Christian

"Morning, Daddy." I look over my shoulder as I sit at the kitchen island to find my sweet girl come padding towards me as she yawns and stretches. Her hair is a mess from sleep and my heart swells with affection.

"Good morning, lovebug. Sleep well?"

She comes to give me a morning hug and snuggles into me like she always does in the morning so I can hold her for a minute.

"Like the dead." Seeing Gail at the oven she hollers a good morning to her from her place in my arms.

I chuckle. "Like the dead, huh?"

Her eyes land on my plate and she grins. "Pancakes today?"

"Yes, Gail wanted to make your favorite this morning since it's your first Monday of Summer break."

Ellie releases me and climbs onto the stool next to mine. "Thank you, Gail!"

Gail gives her a sweet smile. "Anything for our girl. You ready for your pancakes now?"

Ellie licks her lips. "Yes, please!"

I hear the beep that sounds when a door opens and see Ms. Steele step into the kitchen from the patio doors. She's wearing jeans with a pink short sleeve blouse and I'm thankful she's decided to cover her thighs today. She slips her flats off her feet and leaves them by the door.

"Good morning!" She gives us a smile.

"Good morning, Nanny Ana!"

She gets a good look at Ellie and laughs as she runs a hand over her bedhead. "Your hair is a mess, girlfriend. I'll fix it once you're finished eating."

Ms. Steele notices Gail in the kitchen reminding me they haven't met, yet.

"Oh, Gail, this is Anastasia Steele, Eloise's new nanny. Ms. Steele, this is Gail Taylor."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Taylor. People call me Ana."

"Likewise, Ana. Ellie talked about you all day Saturday. She's a bit smitten, I'm afraid. Call me Gail."

Ms. Steele gives a laugh that causes warmth to flood my groin. I frown at my reaction.

"I'm just as smitten about her."

"It's hard not to be. Have a seat, Ana. I'm making pancakes." Gail gives her a warm smile.

"Oh... no, I don't want to impose. I'm okay. I'll wait in the sitting room until you all are done."

"Have you already eaten?" Gail looks unsure.

"Well, no, but I usually just drink coffee in the mornings."

My tumbler full of coffee gets slammed down when I hear this and she turns quickly towards me, surprised by the sound.

"You will eat." I give her a hard look.

"I...what?"

"You heard me. I'm not going to allow you to get hyped up on coffee and no nourishment while watching my daughter. I'm not about to let the new nanny pass out in front of her. You will sit and eat. Don't force me to add meals to the list of things I require you to do. You're an adult. Act like one."

"Act like one?" She looks shocked by my words.

I point to the seat on the opposite side of me. "Sit."

She scowls at me, but sits beside me. "I'm not an animal."

"Never said you were."

Leaning into my ear she whispers harshly, "I don't appreciate you ordering me around like I'm one! The only reason I sat is because I promised your daughter we wouldn't fight in front of her anymore. Don't get used to it!"

I turn to retort, but her face is right in front of me. We're almost nose-to-nose and her wide eyes are the clearest blue I'd ever seen. She smells of toothpaste and coffee and before I think to give her space, she's pulling her face back to give me mine.

The sound of a plate against the granite gets my attention and when I turn, Gail has a smirk on her face as she places the plate in front of the girl.

Taking a deep breath, Ms. Steele picks up her fork and takes in her plate. "This looks wonderful, Gail. Thank you."

Clearing my thoughts, I grab my tumbler of coffee and push myself off my stool. "Give me a kiss, lovebug. Daddy's leaving for work."

XxXxXx

*Why didn't you tell me the girl doesn't eat?*

I'm still bristling over the fact that Ms. Steele isn't taking care of herself like she should. Breakfast is fuel for the rest of the day and this girl never bothered to give herself that. Coffee. I have a coffee addiction myself, but if I lived on coffee and nothing else through half the day I'd be a disastrous mess. How did she get through four years of college?

*Anastasia?*

I roll my eyes.

*Who else? She thinks she can survive on liquids.*

*Oh, no. She's not walking around with a bottle of wine drinking it with a phallic shaped straw again, is she?"

