Page 48 of The Billionaire's Virgin

“To anyone who looks in from the outside, you’re way more than that,” I said.

“You think?” Taylor asked.

“I happen to think that you’re way more than Jenna’s nanny,” I said. “You’re her friend and guardian and… in some ways, you’re the mother she never had and always wanted.”

Taylor smiled softly. “Thank you for saying that.”

“I’m saying it because it’s true. I see the two of you together and sometimes… even I get a little jealous.”

“What?” Taylor asked, in surprise. “You can’t possibly be jealous.”

“Come on, the two of you are so great together,” I said. “You seem to get Jenna…”

“That’s because she’s a little girl and I was a little girl once too.”

“But I’m her father.”

“And a damn good one too.”

I smiled. “You think?”

“Definitely.”

“I think Sofia would have stayed in the background all this time because there was no one in our lives,” I said, trying to get into her mindset a little. “She would have felt safe. But the moment you arrived, she started to feel insecure again. She started interfering again. But she’s being careful because of the restraining order.”

“So maybe that’s all she’s doing?” Taylor suggested. “Maybe she won’t actually approach any of us.”

“She called you though and threatened you.”

“I’m not even sure if the voice I heard was a woman’s,” Taylor admitted.

“It doesn’t matter; we have to err on the side of caution, and right now Sofia is the only suspect.”

Taylor nodded. “We shouldn’t tell Jenna about this.”

“No, I wasn’t planning to,” I agreed. “We need to make sure she doesn’t suspect a thing.”

“Where is she?” Taylor asked, looking around.

“In my bedroom, watching a movie.”

Taylor smiled. “I’ll go in and check on her.”

She got up and headed into my room to check on Jenna. I sat in the living room and wondered what I was going to do about all this. We couldn’t just let it go. If Sofia thought she could interfere with my life again, she had another thing coming. I didn’t want her getting anywhere near Jenna, or Taylor for that matter. I needed to protect the important things in my life. I realized with a start that I had included Taylor in that equation. Was she now an important part of my life? It certainly felt so.

When Taylor reappeared, she looked a little more in control of herself. She gave me a shaky smile, and I returned it with a reassuring one.

“We’re going to do something about this, Taylor,” I said. “I won’t have you feeling unsafe.”

“I’ll be okay,” Taylor said. “Don’t worry about me.”

“I am worried though,” I said.

I opened my mouth to suggest something, and then I paused because I wasn’t sure how she would take it. Then I remembered she had been practically living here since Jenna got back from the hospital.

“I know you weren’t planning on staying tonight,” I said. “But why don’t you?”

Taylor raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

“I am.” I nodded. “The building’s secure and I don’t like the idea of you traveling back home by yourself in the night.”

Taylor smiled. “It’s nice of you to offer, but—”

“Please, Taylor,” I said. “I insist; it’ll make me feel better, and I think you’ll feel safer too.”

Taylor looked at me carefully for a moment and then she nodded. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

“Great,” I said.

Our eyes met for a second, and there was a spark that flew between us. I was positive that I was not the only one who felt it. I could have crossed the space between us in two strides and kissed her right then and there, but I resisted the urge and went to my room to watch the rest of the movie with Jenna.