If she rolls her eyes any further back in her head, I’ll have to summon a priest for an exorcism.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me. They’ll get stuck like that.”
I place a cup beneath the coffee machine and make my morning espresso. “Since you’re grounded, why not use the day to practice the piece your cello teacher gave you? I’d love to hear it. The music competition is only three weeks away.”
“I’m supposed to be hanging with Becky today,” she fires back in contempt.
“And you would be if you hadn’t dyed your hair,” I point out calmly, knowing that for a twelve-year-old girl, having to be away from friends is the worst punishment imaginable. “You knew the rules and the consequences, yet you took the risk. You’re grounded for three more days.”
She skewers me with a look of wrath that the Mareks would be proud of. “It doesn’t even make sense! Why don’t you just end it now? Why do I have to be grounded for three more days?”
I down the shot of espresso. “Because I say so.”
I already explained to her why hair dye wasn’t suitable for anyone under sixteen. We sat down together and read articles about it. Though she wasn’t happy about it, she was smart enough not to want to damage her hair.
Now on to the next argument.
“But why three? Why does it have to be three?”
I’ve got nothing rational. “Because I decide the numbers.”
“That’s so unfair,” she wails, throwing her hands in the air.
“Life’s not always fair. Next time, you’ll think more carefully about the consequences.”
I join Teagan on a barstool at the island. We sit in one-sided angry silence as she stares down at her phone.
What would Harlow say if she were here? Would we be having these fights?
Have I been going at this all wrong? She’s still a child. I don’t want her dyeing her hair or wearing makeup. No daughter of mine is going to sexualize herself at twelve. When she turns thirty, then she can use cosmetics.
What would Clodagh say?
I clear my throat. “What are you looking at?”
Her eyes snap up to mine. “Why are you even asking since you probably already know? You have my passcode.”
I sigh. “I don’t look at your phone. I have it for security reasons, Teagan. You know there are risks inherent with growing up wealthy.”
“Sometimes I wish they would take me away,” she huffs.
“Less of the attitude. Listen, I know you’re mad about not meeting Becky, but how about I take you out for lunch?” I give her chin a playful flick and smile, offering my white flag of surrender. “It’ll be a reprieve from your grounding for the afternoon. We haven’t had a daddy-daughter date in a long time.”
“You can’t call it that anymore. I’m too old.”
“Princess, I’ll still be calling it that when you’re thirty.”
Her frown softens, and I can tell she wants to accept my offer but is too stubborn to say yes. “No,” she eventually replies. “It’s fine. I’d rather stay here.”
I can’t say the rejection doesn’t sting.
Footsteps sound from the hall.
Another reminder of how I’m fucking up. I jerked off in front of the nanny. I nearly kissed her the other night. What the hell was I thinking?
I look up to see Clodagh standing in the kitchen doorway. To say I’m not prepared for the sight of her is an understatement.
She’s wearing pale-blue yoga bottoms, a top that I’m not sure is a sports bra or a top, and a sleeveless hoodie over it. Her bottoms fit tightly around her gorgeous ass, making them look painted on. Her hair is tied in a high ponytail, making her already sharp cheekbones stand out even more. She looks so fresh and relaxed-the opposite of me.
It’s sexier than if she had walked in wearing lace lingerie and completely fucking distracting.
“Good morning,” she chirps enthusiastically, her eyes twinkling. She’s likely glad that Saturday has arrived so she can escape my presence for a while.
“Morning,” I reply, my throat tight.
Teagan huffs a “morning” without looking up.
My eyes lock with Clodagh’s, and a pink flush of heat travels across her cheeks. Under the bravado, she’s flustered.
That night, I almost lost it. I almost pulled her down on top of me on the couch and showed her exactly what I wanted to do to her.
Ever since the disastrous incident in the bathroom, I’ve been fighting to keep my arousal under control. Just thinking about it has my adrenaline spiked again.
I need to fuck soon. Having sex with someone else is the only way to quell my strange fantasies about my bad nanny.
Clodagh breaks eye contact first, turning to Teagan instead. “Oh, it looks like your hair is back to normal!”
“About fucking time,” I grumble, ruffling a strand of my daughter’s hair.
“See?” Teagan glares at me before turning back to Clodagh. “Doesn’t that mean I shouldn’t be grounded anymore?”
“I’m Switzerland in this argument.” Clodagh shakes her head, smirking. “I’m not that dumb. Killian, I just wanted to check that you don’t need me today?”
I raise a brow at her question. “You don’t work Saturdays.”
“Great.” Her wide smile hits me right in the stomach. “I have to go teach my yoga class in Queens. Have a great day.”
“Do I pay you that little you need to work a side job?”
“No.” She smirks. “I can definitely handle myself on your salary.”
“So why do you do it?”
She looks at me quizzically, then her lips turn into a mocking half smile. “Isn’t it obvious, Killian? I like it. They just throw me some tips. I put a sign up at the bar, and it got a bit of interest.” She looks between Teagan and me. “What are you two up to today?”
“I’m stuck inside this prison because I’m not allowed to decide anything in my life,” Teagan pipes up.
Clodagh smiles sympathetically in return. “At least it’s a nice prison.”
“One of the team will drive you to Queens and pick you up again,” I tell her.
“Oh no, it’s fine.” She waves a hand dismissively. “I’ll take the subway.”
“Nonsense.” I reach for my phone, annoyed that she’s refusing my offer of a ride. “I’ll call one of the team.” Although the way I catch Sam and the others eyeing up Clodagh, I feel like I want to drive her myself.
“It’s fine, really,” she says more firmly. “I like the subway.”
“You like the subway?” Teagan looks up, disgusted. “But it’s supposed to be dirty and crowded. I would never go on the subway.”
Clodagh’s mouth falls open. “What? You mean you’ve never been on the subway?”
Teagan’s face scrunches up. “Nope.”
“Seriously?” Clodagh laughs. “Oh my God, it’s the only way I get around. I consider it a tourist attraction. It was top of my New York bucket list.”
“Eww.” Teagan wrinkles her nose. “You can be so weird sometimes, Clodagh.”
“Manners.” I shoot Teagan a warning look. “Just because you don’t use the subway doesn’t mean you can make rude comments about people who do.”
Clodagh’s hands come up to pull her hair into a tighter ponytail. “We don’t have subway systems where I’m from in Ireland. I’d be lucky if the bus came on time. I like riding the New York subway and being surrounded by so many strangers. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something bigger.” She shrugs. “Anything new is exciting in my book.”