“Well…that’s nice,” I replied genuinely. My smile was big, and I felt happy to know the little girl liked me. She was adorable!
“Indeed.”
Oh my god. Could he be anymore charming? That accent. This scene. What the heck am I doing in here? I couldn’t wait to text Sky. Nervously, I looked at his hands when he said that. He crossed them. Nice, strong fingers. He messed with his expensive wristwatch for a minute.
“You look sort of young…to be a dad.”
He eyed me strongly. “Twenty-seven? Yeah, that’s young.” He looked back out of the window, clearing his throat. Was that his signal for nerves? Uncomfortable question?
I noticed we were leaving The Quarter. Suddenly, the realization of that I was in a limo with a perfect stranger—an apparent rich, gorgeous stranger—struck my insides, causing panic to rise along my chest cavity.
“May I ask where we’re going? I thought you were taking me back to The Quarter.” The question came out quicker than I meant, rushed, panicked.
“Well you disturbed my plans. I had my whole afternoon planned, and it involved getting an early lunch among other things.”
“How did I get in the way of that?”
“I wasn’t planning on seeing you walking down the street. And when I did, I was propelled to stop you.”
“Oh right, because I was headed to a bad place. Where you were going.”
Interesting.
“Men have different reasons…” he stopped, changing the subject. “I’m getting lunch now. Would you care to join me?”
“Lu…lunch?” I looked down at my spoiled dress, suddenly feeling underdressed to be dining with a man dressed like that. A perfect stranger. What would we talk about? Yet there was something about him that made me want to find out.
“Certainly. But we can stop and get you a new dress.”
“I supposed that would be fine.” I don’t know why I had said it the way I did. I supposed I was trying to sound formal, like him. Important, polished, British. Yet, I could tell by the smile across his lips that it was clumsy, but perhaps maybe adorable?
“Well yes – you can’t get in like that.” He looked down at my breasts again.
Chapter Four
Silence filled the remaining moments in the limo as I was struck by the outside sites and the ambiance of the music. The smell of the limo mixed with that rich cologne I could just smell all day. I took a big inhale and exhaled slowly, trying to make sure I wasn’t being obvious. I wished our apartment could smell like that. Imagine smelling that every morning. So fresh.
The shine of his shoes. The crisp textiles in his suit. This felt like…this felt like what happens in a movie. Young girl gets picked up by the handsome stranger she saw earlier in the day, whose daughter spilled a drink across her dress. What would happen next? Only one way to find out.
I was not used to such posh boutiques. Back home, I usually shopped at Belk. Jackson took me to a place called Cristines’s – a happy, youthful place with tons of dresses, chic dresses, sexy dresses.
Wow. I felt like a duck out of water, roaming through the dresses, touching the fabrics. Every dress was exquisite, beautiful. I didn’t even know which to choose.
I spun around to make a confession of feeling lost, but I changed my mind. He was staring at me with his arms crossed, his hand into a lose fist, fingers stroking his chin. Studying me.
“I…don’t even know which one to pick. I mean…” I stammered as I grabbed one dress and looked at the price tag. 450 euros.
“Good Lord! That’s…I can’t even afford that. I’ve never…I’ve never even spent that much money on shopping alone!” I shook my head, an innocent smile on my face.
He cocked his chin and opened his mouth to speak but looked to the ceiling instead for a brief second. “Humor me, shall you? Pick whichever one you wish. It’s on me.”
My eyes went wide. I took a small confident step, perusing the fabrics until finally I came to an aqua dress. It was woven tight. The straps were two inches along the shoulder, coming down nicely along the breasts. It felt so soft, and indeed it would be tight. But it was just the type of dress I’d always seen fabulous women in magazines and movies wear. The representation of arrival in society. I had never tried one on in my life. “I mean…I don’t know if I could accept such a beautiful gift.”
I felt his body inches from me, and all I could do was keep looking at the dress.
