Page 36 of The Nanny and the Beefcake
Raz stared at her. They had more in common than he thought. “Your younger brothers are twins?”
Libby nodded as the ghost of a grin cut through her forlorn expression. “They want to practice medicine in impacted communities. They’re good men.”
“And that’s how my company wants to help you, Libby,” Briggs slipped in, back to looking like a puffed-up peacock.
Libby shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“To sweeten the deal,” Briggs continued, “my sports management firm would be happy to cover the costs of the lads’ schooling in exchange for your spiritual advisor services.”
“You’ll pay the balance?” she stammered.
Briggs stared at his mobile’s screen. “A little over sixteen thousand dollars?”
“Yes,” she replied, her voice a scratch of a whisper.
Raz couldn’t take it. He couldn’t stand there and watch his agent manipulate her.
“You can’t threaten her like that, Briggs,” he said, closing in on the man again. “What you’re doing is blackmail.”
The agent raised his hands defensively. “It’s not a threat, champ. It’s an offer.”
“Aug?” Raz bit out, turning to his trainer. “What do you have to say about this?”
The toothpick pressed between Augie’s lips swiveled as he pondered the question. “I’d say after tonight’s episode, you and Miss Lamb are inextricably connected. The best option for both of you is to work together. That’s the only way you come out of it without looking like bleeding deviants.” Aug studied Libby, then gave her a nod. “What’s the harm in letting her be your spiritual advisor? She may teach you a thing or two. She’s already improved your sprints, mate. And you need someone to watch over Sebastian.”
The gravity of the situation hit like a swift jab to the gut.
“What about my training, Aug? Am I supposed to commute to the city each day between donkey practice runs?”
“Lad, I have a place near Aspen,” the trainer replied.
Raz’s jaw dropped. “You have a mountain home?”
“Yeah, most rich people around here do,” Aug replied with a shrug.
“I never thought of you as a rich person.”
“Think of the quid you’ve got piled up,” the trainer tossed back.
“Yeah?”
“I have twenty percent of that. I’m bloody rich by any standard,” Augie exclaimed, quite animated for the usually stone-faced bloke.
Raz shifted his weight. “Why didn’t you mention you had a mountain house?”
“Never came up. Luanne likes it. She can wander around, finding interesting rocks and gemstone and take in the scenery. And I’ve come to appreciate hiking.”
“Hiking?” Raz exclaimed.
Bonkers! The world had gone blooming bonkers.
If the crusty Augie Bimston could enjoy lollygagging and bloody hiking around where the rich and famous congregated, any damn thing was possible.
“This is a win-win situation,” Madelyn offered smoothly, sliding into the conversation. “Erasmus, you’ll be able to train in the mountains. I have a feeling the preparations for the Ass-in-Nine race will coincide nicely with your boxing regimen.”
“I believe it will,” Augie agreed. “I already have Raz running five to ten miles three days a week. I don’t bloody care if he does it with a donkey, a goat, or a mythical unicorn with a flowing white mane. He needs to get in the miles for endurance.”
“And Libby,” Madelyn continued as his head was about to explode, “don’t forget, the nanny position pays very well. With the sports agency prepared to make the final tuition payment for your brothers, the income you generate as a nanny is yours to do with as you wish.”
