Page 20 of The Billionaire's Virgin

“I’ll pay you for the extra time,” Reed said.

“Oh no, that’s not necessary,” I insisted, realizing that I hadn’t even thought about that. “Really, I chose to be here for Jenna. You don’t need to pay me anything extra.”

“Still, I’ll feel better about this if I do.”

I said nothing because I had no idea what to say. I was about to ask him what exactly he would feel better about when I stopped myself. This was a working relationship after all. He was my boss, and I was his daughter’s nanny. I couldn’t afford to get flustered every time a new scenario that I hadn’t prepared for presented itself. Given that I had no experience being a nanny, I expected it would happen a lot more often anyway.

The park was teeming with families, kids, and their dogs. There were lots of independent vendors selling cotton candy and ice cream and a number of other sweet treats.

“Daddy, can I have ice cream?” Jenna asked, looking up at Reed.

“Sure.” Reed nodded. “Taylor, what about you?”

“Ah, nothing for me, thanks.”

“You’re giving up your only free afternoon to be with Jenna,” Reed said. “You deserve an ice cream. Go on; pick something.”

We found a nice spot under a shady tree and we enjoyed our ice cream while Jenna watched the dogs run around playing with their owners.

“Daddy, can we get a dog?” Jenna asked.

“No,” Reed said firmly and I smiled.

“Why not?”

“Because our building doesn’t allow pets, remember?”

“Oh… yeah.” She sat and thought a moment.

“Can I go pet that dog?” Jenna asked.

“Sure.” Reed nodded. “But ask the owner first, okay?”

Jenna finished her ice cream fast and then headed off to try and make friends with the fluffy golden retriever that she had had her eye on the whole time we sat down. That left Reed and I sitting together alone under the tree.

“Thanks again,” he said. “For staying.”

“Believe me; it’s not a problem at all. I love being with Jenna.”

Reed smiled, and I saw that he liked hearing that. “Daddy!” Jenna called. She was rubbing the dog under his belly, and his legs were in the air, and his tongue was rolling out happily. “Daddy, come and see. Come and see.”

Smiling, Reed got up and went to Jenna, while I sat back and allowed them to have a little father-daughter moment. I reflected on what a good father Reed was. He had brought Jenna up single handed, and he had done his best to make sure she was happy and safe. Which was more than my father and stepfather had ever done for me.

It was as I was watching Reed and Jenna that a sixth sense crept in and I felt as if someone was watching me. I tried to ignore it, but the feeling persisted, and so I looked around. There were too many people around, however, and I couldn’t seem to find a concrete reason for the feeling.

I turned my attention back to Reed and Jenna and tried to shut out the nagging voice in the back of my head that told me that someone was still watching me.