“Well, you should. Especially if we are to eat lunch together at Tape. A beautiful dress for a beautiful young lady.”
That cologne! His body! So handsome…I took a few steps back, unable to be too close to him. He made my insides squirm with delicious curiosity, and I was afraid of looking stupid. He was so handsome! Rich! Mysterious! I’ve never met a guy like him in my life, and here he was right next to me telling me to pick out a tight dress to have lunch with him. My head was spinning.
“Umm…I’ll try this one.” I pointed to the dress. A crisply dressed sales associate happily reached for the dress. “Excellent choice.”
“Indeed. And those shoes to the side of it, please,” Jackson ordered.
“The…shoes?”
I looked and saw nude shiny strappy sexy heels. The type where the thick strap went around your ankle.
“What size are you, miss?”
“Seven.”
“You have to wear shoes like that with a dress like that.”
I looked down at my flats. Yes, I suppose he was right. It all felt like slow motion to me. I caught a glimpse of myself in the beautiful baroque boutique mirror. My look was a look of awe as I looked at the dress and shoes. That’s when I saw his eyes gazing into mine in the mirror.
I quickly looked away as my senses went it to overload. Chills flooded my skin.
“I’ll…I’ll try these on.” I quickly helped myself to the rich curtain of a dressing room. An attendant helped me with a kind smile. Once inside, I had to sooth my breathing. What is going on? That look he gave me…that was a very intense look. A look of…I don’t know what it was. But he was so handsome! So dashing! And what was I doing in here?! I had to calm down.
Just go with the flow. Go with it. His daughter ruined your dress. You need one any way. Think of this as experience for method acting for when you’re cast into a wealthy role.
That was all I needed to summon the courage. After all, one day you will be a famous actress. Get used to wearing such things!
She was right.
Thank you voice of reason and confidence.
My pleasure. Now go out there and be that confident southern belle! Just enjoy yourself! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!
It complemented my breasts just right, especially since I opted to go sans bra today. I had to make myself leave the dressing room; I was so embarrassed. I was so shocked of how much of a woman I looked like. A real woman! The dress hugged my breasts and actually made them plump due to the tight bodice and the cut of the cleavage. My small round bottom looked extra full with the slimming affect of my waist. And in the shoes, well in the shoes it all went to a whole new level. I turned to the side and couldn’t believe my eyes!
I wanted to snap a photo of myself and send to Sky. But this hair…and the lack of makeup…I quickly rummaged through my purse and added pale pink lipstick and lined my under eye with brown eye liner, one that made my eyes pop. I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled it to the side.
“Is everything okay in there, miss?”
“Yes…yes.”
“Well, Mr. Maxwell has already made the purchase for you. Do you need any assistance coming out?”
“No thank you, I’m fine!” My voice was high pitched like a young girl. Get your nerves together!
One…two…three…
I opened the curtain to see a pleasant surprise across the sales associate’s face. The look in his eyes was something entirely different. It was a look of pleasure, yes. But a look of hunger, of desire. Oh holy cow, he wanted me!
“Our pleasure. Charming sweet child.”
I let that go as we left the boutique.
Charming sweet child? Did I appear as so?
Oh well. Better to be charming and sweet…and like a child than, well…I’m not entirely sure. But yes, better to be charming and sweet.
I felt like I was dressed to go to a special event as the limo door was opened for me.
Once I slid in, it all felt even more magical. Jackson slid in beside me, a little too close as I slid away from him without even thinking. My heart beat so fast I was afraid he could hear it.
“I don’t bite.” His voice was kind.
“I know that. I mean, actually I don’t know that.” I lightly laughed nervously. Feeling stupid for saying that.
He scooted a few inches away from me with a small smirk on his face and crossed his legs. Reaching for his phone, he scrolled through what seemed to be e mails.
That absence of his close presence made something in me feel missing. I wanted him to be near again. I wanted him to be near.
