves up to the valet at La Mar, a very expensive, Michelin star restaurant that I happen to know through some embarrassing Googling, is owned by Dax. He’s been spotted here with several of the models and actresses he dates. I’m dressed nice enough, a black pencil skirt and lace top, but I’d prefer a slice of pizza over a heavy, fancy lunch.
“Couldn’t we eat somewhere a little less formal?” I ask.
Finn shakes his head. “No can do. I have a feeling Dax isn’t showing you off the way he should.”
“I’m just the nanny,” I say.
“I don’t believe that for one minute.” He laughs. “But I think you might be as stubbornly idiotic as my brother.”
“Hey!” I say. “Watch it.”
He opens his door and comes around to help me out. As I step out, he tosses his keys to the valet.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Hardin,” the valet nods.
We walk inside and Finn leads me to a table near the back of the restaurant. A waiter comes over with a bottle of wine and Finn toasts to us. I take a sip of water and lie that I don’t drink mid-day. As I peruse the menu, I can see why this is Dax’s go-to spot. It’s romantic and ornate; a great place to be seen with A-listers to prove you’ve come a long way from the streets. When the waiter comes back, I order a simple pasta while Finn, unsurprisingly, orders the most expensive dish on the menu, a pasta with truffles. We eat and though I hate to admit it, I really am having a nice time with Finn. He’s so easy-going.
I’m just working up to pry for information about Dax, when a shadow falls across the table.
“You two look like you’re having a nice time,” Dax glares down at us. His stare is so angry I’m surprised my skin isn’t sizzling. He’s standing next to a woman I recognize, a model and socialite. Claire somebody. I ball my hands into tiny angry fists. I’m pregnant and trying to figure out what to do, figure out if he even cares about me and he’s here on a date!
“We are,” Finn smiles up at his brother. “You didn’t tell me Hannah was so charming!”
“I don’t often discuss my staff with you, Finn,” Dax says through gritted teeth. “I thought there were enough women in this city for you to play with, without you dipping into the small pool I have on payroll.” Dax seems angry, but I don’t even care. I’m the one who has the right to be angry! I reach out and take Finn’s hand.
“Finn’s the charming one,” I say. Finn looks at me surprised, but then gives my hand a squeeze, as if to say that he’s willing to play along.
“You can’t keep Hannah a secret forever. She’s too special to keep locked up in that fancy penthouse. We’ll have to figure out where to go on our next date.” He nods at Claire. “Sorry, we’re being rude. Would you two care to join us?”
Dax unwraps his arm from around Claire and reaches down to grab my hand.
“Come with me. Now.”
Finn chuckles. “Nanny, my ass.” As Dax pulls me from the table, I hear Finn say, “Claire, why don’t you sit and have some wine. I think we’ve both been dumped.”
The woman sits down at the table while Dax drags me back through the kitchen and nearly kicks down the door of the back office. The man working at the desk stands up, surprised.
“Mr. Hardin, is there a problem?” He asks, fixing his tie.
“Get out,” he barks.
“Excuse me?” the man says. Dax throws him a cutting glare and the man looks like he’s going to melt. “Absolutely, sir. I’ll make sure you’re uninterrupted.”
The door to the office shuts and Dax glowers at me, still tightly holding my wrist in his hand.
“What the hell are doing with Finn?” He growls.
“Me?” I wrench my wrist away. “I’m having lunch. What do you care anyway? You looked like you had your own lunch plans. It will probably be in the papers by tomorrow. She’s very pretty by the way.”
“Are you fucking my brother?” He spits out.
“Excuse me?” I say, anger boiling in my veins.
He slows down and speaks each word slowly. “Are. You. Fucking. My. Brother?”
I know I should just say no, explain everything and trust my
heart that Dax feels the same way about me that I do about him, but the fact that he has the audacity to think I sleep around with every rich boy who smirks at me makes me furious. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. I want to make him squirm.
“Does it matter who I fuck?” I ask, shrugging my shoulders.
“Yes,” he says.
“Why? You and I aren’t an actual item, right? I mean you came here with another woman and I doubt it’s business. So why can’t I come here with a man? At least Finn isn’t embarrassed to be seen with me.”
