Page 59 of The Au Pair Affair

“Bro.” This, from Pinstripes. “Stop trying to make fetch happen.”

Burgess tilted his head at Tallulah, obviously waiting for her response to Samara’s question. Did he look a bit too interested in her answer? And why was everyone standing socloseto Burgess? A few more inches and all three women were going to attach like barnacles to the underside of a boat. “He’s a single father and a professional hockey player, as you know. And, well... when one has no time for dating, they might be tempted to give up altogether, but he’s only thirty-seven and has so much to offer—”

“Like that wicked body check,” roared Pinstripes, fist to the sky. “You saw what he did to that fucker from the Pittsburgh Huskies—splintered his schnoz. Donotcross Sir Savage. Do not even—”

“That fucker from the Huskies is fine,” Burgess interrupted roughly, squeezing Tallulah’s arm tighter to his rib cage. “We’refine. I sent him two six packs.”

Tallulah glanced up at him sharply. “Two?”

He shifted right to left, no longer looking at her. “After our conversation, I might have... sent him another one.”

The swizzle stick that was her throat was almost completely sealed up now. “Was it Sam Adams again?”

“No, it was Yuengling. Brewed in Pennsylvania. I’m sure he’s telling everyone I’ve gone soft. I hope you’re happy.”

“I am,” she breathed, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. “That was so sweet of you. Were you even going to tell me you did that?”

“No. And don’t ever expect me to do it again.”

Tallulah beamed up at Burgess. He grunted and brushed a finger against her nose.

His eyes are so beautiful. And is his beard extra full looking today?

Everyone around them had gone very silent.

How long had she been staring at her boss, who she was supposed to be reintroducing to the dating scene? With a nervous laugh, Tallulah removed her cheek from his brawny shoulder. “As I was saying, Burgess has so much to offer—”

“Pardon my frankness, but...” Annie started, one eye squinted. “Is there anything going on between you two?”

“No,” Tallulah said, empathically. “For one, he’s my boss. And two, we’reverydifferent.”

Jeanine wagged a finger between Tallulah and Burgess. “So, just to be clear, nothing has everhappenedhere?”

“Define happened,” Burgess said, appearing to be enjoying himself.

Because of the attention he was getting from the women?

Why did that possibility make her sweat? This had beenheridea.

“Has anything happened . . . physically,” Samara supplied.

“That’s a little forward!” Tallulah laughed/winced.

“She gives me back massages,” Burgess said, downright jovial now. “Does that count?”

Tallulah pinched his elbow, frowning when he only grinned at her. “You’re supposed to be making small talk,” she whispered, before zipping her attention back to the trio of women, which had now expanded to... everyone at the mixer. Roughly a dozen. “Just a friendly massage. Totally innocent.”

He looked up at the sky, lips pursed. “There was also that time we made out in front of the club. You remember that night, don’t you, Tallulah? It was a measly two weeks ago.”

“I was trying to shake off some unwanted attention from another guy,” Tallulah explained, fire climbing her face. “Burgess was just helping me out.”

“I’d be happy to help you out next time,” laughed Pinstripes.

Burgess’s head turned so slowly, time seemed to be moving backward. Birds flew overhead, children laughed and cried on the playground, cars honked, the earth rotated around the sun, andstillhe was in the process of turning his head. “What do you mean by that, buddy?” Burgess asked, his tone dripping with malice.

Only, the way he said “buddy” sounded more like “future corpse.”

Pinstripes looked like he was choking on a human arm. “Ah, Jesus, I don’t know why I said that. I don’t know why I say anything. That’s why I’m single, I guess.” He scrubbed at the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, Sir Savage.”

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