Page 22 of Love Me Not

Bella pouted.“Gardening?”

“I love to garden,” Juliette replied.

Bella’s frown deepened.I could see what she was trying to do, and it was hard to keep the smile from my face now.

“Running?”

Juliette shifted her feet to show Bella her tennis shoes.“All set and ready.”

“Swimming?”she asked.“You don’t have a bathing suit.”

“No, but I can watch you.”

“That’s not fun,” Bella shot back with a frown.“You won’t have fun.”

Juliette gave her a smile.“What are you talking about?I get to spend the day with the coolest kid in New York.I’d say that’s pretty fun to me.”

Bella tried not to show it, but her face lit up at the compliment.

“Well…” She hesitated for only a second.“Then I guess I can start by showing you my cartwheels.I can do them one-handed.”

Juliette stood and held out her hand for Bella as she said, “That’s so cool!I can’t wait to see it.”

Bella looked at her hand critically before taking off to the backyard.When I looked back at Juliette, she was wearing a satisfied smile.One that had my heart skipping a beat in my chest.

“Told you I could do it.”

I straightened and put my phone back in my pocket.“Awesome.Then I’ll be off.You have my number if you need anything.At least I hope your good-for-nothing agency gave you that.”

Her sheepish look told me they didn’t.

I held out my hand, silently asking for her phone.When she took it out, it was, of course, covered in a bulky, pink phone case.When she unlocked it for me and handed it to me, I noticed her wallpaper was a photo of her and a teenager.

They seemed close.Their faces were smooshed together, smiling widely at the camera.Juliette looked maybe a couple of years younger in it, and I almost asked her about it.

I wanted to, but I had to keep this professional.So I put my number in and gave it back.

Her lips twitched at the contact name.

“Lux Sterling.I thought you’d go with something else.”

“Like what?”

She shrugged.“Since you’re so convinced I’m in love with you, maybeSecret crushorMost handsome woman on the planet.”

I was annoyed at how well she knew me even after just a single night together, especially one where we didn’t really talk.If this were any other situation, I would definitely add my number under something cute and flirty.MaybeThe only woman who knows how to make me come.

But this is not any other situation, is it?

“Sirwill also do.”

I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t add,As you well know, and was more than pleased when her cheeks reddened again.

“Juliette!Look!”

Bella’s call was the thing I needed to snap me back to reality.Right, no flirting with the nanny.

“Text me if there’s anything.”

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