Page 83 of Fighting Chance

I’ve never been in this type of position with a guy before. Have never been between their legs, have never had such a strong, masculine man with his undivided attention on me.

I can feel his eyes trailing along my skin, his gaze like a searing touch.

It’s heady.

It’s…fuck, it’s making me light-headed.

Not lupus,I remind myself.Just a wildly attractive man who I apparently want to kiss.

Shaking myself out of this stupor, all I have to do is look to Emmy and I remember why I’m here and what I’m doing.

I’m the nanny.

And nothing else.

“How’d I do?”

His rough, gravelly voice has my eyes snapping up to his and, damn, was that a mistake.

Sucking in a sharp breath, my body seems to sway forward on its own, sucked in by his eyes—those damn blue eyes that twinkle down at me as if he knows exactly how he affects me.

“Do with what?” I murmur back. “Pummeling him?”

His mischievousness winks out like a flame doused by water. “Oh, I know I did well with that.” His jaw clenches. “Bastard deserved it.”

We fall silent as something passes over his eyes.

Before I can remind myself of how unprofessional it would be, how it would be crossing another line, one that Kieran loves to dance along, I’m blurting out, “What did he say to you?”

“What makes you think he said anything?” His gaze flicks back and forth, searching mine as I remain caught between his legs. “What makes you think I didn’t do it because that’s just what I do?”

I shake my head. “It’s not in your nature, and I know he said something to you because I saw the look on your face.”

“And what was that?”

“One of pain.”

His Adam’s apple bobs.

“What did he say?” I probe again, too far gone to stop asking.

The question hangs between us as something builds, a current of energy that can’t be ignored, a magnet in both our chests that has us leaning toward each other before Kieran shakes his head and pulls away.

“He said nothing.”

I lick my lips. “Right. Sorry I asked. It was unprofessional,” I whisper, unable to hide the hurt in my voice.

Kieran blows out a breath that’s so full of weight his shoulders slump as I pick up another Kleenex and continue cleaning theblood off him. My eyes slide to Emmy, where she’s sucking her thumb and still staring at her dad.

Me too, girl, me too.

I turn his chin to the left, though his eyes remain on me. “Sorry, it’s just…it was deranged and revolting and…” He swallows suddenly before reaching up to clasp my hand, halting my movements. “He spoke about you.”

The words are guttural, as if he’s struggling to get them out.

“Me?” My head rears back. “Why would he talk about me?”

Kieran’s eyes search mine. “He knew he would hit a nerve.”