Chapter 14

Their taxi pulled up in front of the Sheffields' mansion, and Niles stepped out first, holding the empty mugs and reaching for Chester. CC handed him the little dog, then slid over, paid the driver, and stepped out onto the curb. She straightened her suit, bit her lip, and raised her eyebrows at Niles. He nodded, and they walked together to the front door.

Niles used his key to unlock the door, handing the dog back to CC. He held the door for her, and she walked through, shoulders squared.

"Hello, hello," she said, greeting Fran and the boy, Trevor, was it? Both sat on the couch, watching TV. Niles closed the door behind them and headed for the kitchen, wondering why Brighton wasn't in school today.

Fran's eyes grew wide and her mouth formed an "O" as she saw them coming in the door together. She ignored CC and Chester and made a beeline for the kitchen.

CC shrugged and set Chester down. "So much for that plan," she said, and went into the office. She didn't envy Niles the interrogation he was surely about to endure.

Maxwell looked up as CC entered the room, annoyance written across his features. "Nice of you to show up today, CC," he said irritably.

"I'm sorry, Maxwell, I was unavoidably detained. What's on the agenda?"

Maxwell launched into a long-winded description of an exchange he'd had with two of the actors in Regardless, and it was CC's opinion that they were clearly in need of a dose of reality. As the best one to provide such medicine, CC gathered her things and told Maxwell she'd head straight to the theater.

"Have Niles drive you. That is, if he has managed to come downstairs yet."

CC smirked. "I'll check and see."

Niles heard Miss Fine's stilettos coming down the hall nearly as soon as he entered the kitchen, and he braced himself for the onslaught.

"You've got some explaining to do, mister! You can't just come in at 10:30 in the morning with that woman and expect me not to find out the whole story. What's going on, Niles?" She had burst through the door with such force that it was still swinging on its hinges when she finished speaking.

"Miss Fine, I'm not prepared to discuss it. It's… it's new, and I think it might be… real, and that's as much as you're getting out of me."

Fran's jaw dropped. "You meant it, didn't you?"

"Meant what, Miss Fine?" He asked patiently.

"When you said you loved her."

Niles looked around, hoping no one had overheard her comment. "I'm not discussing it."

Fran's expression softened. "Well, was it good? At least you can tell me that much."

Niles waggled his eyebrows. "You have no idea."

Fran settled into one of the chairs, picking up a muffin from the platter on the table. "Dish, dish!"

At that moment, CC breezed through the swinging door and said to Niles, "Maxwell said you'd drive me to the theater."

"Certainly," he responded, relaxing his shoulders in relief at the interruption.

CC walked over to the subzero, pulling out some grapes. "Nanny Fine, could you keep an eye on Chester?"

"Sure, I can do that, Miss Babcock. Chester's a sweetie."

Absent-mindedly, CC held a grape up to Niles's lips as they moved towards the back door. He took it, forgetting briefly that they had an audience.

Neither of them noticed as Fran dropped the muffin she had been eating to the floor.

CC slid into the front seat of the limo, beside Niles. "So, did you 'dish'?" she asked mischievously, mimicking the nanny's accent.

Niles turned to look at her. "I assure you, the only dishing I did was strictly against my will. But she knows, CC. How could she not?"

CC shrugged. "I… don't care? You'd think I would, wouldn't you?" she said, off-handedly curious at her own lack of reaction to the biggest yenta in New York knowing she was sleeping with Maxwell's butler.

Niles thought this was a very good sign indeed. He leaned over and captured her lips in a quick but passionate kiss. "Well, if you don't care, I'll struggle to overcome my shame at being involved with you." He kissed her again.

CC caught his lower lip between her teeth and bit down, hard. "See that you do."

"You're a cruel woman, Babcock," he said, rubbing his mouth.

"Best you don't forget that."

Niles pulled up in front of the theater and moved the gearshift into park, leaving the engine running.

"You're not coming in?" She asked.

"Better not. I should try to do some work today."

"Pick me up around 6?"

"Of course."

"Niles, will you bring Chester? Then we could go straight home after."

"I… yeah. I can do that."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek, ruffling his hair with her fingers. "This is fun," she said, and then she was gone, pushing the door closed and striding into the theater.

Niles brought his hand to his cheek. Go straight home after? Since when was Babcock's penthouse home? He smiled. He couldn't argue with the lady. This was fun.