“I’m sure his money doesn’t hurt.” He spits out.
“Fuck you. If I wanted money I could have it and I don’t need to fuck anyone for it.”
“What does that mean?” Dax asks.
“None of your fucking business,” I say. “You’re my employer not my boyfriend, right?” I head back toward the door, but he shoves out his hand and holds it closed.
“Hannah, you are driving me fucking crazy!”
I spin around. “Then tell me, Dax? Tell me why you care? Is it just some pissing contest between you and Finn? Because I am not a prize or a toy you can play with whenever you want!”
“It’s not about Finn. It’s because the idea of anyone else touching you makes me want to beat them to a fucking bloody pulp, even if that person is my own brother. Fuck Hannah! Don’t you understand? You aren’t a toy. You. Are. Mine.”
I look up at him. My heart is pounding inside my chest and I clamber to catch my breath. He steps forward so that he is pressing me against the door. His eyes are dark and hooded. I can feel his erection. He reaches past me, brushing his fingers against my skin, and bolts the door of the office.
“What about your date out there?” I ask. “Why will you be seen with her but not me?”
“Because I care about you. Because I can’t lose someone I care about again. There’s nothing between me and Claire, I’m just keeping up appearances. There’s nothing between me and anyone else… except you. I don’t want anyone but you.”
“You can’t lose me?” I question, I’d been stuck on that part. I lower my hands and start to pull up the hem of my skirt, Dax says I’m his, but I want him to prove it. He kisses me and yanks my skirt up the rest of the way. The tight fabric bunches at my hips leaving my legs bare. He traces his warm, rough hands up and down my thighs and I know he feels me clenching in pleasure because a groan catches in his throat. God, just the anticipation and his eyes on me are nearly enough to make me explode with an orgasm. He rubs his fingers roughly against the thin silk of my panties.
“You’re so wet. Is that for me?”
I nod. “Mm-hmm,” I say hoarsely.
“Good girl.”
He pulls down my panties and they fall in a tiny pool of fabric at my ankles. I step out of them as he begins to unbutton my blouse with one hand while the other strokes my ass and pulls me against his massive erection. He’s moving slowly, his tongue in my mouth, he’s in total control and I love it. I don’t want to think, I just want him inside me. He gets my blouse open and shoves down the cups of my bra. His hands are kneading my taut, hard nipples and he’s enjoying every grasp. I’m so close to the edge and he’s still fully clothed, this is so unfair.
I push him back slightly and with a small groan of agony, I pull away from his mouth. He looks at me with lust and I feel truly powerful, even knowing he’s in charge. I begin to undress him and when he’s stripped down like me, I lower myself to my knees and take him in my mouth.
The sound he makes nearly causes me to cum. I reach my hands around and run my hands over his ass, feeling him thrust and clench as I take him deeper and deeper. His hands are in my hair, roughly guiding my head as he pushes himself deeper inside my mouth. I’m not stopping until I’ve got him as frenzied as he has me. Just before he explodes, he pulls me to my feet and backs me up against the desk.
“Hannah,” he groans. “I need to fuck you right now.”
He doesn’t wait for a response, but lifts me up with his hands gripping my ass and sets me on to the desk. With one hand he sends the papers on the desk clattering to the ground. Then he tugs my hips toward him so that my naked bottom is nearly off the edge of desk.
“Promise me you’ll buy this guy a new desk when we’re done,” I smile. “Otherwise I can never show my face here again.”
“Promise,” he says. He kisses me and then pushes me down so my back is pressed against the cool, hard surface of the desktop. He lifts my legs up and crosses them against his chest, gripping my hips with both rough hands and thrusting into me hard. I clutch the side of the desk and moan. He’s so deep inside me and he’s so thick and hard, the rhythm of his thrusting begins to build a frenzy in me that rocks my entire body. He reaches down and holds tight to my hips and lifting my ass he thrusts into me again and again, harder and harder. I feel his wild, animal need to claim me, to prove to me that I am his. I arch my back and revel in the power I have to make this man need me so desperately. As I pulse and moan in orgasm, I feel him thrust hard inside me and then shudder in his own deep pleasure.
