A Very Merry Nanny (Very Merry #2)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

HUDSON

A s I swallow down the awful tequila, someone sits beside me on the log.

“Can I have some of that?” my youngest brother, Lucas, asks. We share more similarities than differences.

I pass him the bottle, and he takes a generous swig. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, careful not to smudge his Dr. Phil mustache. “Disgusting.”

“I'm numb to it,” I confess as Emma follows Jake inside.

“Wait.” His eyes widen. “Are you drunk?”

“Probably.”

“Wow. I haven't seen you like this since...”

He trails off, and he doesn’t need to say more. That unspoken name lingers. Meredith.

“Sorry,” Lucas says quickly. “Not trying to bring up the past.”

“Don't worry about it.”

Lucas lifts the bottle to his lips again. “It does grow on you.”

I chuckle. “Yep.”

We both turn our attention back to the fire. Fresh logs crackle and pop, sending sparks into the night sky.

“Who were you talking to a few minutes ago?” he asks.

“Claire's sister, Emma.” She's thirty, younger than my thirty-nine, and much closer to Lucas's age than mine. Just another reason for her to steer clear of me, despite her magnetic pull.

“Is she back? Is she single this time?” He takes another sip from the bottle.

“We didn't discuss relationship statuses.”

“My bad. Thought you had, seeing as you were five seconds away from devouring her face.”

I shoot him a glare. “I wasn't.”

“Oh, come on. A whole group of us sat here and watched a love story unfold. Ask Sammy.”

Sam, my brother's best friend, turns our way.

“Did you see Hudson almost kiss that woman?” Lucas asks.

“Oh yeah,” Sam replies, taking a sip of beer.

“It was nothing,” I insist.

“Really?” Lucas challenges. “So, you’d be okay if I asked her out?”

“Sure. She seems fun. Your type,” I admit.

“And age,” he says, patting my back.

“I'm not sure you can handle a woman like her, though.”

He laughs. “I guess we'll see. I still owe her a thank you for posting about the farm last year. Got so many thirsty women in my DMs.”

I almost forgot about the flood of attention her shout-out brought us. If it weren't for Emma, the farm’s Instagram wouldn’t have blown up, giving me something else to focus on this year. I’ll always be grateful for that.

As I glance back towards the house, I catch a glimpse of Emma through the front window. She's laughing, and I find myself curious about who she’s talking to.

“I think I need some water,” I announce, standing.

“You're not fooling me,” Lucas says.

I ignore him and head back inside. My eyes immediately seek out Emma, who’s chatting with Hank. Again. It looks like he hasn't given up on her after all.

Emma glances my way, but I continue forward, feeling the alcohol coursing through my veins.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it from my pocket. Mom has texted me several pictures of Colby in costume. The last photo shows a huge pile of candy scattered with empty wrappers. I lean against the kitchen counter as I type a response.

Hudson

Thank you! Looks like he had a great time.

Mom

We all did! I love that we can share this with him. Thank you, sweetie!

Hudson

Every Halloween belongs to you.

Mom

Deal. Are you having fun?

Hudson

Yeah, but I’m about to head home.

Mom

Great! See you tomorrow.

Hudson

Good night! Send my love.

Mom

Good night. I will.

My parents are the only ones I trust to keep Colby overnight, and even then, I worry. Some days, he’s the only reason I keep going. My son is my everything. The thoughts ground me as I set my helmet on the counter and chug a bottle of water.

“Thirsty?” Emma whispers beside me, her brown eyes sparkling.

“Do you always try this hard?” I ask.

“You think this is trying?” she snorts.

“It’s something .”

A beautiful smirk forms on her lips.

Her eyes scan my body. “You enjoy the attention.”

“Stop projecting,” I say.

One of her brows raises as she studies me. “What did you say earlier? You don’t beg?”

I glance at her. “You remembered? How thoughtful.”

I’m intentionally being an ass, but it doesn’t seem to faze her.

“You will.”

“You’re a cocky little thing.”

She moves closer, making my heart skip a beat. “I thrive on challenges. And you, Hudson Jolly, will be my greatest one yet.”

“Already turned on by me? You might have broken a record.” I study her. “I've warned you, but you're too damn stubborn to listen.”

“You have no idea,” she says, pressing her back against the counter. “Now tell me about your rules.”

Jake walks over to the fridge and pulls out a tray of gelatin shots. “Have two. Both of you.”

“I'm good. I'm about to leave,” I explain.

“Fuck that.” He pushes the jiggly squares toward me.

“Fine.” I take two and pop them in my mouth at the same time as Emma. We swoosh them around then swallow.

“I suppose you're still single,” she says. “Or are you just playing hard to get because you're with someone?”

Ah, there it is.

I scan the room and see countless women I've turned down over the years. There are more here than I’d like to admit.

I don’t respond.

“I have a feeling you’re not the type to flirt if you’re in a relationship.”

“Flirt?” I deadpan.

She playfully licks her lips, then narrows her eyes. The silent exchange continues.

“Emma,” a deep voice calls.

“Hi Lucas,” she replies sweetly. “You’re baby Jolly, right?”

“You can call me baby anytime you want,” he retorts.

This is the kind of banter Emma is used to, but she won’t get that from me.

“Are you single?” he asks, and I roll my eyes. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about her answer.

“For now,” she says, but I know Emma better than she thinks. I’ve read countless rumors about her online, and there’s a kernel of truth among them. Emma dates because she hasn’t found a man who can make her happy yet. She’s still searching.

“Can I get you a drink?” Lucas asks, wasting no time.

