Billionaire Needs Nanny

Christian looked like he didn't totally believe me, but I didn't give him time to question it. I mumbled an excuse about changing out of my swimsuit and hustled up the stairs. As soon as I was in the bathroom, I took in a deep, shuddering breath and let it out slowly.

"What did you think would happen?" My voice sounded bitter even to my own ears.

I splashed my face with water and retrieved my bag before I changed. For once, I didn't want to stick around, but I did it anyway for Annie. At least, she would be happy and I would know for sure to put my silly fantasies behind me.

Chapter Sixteen

Hannah

I rolled over the next morning and groaned. Sunlight beaming onto my face wasn't a good way to wake up, especially when I was slightly hung over. Natalie had showed up with two bottles of wine, a platter of sushi and an insatiable need to gossip and cheer me up. I loved her for it.

Until now.

It took more than a few tries to get out of bed and onto my feet. I staggered into the bathroom and started the shower. As soon as the water touched my skin, I slumped and rested my forehead against the cold tiles.

Christian's face popped into my head and I groaned.

Why can't I stop thinking about him?

Throughout dinner, we'd remained civil, but I didn't look at him, could barely speak to him. It wasn't like I was trying to be unfriendly on purpose, but every time I tried to be normal with him my voice caught in my throat and I couldn't bring myself to further humiliate myself. I'd spent most of the night answering Annie until it was time to go and then I'd disappeared as soon as he started reading to her.

My fingers worked through my tangled hair. I need to just get over it. I had been stupid, but this was the end of the madness. He’d put me in my place in no uncertain terms. I ran a hand over my face as I heard my phone ring. I stayed still like it was a predator and I was its prey. When it stopped, I resumed showering, but the sound reverberated once again, and demanded that I answer it.

I stepped out of the shower dripping water on the bathroom floor as I rushed to the phone. When I grabbed my phone from my bed, Christian's name made me freeze. What could he possibly want? I wished I had the strength to let it go to voicemail, but I couldn't stop myself from answering, "Hello?" I asked tentatively.

"Hey, Hannah," he said sounding relieved. "Are you at home?"

I stared at the phone for a minute. I hadn’t missed a day somewhere. It was Saturday, right? I checked the lock screen on my phone and it popped up as Saturday, after all. I hadn't expected to hear from him on a weekend. I nestled the phone back against my ear. "Yeah, I'm at home. What's up?"

"Uh, I know you aren't scheduled to be working this weekend, but a commercial came on TV with a tiger exhibit and Annie has decided that she has to go to the zoo today. Right now, she's packing a bag and getting changed into her tiger print PJ's and I don't think she's going to change her mind."

I grinned despite myself. I could already imagine her wrapped in her tiger PJ's with the hood pulled up and one floppy ear that never seemed to want to stand up even after I beefed it up with sticky tape.

"Can you do this today? I’ll throw a bonus into your paycheck," Christian coaxed.

A bonus? For going to the zoo with Annie and him on a day when I had nothing else to do but mope around the house. "Yeah," I agreed. “Whatever Annie wants, Annie gets." I laughed to make sure he did not think I was taking a dig at his parenting methods. "Let me get dressed and I'll be over."

"Actually, I thought I could pick you up. We’re at the country house so it would be completely out of your way."

The way my head felt? I could definitely use a day without driving. I quickly picked up a bottle of pills and shook two out. "I'll be ready when you get here."

"See you soon."

I took the time to change into a pair of black shorts and a bright pink tank top, just in case Annie wandered off she could find me easily. I pulled my hair into a ponytail high on my head. Annie loved it when I wore my hair that way. Every time she saw it, she got a kick out of it and I always had to do hers the same way.

I was much more excited about the trip than I thought I could be. I was looking out of the window when they pulled up. Christian was not in his blood red Aston Martin, but driving a black BMW. I jogged down the stairs and slipped into the passenger seat.