Page 6 of Nanny's Mate

Mike extended a large hand in Beatriz’s direction. “Nice to meet you, Beatriz.”

She swallowed hard and gingerly took his hand in hers. The moment their fingers brushed, it was like an electric current ran through her. She almost fell off the chair.

“P-pleasure,” she managed quietly. Beatriz cleared her throat and tucked her hands underneath her to keep everyone from seeing them shake. She felt completely out of her element.

Barbara’s hand on her shoulder offered little comfort. “Since the men have crashed our party and it is getting late, perhaps we should call it a night. I guarantee my husband and Kel could use some help with the triplets.”

Aria and Karla finished the last of their drinks quickly and stood. They cleared the table just as Wallis came out from the back.

“I’ll lock up,” she offered, but Ellie shook her head.

“I’ll do it. I want to do everything I possibly can before I’m not able to.” She looked at her husband and shrugged, the smile on her face making it impossible for Caleb to say no.

“I’ll help you,” Caleb grumbled good-naturedly.

“So will I,” Lael piped up.

“Do you need anything else?” Karla asked.

Ellie shook her head. “Nah, we’ll get this. You guys go home and have fun.” Her eyes flickered between Mike and Beatriz. The gesture wasn’t lost upon either of them.

The front door closed behind them with a resounding thud. As everyone walked to their cars, murmurs followed Beatriz. She realized that her constant staring at Mike gave her position away.

Everyone knew now, and she was certain the women already told their husbands. Even so, she found herself unable to do anything other than follow Mike with her eyes. Every move he made sent a thrill of excitement through her.

She followed Barbara, Aria, Karla, and Jordan out to the parking lot. Mike was leaning against a parked car, talking to Nate and Aric quietly. His long legs were crossed at the ankles, and his arms were folded over his chest.

Whatever was said caused him to toss his head back and laugh. Beatriz, more than anything, wanted to reach for him and find out what was so funny. She felt warm, on edge, almost hyper.

She wanted to run and jump on him, declare to the world that he was hers. She wanted to kiss him. To taste him.

She did none of those things, though. She stood stoically in the parking lot, listening to the group discuss their plans for the evening.

Beatriz took a few steps forward. “I’m going to head home,” she said quietly. With as much effort as she could muster, she looked at Mike. “It was nice meeting you.”

He nodded at her. “Likewise.”

His voice made her shiver, and she quickly got into her car and pulled away. Hoping no one noticed her reaction to the man, she drove toward Tristan and Barbara’s property, where she stayed in their guest cabin.

She had spent weeks making the little house a home. She had decorated it the way she wanted, put curtains up that she liked, and purchased a small table from a local thrift store so she’d be able to eat meals somewhere other than the couch. She absolutely loved her little cabin.

However, right now, the thought of going home seemed like an unbearable thought. It sounded like a suffocating prison that would confine her boundless energy.

Not only that, but she wasn’t tired. And why, dear God, didn’t she say anything else to Mike? It was nice meeting you … Why didn’t she strike up more of a conversation? Get to know him better?

She sighed. However, the more she thought about it, she realized that both of them did work for the same people. They would inevitably see each other again. Wouldn’t they?

Of course they would, she assured herself. Probably often. There would be plenty of opportunities to get to know him better.

She pulled into the driveway and parked in front of her cabin. She got out of the car and immediately went behind her house and took her clothes off. She was too anxious and wound up to go to bed.

She needed to shift and run. She needed to release some of this pent-up energy.

A moment later, a small, brown wolf stood where Beatriz had been. With a massive leap, she took off into the woods, eager to tire herself out and clear her head.

FOUR

MIKE