"I really hope you get it," she says. "Even though it means I'll have to find another nanny next fall if you do."
"Maybe not," I say, and I hear the edge of something warmer in my own voice. "We could work around my schedule. It's not like I'm going to drop off the face of the Earth."
Her mouth quirks. "So you're saying I can't get rid of you that easily."
I smile. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
And the truth under it is immediate and startling: I don't even want to think about leaving Rika and the kids. I know it's ridiculous. But the idea of walking away makes me feel unsteady. A little sick.
Like I belong with them. As crazy as it sounds.
The server chooses that exact moment to appear with our desserts. Plates land on the table. The spell cracks.
I tell myself to focus on the food.
I fail within thirty seconds.
Because when I offer her a bite of my chocolate lava cake, she doesn't take it politely with her fork. She leans in and closes her lips around my spoon like it's the most natural thing in the world.
My entire body lights up.
Her eyes flutter shut as she tastes it, and a soft, satisfied sound escapes her throat. It’s quiet, barely audible over the restaurant noise, but I hear it like a gunshot.
My cock goes hard instantly.
Jesus Christ.
I take a long drink of water and pretend it's because I'm thirsty, not because I need something cold to keep me from doing something stupid in the middle of the Wandering Gnome.
When the server brings the check, I snag it before she can.
"I've got it," I say.
"Noah, no." She reaches for it, but I'm already handing over my card.
"Consider it a thank-you for excellent company. Believe it or not, you’re not the only one who doesn’t get out much."
She pauses, clearly ready to argue, then her gaze flicks to my face and her mouth softens.
A small smile tugs at her lips. "Thank you."
The drive back to her place is quiet at first. My SUV feels smaller with just the two of us inside it, even though it makes no sense. The darkness outside makes the interior feel intimate in a way that makes me squirm and glance at her lap, where her dress has slide up higher on her thighs. Rika's wings reach all the way to my seat, and I can smell her perfume spreading from the gossamer, fragile membrane.
The combination does dangerous things to my self-control.
When I pull into her driveway, I cut the engine and we sit in the sudden silence. The porch light casts a warm glow over the front steps, and the house looms dark and empty behind it.
Neither of us moves to get out for quite some time.
Then Rika slowly unbuckles her seat belt, and I do the same, my heart pounding as we both climb out of the SUV. The cool night air raises goosebumps on my arms, and I can see Rika shiver slightly, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
I walk her to the front door, gravel crunching under our feet. When we reach the porch, Rika turns to face me, and the light catches in her blue wings, making them shimmer.
She's so beautiful it hurts to look directly at her.
"Thank you for tonight," Rika says suddenly, her voice quiet and a little raw. "I can't remember the last time I had an evening like that. Normally, I spend my Friday nights working and catching up on housework. It felt nice."
I step closer, unable to help myself. "You deserve nice. You deserve it all."
