Page 31 of Nanny for the SEAL

“Ha,” I laugh, “very true. Sure. I can handle one.”

He gets up and heads toward a bar I can now see in the corner. It’s tall and made of beautiful, dark wood.

I have a feeling it may have been a custom piece because it sits so snuggly in the corner that it had to have been measured and cut to size.

After only a few minutes, Xaden hands me a whiskey on the rocks, just like his, and he takes up his spot behind the desk again.

“I know I’ve already said it, but I really do appreciate you helping with Daisy. And yes, I’m paying you, but I know firsthand that that doesn’t always matter.”

Offering a pained smile, I shrug. “I still can’t believe that your other nanny stole from you. It seems so…well, to be frank, stupid. I mean, what were the odds that youwouldn’tcatch her? And now you’ll tell every parent in town not to hire her.”

“That’s how I feel, for sure. I guess some people are just risk-takers. They don’t care about the consequences because they don’t let themselves think about them.”

My eyebrows go up to my hairline as the words sink in. They’re such a perfect way to describe my parents.

“Oof, that’s so real.”

Xaden chuckles a little, and he grins after taking another drink. “It sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

And there it is again. Him normally asking about my life experiences.

I want to tell him. I want to tell Xaden all sorts of things—if partly to unburden myself from carrying the truth alone.

So why shouldn’t I? It’s not like I have to give him all the gory details. Maybe just a little…peek.

I sigh, sipping on the liquid courage for motivation. “Yeah. My, umm, parents. They aren’t…great people.”

Xaden’s expression sobers even as he finishes off the whiskey. “I’m sorry, Ivy. That’s rough.”

Nodding, I hum in agreement as my eyes wander down to the floor. “It really can be, yeah. I’m trying to move on from all that, though. I don’t want to let the past drag me down.”

“That’s a remarkably well-adjusted way to think of it. I’ll admit I admire that.”

My stare flicks back up to Xaden, and it’s all I can do to just remain silent. If I open my mouth, I just know that the entire crapton of garbage that is my emotional baggage will come tumbling out.

“Thanks,” is all I can muster after another minute and another sip.

As we sit in companionable silence for a moment, I run my gaze across the inside of Xaden’s office, taking in the space in a way I hadn’t yet.

There are backless wood shelves on each wall that are full of books, and surprisingly, they aren’t all non-fiction.

I can see some classics, well-known fantasy novels, likeLord of the Rings, and even a few surprising titles, likePriory of the Orange TreeandNevermore.

Nestled among the books are small knick-knacks that scream Oxford library, too. There’s a small globe—brown-hued continents against a black background—collectible wine bottles, an actual sextant, and something that looks like a clockwork tower.

“Huh.” The noise is out of my mouth before I can think better of it.

“What?” Xaden asks, his dimple showing as he smirks with one side of his mouth.

“Sorry, I was just looking around. I’ll admit that I’m surprised to see fantasy and sci-fi on the shelves. I would have thought you were a non-fiction-only type of guy.”

He laughs, leaning back in the desk chair with a grin that makes my blood hum.

“I’m slightly offended by that.” His laugh picks up again before he stands up and goes to the shelves. “I love to read. It’s been a way to escape since I was a kid. But I’m used to the ridicule. The guys in basic didnotlet it go.”

“Basic? You were in the army?”

I raise my brows at him, and Xaden turns around. He looks shocked by his own words like he didn’t mean to say that.

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