A Weekend of Misbehaving Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Carmen Falcone
relationship strictly business. His strategy was to be cordial, to listen to concerns and stories about her daughter, but he tried not to engage in personal, touchy-feely topics with Alice. There was no point. Building a Berlin wall between them, for Cara’s sake, was the smart thing to do. Alice was extremely reliable and seemed to care a great deal about Cara, which was the most important thing. She’d been the best nanny he’d had and, especially now, with the move to New York City, he couldn’t risk that for anything. His workload would increase, and he needed someone he trusted to be with his little girl when he couldn’t.
Besides, his doomed marriage gave him all the relationship experience he could handle. No need to fall in the same trap twice. Kristin had mocked his humble beginning, and the fact his family had been modest, broken, and unknown. Be that as it may, he’d been thankful he had a loving mother to raise him. Growing up, he dealt with a flaky father he met every other month. While with him, he’d been subjected to facing all the women—paid and unpaid—his father warmed sheets with. His daughter, Cara, would never go through that.
Security was a must. Which had been why he’d asked Bill, the janitor, if he knew anything about the nanny, and the only thing the man mentioned—besides a trail of compliments—had been a strange fellow that had asked for her the day before. The night he’d seen her naked. Bill said the man was abrupt and, although he’d only seen their interaction from far away, didn’t seem too friendly.
The trip to Capri would give Lorenzo better insight. Whether the man was a jealous ex-boyfriend or a drug dealer, he needed to know.
“Mmmm…” A delicious moan escaped Alice’s lips pressing against the rim and fogging the glass. “This is heaven. Are you sure you don’t want any?”
He nodded and lifted his water one more time, pretending it was decades-old scotch. Alcohol had no room in his life right now. He had to keep his head clear, uncluttered, real. Rational.
Alice took another sip, and then chuckled. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m a hillbilly for enjoying every little thing you are obviously used to.”
“No.” His voice was a tad huskier than he would have wanted. Somehow her appreciation of his lifestyle was refreshing.
She put her glass on the tray and folded her arms, angling her body toward his. Didn’t this woman have any notion of personal space? She studied him like she was an art student and he was a damned Monet. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she shook her head. “Are you always like this?”
Oh no. Not the free therapy lesson, the one he’d seen her use on Cara many times. The one that made him so glad for having her in his life.
“You’ve known me for a year.”
“I’ve worked for you, that’s different. For instance, I don’t think we’ve ever been alone like this.” She shrugged.
He drummed his fingers on his armrest. Alone. Yes, there was a trunk in his chest, loaded with fake treasure and concealed weapons. And maybe a bomb or two.
She snagged her lower lip with her teeth, and he swallowed hard. A sharp tingle zipped down his stomach, intensifying when it reached his cock.
“In our little make-believe world, what would a happy-go-lucky nanny like me be doing with an introverted one-percenter like you?”
“Must I remind you that you work for me?”
“Not during this trip. You’re paying me to be your sassy fiancée, the woman who should get a medal for breaking down your walls and showing you what life is all about.”
He snorted. “You must be really enjoying this.”
“I have to, at least a little bit, right?” She winked, then straightened her shoulders. “Seriously though, we fooled Viola for five minutes. I doubt she’ll believe we’re engaged if she hangs around us for a whole weekend.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she does.”
“How? You treat me like I’m an annoying neighbor. If
Besides, his doomed marriage gave him all the relationship experience he could handle. No need to fall in the same trap twice. Kristin had mocked his humble beginning, and the fact his family had been modest, broken, and unknown. Be that as it may, he’d been thankful he had a loving mother to raise him. Growing up, he dealt with a flaky father he met every other month. While with him, he’d been subjected to facing all the women—paid and unpaid—his father warmed sheets with. His daughter, Cara, would never go through that.
Security was a must. Which had been why he’d asked Bill, the janitor, if he knew anything about the nanny, and the only thing the man mentioned—besides a trail of compliments—had been a strange fellow that had asked for her the day before. The night he’d seen her naked. Bill said the man was abrupt and, although he’d only seen their interaction from far away, didn’t seem too friendly.
The trip to Capri would give Lorenzo better insight. Whether the man was a jealous ex-boyfriend or a drug dealer, he needed to know.
“Mmmm…” A delicious moan escaped Alice’s lips pressing against the rim and fogging the glass. “This is heaven. Are you sure you don’t want any?”
He nodded and lifted his water one more time, pretending it was decades-old scotch. Alcohol had no room in his life right now. He had to keep his head clear, uncluttered, real. Rational.
Alice took another sip, and then chuckled. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m a hillbilly for enjoying every little thing you are obviously used to.”
“No.” His voice was a tad huskier than he would have wanted. Somehow her appreciation of his lifestyle was refreshing.
She put her glass on the tray and folded her arms, angling her body toward his. Didn’t this woman have any notion of personal space? She studied him like she was an art student and he was a damned Monet. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she shook her head. “Are you always like this?”
Oh no. Not the free therapy lesson, the one he’d seen her use on Cara many times. The one that made him so glad for having her in his life.
“You’ve known me for a year.”
“I’ve worked for you, that’s different. For instance, I don’t think we’ve ever been alone like this.” She shrugged.
He drummed his fingers on his armrest. Alone. Yes, there was a trunk in his chest, loaded with fake treasure and concealed weapons. And maybe a bomb or two.
She snagged her lower lip with her teeth, and he swallowed hard. A sharp tingle zipped down his stomach, intensifying when it reached his cock.
“In our little make-believe world, what would a happy-go-lucky nanny like me be doing with an introverted one-percenter like you?”
“Must I remind you that you work for me?”
“Not during this trip. You’re paying me to be your sassy fiancée, the woman who should get a medal for breaking down your walls and showing you what life is all about.”
He snorted. “You must be really enjoying this.”
“I have to, at least a little bit, right?” She winked, then straightened her shoulders. “Seriously though, we fooled Viola for five minutes. I doubt she’ll believe we’re engaged if she hangs around us for a whole weekend.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she does.”
“How? You treat me like I’m an annoying neighbor. If