I took advantage of her kindness, making her my nanny on day one.
Atlas’s warnings, joking or real, crowded the edges of my mind about a poor woman needing money and taking advantageof me. Jessa would certainly fit the profile. But my gut told me she was too proud to be like that. Anyone could see the fighter inside of her.
At the office,I couldn’t focus as Sam discussed media strategy for the public offering. We also received new numbers from our manufacturing plant and our distribution division. But my head was back in my guest bedroom with Jessa.
My personal doctor should arrive there any minute to examine her. Atlas was all set to get Theo from school and to his game. Brock had dropped off the best and latest new phone for her to use.
I’d already sent two deliveries to her. One with the soup, juice, tissues, vitamin C and zinc. And another containing expensive flannel pajamas, a robe, and a cashmere throw.
I had just clicked the buy button on a third box filled with books, a tablet loaded with movies, and a snack basket, when Sam stalked past while facilitating the meeting.
I quickly closed another tab I had open containing an order for fresh flowers, unsure if three bouquets would brighten the guest room and cheer her up or five?
My fingers on shopping sites became trigger-happy, emotionally spending money to compensate for a lot of things. It’d been some time since I had a woman to do all of this for. I used to love spoiling Elsa. The things I’d do for her?—
“Griffin? You with us? Hello?” Sam interrupted me mid-purchase of a new car for Jessa. Probably a good thing, too. The Mercedes GLE SUV might have been taking things too far.Although I had already put Brock on the job of getting her beat-up car towed and fixed by my mechanic.
“What? Yeah. Of course. You were saying something about um…”
“Your next media interview with Larry Bing on the finance channel,” he prompted.
“Yep. That. Continue.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment in front of my other executives in the room.
I really tried to pay attention until Jessa texted me. Finally.
Jessa: I’m supposed to rest. How can I, with a constant stream of deliveries at the door?
Griffin: How are you feeling? Did the soup arrive?
Jessa: It was delicious and warm. Just what my throat needed. Thank you.
My cock twitched under the desk. Why’d my mind go to something else warm I could send down her throat? What was it about her? Was I so needy for someone to care for all this time?
It put me in dangerous territory when she was only supposed to be the nanny. Or was I lying to myself—Jessa had me there from the moment we met.
“Jesus, Griffin. Snap out of it,” Sam barked. “Everybody leave us. I need a moment alone with him.”
People filed out of the room. I shoved my phone in my pocket and stalked to the windows, running both hands through my hair.
“I’m fine, Sam.” That word came in handy.
“You’re somewhere else, not here. Do I need to remind you what’s at stake?”
“No, you are a walking billboard reminder of it daily. Thanks,” I scoffed, dripping with sarcasm. “What time is the event this afternoon?”
“Three.”
“I need to hit the company gym, work off some of this pent-up energy. Don’t worry. I’ll be fresh and ready to focus by the time we leave.”
I grabbed my gym bag and walked out with him, and he pressed on.
“Pent-up? Accelerating the marriage plan could help with that problem. And may I remind you we have the West Games Charity Benefit coming up soon? You should be there with a woman who wears your ring on her finger. It’s a perfect place to present yourself in public as a claimed man, not a single playboy.”
“That’s the least of my worries right now.”
“My job is to take the load off your shoulders. Let me find you someone to stand beside you.”
