Page 46 of Nanny for the Rockstars

“Do you really?” I ask. “I’m just the nanny.”

“I don’t think they see you that way. They made you part of the group, part of the club. They treat you like you’re one of them, and with them, that’s huge. I mean, I’ve seen them go through a lot of women, and you’re the one they have treated with respect. Let me tell you, I would hate to be the girl who was just hooking up with them and didn’t have them caring about me too,” Mags tells me.

“You think they care about me?” I ask her.

Part of me wants to ask her if she knows that we’re hooking up on top of everything else I’m doing with them, but considering the way she’s told me this much, I get the sneaking suspicion she might already know. I can’t say the words to her, or I’m afraid I’m going to blush.

“I know they care about you, like I said. I can tell. If there’s anyone who knows those guys and how they are today, it’s me. I don’t doubt that you were close with them when you were in high school, but trust me when I say that they’re assholes. Assholes through and through, really. But they aren’t assholes to you,” Mags says.

I nod. I do agree with that one.

I know what it feels like to be getting the short end of the stick with them, and they’re certainly going above and beyond to treat me well. The only complaint I really have about them is the fact that I’m worried they’re going to replace me with someone else.

Most notably, the child’s mother.

“So tell me honestly,” I say. “Do you really think that they’re going to stand up to Clarissa?”

“What do you mean?” Mags asks.

“I mean, I don’t know what she wants. I would like to think that she’s just trying to see what she can get away with and they’re going to put her back in her place, but I don’t know if I trust that,” I say. “I’m scared that when it comes down to it, she’s going to take them to court, and they’ll fight things out and all that. And I’m scared it’s not going to work out well.”

“I’m sure if they go to court and all that, then the triplets are going to make sure they at least get to have some custody of Hendrix,” Mags says. “I’m not sure how black and white this all is considering the fact that she’s the one who left her son in that dressing room with nothing more than a note. That has to count for something.”

“Sure, but when it comes to the court system, everyone knows that the mother is the one who gets the benefit. I don’t want to have to worry about losing Hendrix because she doesn’t want some other woman to have anything to do with him, you know?” I ask.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen, and even if she didn’t want you to be around him when she was with him, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take care of him when he’s with the guys. I mean, that’s the whole reason why you’re here in the first place, isn’t it?” Mags asks. “So of course when they have Hendrix they’re going to need someone like you to take care of him.”

“I hope you’re right,” I say with a sigh.

“I’m sure I am,” Mags says with a grin. “But hey, I’ve got to get going. The show’s starting soon.”

“Okay,” I tell her. “I’ll see you around.”

“See you later on,” she says. “Have a good night, you two.”

She leaves me and Hendrix alone in the bus, and I cradle the little boy close. I hate thinking of what Clarissa could do to the family I’ve enjoyed the past few weeks, and I hate even more that I can’t do anything about it.

But playing with Hendrix is a great way to get my mind off things, so that’s what I want to do. I know the guys aren’t going to notice I’m not at the show until after, so not going isn’t going to ruin anything they’re doing.

I just want to forget about all the drama for a few hours and have fun with Hendrix. He’s clearly gotten attached to me, and I’m happy for that. It makes me feel like I really matter to someone, and that person loves me no matter what.

I’m just going to have to trust that things are going to work out for us, even if it’s going to be a battle. Hendrix is someone worth fighting for, I know that, and I’ll fight.

I just hope I have the triplets on my side.

TWENTY-THREE

JULIAN

“And, surprise!” I say as I shove the door open.

Caleb, who’s walking behind me, covering Jeanette’s eyes with his hands, moves both his hands to reveal the penthouse suite as soon as I shove open the door.

“What do you think?” Terry chimes in, barely giving enough time for Jeanette to even take in the view.

“What’s this?” she asks, looking around the room with wide eyes. “Why did you guys bring me here?”

“We thought you might want to have a couple days of being spoiled,” I say. “With us being here for a few days, we figured you didn’t want to spend it all on that bus, especially since we have plenty more bus time to come.”

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