Her eyes widen in horror. “What? Seriously? All I wanted was a relaxing bath.”
“You have a bath in your own studio.”
“It doesn’t have all the different jet settings,” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “I wasn’t planning on watching you! You shouldn’t even have been home at that time.”
“I can’t come home and take a shower in my own house?”
She hums in annoyance. “I didn’t expect you there. That’s all I’m saying.” She sinks farther into her seat. “I’m sorry I didn’t speak up when you came in. I just froze.”
“You should have told me you were there. You shouldn’t have allowed me to…” I run a hand over my jaw, recalling how turned on I was. “To do what I did.”
Her face turns bright red, and she looks away from me. The blatant reminder of what I did in front of her, of how hard I came in front of her. Because of her.
But it’s the last time. This needs to end now. I heave a sigh. “Even if I thought I was alone, I shouldn’t have acted on my impulses. It was undeniably wrong of me-I understand if you don’t feel comfortable here anymore and want to resign. Just know that you are safe.”
That would be the best course of action. If she quits, Marcus can hire a sensible replacement, one who won’t make my blood run hot.
“Resign? I’m not resigning.” She shakes her head so fiercely that her hair flies around her face. “Not a chance. I was just taken aback, that’s all. I just never thought you’d see me like that.”
“Like what?”
Her cheeks are now a flaming pink. “Hmm… a woman.”
My frown deepens. I can see it all over her face. She’s taking what happened and running with her version of events.
“This isn’t a love story,” I say more sharply than I intended. “Don’t misconstrue it. You’re an attractive young woman, and I am not immune to that fact.” Me and every fucking man on my security team based on the other night’s drama. “But you’re my staff. That moment was a mistake, one I won’t make again. It was inappropriate and foolish behavior on my part Something I’m not proud of.”
Her green eyes blaze. She stays quiet for a few moments before responding. “Got it. Don’t worry, Killian. I know I’m not your type.”
“I’ve no qualms about admitting that I find you attractive sexually. That’s where it ends. You’re my daughter’s nanny and my temporary domestic assistant albeit not a very good one.”
She tightens her lips. I may have overstated my point. “Understood, loud and clear. Sir.”
I sigh and step back from her. How would things have gone if I was ten years younger and had no commitments? “I hope I don’t need to remind you about your NDA. Anything that happens inside my house is not to be discussed outside.”
“Of course,” she says curtly.
“Good. I’m glad we understand each other.”
We gaze at each other in tense silence for a long beat. Her lips form a flat line. I know I’ve offended her; it’s written all over her face.
“Under my contract, I’m allowed to date,” she says in a clipped tone, standing up. “I’m just not allowed to bring guys back, right?”
“Correct.”
“And there’s also nothing in my contract forbidding me from dating security personnel, am I right?”
Where is she going with this? “Technically, it’s not against the terms.”
“So Sam and I can go out when we’re not working.”
My eyes narrow. “You and Sam can do whatever you want off the clock. Just as long as it’s not in my house.”
“Fine.” She juts her chin up. “I will.”
A strange feeling grips my chest. “You want to date Sam?” I snap.
“Maybe.”
My muscles tense. What the fuck is going on with me? “Don’t distract him when he’s working.”
She looks like she wants to reply with something snarky, but she holds back. “No, of course not,” she says with a slight edge in her voice.
She’s silent again, and I’m about to walk away when she asks, “I have another question. Can I get deliveries to the house?”
“Of course,” I say, relieved that Clodagh’s love life isn’t the topic of conversation any longer. “They’ll go through explosive checks by the team.”
Her mouth drops open. “I’m not a terrorist.”
“Then you’ve nothing to worry about. What are you getting delivered? Clothes?”
“No. Wood. I want to start working on a few things in my bedroom.”
“Fine.” I shrug.
“Is there anything else you need from me, Killian?”
If only you knew.
I meet her eyes and wave her off. “No.”
She walks off, leaving me with an unsavory image of a naked Clodagh doing woodwork in her bedroom.
Clodagh
Send a bouquet to Maria Taylor. Florist on Fifth.
I stare at the text message from Killian with a strange pang of annoyance, practically hearing his gravelly voice say the words in my head.
He was especially distant this morning, talking to me in a businesslike way. Like he wanted me to understand that yesterday’s bathroom interlude meant nothing. It’s not like I expected us to ride off into the sunset together in a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park.
What should I write? I message back.
I’m certain that Maria Taylor was the woman I saw him with in the hotel. She was dark-haired, maybe Latino, and had legs for days. An absolute stunner. A perfect match looks-wise for him.
I bet she’s touched his massive cock.
I get a mental image of the woman from the hotel chirpily saying, “It’s super hot here, so I’m going to get more comfortable,” while he masturbates.
Ugh.
Am I jealous?
Why am I torturing myself? I feel a cold sore coming on from the stress.
My phone buzzes with a notification.
Killian: My name? Use your initiative.