"No, I did. I just had to meet with Annie as well."
"It looks nice, by the way. I'm happy for her."
Ang spins me around so I'm facing him. We’re stopped mere feet from the security building. "So you're not mad that I didn't tell you she's in town?"
I can only imagine how much this has been bothering him. So, instead of teasing him like I want to, I tell him the truth. "You warned me that you had a secret you couldn't tell me. Does it bother me that you kept something like this from me?" I shrug my shoulder. "Maybe a little. But I get it. It wasn't you as my partner not telling me, it was the business side of you. And for that, I can't be mad."
The tension in Ang's shoulders slips away. "I did feel terrible about it. Especially whenever you brought her up."
I chuckle just thinking about those times. "I always thought you looked funny whenever I mentioned her name."
"Because I suck at lying," he exclaims with extra emphasis. "My face says it all."
I can totally see that now.
Knowing we’re back on even footing, and that I really should let him get back to work, I tip my head toward the entrance to the building. "I really should grab Everly. There's no telling what kind of trouble she's giving Annalee."
"Probably a lot." Ang leans down and brushes his lips across mine in a sensual kiss that ends far too soon. "I'll see you at home in a little bit. This shouldn't take much longer."
"You know you make this nanny gig a littletooeasy. I don't think I've worked a full day since I've started."
Ang simply lifts his shoulder. "I've never needed one full-time. Just when I have to go in and deal with stuff." Then he leans down, and his breath on my ear sends delicious tingles through my body when he whispers, "Besides, I like seeing you throughout the day. It makes everything so much better. Maybe we can work in some alone time while Everly naps."
I wouldn't say I'm the kind of woman who blushes very often. I mean you can't wear the shirts I do and be easily embarrassed. But I sure as shit turn a nice shade of red when Ang says things like that.
"I just might take you up on that offer."
Giving Ang one more kiss, I spin on my heels and walk into my brother's place of employment. I find Annalee and Everly in the same position I left them. Both are coloring at the desk, but now Owen has joined them.
"I take it by the kiss I just saw that you're no longer mad at Ang?" Owen asks without picking up his head from the sheet he’s coloring.
I have to admit, it looks a little funny watching my much older brother color like a kid. I never witnessed that growing up. He was always too busy to do such things. It’s a bit heartwarming, and it makes me wonder if maybe he’s ready to be a dad.
"Creeping much," I tease instead of actually answering.
"A little hard not to when you're making out in front of everyone."
I roll my eyes. "It was barely a brush of the lips. Take your macho, big-brother attitude down a few notches. I'm not a teenager anymore. Hell, I'm not even in my twenties anymore." Ang, who apparently didn’t stay at the pub, blushes from my brother’s comment and I mentally snicker.
Even if that's how I acted right up until I started this gig. It's no wonder my family always treated me like a kid. I acted like one for the longest time.
“I thought you had stuff to do?”
Ang lifts his one shoulder. “I decided I can handle it later.” He turns to his daughter. “You ready to go home?” Ang asks Everly. “It’s lunchtime and then a nap.”
“Everly no nap,” the little girl responds, and I have to hold back the laughter trying to burst from my lips. This is the same discussion I have with her every time I explain it’s time to lie down and close her eyes. I swear she’s afraid she’s going to miss something.
“We can talk about it when we get home.” Ang gives her the stern-dad look. “Say goodbye to Owen and Annalee.”
I’m so tempted to remind him I’m the nanny—again—but I let Ang take control with his daughter. Especially since we havean audience. Our relationship is still new and developing, and I’m not sure what to make of it some days.
Everly does as her father asks and says goodbye to my brother and his fiancée. But when we get outside, she heads straight for my vehicle instead of her father’s. I snicker when I see the confusion on his face. After a few seconds, he merely shakes his head and gives both of us a kiss before heading back down the street to get his own SUV.
It takes longer to get Everly buckled in than the actual drive to the house takes. It’s insane to think how small this town really is, and I start to wonder why I even bother to use the car when we could walk everywhere we want to go.
When we get home, Everly doesn’t put up as much of a fight as I would expect about eating and then going down for a nap. Which tells me she’s more tired and worn out from her time with my brother than she would like us to think.
I make my way back downstairs and find Ang waiting for me in the kitchen.
