Page 59 of The Accidental Nanny
"Maybe. I wouldn't say no to a second or third round. But you'll have to give me some time to recover. I'm not as young as I used to be." I feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
Gemma smirks. "I don't know about that. You’ve got enough stamina for me."
"Gemma," I warn her, chuckling.
"I just want to do it all the time with you," she says, her voice giddy.
I can’t take my eyes off her as she eats. Her face scrunches up when she tastes the pad krapow, then takes a large sip of wine. Our conversation flows; Gemma talks about how she got into childcare. We carry on the evening out on the patio. Grabbing a blanket, I wrap it around her, taking her glass and the rest of the bottle. It’s a warm evening and still light. We watch as the sun starts to set, the red and pink colours filling the sky before the stars start to come out. She sits next to me, holding my hand; I can’t take my eyes off her.
She catches me staring and raises her eyebrows. "What? Do I have something on my face?" She wipes it with her hand.
“Nothing.” I smile.
She gets up, moving onto my knee and cuddles up against me.
“I wish the children were here. It’s a perfect night to see the stars,” she murmurs.
“They would be asleep by now.” I kiss her head.
“We could wake them up one night. Surely they would be allowed to?” she asks me.
“Then I couldn’t do this.” My mouth reaches hers. I am not letting her go anytime soon. One day, I will have to, just not today.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Gemma
“Ace, get up.” I knock loudly on his door. There’s no answer. “I’m coming in.”
Eden is standing behind me. “Ace, get up,” Eden calls.
“Eden,” I say, giving her a stern look.
She pouts at me, the little madam.
“I’m coming in,” I tell Ace for the last time.
Turning the handle, I step in. His room is a disaster. It looks like a bomb exploded in it. I have to clean it up. I find Ace hiding under his quilt.
“Get up, Mister. You don't want me to call your dad.”
“I’m sick,” Ace says in a muffled voice.
I pull the cover back and place my hand on his head. He feels fine, and he looks fine. I have a sneaky suspicion he's trying to get out of going to school, but there must be a reason for that.
“Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” I say, placing my hands on my hips.
Eden pokes her head out from behind me, but she keeps quiet for a change.
“What’s the easy way?” he asks.
“You tell me the real reason why you don’t want to go to school," I offer.
"Or?" he asks, raising his eyebrow and looking so much like his father.
"Or I call Father Christmas and tell him you're being naughty.” My eyes go wide.
“No,” he groans. "Please don't."