“I’d love that.” She's trying to make me jealous.

Lucas fills two glasses with punch, adding extra vodka. He hands one to her, and she watches me over the rim as she drinks.

Rather than being an audience to their awkward flirtation, I walk away. I might regret walking away from her tomorrow, but for now, I care about nothing—that’s the tequila talking.

As I move toward the front door, Claire grabs my cape and pulls me closer. “Where do you think you’re going? The fun is about to start.”

“Home,” I explain.

“You’re playing Pangea with us.” She takes my arm and drags me to the small crowd gathered around the coffee table. In the center, a flattened pizza box has names written on it, each enclosed in large circles.

“Add yours,” Claire says, handing me a permanent marker.

“I don’t want to play.”

She huffs in response. Jake snatches the marker from my hand and writes it for me.

“The two of you are disgustingly meant for each other,” I say. “Both annoying and don’t know how to take no for an answer.”

Jake laughs, wrapping his arm around Claire and kissing her forehead.

Seconds later, Emma writes her name too. The sweet scent of her perfume drives me crazy, and I instinctively move away from her.

“Anyone else?” Claire yells over the music. Seventeen names fill the board.

I clear my throat. “Please explain the rules. I want to know what I’ve been peer pressured into.”

“I was getting to it,” she replies in her corporate tone.

Claire tosses her brown hair over her shoulder. “We’ll flip a coin. If it lands on the circle around your name, you have to drink. If it lands on a blank spot, you get to add a rule to the board.”

“And we can write anything we want?” Lucas inquires mischievously, glancing at Emma.

“Anything,” Emma confirms with a nod. “Just make sure it’s general, you know.”

Our eyes meet, and I’m determined to hold her gaze until she looks away. She doesn’t. Instead, Emma takes a sip of her drink, an eyebrow raised. This woman is like a tiger, stalking her prey. She has no idea what she’s getting into with my emotional unavailability, and no amount of warning will deter her. She’s like a moth drawn to a flame. I will burn her alive.

“Anyone have any questions?” Claire asks, bringing me back to the moment.

I grab the whiskey bottle from the counter. If I need to crash on Jake’s couch, so be it.

Emma continues to stare at me, but I refuse to get caught in her gaze again and keep my focus forward. Each time her eyes land on me, my heart pounds harder, and it shouldn’t.

It can’t.

Claire pulls a quarter from the red pouch on her waist and hands it to her sister. “Guest of honor.”

Emma grins, flips the coin, and we all watch as it lands on a blank space. She grabs the marker and scribbles something, but it’s upside down.

“What did you add?” Lucas asks.

“Kiss someone in the room,” Emma replies. “An easy one for couples.”

She’s cunning, already plotting her mischief, and I see right through it.

“An easy one for me, too,” Lucas tells her.

I roll my eyes.

She heads to the kitchen for more punch and returns to my side.

“Now, who's playing dirty?” I ask.

“Not yet, but you'll know when that statement is true.”

“Mm. Just don't do something you'll regret.”

“Never.”

We don't exchange another word.

The quarter spirals through the air, landing in various circles and blank spaces. My name is hit twice, and Emma's name appears the same number of times.

I flick the quarter upward, and it comes to rest on Lucas's name. He takes a drink before Emma tosses it again. Almost in slow motion, it lands in the 'kiss someone in the room' circle.

“Oh,” JJ says. “Who's the lucky person?”

Emma scans the room before slowly turning to face me.

“Seriously?” I ask, knowing she would do this but hoping she wouldn't. “Lucas is waiting for you.”

“I didn’t choose Lucas,” she mutters.

“It's the rules!” Claire chimes in.

Emma stands on her tiptoes, places her hand on my cheek, and gently slides her lips across mine with her eyes closed. As much as I want to reciprocate, I hold back.

When she realizes I'm motionless beneath her touch, she pulls away, brows furrowed.

Everyone stares at us before the attention awkwardly shifts to the pizza box.

“Cheap shots get you nowhere,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, needing to get the fuck out of here.

“I'll remember that.” She smirks.

We continue playing for the next hour, and after what happened with Emma, no one else even dares to kiss me, thankfully. The locals know I'm not the one, and I guess Emma does now, too.

When the clock strikes midnight, most people have left. It’s just me, Emma, Jake, and Claire. Jake is munching on a cold slice of pizza while I lean back in my chair, feeling lightheaded.

“You’re not driving home,” Jake says, smacking loudly.

“I'm about to walk,” I reply, exhaustion creeping in.

“You can sleep on the couch,” my brother offers.

Claire yawns and Jake takes her hand as he stands.

“You two will be okay in here?” he asks, grinning.

“Yeah.”

He turns his focus back to Claire, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Let’s go to sleep, my love.”

“Okay,” she responds.

My brother scoops her up in his arms and carries her down the hallway.

“Good night,” she calls to us, and a minute later, it’s just Emma and me.

“You'll regret not kissing me back earlier,” she warns.

“Still salty,” I reply with a sarcastic laugh. Maybe it’s the alcohol, but a part of me already regrets it. “You're used to your boy toys doing whatever you want.”

She narrows her eyes, and I sense that I may have offended her.

“Ah, I hit a nerve. I’m not like anyone you’ve ever met before, sweetheart. If you say jump, I won’t. I do whatever the hell I want.” I brush my fingertips across her cheek. “Not even a pretty face can change that.”

Emma bites her lip, contemplating. “We’ll see.”

I step away from her and grab my helmet from the counter. Staying here would be a mistake, especially in this state.

“Good luck,” I tell her as I twist the knob. “You’ll need it.”