Page 34 of The Nanny and the Nerd
“It’s a credit card,” she said, stating the obvious.
“Yes,” he answered, affirming the obvious.
“With my name on it,” she continued.
That hot nerd smirk reappeared. “I can’t put anything past you.”
“Why would you give me a credit card?” she pressed.
“Penny, babe! The man handed you a card with…what’s the limit?” Harper asked, eyeing Rowen.
“One hundred grand,” he answered robotically.
Wide-eyed, Harper turned to her. “Say, thank you, Penn.”
“Its intended use is for any expenses you may incur with Phoebe,” he clarified.
“Penny and Phoebe can go shopping, right? APretty Womanplus one situation?” Harper continued.
“I don’t know what that means,” Rowen answered as if he were an android, which he honestly might be.
“See, Penn! This one is right up your alley,” Libby whispered, obviously referencing their discussion on her proclivity to date the odd duck.
“Don’t mind them. They’re being silly,” Penny answered, giving her friends eyes that said, shut it, bitches! The trio replied with a whispered chorus ofPenny, Penny, Penny, Penny!
“Everything’s been taken care of. The items from your place are secure at my home,” Rowen reported.
Penny reared back. “Excuse me? You know where I live?”
“Lived. Past tense,” the robot man corrected. “I assumed I’d made that clear. Why do you think mynot-my-friendsare with me?” he asked, gesturing to the men lingering in the background.
“Honestly, I’m a little lost here,” she replied, observing her friends, who shrugged in unison.
“It’s probably the tequila. You can really knock back a margarita,” Rowen replied.
“It’s quite impressive,” the beefcake British guy chimed.
And…they’d entered a whole new level of crazy!
Penny paced in front of the bar. “Let me get this straight. You broke into my apartment?”
“It was a suggested activity by the woman who leads the group where I met these guys,” Rowen replied. “She said it was a good opportunity for a bonding experience.”
And for probably the millionth time today, Penny’s jaw dropped. “Your therapist suggested breaking into my apartment with a couple of guys who aren’t even your friends?”
“She’s not a therapist. She’s the lady who found you for me…for Phoebe—to care for Phoebe,” he said, going super-robot monotone.
“Madelyn Malone?” she questioned.
“Yes, I’m the first in this group to be matched with a nanny. Madelyn thought it would be a good bonding experience for me and the guys.”
She gasped. She might as well leave her jaw on the ground tonight. “The bonding experience was to break into my room?”
“The bonding experience was to help you move. Completing the task without you allowed us to do the job while you engaged in your social activity. And it wasn’t that hard to get inside. Your roommates are bona fide idiots. Anyone off the street could just walk in,” he replied coolly.
“They even offered us brownies,” the guy with the cap remarked.
“Please tell me you didn’t eat them!” she exclaimed.