I choke on my coffee and have to grab my handkerchief to wipe the coffee off my chin.

*What the fuck?*

*I take that to be a no then. You must mean her coffee addiction.*

I'm still stuck on the phallic-shaped straw bit. Surely, he must be joking. There better be no phallic-shaped anything around my daughter!

My phone dings again and I expect it to be my brother, but notice it's from the nanny. She sent me a picture of my daughter smiling up at the camera, dressed for the day. I can see Ms. Steele in the mirror behind her and she looks to be laughing. Well, that's a good start. They seem to be getting along alright alone.

*Bedhead has officially been resolved. At the risk of sounding like Chandler... could she BE any cuter?*

I cock an eyebrow at her failed attempt at a joke.

*Adorable.*

I reply just so she knows I got her text.

*Do you get it? Chandler... as in Chandler Bing?*

My face muscles betray me and I actually smile at her text.

*Yes, I get it and it takes away all its humor when you have to explain it.*

*Well you didn't laugh, so I didn't think you got it. Usually a gentleman laughs when a lady makes a joke.*

I actually laugh out loud at this. Feeling light about the playful banter, I decide to continue it.

*So sorry, Ms. Steele. Ha. Ha.*

*You're an ass.*

I suck in a gasp. This girl has half ton balls when she's behind a screen. She called me an asshole last night and ended up in tears and now she's calling me an ass like it never happened! Suddenly, I start laughing. My stomach muscles actually contract as my laugh comes deep from my belly. I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard.

Andrea, my PA, sticks her head in my half opened door and looks around confused. It's quite entertaining.

"Everything okay, sir?"

I give her an amused smile and nod. "Everything is fine, Andrea."

Her eyebrows shoot up when she notices my smile and I realize it's because I don't do it often. Maybe I am an ass. Andrea disappears back to her desk and I'm finally able to respond.

*That's old news.*

Anastasia

I can't believe I had the courage to tell my boss that he was an ass today... again. I didn't really mean it when I sent it... even though he really is one. I meant it in a playful way and I'm hoping he didn't take offense to it. Only time will tell.

Eloise and I had a great day together. We were able to entertain each other pretty easily just by coloring and playing with her barbies. She showed me the in house pool and we swam for a little while. I even taught her how to swan dive off the diving board. She's still working on it of course, but she's only nine, so you can only expect so much.

The bell that resonates through the house tells us that Mr. Grey has returned and my heart beats hard in my chest, hoping he isn't angry with me or wants to fire me over my text.

Hurrying to the front door, Eloise rips it open and goes bounding out to her father while I decide to stay in the doorway, hiding a bit until Ellie can soften her father's heart a little.

I notice him pull up in an Audi SUV while a second one follows. I'm confused as he climbs out of the driver's seat of the first one. Doesn't he have a driver?

"Daddy! You're home!" Ellie leaps towards him and he yanks her up, her long legs dangling on each side of him while he squeezes her. She's nine, but he holds her with ease. Daddy's girl. I can definitely relate. "We had the best day, Dad!"

A man in a black suit steps out of the second SUV. He has wide, strong shoulders like Elliot and has his eyes hidden by sunglasses. He must notice I'm staring cause he gives me a wave and turns and heads in the opposite direction where I suppose he lives with Gail. I drag my eyes back to Mr. Grey and Ellie.

"You did? What did you do?" He looks towards me and notices my hair. "Oh, I see. Nice hair, Steele."

I giggle and reach up to pat it down. Ellie did my hair today and it's in random pigtails, twists and barrettes. She was so proud of herself that I couldn't take it down. She used a can of hairspray and gel, so I imagine it wouldn't budge even if I tried.

"Doesn't she look beautiful, Dad? Like a movie star! I did it myself."

"You did? Well it looks perfect, lovebug." He sets her down so he can retrieve his tumbler and bag out of the car and it looks like Eloise just notices the two cars.

"Did you get a new car?"

"Anastasia got a new car."

My heart jolts before realizing that this must be the SUV he wants me to use to tote his daughter around.

Ellie comes running over to me giggling. "He must like you. He's never bought a car for a girl before." Her whispering is rather loud and I hear her father tut from his spot by the SUV. It makes me laugh.

