Not that Beckett and I are going on a date. God no — I’m hired as his daughter’s nanny. That’s it. But if I were to ever date someone… I’d want it to be someone I could talk to as easily as I could talk to Beckett.
My stomach growls and I get out of the chair, excited to tell Mirabella about this new job. She’s the one who encouraged me to sign up with the nanny agency in the first place.
Before I leave the house, I glance in the bathroom mirror and see pink lipstick on my front teeth. Groaning, I wipe it off, realizing that it must have been there during the entire conversation with Beckett. What must he have thought?
I push any negative thoughts away — because he chose to hire me, lipstick smear and all. And tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life. I just have no idea what the man I am working for looks like.
Chapter Three
Beckett
The video call ends and my cock twitches. Which is utterly inappropriate — I know that. But damn, Brittany is adorable. Her red hair, bright blue eyes, a smile that lit up my room. Annie is unhappy with the fact Brittany is no longer on the screen — she was babbling through the entire conversation, more lively than I ever see her. It instantly eased my worry about a stranger taking care of the most precious thing in the world. I lay Annie on the play mat on the carpeted floor, and she grabs for the red plastic rings overhead, kicking her feet happily.
The fact Brittany has been working for Grady gives me a good feeling too — he only hires the best. Still, I decide to text him and confirm that.
Me: Tell me about Brittany, she seems level-headed?
Grady: You mean the Brittany who was employee of the month, who was never late, ever, who just called thirty seconds ago giving her notice?
I grimace, realizing my gain is his loss.
Me: Yeah, that’s the one.
Grady: Says she is working for you — is that right?
Me: Afraid so. Are you pissed?
Grady: Nah. I know you need a reliable nanny. And she is a gem. Still — get ready for me to kick your ass tomorrow at the gym.
Me: You wish. Thanks for understanding.
Grady: Anytime. Hey, Georgie wants you to know she is dropping off some more frozen meals tonight.
Me: Thanks man.
Grady’s wife Georgina set up a phone tree for frozen meals last month. Once she learned all I was going through, she jumped into action to help me and Annie out. She was mad at the guys at the gym for not realizing my situation earlier. But it wasn’t their fault. I kept it to myself. They knew I had a baby. But I didn’t share the details. That’s not the kind of man I am. I have always been a private person. Loyal to a fault, and when I make a decision about something, I go all in. I think that’s why Tara and Jack made me the guardian of their daughter.
I put the phone in my pocket before getting down on the floor with Annie. Grady certainly gave Brittany a good recommendation, and I’m grateful for it — but I could tell she was a keeper the moment her sweet, gentle voice entered the call. I can’t wait to meet her face to face.
It’s ridiculous — thinking about Brittany in any terms that are not related to the position she is being hired for… but it’s impossible to get her out of my mind. All night, I think about her and the fact that tomorrow, she will be sleeping under my roof. As I try to fall asleep, I think about how she’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen — her big smile, the endearing pink lipstick on her teeth — how she curled up in her comfy chair and chatted, laughing with me for over an hour. It was the most relaxing hour I’ve had in months.
I look over at the crib in the corner of my bedroom, scared of Annie being too far from me… knowing I can’t let anything happen to her. Ever. Talking to Brittany made me forget that for a little while and reminded me who I am beyond being Annie’s whole world.
Chapter Four
Brittany
When I pull up to Beckett and Annie’s, I am immediately nervous. The house is lovely, in an old neighborhood with sidewalks made for trick or treating and big oak trees with leaves that will be perfect to rake into piles in the fall to jump in. It’s a Craftsman-style house with a wide porch and green grass. It looks like the sort of house made for an idyllic childhood.
I have a tote bag with a few changes of clothes and my necessities — I know Beckett will be leaving for a 48-hour shift at the firehouse and that I’ll be here for a few days before I have a chance to go back home for more things.
I ring the doorbell and wait a few minutes. When no one answers, I knock. I’m about to pull out my phone and triple-check the address when the door swings open. It’s held open by a man so ripped and ruggedly handsome I practically break out in a hot flash. He’s in nothing but sweats and his six — eight? — pack is defined. My mouth waters.
Oh dear lord, he is hot.
“Sorry, Brittany,” he says, stepping aside to let me in. “I lost track of time and was in the shower.” He pulls on a tee shirt as he talks and I try to focus. If I’d known how handsome Beckett was during the interview yesterday, there is no way I could have gotten through it without getting all nervous and jumbled.
I knew he said he worked out, but I wasn’t expecting a single dad to look like this.
“You find the house okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, it was no problem at all. Sorry,” I say, feeling flustered. “I feel like we’re meeting for the first time since the video wasn’t working yesterday.”
His deep green eyes widen, and he gives me a smile that has literal goosebumps rising on my arms. Looking at him is like getting little jolt of pleasure.
“Right, damn, sorry, I’m Beckett, and—” As if on cue, a baby starts crying from somewhere in the house. “That’s Annie. Come on up, she’s in her crib.”
