Mr. Masters (Mr. 1)

I bite back my smile. “Hi.”

It sounds like he’s in a bar or something; there’s lots of background noise.

“So…I hear you met my mother.”

God, she called him.

“Yes.” I scrunch my eyes shut. “She seems nice.” I wince. Hell.

He stays silent.

“What did she say about me?” I ask.

He hesitates for a moment. “Let’s just say that you have added another member to your ever growing fan club.”

I smile goofily. Another? Does that mean he’s in that club, too? “Is everything all right?” I ask. “Did you call to check on the children?”

He chuckles, and I can tell he’s been drinking. “I called to check on my naughty nanny.”

My stomach flips at the tone of his voice. “Your nanny is well.” I frown. “Although from the tone of your voice I have no idea if you are being facetious or salacious,” I whisper.

He laughs a deep belly laugh and I feel it heat my blood as the sound rolls over me.

I smile.

“Let’s just say it’s a lot of one and a little of the other.” He replies.

Trust him to give me a conundrum for an answer.

“How well?” he asks sexily. “How well is my nanny?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “As well as can be expected when the man of the house is away.”

He inhales sharply, I hear it catching in his throat. What the hell am I doing? This is a dangerous game I’m playing.

“Where are you?” I ask.

“At a bar.”

“Who with?”

“Not you.”

My heart stops. What the actual fuck is going on here?

“Are you flirting with me, Julian?” I smirk.

“Would it bother you if I was?” My heart begins to hammer, and the background noise begins to fade, as if he’s moved somewhere quieter. “No, it wouldn’t.” I pause for a moment. “Just the opposite, actually.”

I can almost see his smile on the other end of the phone. “I wish we didn’t meet under the circumstances we did?”

“Why?” I whisper.”

“Because I’m attracted to you,” he breathes roughly.

My heart is hammering hard, and I scrunch my eyes shut to foc

us on his breaths. Holy shit, is this happening?