Page 12 of The Forbidden Sitter
Chapter7
Gannon
For the firsttime since I was a kid, I felt my cheeks heating as I blushed.She actually made meblush!
A deep laugh came out of me as I ducked my head. Then I remembered who the hell I was and stood. “I’m sorry if you saw anything I said as being flirtatious. I certainly didn’t mean to make you think I’m flirting with you.” That was a blatant lie, but she didn’t have to know that. And if she reported anything like that back to her older brother, he’d snatch her away from me in aheartbeat.
I had to exercise my self-control, even if it wasn’t a thing I was used to doing, so it wasn’teasy.
But I would getthem.
Now she was the one ducking her head in embarrassment. “I’m sorry if I misread you,sir.”
Not back tosir!
I took the same position she was in, sitting cross-legged on the floor next to my son, and chuckled to let her know I wasn’t trying to be a jerk. “Come on, let’s not go all the way back to calling me sir.” I reached out and pulled Braiden to sit on my lap, hoping like hell that made me seem more approachable and less like a male whore. The way Braiden immediately snuggled into me made me feel a little like a heel for having the hots for his nanny when that was the last thing he needed. What he needed was a father who could keep it in his pants and keep from losing the new woman in both our lives, who was going to be instrumental to helping us figure out the father-sonthing.
“This is going to take some getting used to by all of us. We’ve all been thrown into this thing. This very-similar-to-being-a-family thing. And you’re the female in this thing we’re in. The mother-figure.” She shook her head, but I didn’t let that stop me, “Shake your head all you want, Brooke. It won’t change the fact this little boy needs a mother, and that that will be your job for the foreseeable future. At least until he’s in school. And maybe even afterthat.”
With a sigh, she looked at me. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll get used to it. I guess we all will get used to our new roles. You as a father and the boy as a cherished son, a thing he must’ve never been. Poor baby.” She reached over and touched Braiden’s soft hair where it was nestled into my shoulder. “And me as the female lead in hislife.”
“Okay, then.” I felt better about the whole thing. “Are you ready to take over your babysitting duties,Brooke?”
“Sure,” her tone was chipper and her smile bright. “I’ve got this, Gannon. Go do what you need to do. Braiden is in good hands withme.”
Placing Braiden back on the floor, I got up and roughed up his mop of dark hair before kissing him on top of his little head. “I’ll catch you guys later, then.” Heading out of her bedroom, I found myself looking back, finding her and Braiden playing with his truck. My heart did an odd little pitter patter thing, and I sighedinwardly.
When did I get so damnsappy?
After a quick change of clothes, changing into a suit for dinner, I headed out to meet up with August and Nixon for dinner and drinks. It was our usual Friday night thing to do since we’d met inVegas.
The other two men had already been seated, as I found out when the maître d took me to their table. A small table for four near the back of the seating area is where I found them, snickering about something. “Good evening.” I took a seat as they both looked at me with curiousexpressions.
It was August who had to ask, “So an hour late. Whatgives?”
My grin was sly as I saw the waiter making his way to me. After ordering my drink, I let them in on what was happening in my life. A good half-hour and two drinks later, I had them thoroughly mesmerized by how my life had taken such a sharpturn.
Nixon shook his head slowly as he muttered, “That’s fucked up,man.”
“What a bitch,” August added. “I’ve never heard of anyone doing such a horrible thing.” His eyes were filled with compassion. “That poor littlekid.”
Taking a sip of the twelve-year-old Scotch, I nodded. “Well, he was a poor kid. He’s finally going to have a good life now. And the woman I found to babysit him is sure to make him happy too.” I placed the glass on the table. “She makes me happy too,unfortunately.”
“And why would that be unfortunate, Gannon?” Nixon asked as he waved at thewaiter.
“Because she’s the baby sister of my best friend. And he’s threatened me about doing so much as flirting with the young thing.” I had to close my eyes to conjure her in my mind. “The absolutely gorgeous youngthing.”
“Excuse me,” Nixon told the waiter. “Can you get us something to eat. Some finger foods. I’m thinking maybe something with shrimp init.”
“Oh, and cheese too,” August added. “Something maybe we can dip chipsin.”
“I’ll be right back,” the waiter assured us, then made his way toward thekitchen.
Both turned their attention to me once more. August raised one dark brow. “So how young is thisgirl?”
“Her brother told me she’s twenty.” That earned me criticalstares.
“And you’re thirty,” Nixon pointed out. “Ten years older than she is. But my guess is that’s not too much of an age gap to put you off, isit?”
