Page 171 of Fighting Chance

My lip twitches. “Very sassy of you to speak to your boss that way.”

Her eye roll is so dramatic I’m fearful they’ll get stuck. “Says the man who texts me filthy things.”

I shrug. “Just putting the book you sent me to good use.” Her cheeks flame crimson, a near match to her hair. I can’t help but smile. “Please…don’t freak out, okay?”

Her spine straightens. “Well of course I’m going to freak out now.” She makes her way up the stairs as she assesses me. “What did you do?”

Rocking back on my heels I take off my hat, my lucky charm I felt I needed to wear today, and run my fingers through my hair before sliding it on backwards. Layla comes to a stop in front of me, sighing.

I grin. “Disappointed already?”

“No.” She flaps her hand in my direction. “You and that damn hat,” she mutters.

“My hat?”

She sighs again, this one long and deep before she takes a step back.

Flicking my gaze back and forth, searching her eyes, that’s when I clock it, the small hint of heat sizzling in her glacial eyes. If I wasn’t so goddamn nervous that she’s about to chew my head off for what I’ve done, I would be jumping on that. And Emmy, ever the watchful girl, is looking between us both, growing impatient.

Waving my hand, I say with a flourish, “After you.”

Her scent envelopes me as she walks past, and like the creep I am, I inhale deeply, savoring the scent that is distinctlyher. It’s happiness in a bottle, radiant joy sizzling through my veins.

Everything about this woman is pure sunshine.

She’s a beacon, the very thing that lights up my life.

“Where am I going?”

“Stop there.”

Fuck, did my voice just quiver?

By the way Layla snaps her head in my direction, I’m going to take that as a yes.

Get yourself together.

Clearing my throat, I shake my head a little and stand in front of the spare bedroom that has been sitting empty—until now. Not entirely sure what to say or do, I mutter, “Fuck it.”

I turn the doorknob, holding my breath as I push it open and step aside.

This weekend, I truly went and lost my fucking mind and built my nanny, the woman I haven’t been able to stop thinking about for close to two years, a library. In my house.

The second I saw her eyes light up at the bookshelf I built for Emmy, I knew I had to do the same for her, just to see the spark come to life again.

Layla’s gasp echoes throughout the room.

Emmy slides down her body and Layla lets her, not even paying attention to her as she runs into the room, launching herself onto the large round white reading chair I bought. One Google search was all it took to find the most popular one between readers, and one quick thumb tap was all it took to hit purchase.

Layla’s hands come up slowly to cover her gaping mouth. She doesn’t say a word, and nerves take root in my chest. Before I know it, I’m doing what I never do—pretty sure I’ve never done it in my life—but Layla is also making me experience a lot of firsts.

I nervous ramble.

“Now, before you start yelling and cursing at me that it’s too much, I don’t think it is. Emmy adores you and wants to be like you so much. So even if you turn around and say you hate me and never want to work with Emmy and me again, the room will be put to use. But she had so much fun helping me build it this weekend it was absolutely worth it for that reason alone. If you look on the bottom left corner of the far shelf you’ll actually find some of her drawings she snuck in while I was distracted.”

Layla turns to me, and I’m suddenly very concerned her eyes will remain permanently wide with shock.

Taking off my hat, I feel like pulling my hair out as all she does is continue to gape at me. I step into the room with a shuddering breath.