He pulses a few last times inside me, then leans over and whispers in my ear, “Hannah, I’m in love with you.”
I kiss Dax long and deep. “I’m so glad you can finally admit that. I’m in love with you too.”
When we arrive back at the penthouse, it’s still early and I have over an hour before I have to pick Lily up from school.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I say. Dax nuzzles my ear. “The other nannies will be able to smell the sex on me,” I laugh.
“I’ve arranged for Hans to pick Lily up and a sitter is coming to stay with her for the night,” he says.
“Why?” I look at him. “I thought we could do like a family date. We could play Pictionary or do a jigsaw puzzle or something. Well, maybe not a puzzle, Samson’s been known to eat the pieces.”
He kisses me. “Not tonight. Tonight I’m taking you out.”
“Taking me out where?” I ask.
“A fundraiser.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’d really like to go somewhere and maybe talk a little more?” Ever since we left the restaurant, I’ve known I have to come clean about everything, the pregnancy, and especially who I am. I wonder what caused this sudden change of heart anyway. I thought I was supposed to be in some kind of danger and had to be hidden away. I don’t voice my concerns. If the Bastard of Boston wants me on his arm tonight, I’m not going to argue.
Dax shakes his head. “Listen, I have to go to this event, then we can talk. Besides, after what happened at lunch today, I don’t think Claire will be willing to join me and I need a plus one. That’s your fault. You owe me.” He says with a smirk.
He kisses me deep and hard, using one strong hand to lift my body off the ground so that I am straddling him against the wall of the penthouse foyer.
“Okay,” I say, breathless and panting. “I always pay my debts.”
He kisses me again and slips his hand under my shirt. “Maybe I’ll join you in that shower. I feel pretty dirty myself right now.”
I’m pretty sure we used all the hot water in Boston during our shower. Two orgasms later, I go to my room and find a stunning evening gown laid out on the bed, a champagne-colored, tulle and silk beauty. I pick up the dress and hang it on the hook behind the door, I don’t think I’ve ever worn such a magnificent gown in my life. My phone pings.
Wear it tonight. Dax texts.
I type my response. You never get tired of giving me orders, do you?
My phone pings again. It’s the thrill of my life. Just like yours is disobeying them.
I snort. He won’t get any complaints from me about that beautiful dress. You’re in luck. Despite how much I love disobeying you, I happen to be low on appropriate formalwear for a fundraiser.
Good. Carl will pick you up at seven.
My heart drops again. Wait, we aren’t going together? Does this mean I’m back to being the pretend nanny? As if Dax can rea
d my thoughts, which I am pretty sure he can, my phone pings again.
I have a late meeting. I’ll meet you there. If you are on my arm, you’ll be in the papers tomorrow. If that isn’t what you want, it’s not too late to back out.
But, as I put my hand on my stomach, I know it is in fact too late. Way too late. And I am way too much in love.
Chapter 19
Dax
Seeing Hannah out with my brother had me instantly seeing red. Finn has always been that way, always too willing to take what doesn’t belong to him, what he didn’t earn.
My lunch meeting with Claire wasn’t romantic, just closing a business deal while making the typical Dax Hardin rounds. The truth is I haven’t been romantically involved with any other woman since Hannah came into my life. I haven’t wanted to be involved… I haven’t wanted anything but Hannah. I don’t think she realizes how much she’s consumed my mind, hell, my entire life since that night in the alley. Carl and Aster still have their doubts, but I know who Hannah is. And I love her.
Attending tonight’s fundraiser with Hannah on my arm is a risk, and I don’t take that lightly. I’ve beefed up security around the Century Tower to make sure she’ll be safe, but I’ll have to find a way to keep Hannah safe for the rest of her life, because I can’t imagine living without her. What happened at lunch today made it crystal clear to me that if I didn’t make a real commitment soon, I would lose her forever. I couldn’t let that happen, because in some strange way we had all become a family, Lily, Hannah and me. I’m just not willing to hide that anymore.
I don’t know for certain who’s targeting me now, but I know who’s responsible for Angelina’s death and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Charles Finch would strike again now. The Systems Industries shareholders are on my side and the acquisition is all but done, no wonder he’s trying to send a message now.
