His Nanny Mate By Eve Above Story
Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Stayover Moana

The night was finally over. By the time we all returned to the banquet hall, many of the guests had left.Ella, following her territorial outburst in the garden, seemed to have completely exhausted herself andnow slept soundly on my shoulder as I carried her.

“Oh, tired little thing,” Verona said in a hushed tone as she came up to us.

“We should get going.” Edrick’s voice was cold and stern; I could tell that he wasn’t particularly happywith me, although I wasn’t sure if it was because I was spending time with Ethan earlier that night orbecause I got involved with the two wolf pups. I wasn’t particularly happy with him, either — not afterwhat he supposedly said to Kelly about me.

Verona frowned. “Stay the night,” she said. “There’s no need to drag a tired little girl home when wehave plenty of space here. You can leave tomorrow, after breakfast.”

Edrick glanced over at Ella, then back to his mother and nodded reluctantly.

Verona showed us to our rooms. Ella’s was situated next to mine in a lower level of the house, whileEdrick’s room was directly upstairs. After I put Ella to bed, I returned to my room and wondered ifEdrick still expected me to fulfill our sleeping arrangement even though we were in his parents’ home.As I was wondering this, as if on cue, I received a text message from Edrick asking when I would becoming upstairs.

I let out a deep sigh, wishing that it wouldn’t have to be my responsibility for us not to get caught,before changing into the silk pajama set and slippers that Verona had laid out for me, which wasincredibly kind of her. As I felt the cold, smooth silk on my skin, I wished that I could keep the pajamaset.

Cracking open my door, I poked my head out of my room to make sure that the coast was clear beforesneaking out. I took extra care to walk quietly as I made my way toward the stairs.

“Looking for something?” a familiar voice said from behind me.

I spun around to see none other than Ethan standing in the hallway. He had a thick book tucked underhis arm and was in his own pajamas.

“Um– I was just going to check on Ella,” I lied.

Ethan slowly nodded. I felt as though he could tell that I wasn’t being truthful, but he didn’t say anythingabout it. “Alright,” he said. “Well, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Without another word, Ethan walked past me with his book. I slipped into Ella’s room for a fewmoments in case he was still watching, and once I counted ten of her deep breaths as she slept, Isnuck back out and bolted up the stairs to Edrick’s room.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed when I arrived. His shoes were placed neatly on the floor and hewas working to loosen his tie.

“Took you long enough,” he said.

“It’s a bit more difficult to not be seen when there are so many other people in the house,” I replied as Iwalked over to the bed. I pulled the blankets back to get in, but just then, there was a knock on thedoor. My eyes widened; Edrick silently pointed toward the closet, indicating for me to hide. I quickly ranover to the closet and quietly closed the door, staying in the shadows while I peered through the slatteddoor.

“Come in,” Edrick called out.

The bedroom door opened, and in came Verona. She was carrying a tray in her hand, and on it was aglass of milk and an orange bottle of pills.

“I thought I heard you talking to someone,” she said as she walked over to the bedside table to set thetray down.

Edrick shook his head. “Nope. Just me.”

Verona sighed and reached out to help Edrick take off his tie. “Well, darling, these pills should help yousleep. Has your insomnia improved at all?”

There was a long pause before Edrick nodded. “Yes, actually. I hardly need the pills anymore at all.”

Verona let out a small gasp. “Really?” she said. “Oh, that’s wonderful! What changed?”

I half expected Edrick to reveal our sleeping arrangement to his mother. The thought of it made myheart race, but thankfully, he didn’t. “I’m not sure,” he replied. “Less stressed, I guess.”

“Well, perhaps you have that au pair to thank,” Verona said. I watched, stunned, as the old woman’sgaze flickered over to where the blankets were pulled down on my side of the bed. Did she know I washere? I pictured her walking over to the closet and yanking the doors open, revealing my secret withEdrick.

Finally, she turned back toward the door and started to leave before that happened.

“I’m sure having someone to look after Ella is a relief for you, and that’s why you’re sleeping better,”she called over her shoulder. Her hand lingered on the doorknob for a moment; I swore that her eyesmet mine through the slats of the closet door as she glanced over, making me clap my hand over mymouth and step further back into the shadows.

“Goodnight, mom,” Edrick said, breaking his mother’s gaze away from the closet door.

“Goodnight, darling,” Verona replied before leaving the bedroom.

A few moments passed before I came out, once I was certain that she wouldn’t poke her head back in.As the adrenaline left my body, Edrick calmly stood and moved the tray of milk and pills over to thedresser, then began to unbutton his shirt in front of the full-length mirror.

“How did you get those pups to stop fighting?” he asked suddenly, taking me by surprise. “Those twoboys are known for being a couple of little devils.”

I shrugged, walking over to the bed and taking my slippers off. “I don’t know. I just had a sincere talkwith them. I think they just need someone to play with them more to release their pent up frustration.”

“Hm.”

Edrick continued to unbutton his shirt. I watched as he hung it carefully over the back of a chair, but Iquickly looked away when our eyes met in the mirror. Thinking about the pups reminded me of whatKelly told me earlier… About what Edrick had supposedly said while I was in the bathroom. It hurt toknow that he would say such awful things about me in front of others.

Edrick must have seen me picking my bottom lip thoughtfully. “What is it?” he asked suddenly, breakingmy train of thought. I jumped, looking up from the spot on the blanket I had been staring at to see thatEdrick was already dressed in his own pajamas; I must have been lost in thought for at least a fewminutes without realizing it.

“You know, I’m not trying anything funny with Ethan,” I blurted out, feeling my face instantly get hot inresponse to Edrick’s cold gaze settling on me.

“Okay,” he replied slowly.

I watched as he got into bed, but still, I wasn’t satisfied. Ethan had been nothing but sweet and lovelysince I met him; why was Edrick so cold toward him earlier?

“You know,” I said as I slid down into the blankets, “I don’t understand why you’re so harsh with hi–”

Edrick abruptly shut off the light, casting the room in darkness. “Enough, Moana.” His voice was coldand just as dark as the room. “It’s not your job to question my relationship with that man. I told you thathe’s not who he seems, so just listen to me and stop being nosey.”

Edrick’s words stung, and it was then that I realized that I had forgotten to put a pillow between us.With a huff, I grabbed one of the throw pillows from beneath my head and shoved it into the spacebetween our bodies before turning over and going to sleep.

…

I awoke early the next morning to replace that Edrick was still sleeping soundly behind me. So, taking thisas an opportunity to quickly get out of bed and return to my room without any conflict, I threw my robeand my slippers back on before quietly slipping out of the room.

If only I had checked to make sure the coast was clear before I walked out!

“Good morning.”