Page 34 of Obsessed Mr. O’Brian

“I’m not.”

“You are,” I challenge.

“Then let me be ridiculous for a little while,” he says.

I sigh, uncertain how to handle this playful side of him, and nuzzle the top of Lola’s head. Her soft hair tickles my nose.

“Thank you for apologizing and sharing with me, it doesn’t change our agreement. I’m here as Lola’s nurse nanny and nothing more. You may have forgiven me, but Regina never did.”

“Regina isn’t here anymore.”

His icy tone sends a chill down my spine. I don’t understand it. Just yesterday he seemed completely devoted to her and acted like he would have followed her to the ends of the earth. He can’t possibly be mad at her for dying and leaving him all alone with their daughter, can he? She couldn’t control when she died unless…

I chop that train of thought to smithereens. Regina was too vibrant and lovely to take her own life.

“You said yourself Regina would hate me taking her place,” I argue.

A muscle ticks in his jaw.

“I shouldn’t have implied you were trying. I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you,” he says.

“Make it up to me? How?”

I realize I walked right into his trap the moment the question leaves my mouth. His smirk heats my core. My clit throbs. With my arms wrapped around Lola, I’m defenseless as he lowers his face to mine.

At the last second, he shifts direction and kisses the tip of my nose.

“Nice and slow.” He kisses my forehead. “One step at a time.” A peck to my temple before he whispers into my ear. “Let me prove that right here in my arms is where you belong.”

Goosebumps rise on my nape and arms. His lips curve into a smile against the shell of my ear. Every inch of me begs and yearns for what he offers, but Lola wiggles deeper between my breasts, reminding me of boundaries we shouldn’t cross.

I shake my head and say, “Lola comes first.”

He rests his hand on top of my forearms crossed over her back and nuzzles my ear as he nods.

“Of course, Lola always comes first. I may not be certified or half as skilled as you, but I’m not a deadbeat. I won’t let anything interfere with her care,” he rumbles.

I should say no. It isn’t his control I doubt; It’s mine. Plus, too much relies on this job for me to put it at risk by having a fling with my boss.

Even as I think the word fling, I laugh at my audacity. A relationship with Artur O’Brian would be too intense to be a mere fling.

“I can’t, Artur. I don’t date clients.”

“Good. You shouldn’t.”

“Right, so… move me off your lap.”

“No.”

“But you’re my client. I’m your daughter’s nanny.”

“Those are both true statements, but they aren’t the whole truth, are they?” he asks.

“I don’t understand.”

“You and I share a history,” he says. “We’re meant to be together. Don’t try to deny the chemistry between us and don’t cheapen the love Lola already feels for you.”

He’s a sly bastard for using his daughter’s emotions against me.