Chapter 20

"Well, this is a surprise," Harper says, pulling the door open.

I brush past her into our childhood home and collapse onto the couch, leaning my head back and squeezing my eyes shut.

What the fuck just happened back there?

"You, okay?" she asks.

I inhale and exhale slowly, trying to avoid passing out because I can't even remember how to breathe. Once I'm sure I remember the process, I nod. "Yeah, just dealing with work stuff." My voice comes out breezy, calm. I'm so fucking chilled no one would think that less than thirty minutes ago I had a very intense encounter with my . . . Is Tyberius my boss?

No, I'm just some stranger giving him a hand while doing a poor job at searching for a permanent nanny. Maybe I should quit the team and find something new to do like . . . What could I do? My parents will remind me that it's time to go back to school. Mom might even say that she has a spot in her PR company for me.

Love the place, I have no trouble doing what she does—I started interning for her when I turned fifteen. But I don't want things to be handed over to me just because I'm her child.I want to work toward it and . . . deserve it.

"Need some tea or warm milk?" Harper asks, her voice reminds me so much of Mom's when she's concerned about us.

I open one eye, sliding her a wry smile. "Why would I want that?"

Harper's dark brown eyes soften with worry as she gazes at me, taking in my tense shoulders and troubled expression. She sits next to me, turning her body toward mine.

"You seem upset," she points out, placing her hand on top of mine. "I'm trying to help with your anxiety, unless you want to discuss what's bothering you."

My throat tightens. There's no way I'm talking about this with her or anyone. Harper's eyes search over my face.

I let out a little huff and shut my eyes again. "There's nothing to talk about. Just thinking about quitting my job."

"The nanny gig or are you finally giving your two weeks' notice to Jude?"

I swallow hard when I think about my brother. Then there's Myra and obviously I can't just leave them like that. That little girl has gone through so much, jumping from one place to another and . . . She's only now adjusting to this new life.

But after what happened earlier . . .

Myra left the show-and-tell bag in her bedroom this morning. The teacher couldn't get ahold of her dad, so they called me since I'm the emergency contact. Since when is show-and-tell an emergency? Why couldn't they just switch her day from Monday to Tuesday or . . . What happened to me is their fault.

Well, it's mine too.

Instead of saying, not my problem, what did I do? I drove immediately to Ty's place and when I arrived, I rushed toward the stairwell and the sight of Tyberius Brynes stopped me in my tracks.

He stood at the landing, shirtless, a towel slung low on his hips, showcasing every inch of his sculpted torso—muscular arms, broad shoulders, rock-hard abs with ridges I wanted to trace with my tongue.

I sucked in a breath. Frozen. My eyes drank him in greedily. That magnificent body I'd been secretly fantasizing about for days was finally bare before me.

As he descended, droplets of water still clung to his skin. I imagined tracing their path with my tongue, tasting every inch of him. The thought made my mouth go dry.

He cocked an eyebrow, his lips curving into a knowing smirk that made my knees weak. "See something you like?"

Heat flooded my cheeks. I crossed my arms tightly, feigning nonchalance. "I'm just here to grab Myra's stuff for show-and-tell. They tried to call you but you didn't answer."

His smirk widened as he reached the last step, bringing him just inches from me. Being this close, his masculine scent enveloped me—sandalwood, spice, pure male temptation. I swayed unsteadily, dizzy with desire.

Get it together, Indie. I scolded myself. Actually, get out of here now before you do something reckless.

I took a subtle step back, needing space to think straight. "So, um . . . I'll just head upstairs."

But he moved with me, eliminating that sliver of distance in one smooth stride. His eyes blazed trails over me, hot and hungry. They dropped deliberately to my mouth before rising to meet my startled gaze in a silent question. "Eager to get out of here so fast?"

Before I could respond, he hooked a finger under my chin, tilting my face to his. My lips parted in surprise as his face hovered a breath from mine. "You're so fucking beautiful," he whispered.

I shivered at the desire in his tone, the challenge in his simmering gaze. And I didn't back down. He thinks he's the predator here, but this little lamb has teeth. I devour men like him for breakfast and never look back, I thought to myself.

His eyes smoldered. Without another word, his mouth claimed mine in a searing kiss.

His lips were firm yet gentle as they teased mine open. I sighed into him, spearing my fingers through his damp hair to pull that hard body tighter against me. We melded together in a feverish embrace, the towel between us growing maddeningly thin.

Ty kissed me deeply, thoroughly, like a starving man at a feast. My knees weakened and I clung to broad shoulders, dizzy from his taste.

When we finally broke for air, his eyes seared into mine. "I've wanted this since I first saw you," he admitted roughly.

My lips curved coyly. "What took you so long?"

He chuckled low in his throat, hands framing my face with unexpected tenderness. "I'm trying to be a gentleman here, but you make it damned hard, darling."

"Who said I want a gentleman?" I purred back boldly.

His sharp intake of breath gratified me. I reveled in the power I held over him, that I could make this strong, commanding man come undone with just a touch.

Tyberius grasped my wrist, stilling my movements. His jaw was taut with restraint. "Are you sure you can handle me, Indigo Walker?"

I sighed, taking a step back. "I could, but then you'd lose the only person who can look after your child. I'm stopping for her, because if anything happened between us, you'd never see me again."

Turning around, I headed toward the door. When I opened it, I glanced over my shoulder. "Her show-and-tell bag is on her bed. Take it to school for me, please. I'll see her tomorrow before you head to the game."