Unexpected

by Jenna Hartley

  “As a nanny?” She gave me an incredulous look.

  “He had glowing recommendations from every family he’s worked with. And clearly,” I said, gesturing toward the backyard where he and Sophia were talking as they rolled a suitcase across the yard, “he loves children.”

  “When he called Sophia ‘princess’…” She placed a hand to her chest and sighed. “So sweet.”

  “I know,” I said. “He’s so, so good with her. Which is why this relationship can never be anything but professional.”

  “I know. I know.” She held up her hands. “You don’t mix business with pleasure.”

  “That’s right.” I stood and rinsed my mug in the sink, hopefully putting an end to the discussion. Even if I’d wanted to pursue something with Preston, I couldn’t. I needed his help.

  Lauren started packing up her stuff. “Thanks for the coffee. And the eye candy.”

  “Any time,” I said, walking her to the door.

  “Really?” She perked up. “I’m going to take you up on that.”

  I laughed, knowing she wasn’t serious. Right?

  She slid into the driver’s seat of her white Mercedes coupe and rolled down the window. “Good luck with the new manny.” She winked.

  I rolled my eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks.”

  “Hey, I’m just excited to see you finally interested in a guy. I was beginning to think you were secretly in love with me,” she teased.

  “Oh, Lauren.” I leaned into her window and puckered my lips as I squeezed her cheeks. “You know I love you, pookie.”

  She laughed, pulling away from my touch. “Don’t mess up my makeup,” she said in a threatening tone.

  “What makeup? Your skin is naturally flawless.”

  “Damn right. Thank you, girlfriend. If we’re both still single when we turn forty, we’re getting married.”

  I laughed. “Fine. But I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “Oh, I’m fairly certain it won’t,” she said with a knowing glance toward the backyard.

  “Go on.” I backed away as she pressed the Start button, firing up the ignition. “Get out of here.”

  I returned to the kitchen feeling restless before deciding I should check on Preston and Sophia. I could hear them talking from the open door of the pool house, and I couldn’t resist listening to their conversation.

  “These books are heavy,” Sophia panted, and I could picture her trying to lug around some of the textbooks I’d seen Preston carrying across the yard earlier.

  “Yeah, well. As you get older, the books you read will get bigger too.”

  “Yeah, but mine won’t. Weigh,” she grunted. “A ton.”

  He chuckled. “Here let me help you with that.”

  “Haven’t you ever heard of something called an e-reader?” My Sophia, always full of sass.

  “I have,” Preston said matter-of-factly. “But you know what? I actually prefer a paperback.”

  “You’re weird,” she said, and I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh.

  “Knock. Knock,” I called, rapping my knuckles on the doorframe.

  “Hey.” Preston glanced up at me and smiled. “Come in.”

  “Yeah, Mommy.” Sophia grabbed my hand. “Come in.”

  She led me on a tour of the place as if I’d never been there. It didn’t take long. There was a bedroom with a bathroom attached. And a small kitchen and sitting area that doubled as the dining room. It was simply furnished, but at least it was nice, clean.

  “Are you settling in okay?” I asked Preston once we’d returned to the living room. Sophia had resumed organizing his books, placing them in alphabetical order on a shelf below the TV.

  “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this is very nice. Much nicer than my apartment, so thank you.” He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Wait. Apartment?”

  “Yeah. I have a place near campus. Eventually, I’d love to have a house, but, yeah, real estate in LA is insane. Didn’t really think about that when choosing a college.”

  I laughed. “Yeah. LA is certainly an expensive market. Good for people like me—agents and brokers. Not so much for struggling models…or, um, students,” I added, feeling like my cheeks were on fire.

  He gave me a bemused smile. “Maybe if I weren’t on an eight-year degree program, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

  I wanted to ask more, but I kept my mouth shut. Business—this was nothing but business. But surely, I should have a good relationship with my employees? I was certainly close to Gabriela. She was like family.

  “I’m just thankful to be getting my degree,” he said, and I sensed there was more he wasn’t telling me.

