Say You’ll Stay

Chapter 6 – West

Chapter Six

WEST

I should have gone to her sooner. I don’t know why I didn’t. Was it pride? Was it hurt feelings? When I was discharged, I went straight home only to find out she’d moved. When the Army fixed its fucked-up logistics, I found a letter where she wrote to tell me of a nanny position she’d accepted. I followed her here and found her living in a mansion bigger than the mayor’s house from back home. Her boss was one of the richest men in the world.

I couldn’t compete with that on my retired sergeant’s salary, and decided I’d earn money and come back to her. I bought The Academy for her. When she didn’t come to me, I laid a trap for the stepson and figured I’d blackmail her into my bed by agreeing not to press charges for trying to steal test results in exchange for her by my side.

The sadness in her eyes, the air of desperation that holds her frame tight, kills me. I shouldn’t have waited this long. I lean against my desk.

“Tell me what you want. Not what you need, but what you want, Vasey.”

She doesn’t comply with my unstated order. “I’m a nanny now.”

“For Thomas Ware.”

“You know?” She seems surprised.

I get the sense that if I’m completely honest with her, that I’ve been watching her for months now, that she’s going to be pissed off and leave. “Ware’s very wealthy, and I own a school for wealthy kids.”

She nods. “That’s right. I’m surprised you own this. It doesn’t seem like something you’d be interested in.”

“Are you referring to my less than great performance in high school? I admit scholarly shi-stuff has never been on my list of must-haves, but this seemed like a good investment.”

“Really? A school?”

“For wealthy kids.”

She gives me a disbelieving look.

“Okay, it’s a good tax write-off. Like a charity.”

“But for wealthy kids,” she adds.

“Something like that.” Fuck, none of this sounds very believable. I might as well tell her the truth. “I bought it for you.”

She bursts out laughing. And doesn’t stop. I get up and go pour her a glass of water.

“Thanks,” she sputters with eyes wet and cheeks red. She looks edible. I could take a bite of her right now.

“It wasn’t a joke.”

“Sure.” She rolls her eyes as she takes a drink.

“Why would I buy a school if not to give it to a school teacher?”

She sets the glass carefully on the table next to her. All traces of laughter are gone. “I’m not a school teacher, I’m a nanny, and if you bought this for me, you’ve made a big mistake. I only ever wanted you. I didn’t need money or things. I just needed you.”

“You know why I left.” I hate that we’re rehashing this.

She rises. Her mouth is pinched tight. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

“Is it Ware? Do you love him?”

“No. Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s my boss.”

“As if that has stopped anyone before,” I scoff.

“So you’re sleeping with the headmistress out there.” She jerks her thumb in the direction of Susan’s office.

“Of course not.”

“Why? What’s wrong with a little office romance?” Vasey taunts.

I bite back a retort and rub the creases between my brow. The last few days before I shipped out, all we did was argue. She didn’t understand that I wanted to provide for her, that I needed to be able to put food on her table, buy her pretty things, or I wouldn’t be able to allow myself to love her.

“Vasey, I don’t want to argue with you. Tell me what you need and I’ll fix it for you.” I’ll get her list of wants later.

She adjusts her purse strap, appearing to think on it, and then says, “Nothing. I was foolish to come here. Goodbye, West. I’d say it was good to see you again, but it’s not really.”

I slam my hand against the door so she can’t open it. “I’m not letting you leave, Vasey. You sought me out for a reason even though you despise me for abandoning you. Get some of your lick back by making me do something for you.”

“Or what? You’ll lock me in this office?”

“Yeah, if I have to.”

“You can’t do that.” Her eyes spark with fire. My cock hardens instantly. It’s always been like this between us. Instant attraction.

“Don’t test me.”

“Are you actually getting turned on?” She pushes me.

“Yes. Why are you surprised? I sported a woodie a good 95.5 percent of the time I was near you and the other 4.5 percent of the time was because I was passed out.”

“I don’t care.”

“Your body says something totally different.” Her nipples are poking through her shirt. I drop my hand to cup one of them.

She hisses when I pass my thumb over the pert tip. “See,” I whisper hoarsely. “Nothing’s changed between us, sweetness. Tell me what you need from me. I’ll take care of it. I’ll take care of you.”

I bend down to kiss her, to take her tender mouth with mine, but she ducks out from under my arm and out of my grasp. I bang my head against the door once before twisting around to see her take her phone out of her purse.

“Is it Ware you’re calling or the police?” I’m hoping it's the police because if she runs to Ware when she feels in danger, then we’re going to have problems.

“A cab. I need to go pick Jasmine up. What would Ware do?” She scowls.

It’s the first positive sign she’s given me. I adjust myself and back away from the door. “Come on. I’ll drive you.”

“No. Jasmine won’t get into a car with a stranger.”

“You can introduce us, and then we won’t be strangers anymore.”

“We’re strangers because you made it that way, and that’s how it’s going to continue to be. Leave me alone, West. It shouldn’t be hard. It’s what you’ve done for the last ten years. You have a lot of practice.”