Page 30 of The Billionaire's Virgin

“It hasn’t happened again recently then?” Taylor asked. “Apart from the two calls I answered?”

“Well… it happened once to me,” I admitted. “Just before or around the time I hired you.”

“Oh.”

“It can’t be Sofia,” I said. “I had the number changed, and I’m not in the phone book.”

“Maybe it’s nothing.”

“It’s happened too often now for me to write it off as nothing.”

I saw Taylor’s eyes grow worried for a second and I wondered what she was thinking. “Don’t worry,” she said, as her eyes met mine. “I’ll keep a close watch on Jenna at all times.”

“Thank you.” I nodded. “I appreciate that.”

I looked down at the carpeted floor, and I felt the weight of my failures settle down on my shoulders. My job was to make sure that Jenna was safe and I had put her directly in harm’s way by bringing a dangerous woman into our lives. I should never have introduced Sofia to Jenna so early. It was such a stupid mistake, and it haunted me every day since.

I felt Taylor stand up and come to sit beside me. A moment later, I felt her hand on my shoulder. I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt so I couldn’t even feel her naked skin against mine, but I felt warmth spread through my body, and I glanced up at her. Her eyes were intoxicating, and I felt a breath catch in my throat.

“Don’t beat yourself up over this,” Taylor said, as though she had read my mind. “How could you have known she was unstable?”

“I should have made sure before I introduced her to Jenna.”

“You were looking to fill the void that Jenna’s mother left in her life,” Taylor said, and I realized she understood me… at least she understood part of me. “You wanted her to have some sort of feminine presence in her life.”

“Yes, but—”

“Don’t look back so much, Reed,” Taylor said. “Every parent makes mistakes, particularly ones who are doing it alone. There isn’t a manual when it comes to parenthood. Most people just wing it. Look at Jenna. She’s healthy and happy and sweet. That’s all that matters.”

I sighed, but I managed a small smile. “Thank you.”

Taylor leaned in and hugged me unexpectedly, and I found myself leaning into her as well. It was the most brilliant feeling in the world, and for a second, I was very close to kissing her. Then we heard the door to Jenna’s room click open, and we jumped apart like our skin had caught on fire. Taylor rose to her feet just as Jenna ran into the living room in a white dress with yellow daisies all over.

“Wow, you look great,” Taylor complimented, shaking off the moment we had shared and sliding right into nanny mode again.

“Daddy,” Jenna said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet. “Come on, let’s go.”

I grabbed my coat, and the three of us headed towards the elevator. I glanced at Taylor, but it was obvious she was avoiding looking me in the face at the moment. I thought about my upcoming March business trip, and I decided it couldn’t have been coming at a better time.

Apparently, I needed a little space from Taylor… or I was going to run the risk of doing something really stupid… like admit to my feelings for her.