  “Mommy,” Sophia called. “I’m starving.”

  “You’re starving?” I asked, mimicking her tone and inflection. It was easy to tease, but she had no idea what it meant to be truly starving. Something I swore to myself she’d never know.

  “Can we order from Celebration?” She wrapped her arm around my waist, blinking up at me with her gorgeous baby blues. “Please?”

  “Why not?” I turned to Preston. “Would you like to join us?”

  “I wouldn’t want to intrude,” he said. “Besides, I should probably unpack.”

  “Of course.” I tried not to let my disappointment show. “Come on, Soph.” I pulled her into my side. “Let’s go get ourselves some dinner.”

  “Yay!” She jumped around. “Night, Preston. See you tomorrow.”

  “Night, princess.” He waved. “Sweet dreams.”

  “Goodnight, Preston,” I said. “Thank you again. And please, don’t hesitate to knock if you need anything.”

  Why was my voice so husky? And had I really said that?

  He arched a brow, a subtle tilt to his lips. “Anything?”

  I wondered if I was reading more into his tone than was actually there, but I didn’t think so. I’d been around the block before, and I knew when a man was interested in me. And Preston was clearly interested. The idea that someone so much younger than me—and so hot—was attracted to me made me giddy, made me feel younger than my age.

  “Mom,” Sophia called, dragging out the vowel. It was like being doused with a bucket of ice water.

  It didn’t matter how hot Preston was, or how much I liked him, he was here for Sophia—not me. His attention, flattering as it was, could never amount to more. This was business. And as I’d told Lauren time and again, I absolutely did not mix business with pleasure.

  Chapter Six

  “Hey, man. What’s up?” I held the phone to my ear with one hand, while making the bed with the other. “How’s New York?”

  “Awesome,” Hunter said. “Hotter than I expected, but man…this place is crawling with models.”

  I laughed. “And LA isn’t?”

  “True. But I’ve already slept with half of them.” He wasn’t kidding.

  “So, what’s up?”

  “Some fucker at my sister’s apartment building decided to light some candles and forgot to blow them out.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, and so is most of her stuff. But they decided it was a good time to renovate. And now everyone has to relocate. Would you be okay sharing the apartment with her this summer?”

  “Yeah. The hot one, right?” I teased, knowing it would get a rise out of him. I assumed he was referring to Kate, since his older sister was married. Not that it mattered—they were both like sisters to me.

  He growled. “She’s too young for you.”

  She was twenty.

  “I might be willing to make an exception. You know, since she’s your sister and all.” I smirked, picking up a few items as I walked toward the front room.

  “Not funny, man. I’m seriously rethinking this.”

  “Nah,” I said, figuring I’d tortured him long enough. “I’m not even going to be there this summer.”

  He lowered his voice, and I could imagine him walking down a hall to find some pr
ivacy. “Is everything okay? Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” I rushed to reassure him. “I got a new placement, and it’s a live-in position.”

  “Really? What happened with Theo?”

  “Aww.” I paced by the windows. “You do listen.”

  I didn’t hear anything he said after that because Alexis was standing on the lawn in leggings and a sports bra. Her bare feet were nestled in the grass like her instructor’s. As if that weren’t torture enough, Alexis bent over to unroll her yoga mat, putting her perfect ass on display.

  “Fuck,” I said, dragging out the word.

  “What?” Hunter asked.

  I knew I should look away, but I couldn’t. Especially not after she started going through a series of poses. I didn’t know much about yoga, but it was clear that Alexis was incredibly flexible.

  “My, um, new neighbor is doing yoga on the lawn,” I said, settling on a version of the truth.

  That got his attention. “Is she hot?”

  “Mm-hmm.” My dick strained against my zipper as she leaned forward, giving me a straight shot into her sports bra. Was she trying to torture me?

  “What’s she wearing?” Hunter’s husky voice snapped me out of the trance.

  “We’re not having this conversation,” I said, cringing that it had even gotten as far as it had.

