Page 71 of Late Nights & Love Lines
My fake grin is as shaky as my thoughts, but I nod, then remain a silent observer as this family goes about their morning as though they’ve done it a million times before while my heart and mind go to war. Again.
Todays and tomorrows and broken huggers. What the hell is happening to me?
17
DON’T PANIC!
SEBASTIAN
Thane. What the hell kind of name is that anyway? When I pulled it up on Google, it said it means warrior, and I immediately shut that shit down.
Fucking warrior. Give me a break.
“Any reason you’re sitting here sulking like someone stole your girlfriend?”
The glare I shoot Alexei makes my eyes sting, but the prick sits next to me at the picnic table and follows my line of sight since I can’t tear my gaze away for longer than thirty seconds.
“Damn, man. Do you know who that is?”
I cut him a side-eye, but my ire is quickly masked when Miles looks up between us. We’re sitting here making a cat’s eye with sticks and yarn while nannies join us every thirty minutes.
Thirty freaking minutes is a long-ass time to hold a conversation with a stranger, especially when the one woman you want is flittering around the camp with Thane fucking Wilder.
Why isn’t he going through this shit? Clearly, he needs a nanny too. At least Kade keeps the current nanny sitting at ourtable occupied with his stream of never-ending questions about bugs.
Then Thane steps closer to Rowan, and jealousy so blinding I can’t see anything except Rowan clouds my vision. He better not be trying to move in on her. I don’t care who he is, I’ll ruin the bastard before I let him take her from me.
“Yes. I know who he is,” I grumble.
Anyone who uses technology knows who Thane is. He’s just always held himself apart from everyone in our social circle, until recently. And if I wasn’t being a jealous asshole, I’d cut him some slack, remembering how uncomfortably awkward he was at a fundraiser last year. The guy spoke the emotions he saw on everyone’s faces as though he were trying to understand them.
He might be a genius, but I’ve always wondered if he’s lonely. That doesn’t mean he can take my girl though.
“Thane’s working on some real cutting edge shi…”
I glare at Alexei and give an exaggerated nod toward the kids.
“Stuff. Whatever app he’s working on right now has the tech industry in a tizzy they haven’t seen since Steve Jobs and Apple.”
That information takes my sour mood and spoils it completely. I knew Rowan had a client named Thane, but I hadn’t cared enough to look into it more. Now that I see her client is freaking Thane Wilder, I want to rip his goddamn head off, and not because of his tech—I have no doubt whatever he’s working on will be revolutionary. My issue is that he’s monopolized her time all damn morning.
The bell chimes, indicating it’s time for the nannies to move to the next station. I nod politely at the third prospect of the day.
“Are you supposed to be interviewing them or something?” Alexei whispers.
I shake my head, but keep my gaze glued to Rowan. “Today’s a meet and greet—a time to see how they interact with our kids.From here we choose our top ten, and Lottie will arrange for us to spend time with each of them throughout the week.”
“How many have you seen today?” he asks.
“Three,” I groan.
“What’s the matter? No contenders?”
As if she senses my attention, Rowan scans the crowd until she finds me already staring at her. The smile she wears doesn’t falter because it’s not real.
At least that fucker isn’t getting the real her.
“One,” I grumble.
