The Billionaire's Nanny

Chapter 16

The next few days went by really smoothly. The kids loved the car and insisted I drove them to school every day in the car. I had to give Abby a new style of hair every day before school, and they no longer found it difficult to talk to me about school problems. A milestone for me, because I enjoyed listening to them and knowing their challenges, and helping them. 

Lucas and I had not been best friends, but we had managed to be in the same room without exchanging death stares at each other and without all the sarcastic remarks for more than one week. I could tell that he was still very uncomfortable from his one-word replies around me but he was putting up an effort and I was helping him by giving him as much space as possible. 

After doing homework with the kids and some numbers and letters, I got the kids ready for the park. It had become a small tradition to take them for an outdoor activity at least twice a week. On Tuesday, we had a tea party on the back lawn, and today given the cool weather, I thought it would be nice to take a walk in the park. 

Abby and Aiden rattled off all the exciting things they loved to do at the park, while I changed them into warmer clothes. They had not stopped talking since I told them we would be going to the park. The most exciting part for them was the many pets they hoped to see at the park. 

"Is daddy coming with us?" Abby asks out of the blue. 

"Well you see sweety, your daddy has been very busy with work," I said brushing a lock of hair from her face. "I know he would like to come, but he's very busy now." 

Lucas had been home since the kids got back from school. After having a brief conversation with them, he went to his office and locked himself up. My first thought was that he was upset, but Emma informed me that he was usually like that when he had a lot of work to do. I knew better than to disturb him with something as small as coming on a walk with us when he was so stressed. 

"But daddy said he'd come with us this week," Aiden whined with a sad face. "He wasn't there last week." 

He did say he was going to come with us this week after he got held up in traffic on his way home to join us. I took a deep breath and crouched down to reach them. I pulled them closer to me gently and tilted my head to see their faces, as they looked down.

"Okay, I'll go downstairs and ask your dad if he can come with us."

"What if he doesn't want to come with us," Abby said. 

"Honey your daddy always loves spending time with you. Sometimes he's just a little..." I paused, thinking of the right word. 

"Occupied?" Aiden completed for me. 

"Busy?" Abby added

"Yeah, those things. But I know he would never be too busy for his little angels, so let's go downstairs, I'll go talk to him." 

"Okay." They chorused, as a small hopeful smile crept up their faces. 

I held both their hands and took them downstairs. I left them in the living room with Emma, while I went to Lucas's office to talk to him. I took a deep breath before knocking on one of the large double doors. 

"Come in," a gruff voice called a minute later. 

I opened the door to find Lucas leaning on his work table, looking sexier than ever, and I thought that was impossible. He had his lab coat on, and my brain was already swirling with all the dirty things I wished he'd do to me in it. A pair of recently used gloves lay on the table next to many different types of equipment, trays, notes, and other science stuff. 

His hair was tousled, and I could tell he had run his hand through it a couple of times. His shoulders were tensed and rigid, he looked stressed, and it did not help that he usually got tensed around me. 

"Hey," I said as I stood in front of him. 

"Hey Chris," he says with a tired smile, and I could tell it was forced. 

"Um...a lot of work today?" I said carefully. 

"Yeah." I just finished here. He picked the used glove and tossed it in the garbage can. Then went over to the sink in the corner. 

"That's nice," I said, following him at a distance. "Good job...I guess." I stuttered, unsure if that was the right thing to say. 

"Thanks, Chris. So," he said as he turned on the tap to wash his hands. But my mind was too focused on the dirty scenes playing in my head, he already looked hot on his own. How was it possible that something as simple as a lab coat only made him hotter. "What's up?" 

"Hmm?" I snapped out of my imagination. If I kept ogling him like that, I could not trust myself to leave here with my underwear intact. 

"You're here, so what's up?" he asked again, drying his hands with a small towel. 

"Yeah...that," and of course, it took me a moment to regain my composure. 

He walked back to his main desk and leaned on it waiting for me to speak. I stayed rooted to the spot, determined to keep some good distance between us. 

"The kids and I..."

"You can come closer Chris, I'm not going to eat you up," he took a sip of his coffee with a frown.

Says the guy that keeps avoiding me. I took a few steps closer, at least I tried, now I would not be blamed for my actions. 

"The kids were wondering if you would like to join us for a walk to the park today. You promised to come last week." 

"That's today?" He looked up at the calendar on the wall.

"Yeah...I'm sorry I didn't mean to bother you. I know you were busy it's just that Abby..." 

