“Not at all.” His brow pinched. “Is he misbehaving?”
“No. He’s a sweet boy. Rambunctious as all little boys are, but honestly, he’s a doll. I love taking care of him.”
“And you’re marvelous at it.”
“Thank you. But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Miles tilted his head.
“You see, as much as I love taking care of him, I shouldn’t be theonlyperson. He needs you.”
Miles’s ears pinked and his body became rigid.
“Henry is still hurting, as I know you are too, but you are his parent now, for all intents and purposes, and it’s important for him and you to be together for the little moments, like bedtime, dinnertime, and playtime. Surely you don’t need to work all day, every day.” I ended with an apprehensive smile.
Hedidn’t return it. In fact, his glare had me losing my smile in a hurry.
He cleared his throat before sitting up as straight as possible. “Here’s the thing, love.” The edge in his tone said he did not mean that as a term of endearment. “You don’t know the kind of pressure I’m under, and you bloody well don’t know what I’ve been through the last several weeks. I love my nephew and I hired you to behisnanny, not mine.”
His curt response knocked the air right out of me. I sat stunned for several seconds, having an awful staring contest with him as he waited for my reply. When I could finally catch my breath, I stood on shaky legs, willing my lip not to quiver. “Thank you for clearing that up, Mr. Wickham. Good night.” I marched out the door.
“Aspen, wait,” he called after I was already down the hall.
He could keep on calling. I wouldn’t be answering. But maybe one day I would thank him for reminding me exactly why I kept myself closed-off and for burying the key to my heart just a bit deeper.
Chapter Thirteen
“Comeoutandshowus how you look, darlin’,” Shelby drawled.
I looked at myself one more time in the dressing room mirror. I loved the long, camel sweater with the white camisole and black leggings. I even liked the leopard print flats Shelby said would make the outfit. Not sure I loved the price, even with the discount Shelby was giving me. I never spent this much on clothes—I could never afford to.
I walked out to my audience, which consisted of Emma, who was holding Henry on her lap, and Shelby, who was standing there ready to pounce on me.
“Miss Aspen, these pieces were made for you. You look hotter than a firecracker on the Fourth of July.”
Her Southern sayings killed me.
“Looks like a good kiss-and-make-up outfit,” Emma wiggled her brows.
“Please, let’s not talk about him anymore.” I was still seething about last night. I didn’t even bother to film his stupid dance ritual or say goodbye to him. I grabbed Henry, his clothes, and escaped to the cottage. After dropping Chloe off at school, I ran a few errands and then came straight to Shelby’s boutique looking to blow off some steam.
“You pretty, Nanny.” Henry melted my heart and reminded me why I wasn’t quitting.
But that got me to thinking. “I better not buy anything new. What if he fires me?”
Emma waved off my concern. “He’s not going to fire you.”
Shelby hugged me and patted my back. “Of course he won’t, sugar.”
“I don’t know; he was pretty livid.”
“Yeah, well,” Emma snuggled Henry closer, “no one likes to be told they are doing something wrong, especially when it’s true. Besides, who’s going to watch this cute kid for him?” She kissed Henry’s cheeks repeatedly, making him giggle.
“I don’t think he would have a hard time replacing me.”
Shelby started taking off the sweater, wanting me to try on the other items she had picked out for me. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. He’s going to come to his senses and beg you to forgive him.”
“And if not, we’ll order a cockroach in his honor.” Emma laughed evilly.