What was wrong with me? Was it my dress, the awareness that my bare breasts were separated by a thin luxury fabric? My young body on full display? My shapes my curves?
I could feel his eyes hot on me. I decided to turn my eyes to his gaze. But I could only do so for only a short amount of time. He made me so nervous! He was so handsome, rich, and mysterious.
I reached for my own phone and scrolled to text Sky to shake up my crazy lust-filled, excited thoughts, but the limo stopped and there we were. Tape.
“Right this way, Mr. Maxwell.”
His gentle hand led the small of my back as I walked slowly in front of him, careful not to fall in my heels! I couldn’t help but to notice people looking at us. At me. I realized from the outside looking in, we probably looked like a well to do couple. He, dressed so handsomely so, me in my chic dress. It made me feel…fun. Daring. Sexy.
“As you requested.”
The table was surrounded by beautiful vines with white fragrant flowers. Charming, cozy, yet wealthy in taste.
I took my seat, and a server immediately came with a wine and poured our glasses.
“Excellent.” He admired the wine.
“I know you what you like.” The server nodded briefly.
“Indeed, you do.”
I looked carefully at my own glass. I was not used to drinking, but I did not want to appear unsophisticated.
“Never thought this was how my second day in London would go,” I said after a sip of the wine. Wow, that was delicious. I wasn’t used to wine tasting so good! The little I had drunk was from parties filled with cheap wine.
“And…does this please you?”
“It does!” I said cheerfully and carefree.
“Lovely.”
I blushed as I looked back out the window, ever so aware of his heavy eyes on me.
We were seated at a table beneath a huge, beautiful chandelier. The place was romantic and relaxing.
“You look gorgeous. Breathtaking.”
“Thank you…” I said shyly as I tucked a tendril of silk hair behind my ears, ever aware of his eyes on me. “It’s…just the dress.”
“No, not at all. It’s you. Are you used to speaking that way of yourself?” That accent.
“It’s not that,” I said embarrassed.
“What is it then?”
I took a sip of the wine and placed it back down, trailing my fingers on the cool stem. I reached to pick the glass back up.
“Do you know why a wine glass is to be held by the stem and not the actual glass?”
“To look fancy?” I teased.
“Its to keep the temperature at the proper degree. Our heat from our fingers can alter that temperature.” Tempah-tuah.
That accent.
I changed the way I was holding my glass to reflect his teaching. I took a sip of the wine and smiled.
“You’re a good student. Listens right away. Are you looking forward to starting your extensive?”
“Yes. Oh my god I am. I start tomorrow.” I set the wine glass down a little to heavily, it clanked. “Opps!” He sat composed, as if I amused him.
“I suppose I’ll keep looking for a nanny Penelope actually likes. We’ll see how it plays out I guess.” He spoke so elegantly.
I was the one observing him now, and it seemed to make him nervous.
“What?” he shrugged those amazing, strong shoulders of his that I so wanted to rest my head on.
“You just seem so nice. I don’t understand why he doesn’t like you.”
“Who?”
I immediately regretted bringing him up. Who would bring up their boss on a date like this?
“Harry.”
“Harry?” The name did not ring a bell.
“My boss.”
“Oh, right. Harry doesn’t like anybody,” Jackson quickly pointed out. “He hates his life – and people like that who hate their life hate everyone else. They take it out on everyone else instead of manning up and doing something about it.” He took a minute to sip his wine. He rolled his eyes expressively as he did so, as if to make up for not being able to talk. “I know, I know. I was born into money but I guarantee…” he passionately emphasized, pressing his finger against the table as he did so. “Had I not been – I still would have become something great. In fact, I almost wished I’d been born dirt poor so I could prove it to people. Sometimes…” His blue eyes roamed the chandelier-lit room. “I would almost go backwards, lose everything just to show people I cold get it back. Exercise power.” He seemed very eager to prove himself.