"Chris there's no need to apologize. In fact, I should be thanking you. I had completely forgotten. This week has just been so..." he trailed off and groaned. His eyes closed as he rubbed his neck with a pained expression. 

"Are you okay Lucas?" I asked in concern.

"Yeah, I am. Just had a lot to do, and these knots aching on my back...ugh." he groaned. 

Without thinking, I took a few steps closer, almost covering the distance between us. "Maybe I can help?" I found myself offering a minute later.  

"You do more than enough taking care of the kids." 

"I know," I reached a hand out and eased my fingers into his shoulder. "I just want to help you feel better. Please let me." I pressed my fingers lightly, and his shoulders relaxed a bit.

"What are you proposing?" he asked, looking down at me.

"I've been told a few times that I give great massages. I don't have a license, but it's one of my many gifts." I said in mock pride.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest that warmed my belly or filled it with butterflies, whichever. I just know it did things to my body. "Okay, but we still have to go on a walk with the kids," 

"We won't spend the whole day there." I tilted my head and moved my fingers gently.

"Oh f**k, that feels so good," I smiled inwardly, glad that I was able to give him even a little pleasure. 

"So deal?" 

"Deal. Will you be too tired after dinner."

"Not for you," my lips were moving on their own accord because my brain abandoned me the second I touched him. Thankfully Lucas did not put too much attention to my last words. It took a good effort for me to tear my fingers away from his body, and take the few steps leading out of his office. 

What the f**k was that about? My brain screamed the second I shut the door. 

That's what happens when you abandon her with us. My lady parts screamed back. Finally some fun tonight they squealed happily. 

Nobody is having any fun tonight, my brain argued, you guys have done enough damage, we're just going to get the massage over with and that will be all, and I mean it. 

We'll see about that.

I walked back to the kids in the living room. Their conversation had now graduated to what they would name their pets if they ever got one. 

"Simon is nicer," Aiden said. 

"I like Hailey more because she'll be a girl dog," Abby argued. 

"No, he'll be a boy dog." Aiden shot back.

"No girls are cuter, like me," Abby said proudly.

"Boys are smarter, just like me" 

"Hey kids," I chipped in, sensing an argument coming up.  

"Chris, do you think Aiden is smarter?" Abby asked as her lips curled in a baby pout. 

"I think you are both really smart kids. Both of you." I emphasized. "And you pretty much look like each other, which means you are just as cute as each other." 

"Really?" They asked smiling.

"Really," I tweaked their noses playfully, eliciting a giggle from both of them, "And the most adorable too." 

"In the whole world?" Aiden asked wide-eyed, as he stretched his hands for emphasis. 

"In my world, you're both the most adorable, but I'm sure you are both among the top lists in the world." 

A few minutes later, Lucas joined us in the living room, and I was torn between sadness over the Labcoat he had taken off, and excitement at how much of his taut muscles were revealed in the vest he had traded it for. 

"Hey hey," he said calling the attention of the kids who had not seen him walk in. 

"Daddy," they squealed and the next minute they were both in his arms, as he lifted them effortlessly. I had concluded long ago that all his time spent at the gym was really just to be able to do carry the kids together. 

"Are we ready to go for a walk?" he asked with a beaming smile. For a minute I had forgotten about the pain he talked about in his back.

"Are you coming daddy?" Abby asked, excitement playing in her voice. 

"Yes princess I'm coming with you." 

They both screamed happily and wrapped their arms around his neck in the tightest hug ever. He winced silently, and I could only imagine how much pain he was in. I offered to bring the kids down, but he turned it down with a small nod. I nodded quietly and picked up the water bottle for the kids as we headed out the door. 

I expected the kids to walk with us, but to my surprise, Benard had their bikes out as we came out of the house. The walk is just a few blocks down, and the sidewalk leading there is smooth and even, so the kids can ride their bikes without falling. It also helped that they had training wheels attached to each of them, so I was sure they were safe as Lucas and I strolled behind them. 

The evening air was almost chilly as the sunset, and I realized I had forgotten to take my jacket. I wrapped an arm around my body, as tiny goosebumps started to form on my skin. 

"You're cold," Lucas said as he looked at me. 

"Just a little, I'll be fine." 

He gave a small nod, as we continued walking. "Thank you, Chris," he said after a beat of silence. 

"For what?" I asked looking up at him. 

"Well apart from the fact that you take such good care of them," he pointed at Abby and Aiden, who were screaming with laughter as they raced inside the park. They had placed their bikes in the corner and were now looking at something in the flowers. I could tell it was an insect and Abby seemed more fascinated with it. "I totally forgot I had to do this with them today. So thank you."