Without any pretense, he invites me into his house. I follow him up the staircase, very aware of the firm booty he’s packing in the back and suddenly very aware of my every curve, the way my leggings hug my hips and my hoodie pulls across my chest. I like to exercise, but my body is proof I like lots of other things too. Balance has always been my motto.
“So I talked with Grady,” Beckett says when we get to the landing. “Said you put in your notice.”
“Yeah, he said if it was to help you, I didn’t have to give two weeks.”
“He mentioned that.” Beckett walks into a bedroom, but it isn’t a nursery like I would have expected from the exterior of the house. I pictured a picture-perfect nursery ordered from a catalogue. But Annie is in a crib in what looks like the room of a bachelor. Piles of clothes are everywhere, baskets of laundry — both bright pink onesies and grey sweats — and there isn’t even a changing table set up in here.
“This is where she sleeps?” I ask as he lifts Annie — who’s as cute as a cookie — from her crib. “No nursery?”
“Yeah,” Beckett says, running a hand over his jaw, looking around as if seeing things from my perspective. “You must have questions.”
Annie is still fussing and I reach for her, immediately taken in by her sweet baby smell. She is freshly bathed, in a clean diaper and a pink sleeper. She is clearly well cared for — the crib is right by dad’s bed, as if he isn’t letting her out of his sight.
“It’s not my business,” I say, focused on Annie. She is settled now, and I pat her back, bouncing as she nestles against my neck. “Oh gosh, she is precious. Her hair is so curly.”
“Just like her mom’s.” Beckett smiles, but the smile is so damn sad it nearly breaks my heart.
Now I do have questions.
Chapter Five
Beckett
I tell her about the accident, how Tara and Jack died in a car crash, how everything changed in the blink of an eye. The whole time Brittany is holding Annie, who is so at peace in her arms I let my shoulders down, breathing in the knowledge that Annie is okay. We are okay.
“And now I’m the only dad she will ever know,” I finish. “Sorry, that was quite the info-dump.”
“Oh, Beckett,
you’ve been through hell.” We’re standing in my messy bedroom, I’m telling her the whole story, and she reaches out for my hand. Without hesitation. She squeezes it, and her sincerity reaches my heart. I swear she sees me in this moment. Sees that I’m doing my best.
“And that’s why she has been sleeping in here, with me,” I explain. “I can’t let her out of my sight. It’s why I keep putting off going back to work.” I run a hand over my jaw. “But my friends told me I needed to move forward. And so I got in touch with that agency. They did background checks on us both, you know all that, so that is why I felt okay with hiring you. Well, that and because you just seemed so perfect when we video chatted.”
“Perfect, right.” She rocks Annie in her arm. “This sweet girl has lost so much, so young.” She looks up at me. “Beckett, I’m just honored you would trust me with her.”
“Can I show you the rest of the house?” I ask, not wanting her to let go of my hand. I keep hold of it and lead her down the hall. Eventually I let go so as not to come off as a creeper, but damn, I want to do so much more than hold her hand. I want to pull her into my arms and kiss those perfect pink lips. I want to get lost in her eyes, her body.
And it’s not the sleep deprivation talking… it’s the fact that she is even more gorgeous in real life than in video. And that’s not even considering the fact her cheeks have the cutest dimples, and her eyes are so bright — filled with hope. And God, I need that know.
“This room is so cozy,” she says as I show her the empty room that will eventually be Annie’s. Right now there are a dresser and boxes. “Can’t you just picture her in that window seat, reading a book in ten years?”
“I totally can,” I say. “I know I need to do something with this space eventually, but the last few months have been about learning how to take care of a baby.”
“Well, you’re doing great.” Then she gives me a wink. “And you hired me, which just proves how smart you are.”
I chuckle, leading her down the hall to a third bedroom. “This one has its own bathroom,” I say. “And there is a fourth bedroom on the main floor, next to the kitchen.”
“This one is probably better, since you work some nights.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” I say. “And when I’m not working, you’re off.”
She nods, following me back downstairs to the living room, den, kitchen. I can’t help but check out her ass as she walks, it’s so damn sexy.
“Is this where you make your famous chocolate chip cookies?” she asks.
“Yes, and eat the home-cooked meals that keep getting dropped off.” I tell her about Georgina’s meal calendar.
“Well, I can do that now,” she says.
“No, you don’t have to. You’re hired to help with Annie, not run the house.”
She twists her lips. “I’m a pretty good cook though. Won’t you be sad if I’m eating some amazing bowl of homemade pasta and you’re eating a reheated casserole?”
I smile, watching her with Annie — who hasn’t fussed once. “I suppose you’re right. But no pressure. Though we don’t have much in the way of groceries.”
“What do you think of me laying Annie down for a bit?” she asks. “Then we can start a grocery list?”
“And top of the list is chocolate chips, because I’m ready for this bake off,” I tease.
She laughs. “Okay, Mr. Confident, you’re on. Tonight after Annie goes to bed, we’re gonna whip up some cookie dough.”
I pull out a pen and paper, working on the list, knowing what I really want to whip up tonight is her. In my bed.
Chapter Six
Brittany
Beckett brings out the best in me and after several hours of helping him clean up his house, warming up and eating the dinner Georgina dropped off, and giving Annie a bath, I’m feeling better than I have in years.
