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He wanted me to act like his personal trainer?

“You look like you’re doing just fine on your own.” I let my gaze travel along his upper body, driving home the point.

But when a faint flush crept up his neck, I realized once again that I was being inappropriate. So, I hurried to say, “Sorry, there I go again. Commenting on how ripped my boss is.”

“Hey, I’ll take the compliments,” he said, racking his weights. “My ego can always use a good boost.”

“Well, anytime you need a pick-me-up, just let me know and I’ll happily remind you that you’re the best-looking boss I’ve ever had.”

He narrowed his eyes. “And how many bosses have you had exactly?”

“Well,” I said thoughtfully, “I worked for Ky on tour last summer.”

“So I should be glad you find me more attractive than your brother?”

“I mean, heisa super famous pop star,” I said, laughing. “And then there are all the moms who hire me for princess parties.”

He snorted, grabbing a towel and wiping sweat from his neck. “You mean you’re not into middle-aged women?”

“Cassia is gorgeous…” I said, playing along for a moment. Then I shrugged. “But no. Turns out, even the former Miss Connecticut just doesn’t do it for me like a man does.”

“Well,” he said, smiling as he tossed the towel over his shoulder, “I’m glad to hear I win by default then.”

“That you do,” I said lightly.

He smiled, then added, almost as an afterthought, “Well, just so you know, you’re the best-looking nanny I’ve hired. So I guess we’re in the same boat.”

My stomach did a little flip.

“Oh yeah?” I said, doing my best to keep my face neutral. Calm. Totally normal. “W-what exactly did Charlotte’s last nanny look like?”

“I mean… not bad,” he said carefully. “She wasn’t an ogre or anything. But she had a pretty large nose for her face, so?—”

“So you’re not into women with enormous noses,” I said dryly.

“That’s not what I meant.” He winced. “It just… wasn’t doing her any favors.”

“Uh huh.” I crossed my arms and nodded slowly.

“But honestly,” he went on, clearly trying to recover, “it worked in her favor because when I was hiring, I was determined tonothire a nanny I was attracted to.” He gave me a look that said he hoped I understood his intentions were pure. “I’ve heard too many horror stories from my divorce lawyer friends. It rarely ends well.”

“Oh…” I said, wondering where that left me.

He’d said I was his best-looking nanny. But not that I was necessarilygood-looking.

Did he think I was ugly then?

Just… slightly less ugly than the last one…?

He studied my face. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No,” I said quickly, waving a hand. “You’re fine.”

He frowned. “If you’re worried about me trying anything,” he said carefully, “I promise I have no intentions of making the same mistakes those guys did.”

“Good to know,” I muttered, feeling somehow worse.

“Okay.” He stepped closer, searching my face again, even more confused. “What did I say now?”