“Well, suppose you exercise power just by…you know…” He waited for me to finish my sentence, eyes tightening as he did. Then he leaned his head a bit sideways and into the table, as if he couldn’t hear me. “Raising a child and keeping everything…like, going.”
He tightened his eyes some more, like he didn’t understand me.
“It’s never enough,” he said, thoughtfully, as he sat back in his chair. My eyes drifted down from his blue eyes to his blue shirt. Most men didn’t get how certain button-down shirts just didn’t fit them right. They were either too loose or too tight, but Jackson got it just right. The blue shirt did not quite match his blue eyes, but the contrast was sexy.
“Every day I get up…” he said with a slight nod, eyes on the table. He seemed very pensive. “I wake up Penelope, she is fed her breakfast. I do what work I can. I take her to play because she’s restless…its summer…she goes to her Montessori school. She is picked up by her nanny to be taken back to her gorgeous home with thousands of acres of land. She has a pony. She has pets. I just feel she’s unhappy. No one can replace her mother. I fear her happiness is declining. Anyway, it’s never enough. I’m a man. I have needs, but they just go…unmet.”
I did not know what to say. Unmet? What did that exactly mean? Was he talking about…sex?
“I’m…I’m sorry?”
“If only you could help me with that.”
With sex? My eyes went wide.
“My daughter likes you.”
“Oh…your daughter.”
“Why? What did you think I meant?”
I laughed a little. “Oh…nothing.” I quickly took a sip of wine, feeling relaxed. In my innocence I decided to ask, “What exactly do you need? Surely you have wealth and the resources to take care of every need.”
“And what makes you think I have wealth?”
“I don’t know.” I grew quiet. “It’s just…you’re the most wealthy man I think I’ve met before, and you said even if you were not born into wealth just moments ago.”
“Your innocence is refreshing. You’re like a little doe…beautiful, graceful, but like your learning how to walk.” His voice was kind, soft, and his eyes narrowed in on me.
“Yeah...I still feel like, young. Like a young woman. Not a WOM-A
N.” I was rambling. I just said the stupidest thing ever! Who says they don’t feel like a woman?
“The big city isn’t frightening to you?”
“No, I’m here with a friend.”
“Ah, and does this boyfriend of yours mind you are here under a gorgeous chandelier dressed in a dress that displays your body beautiful, drinking expensive wine with a practical stranger?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.” I smiled shyly. “I’m…I’m not here with a boy.”
“Well, splendid then.”
“Splendid then,” I repeated him, his accent and all.
“Are you mocking?”
“No, practicing my accent.”
“Eh.”
“Eh,” I repeated.
“Eh,” he corrected me once more.
“Splehndid.”
“Perfect.” He smiled back at me, studying me once more.
“So…tell me more about you. I know nothing about you except you’re exceptionally nervous, you have a nice, little sexy body and a terrible day job. Tell me more.”
“You sound sarcastic…like you don’t really want to know.”
“I want to know.” He frowned impatiently. “Tell me something about you. Tell me something…exposing.”
“Exposing?” His choice of words, and the way he presented them, made me nervous.
“Something no one else knows.”
I laughed and looked around the room. He watched me the whole time.
Sexy?
I’d never been called sexy before. Was it this dress? This country? Was it because I’m a southern girl from America? I don’t know why, but I liked it. It made me feel…powerful to be called sexy. Tell me more…
Our server refilled our wine glasses while Jackson gave him our order for lunch.
“I…” I smiled wider as I took a sip of more wine and looked around the room. I blushed and shifted awkwardly in my chair. “I…” I sounded like an actor fumbling for their lines. “I hid a bunny rabbit in my dad’s barn once.” After taking another long sip of wine from feeling so nervous, I decided not to say anything else.
“That’s your darkest secret?”
“Darkest?” I was surprised. “No…I don’t have any…I mean…dark…stuff.”
Being His Nanny (A New Adult Romance): Part 1 Page 3