"I bought her a car to keep you safe, Ellie. Neither of you are going to be hurt on my watch. Ms. Steele, do you want to check out your new nanny mobile?"

I give him a giant grin and bounce on the pads of my feet a few times. "Yeeessss!"

He seems entertained by my answer considering he gives me a smile and he opens the driver's side door a little farther, waving me over.

I have a seat in the cushy driver's seat and startle when the seat begins to move. I realize that Mr. Grey has helped himself to the buttons.

"I want to get this in the perfect position for you. I don't want there to be any accidents because it's not positioned correctly." He explains. He must have noticed I startled.

"Even though I don't like you hating on my car, I love how strict you are about Ellie's safety. It's sweet to see how protective you are over her."

He eyes me. "I care about your safety, too, Ms. Steele. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt because of something I failed to do."

I cock an eyebrow at him. "And you don't want to piss off your brother?"

He laughs. A sexy smooth laugh that reminds me of melted chocolate. My thighs clench at his laugh. "Maybe that, too."

I shrug. "Tarzan is pretty protective himself, so I understand."

"Tarzan?"

I laugh. "The nickname I gave Elliot."

"You two are pretty close."

I nod, even though it isn't a question. "He's Kate's boyfriend. She's my best friend and roommate. It was bound to happen."

"And Kate doesn't have an issue with this?"

My eyes widen. "Oh, God, no! It isn't like that. He's like my protective older brother and I'm his annoying little sister."

"Interesting."

"Is it?" I cock my head to the side and search his eyes.

Suddenly, he's fighting a grin. Eventually, he gives up and snorts. "I can't take you seriously with your hair like that." The seat begins moving again and my cheeks color.

"Shut up."

Christian

"Daddy, why did Nanny Ana leave?"

"Because it's dinner time and her shift is over." I tuck her hair behind her ear. She has a pout on her face.

"But she needs to eat, too!"

"Ellie, lovebug, her fridge and pantry are completely stocked. She has plenty of food to eat."

"But what if she's lonely?" She wanders over to the glass patio doors and presses her palms to the glass. "Poor Ana. She's all alone."

My heart clenches for my sweet girl. She worries so much about everyone.

"Why can't she eat with us? Don't you want her here?" She looks over her shoulder at me and I find myself stepping over to the doors to look out as well.

I can see Ms. Steele's form moving around the kitchen, but from this angle I can't see much. "She's always welcome here, Ellie. She might not want to eat dinner with us."

"You need to be nicer."

"Ellie!"

"Well, it's true. You're mean sometimes and it scares people." She pokes me in the stomach.

"You think she's scared of me?" The thought doesn't sit well with me, but I swallow it back. I know I can be domineering, but I would never want a female to fear me... for any reason. Ms. Steele seemed fine earlier, so I tell myself not to worry.

She shrugs. "I don't know. She smiled at her phone today when she said she was talking to you, so hopefully not."

"She did?" I like that. I don't know why, but I do. "I did, too." Why am I admitting this to my nine year old?

She smiles up at me. "So you guys are friends now? Then she should eat with us." She opens the patio door and before I can even open my mouth she's hurrying across the back yard to the guest house to invite her to dinner.

I watch from the kitchen and see her shake her head a few times before Ellie puts her hand on her hips and pops her hip to the side. I grin, knowing she's giving the nanny some sass. A few seconds later, Ellie comes hurrying back with her hand in Ms. Steele's, pulling her along.

I give the girls an amused smirk as they make it back to the kitchen.

"Your girl is sassy!" Ms. Steele comments.

I grin. "Don't I know it."

"I still have my half cut green pepper sitting on the counter."

"You have to eat with us tonight, Nanny Ana. You can cook for us another time."

"Is that right?" She places her hands on her hips and stares down at my daughter.

My daughter mimics her and places her own hands on her hips. "That's right. You can make us lasagna!"

"Lasagna? I guess I can do that." Anastasia taps her chin. "I haven't made it in awhile, but I'm sure I can make it edible."

Ellie grins up at her. "Good. It's a date."

Teaser? Just ask.

Up Next: Christian and his awkward humor.