Page 32 of The Billionaire and the Nanny

I stepped closer to her and my arm brushed against hers as I leaned over and made the perfect break, potting three balls in one go. Tia made a big deal of stepping out of my way and I sighed. I owed her an apology, and it was better to get it out before it choked me.

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier, Tia.”

She sniffed and turned her adorable nose up at me.

“You’ll need to be more specific because as I see it, you have a lot to be sorry for.”

I sighed again deeply. If this was one of my brothers, all I’d need was a chin tip and the offer of some booze to be square again. If it was Maddie or Aunt Fee, I could get away with a tight hug and kiss. I had a feeling if I tried to hug Tia, she’d ram that cue where the sun didn’t shine. Dammit, I’d have to say the actual words, even if it killed me.

“I’m sorry I accused you of trying to hurt Maddie. I don’t believe that at all,” I said softly.

She stared into my eyes as if she was trying to gauge my sincerity, and then the angry set to her face softened a little.

“And what about the other thing?”

“What about it?” I asked blandly.

Tia’s nostrils flared and her lips tightened in annoyance.

“Do you really think I seduced you on purpose three years ago? You should be so lucky,” she replied scathingly.

I sighed a third time. A deep sigh that I felt down to my bones.

“Maybe not.”

When she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me, I gave in with whatever little dignity I had left.

“Fine! I’m sorry for saying that, too. I accept that you didn’t seduce me for any nefarious reason. Although you can’t blame me for believing that. It was too much of a coincidence, Tia. And you should have told me you recognized me.”

“I told you I’m almost blind without my glasses, Leo. I’d lost my glasses at the party where we met. And I didn’t recognize you until you took me home and I saw you properly with my glasses on. How could I? You had that big Batman mask on. And by the time you took it off, it was too late. You kissed me and I… well… I could barely remember my own name after that,” she said, blushing brightly.

“Alright, I admit I might have overreacted a little because I was very sensitive about Natalie and her death at the time. It was barely a year after she died, and I was thrown off kilter by how strongly I was drawn to you.”

She pushed her thick curly hair behind her ears and pushed her glasses higher on her nose as she cleared her throat uncomfortably.

“Yes, well… that’s all in the past,” she said, looking down at the table.

I nudged her as I leaned forward to take another shot and I didn’t miss the way she shivered in response, or the fact that she didn’t move away this time. She spoke just as I moved my cue back to strike the white.

“Maybe you could teach me how to play,” she murmured.

The cue hit the ball with a clatter and my shot went wildly off the mark. I turned to find Tia smirking at me.

I stared at her through narrowed eyes. She did that on purpose! I decided to take up the challenge and stepped back to allow her to step up to the table.

“Sure. Why not? Get in position,” I invited.

She looked a little taken aback at my ready acquiescence. But she stepped up and took the cue from me with a toss of her head.

“Now, bend your knees and lean forward. Some more,” I urged, with a hand at her back.

She shivered at the touch and leaned further over the table. I took her hand and bent the fingers into the right position on the table. Then I stood right behind her and leaned into her body as I showed her how to use the cue.

“Move it backward smoothly and strike the ball,” I whispered in her ear.

She turned around and glared at me. There was a hectic flush on her cheekbones, and her breath came fast and heavy. I expected her to cry chicken at this point, but Tia was made of sterner stuff. She looked down and stuck her ass back at me, grazing the raging hardon I was trying to will down. Then, the little devil turned around with a smirk.

“Is that better?”

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