  “Why not?” I could imagine his expression—genuinely perplexed. “You know what—you’re right. I have a better idea. Send me a picture.”

  My vision clouded, and I clenched my phone in my hand. “I’m not sending you a picture of Alexis.”

  “Alexis, huh? You sure are getting friendly with your new neighbor. Unless…” He was quiet for a moment, and I knew the wheels were turning. “Wait, is Alexis your boss?”

  “What?” I scoffed. “No.”

  “Ha! She is.” I could imagine his shit-eating grin. “Trying to bag a cougar after all?”

  “Don’t call her that,” I hissed.

  “Tell me one thing…” I could imagine him leaning back in a chair, his feet propped up on a desk, wearing a smug grin. “How old is she?”

  I spotted Sophia, hopping across the grass. She bypassed Alexis and her yoga instructor and headed straight for my door. Guess this was just a regular day in her world. Mine too, now.

  “She’s… I’m not doing this with you.” I spun away from the windows, suddenly feeling like a pervert for watching.

  Could I really do this? Could I spend the next two months living in her pool house and not act on my desire for her?

  I didn’t have a choice. If I wanted to finish my degree, if I didn’t want to completely fuck myself over financially, I needed to focus on the job, on Sophia. Sophia—not Alexis.

  “Preston,” Sophia called, knocking on the door. “Preston,” she said in a singsong voice.

  Since it was summer, Sophia could sleep in. Since she was supposed to be spending the summer with her dad, she had nowhere she needed to be, no schedule she needed to follow. I wondered what her summers were typically like. I wondered if she was the type of kid to get bored easily or if she was good at independent play. I wondered if this summer—living and working so closely with Alexis—was going to be pure torture.

  “I have to go,” I said to Hunter.

  “Have fun with your MILF.”

  I covered the mouthpiece with my hand, careful not to cuss in front of Sophia, even if there was a door separating us. “Shut the fuck up,” I whispered just before I opened the door with a big smile. “Hey, princess.”

  “Oh man. You are so screwed.” He chuckled.

  “Catch you later.” I disconnected the call, but not before I heard his laughter reverberating through the phone.

  Sophia cocked her head to the side. “Who were you talking to?”

  “My friend Hunter.” I closed the door behind me.

  Don’t look up. Don’t look up. Don’t look—shit.

  Alexis had her hips pressed to the ground, her chest lifted. And she was looking right at me. For a brief moment, it was as if a thread stretched between us. I was tethered to her, pulled in her direction.

  And then Sophia’s voice severed the connection.

  I glanced away, returning my attention to Sophia. “Did you already eat breakfast?”

  “Nope.”

  I steered her toward the house, doing my best to ignore Alexis. A nearly impossible task when her lips parted slightly on an exhale, her head lifted toward the sky.

  She was stunning. Her body, sculpted and lean. And so incredibly flexible. Watching her move through the yoga poses had my imagination working in overdrive. And her apparel wasn’t helping matters. Leggings that clung to her every curve, much like I wanted to. A sports bra that hugged her breasts, pushing them up so her cleavage nearly spilled over.

  “Preston,” Sophia said.

  I cleared my throat and turned my attention back to her. “Um, yeah?”

  “What do you want to eat for breakfast?” she asked.

  Your mom.

  So bad. So, so inappropriate. But seriously…those leggings were going to be the death of me.

  “Um, I typically have eggs or oatmeal, like this morning. What do you like?” I followed her into the kitchen, which was immaculate.

  “Gabby usually makes me an omelet,” she said it with little to no enthusiasm.

  “Do you want an omelet?”

  She bit her lip, and in that moment, she looked so like Alexis.

  “Well, then, what would you like? I am at your service, princess.” I bowed low, and she giggled.

  She glanced toward the backyard where Alexis was still showing off just how pliable her body was before turning back to me. “Could we…” She hesitated, and when she spoke again, it was with more confidence. “I’d really love some pancakes. Please,” she added.

