Fourteen: Harlow

FOURTEEN

HARLOW

Twenty-Eight Dirty Diapers Later

I refreshed my savings account for what had to be the umpteenth time this morning.

Look at all that money, Harlow. You’re doing this for the money, and for your future bakery. Fuck your sanity right now, just focus on the money.

“I think Miss Hawthorne is broken, Uncle Brooks.” Olivia’s soft voice was coming from somewhere. “She’s been talking to herself for over an hour now.”

“Has she said anything insightful?” His voice filled the twins’ nursery.

“Not yet. I’m taking notes, though.”

He let out a low laugh, and I hated— HATED —how my body instantly turned on against my will. How it couldn’t seem to understand that the man who was making my life a living hell should never be allowed to arouse me in any way.

“Can you ask her where she got those unicorn cupcakes she brought over during her interview?” Olivia asked. “I’ve ordered from like eighty bakeries so far, and none of them have come close.”

“Why can’t you ask her?”

“I did. She spouted off a long list of ingredients and instructions,” she said. “You might want to send her back to the agency before the twins wake up. She looks like she’s about to crack.”

“I’ll consider it,” he said. “Can you give us a moment alone, please?”

The next thing I heard were her soft Chanel flats clacking down the hallway.

“Miss Hawthorne?” Mr. Dawson moved in front of the rocking chair.

I tried to look away from him, but he bent down low and looked into my eyes, making it impossible.

“Do I need to have my doctor come see you?” he asked.

“Only if he can prescribe a week off for me.”

“He can’t.” He smiled at me, and I was convinced this was a dream.

He’d never looked at me this way before, and he actually sounded genuinely concerned.

“Why are you home so early?” I asked. “It’s two o’clock in the afternoon.”

“Because I’ve been thinking about what you said to me.”

“I’ve said a lot of things to you.”

“Yes, well…” He brushed strands of hair off my forehead and tucked them behind my ear.

My heart raced at that simple touch, and I swallowed hard.

“Taking care of children is a very hard job,” he said. “So hard that I had to hire someone like you to help me do it.”

“I don’t want a ‘thank you.’ I want an off day .”

“I appreciate the fact that you’ve lasted longer than all my previous nannies, and my children seem to like you.” He ignored my request and leaned even closer, so close that his lips were nearly touching mine. “And even though you’re still refusing to download my mandatory staff app, I’ve decided to adjust my work schedule to show you how much you mean to me.”

“Are you saying I can go home early today?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m saying I’ll give you an hour to pack whatever clothes you need for a trip.”

“A trip where?”

“If you’d downloaded my app, you’d know that.” He stepped back. “I’m hosting my A-team on my yacht while Olivia is on fall break. You’ll need to tend to the children while we’re aboard.”

“How the hell is that showing your appreciation for me?”

“Don’t sound so ungrateful, Miss Hawthorne.” He smirked. “You said you needed a change of scenery, correct?”

Motherfucker…