"You don't have to thank me for it, Lucas. I enjoy being here with the kids, and your company is not always bad." 

"So it is bad sometimes." he chuckled.

"Well, when you're being a jerk, no offense," I said with a wry smile.

"Ouch," he clutched his chest as he faked a broken heart, and soon enough we were both laughing. "I'll let that slide, only because the kids are having so much fun right now." The second he said the words, a scream came from where Abby and Aiden with the flowers inside the park, and in a flash, I was at the kid's side, with Lucas following behind me. 

"What's wrong?" I asked, seeing as the scream came from her. 

"It fell," Abby said on the verge of tears.

"What fell, baby?" I crouched down to meet her, and I could feel Lucas leaning down too behind me. 

She pointed to the ground where an insect was on its back, struggling to turn on its tiny legs. "The ladybird," she cried. "She fell, and now she's going to die." 

"Oh princess," Lucas breathed at the same time I heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that it was nothing serious.

"It's not going to die Abby," Aiden said as he picked the insect. "See, it's still okay." 

"But what if she broke her bones," 

"Princess, it doesn't have a bone like you and me," Lucas leaned closer and held her close to him. 

"So she's not going to die?" 

"No, she's not, in fact," he took the tiny insect in his large hands carefully and let it crawl on his palm. "See she's fine, you can still play with her."

Feeling convinced that the ladybird was fine, she took it from her father with a broad smile and turned back to the flowers where Aiden was already searching for another ladybird.

Lucas straightened and stretched his hand to help me get to my feet too. "Thank you," I said as I wiped the sand off my knee. I could feel his eyes all over me, as we took a seat next to where the kids were playing, but every time I looked up, he would turn his eyes. 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked, amused at the skill at which he turned his eyes every time. 

"No, I'm not," he said defensively. 

"I know I'm pretty, you can tell me. I won't bite." I teased. 

"Haha, very funny." he scoffed. "You're beautiful, I do not doubt that, but that's not why I was looking at you," he admitted. 

"So you were looking at me," I said with a smug grin. 

"Yes, I was looking at you, Chris." 

"Staring," I interjected, earning a sharp look from him. 

"Yes, I was staring," He let out a tired sigh, and continued. "But only because I'm amazed at how two people can look so alike yet be so different."

He did not need to say anything else for me to know what he meant. "Well, even twins are different right," I joked, trying to lighten his mood that was now sour again. Just the thought of her and he was at stiff as a board again. 

My joke though did nothing to make him smile. There was a long silence afterward and we just sat there watching the kids, until I broke the awkwardness. "The kids told me about their mom," I started slowly, weighing my words carefully. "They did not go into detail, but they seemed really upset, and um..." I paused as his frown deepened. Maybe I should not have brought it up now. But I continued anyway. "I don't know how you want me handling..."

"We don't talk about her," he said sharply before I could continue. His eyes remained focus on the kids who were back on their bikes, riding with other kids too. 

"Oh okay, that's fine," I said, and nodded at the same time, focusing on the kids too. There was another awkward silence as we just sat next to each other on the bench. I was trying my best not to be upset at this Sarah woman. Why on earth would anyone want to leave these beautiful humans in front of me. Well her loss because I did not plan to make the same mistake. Our physical resemblance would remain our only resemblance. 

As if on cue, Lucas yanked a hand through his hair and let out a sigh. "Sarah left the kids before they turned one month." his voice was distant and filled with so much pain. "She always loved her career, and I did my best to help her handle everything that came with being a mother. After their birth, she decided it was all too much and left. I tried to stop her but she made her choice. When they ask I tell them she had other things to do." he shrugged, "The kids do not know her, and I would like it to remain so."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't..." 

"You don't have to be sorry. I am not sorry." he shrugged, and stretched his hand, gesturing to the kids playing. "I get to watch my children grow in front of me and be part of all their small and big steps. I could not have made a better choice, and I would not trade it for anything," he said with a note of finality. 

"I guess it's her loss then." 

"It is her loss." 

"Daddy, I want to play on the swing," Aiden called from afar where the other kids were playing. Lucas gave a half-smile before standing up and jogging to the kids. 

He put him on the swing and does the same for Abby. From where I sat, I could hear their squeals and excited screams as Lucas pushed the swings with just the perfect amount of pressure. 

Lucas had a wide grin on his face, and he looked so simple and peaceful just playing with his kids. My heart swelled with joy, and I would be lying if I said that was not the best sight of my whole day.