“She’s out cold,” he says, looking over at Annie, who is in the pack ‘n play in the living room. “Which means…”
We’ve been brushing shoulders, arms, hips all day. At first I thought there was nothing to it… but I think Beckett is as drawn to me as I am to him. It feels magnetic.
“Cookie time?” I ask, lifting my eyebrows and pulling out my phone.
“What recipe are you using?” he asks, sidling up next to me.
I press my phone to my chest in mock horror. “And give away my secrets?”
He laughs. “Okay, fair enough.” He reaches for a yellow cookbook on a shelf and thumbs through it. “This is the only recipe I use, so don’t go thinking I’m some master baker.”
“Wait, you use the Home Baked chocolate chip cookie recipe?”
He nods. “Yeah, see, I’m not as stingy about my formula as you are.”
I flip my phone to him, showing him the online recipe for the exact same cookies. “Great minds think alike,” I say, facing him. I lick my lips, unable to help myself.
He swallows, hard. His eyes find mine. “You make me feel so damn good, Brittany.”
I shake my head, setting my phone on the counter. “You make me feel pretty good too, Beckett.”
“Yeah?” He tucks a loose strand of my hair behind my ears. “I know that I hired you to watch Annie but…”
“You’ve had an insane few months, Beckett. Right now you need stable, secure, uncomplicated…”
“What if what I need right now is you?”
I exhale, my breath shaky. “Then I’d say this is going to become tricky.”
“Because you’re the nanny?”
I nod.
“Thank God,” he says with a grin. “For a second there I thought you were gonna tell me you had some boyfriend or something.”
I shake my head. “I’ve never had a boyfriend.”
“Never?”
“Not one.”
“Does that mean you’ve never…?”
I look down, momentarily embarrassed at my lack of experience. But then I remember I’m talking to Beckett, a man who may be insanely handsome, but also is insanely easy to be around. “Not once. Not so much as a kiss.”
He groans. “You’re killing me, Britt.”
“In a good way?” I ask, lifting my eyes.
“In a great way.”
“Did you want to make those cookies now?” I ask, my heart pounding, my core so hot that cooking is the last thing on my mind.
He shakes his head, a hungry look in his eyes that I completely understand. “No. What I want to do is make your cookie crumble.”
Chapter Seven
Beckett
Not wanting to make a move and scare her away, I meet her gaze, but I don’t need to worry that she isn’t on the same page as me. Brittany steps closer, her hand moves to my chest and she lifts her chin, ever so slightly, leaning in for a kiss. I won’t let her down.
My mouth meets hers and I fucking melt, right then and there. Screw the boundaries, the rules — all I want in this moment is her sweet lips against mine.
“Oh,” she whispers, her lips parting, our tongues twirling against one another as an intense wave of pleasure wraps itself around my heart, not letting go. Damn, this girl has me losing my mind in the best possible way.
I wrap my arms around her, my palms on her back, drawing her close. Loving the way her perfect breasts press against my chest. My cock groans as she moves closer to me still. There is no space between us, and that’s how I want it to stay.
When the kiss ends I’m at a loss for words. Something happened there, something that has never happened before.
“That was incredible,” I manage to say.
“Is it always like that?” she asks, her innocence such a precious gift. I refuse to let her go.
I shake my head, my hand on her hip. My heart already hers — she has no idea what she’s doing to me. “No, Brittany. It’s never like that.”
Her eyes widen in understanding, a sweet smile on her lips. “In that case, we should see if it was a fluke or…” She laughs.
And I don’t hes
itate — I wrap my arms tight around her and I pull her in for another kiss. Then a third. A fourth. Eventually I lift her cute ass onto the kitchen counter and I stand between her legs. Right where I belong.
“That feels so good,” she whimpers as I run my hand over her breasts. She takes my hand and guides it under her top. “There,” she exhales, our lips once again locked.
Her tits are perfect, and with her permission, I pull down the cup of her bra, her nipple between my fingers, hardening under my touch. She lifts her shirt off entirely, and I unclasp her bra, kissing her breasts the way they deserve. I lick her nipples, twirling my tongue around them, and she runs her hands though my hair. I push them together, loving her big round globes, my cock hardening at the sight of her topless. Wanting to see all of her.
My cock teases her as we make out, our bodies pressed tight together. Annie is still out cold, the house is quiet, empty. Ours.
“Fuck, I want you,” I tell her and I lift her up, off the counter, carrying her toward the living room couch. “I want to taste you.”
She lifts her eyebrows, bites her bottom lip. “I want to taste you too.”
Chapter Eight
Brittany
We undress quickly, in a rush, our desire taking over our common sense and I’m glad. I’ve never so unabashedly gone for what I wanted… but maybe it is because I’ve never wanted someone like I’ve wanted Beckett. Entirely.
With his shirt and sweats off, my mouth waters. “You’re so ripped,” I say, looking him over. My eyes stopping on the giant package, hard and thick under his briefs. I want to be brave, to reach out and touch him, but I hold back. Scared of being overeager.
The Way To A Man’s Heart: Books 1-10 Page 29