  “Then pancakes you shall have.” I glanced around the kitchen for supplies, relieved she hadn’t requested an ice cream sundae or something I knew would absolutely not fly.

  “Really?” she squealed.

  Her reaction only confirmed my theory that pancakes weren’t something she was typically permitted. I wondered if it was because of her food allergies—gluten, wheat, and oats. Or if it was something else, perhaps a ban on carbs? In California, you never knew what crazy diet people would come up with next.

  “You want to help?” I asked.

  She lit up. “Really?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “Of course. Everything tastes better when you make it yourself.” I pulled the eggs from the fridge. “Can you grab us two bananas?”

  “Bananas.” She ran over to the counter and grabbed two. “Check.”

  “Great. We’ll also need some cinnamon, salt, and olive oil.”

  She directed me to the pantry, which was both well stocked and incredibly well organized. Like the rest of the house, it looked like something straight out of a magazine. I grabbed the remaining ingredients, including the rice flour.

  “Okay,” I said, placing everything on the counter. “Two bowls. Two forks.”

  She grabbed them, and then, standing side by side at the counter, I showed her how to make pancakes. The last one was coming off the pan when Alexis strode through the door. Her cheeks were flushed, and her skin glistened. Her hair was in a high ponytail that bared her shoulders to me. And she looked good—good enough to eat.

  “Mommy, Mommy,” Sophia said. “Look! We made pancakes!”

  I smiled, happy to see her pride and excitement over making breakfast. I turned off the gas range and added the last one to the stack.

  “You did?” Alexis asked, and I could tell from her tone she wasn’t entirely thrilled by the idea.

  Meanwhile, she was pulling the most random stuff out of the fridge—spinach, grapes, some juice. It looked healthy, but also, disgusting.

  “And they don’t have wheat, gluten, or oats?” Alexis glanced to me for confirmation.

  “Nope.” I grinned. “None of the above.”

 
; “We made some for you too.” Sophia slid a plate across the counter.

  Alexis looked down at the stack of pancakes, eyeing them hungrily. “Thank you, baby. But you know I have a protein shake for breakfast.”

  She pushed the plate away, and I watched as Sophia disappeared into herself. Her shoulders slumped, her head down.

  “These are actually very healthy pancakes,” I said. “They have just a few ingredients: banana, egg, rice flour, and some seasonings.”

  “That’s it?” Alexis’s expression showed surprise.

  I understood. When I’d first seen the recipe, I’d been skeptical too. A pancake with no butter or milk? And you could use alternative flours, but you didn’t even have to add those.

  “Sophia did such an amazing job making them.” I gave Alexis an encouraging smile and inclined my head toward the pancakes. “Maybe you could just try a bite.”

  “I suppose one bite wouldn’t be the end of the world.” She grinned and picked up a fork.

  Sophia and I watched as Alexis wrapped her lips around the fork. Sophia was waiting for the approval she so desperately sought. And I…I was just plain desperate.

  She chewed then swallowed and finally smiled. “These are amazing. Seriously. Good job, Soph.”

  Alexis took another bite, and Sophia glanced up at me and grinned. It was like a sucker punch to the chest.

  “These are so good,” Alexis moaned, taking a seat on the barstool next to Sophia and pulling the plate closer to her. “So, so good.”

  I grinned to myself, giving them a moment to enjoy their breakfast while I wiped down the counter. They talked and ate their pancakes, and I was thrilled that the summer was already off to such a great start.

  “Any questions about today?” Alexis asked.

  “Nope. I think we’re good. And if we can’t figure something out, we’ll call.” Not that I intended to call unless it was an emergency.

  “Actually—” She paused to swallow the bite she’d been chewing. “I’ll be working from home this morning, and then I have a few showings this afternoon. So, I’ll be around most of the day if you need anything.”

  I gripped the sponge. “Great.”

  “Also, I meant to tell you… You’re welcome to use the pool or the home gym anytime. I know you weren’t expecting a live-in placement, and I want to make this transition easy for you.”