Page 20 of The Stud Next Door (Frisky Business 3)
“One, that’s backward as hell. Two, I’m not here to get drunk,” I say grumpily, lifting my glass of ice water as proof. “Marley’s at home with the nanny, and I don’t want to come home smelling like cheap vodka.”
“The nanny.” Hayes chuckles to himself, raising his pint glass to his smirking mouth.
“The hot nanny,” Caleb says, punctuating his unnecessary addition with a belch.
Classy.
Even Wolfie smirks, one eyebrow crooked. “Like we all don’t already know her name.”
“Okay, fine,” I say with a shrug. “Marley is at home with Jessa.”
“Oh, Jessa. Riiight, Jessa.” Caleb smacks his palm to his forehead in a mock eureka moment. “I forgot her name, ’cause you didn’t mention her in the last, I dunno, five minutes.”
“Shut up,” I grumble.
I get it. They all think it’s hilarious that I haven’t fucked the insanely attractive nanny. I only bring her up a lot because she’s taking care of my daughter, and these dickwads wouldn’t understand the relationship between a parent and his child’s caretaker. It’s crystal clear to me, as long as I ignore the burning desire I feel for her every time we’re in the same vicinity.
“You’re one to talk, Caleb.” Hayes juts his chin toward Wolfie. “We were just talking about you and Scarlett.”
Caleb freezes with his shot glass in midair. “What about her? What about us?”
“It just seems like your friendship has . . . what was the word you used?”
Hayes nudges Wolfie, who very matter-of-factly grunts out, “Evolved.”
“No, it hasn’t.” Caleb scoffs, swearing as the cue ball drops into the pocket.
I didn’t see this turn of conversation coming, but I’m suddenly very interested. And frankly grateful the focus isn’t on me anymore.
“I always thought she had a thing for you,” I say, leaning over the corner of the table to clap him hard on the arm. I snicker when he scowls at me.
“No, man, it’s not like that. Scarlett and I are strictly friends.”
“Of course.” Hayes nods solemnly. “Well, let me remind you that I’m Maren’s confidant, who happens to be Scarlett’s confidante, and word travels—”
“I’m getting more shots,” Caleb says quickly, tossing his pool cue to me before turning on his heel and storming back to the bar.
I glance at Hayes and Wolfie, and the three of us exchange a knowing look. Let’s drop it.
I check my watch reflexively, noting the time. I’ve already been out for a couple of hours. It would be best if we wrapped this up soon so I can get home and relieve Jessa of her babysitting duties.
“Thinking about the nanny?” Wolfie asks, leaning against the pool table while Hayes takes his shot.
I’d bristle at the question, but coming from Wolfie, I know there’s no subtext behind it.
“Yeah, I guess I am,” I say with a sigh. “I feel bad staying out late while she’s waiting for me at home.”
Hayes makes a face, pursing his lips as if to stop whatever he’s thinking from tumbling out of his mouth.
Son of a bitch.
I give him a challenging look. “Whatever you’re thinking, just say it.”
Caleb returns with more shots, for once reading the damn room and keeping his mouth shut.
“That just sounds like something I’d say about Maren,” Hayes says, giving me a knowing look.
“And I’d say about Penelope,” Wolfie adds.
I scrunch my eyes closed and run a hand through my hair. When will my friends just leave well enough alone? “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“You’d tell us if there was something going on, right?” Hayes asks, his brow furrowed.
What a bunch of gossips.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
Absolutely nothing. Certainly not the fact that we slept in the same bed the other night, and I woke up curled around her soft, sweet curves. Definitely not how I contemplated for just a moment about pressing a kiss to the back of her neck and grinding my raging hard-on against her ass, desperate to take this thing we have to the next level.
“We talking ’bout the hot nanny again?” Caleb whispers conspiratorially, passing shot glasses to Hayes and Wolfie before holding one out to me.
“Man, I said I was done drinking.” I groan, shaking my head.
“You never explicitly said that.” Caleb shrugs, nodding toward the shot glass in his outstretched hand.
All eyes are on me as they wait for me to do one of two things—either admit that I’m into the nanny, or down this shot. And God knows I’m not about to confess my dirty little secret just yet.
I grab the glass from Caleb’s hand and throw back the shot in one painful gulp. They all watch silently, waiting for me to recover from the taste of literal gasoline.
I raise a single finger, my voice hoarse as I croak out, “One more, two at most.”
Caleb hoots in triumph while Wolfie and Hayes exchange a fist bump.
Sorry, Jessa. Looks like it’s gonna be a long night after all.
