Page 123 of The Nanny

Aiden looks about three seconds from short-circuiting, and I can feel my neck getting hot with mortification. He is absolutely never going to ask me out again. Wanda finally smiles as I start silently begging for death, squawking out a laugh as she pats Aiden on the chest.

“I’m pulling your leg, boy,” she cackles. “You be good to my girl, all right?”

Aiden nods mechanically. “Yes. Of course.”

“She tell you I got a fake hip? If you break her heart, I’ll—”

“Okay,” I cut in. “We’d better get going. You have our numbers, so, if you need anything at all...”

Wanda is still laughing, and I shoot her a look that says I will be tearing her a new hide later. “You kids go have fun,” she says, shooing us off. “I got the little terror handled.”

“Seriously,” Aiden urges. “Call us if you need anything at all.”

“Don’t worry,” Wanda says with a smile. “I got this, Dad.”

She gives us a wave as she closes the door, hollering something about shuffling the cards before the door closes behind her. Aiden doesn’t immediately move to leave, still looking dazed when his eyes find mine. “I can’t tell if she hates me or not.”

“Oh,” I laugh. “She loves you.”

He bobs his head. “Well, okay then.”

“Come on,” I tell him, reaching for the red silk of his tie and letting it slide through my fingers. “Let’s go get your money’s worth on this dress.”

—

Aiden’s workplace looks different when it isn’t full of chattering customers and packed tables. The owner has closed most of the restaurant down save for the main dining area, where they’ve set up groups of tables for the staff. I notice the hostess who is always giving me looks (Aiden has informed me that her name is Laura and that it’s just her face) at a nearby table with one of the bartenders, and she gives me a nod when our eyes meet. Maybe even a smile. I can’t tell.

Maybe it really is just her face.

The lighting is the usual muted glow that feels romantic, and when Aiden guides me across the space and helps me into one of the fancy chairs that I haven’t sat in since our weird first meeting—it fully hits me that this is adate.It makes my heart beat faster while I settle into my chair, Aiden taking the one opposite me and giving me a warm smile when he catches me staring.

“What?”

“It’s funny,” I tell him.

“What is?”

“The last time we were here like this, I almost spit on you.”

“It was very cute,” he tells me.

“Really?”

“How creepy does it make me seem if I tell you it made me think about your mouth for the rest of the night?”

“Incredibly creepy,” I deadpan. “Straight to jail.”

His smile widens. “I’ll be sure not to tell you any of the other creepy thoughts I’ve had about you since you moved in then.”

“Oh, no way,” I protest. “I want to know everything. I already know you’re a pervert, anyway.”

“But how creepy does it sound if I say I only want to be a pervert with you?”

I blow out a breath, reaching for the little purse I’ve brought as if going for my phone. “Wow. Yeah. I’m calling the police.” Aiden laughs, and I drop the act as I grin back at him. “It’s fine. I spent most of that first night thinking about your hands, so we’re even.”

“My hands?” He looks down at his fingers with a furrowed brow. “What about them?”

“They’re very big.”

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