Page 18 of Love Me Not

But this still felt a bit crazy.

The backyard was a mix of neatly cut grass, an outside lounge area with its own fireplace, a circular pool and jacuzzi to the right, and, if I squinted, I could make out a fountain off in the distance and a few statues around it.

I would say the whole property was at least two acres.I think there was even a tennis court off to the back left, though I couldn’t be sure as thick trees covered the perimeter.

“There she is,” she said as we came to a stop at the wide-open French doors.

Bella was sitting on the ground with an iPad in hand.She was tapping at it angrily, a pout on her face.She looked up at us with a glare.

She had chocolatey brown hair and eyes that were just a few shades lighter than Lux’s.While she didn’t look overwhelmingly like her, I could see a bit of the resemblance in the way she scowled.

The same scowl Lux had met me with at the door.

Bella was wearing a mid-length denim dress that had quite a few dirt stains on it already, even if it was only early morning.She was clutching her iPad tightly, like she was afraid I’d take it from her.

And her hair… It was down, brushed but a bit frizzy, and I spied a knot off to the side.Maybe it was from playing too hard, but I knew one of the first things I’d help her with would be hairstyles she could play in.

“I have to leave soon, Bella,” Lux told her.“This is your new nanny.Give this one a break, will you?”

My skin heated at her words.They were so simple, but in my delusion, it felt like she was saying it because she had a soft spot for me.

“Hello, Bella,” I said as I walked toward her.“My name is Juliette and I’m here to hang out with you today.”

When I sat down on the grass next to her, she snatched her iPad away, holding it close to her chest.Maybe one too many nannies really had tried to take it from her.

I wasn’t a fan of iPads either, but I wasn’t about to get in there and just take it.It could be something important to her.I didn't know what her habits were or what she used it for.

Plus, right now I was just some random stranger coming into her house.I didn't have a right to take away what was hers, even if she was a kid.She still had feelings and wants and needs, and I would respect them.

Though I would make sure to try and introduce her to some other hobbies in hopes of distracting her from the thing.

“Just today?”Bella asked.“Does that mean you’re already fired?”

A small, badly concealed chuckle made its way to my ears before it turned into a cough, and I tried not to full-on glare at Lux.

It seemed Bella and Lux had a bit more in common than the scowl.But that was okay.I could be chill.This wasn't the first time a kid had an attitude problem.

“Nope.”I gave her my best smile.“You’re stuck with me until your mom says so.”

Her face twisted, and she was up and running back to the house with an angry growl before I could stop her, even leaving her iPad on the ground.Her suddenness took me by surprise, and I twisted around to see her run past Lux, who looked at her with a pained expression.

When she looked at me, her face had hardened again.

Fuck.Am I in trouble?

“That’s a new record.You lasted what?Two minutes?”

Panic seized my throat, and I rushed to her.No, no, no, there's no way she just fired me like that.

I was starting to realize why my boss had called me and asked me to take this.I knew families like this, ones who would go through lists of nannies and none of them would work for them.Most times, it was definitely an issue with the family, not the nanny, but this one seemed… complicated in a different way, somehow.

“I’m sorry.I don’t understand why?—”

Lux crossed her arms over her chest, her glare deepening.I hated that look on her face.I hated doing something wrong.Especially when it came to her.

I wanted—no, Ineeded—to make it right.Not just for the sake of the kid, but for her.I wanted her to look at me with those eyes again.The ones filled with satisfaction.The ones that looked at me like I could do no wrong.

It hurt to see it changed so suddenly.

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