Nanny To My Highschool Nemesis

Chapter 6

Brooklyn POV

"Here is the deal."

Emerson leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed, voice low enough that Daisy couldn't hear from the dining room. He looked completely relaxed, like he negotiated truces every morning before breakfast.

"I stay out of your way," he said, "so you're free to do whatever nanny things you do with Daisy." He moved as he spoke, slowly, stepping closer until he was right in front of me. His hand dropped from his side and slid — deliberately, unhurried — from my shoulder down to my palm. "I won't cause you any problems at home."

I looked down at his hand. Then up at him.

"And in return," he continued, "you stay out of my business. And you tell my dad I've been a good boy."

Before I could answer, his fingers dipped into my hoodie pocket and he pulled me forward by it, closing the last bit of space between us.

I refused to let my face react.

"Why would I agree to that?" I said.

"Because if you don't, I'll walk into my dad's office tonight and tell him I've developed feelings for my nanny." His expression didn't change. "You'll be out the door before dinner."

I held his gaze for a long moment.

He wasn't bluffing. That was the worst part.

"Fine," I said. "But this only works if you actually behave. No skipping school. No letting your grades drop. If your father starts questioning what I'm doing here, the deal is off."

"I'll behave." He held up one hand. "Scout's honour."

I pushed him back by the chest and walked into his room, sitting on the edge of his bed to put some space between us. He followed and leaned against the dresser across from me, ankles crossed like this was all very casual.

"Ground rules," he said.

"Of course you have ground rules."

"Rule one — you already agreed to this, so consider it confirmed. You are not my nanny in name or action. You don't tell me what to eat, when to sleep, or what to do with my time."

"Only if you behave," I said. "That condition stays."

"Sure." He waved a hand. "Rule two — nobody at school finds out you're living here. Nobody finds out you're my nanny."

That one I actually agreed with.

"Deal," I said. "I have no interest in anyone at Westfield knowing either."

"Good." He nodded once. "We understand each other."

"I have a rule too," I said.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Stop bullying me at school. Whatever this arrangement is at home, it doesn't mean anything if you're still making my life a nightmare every morning in that building."

A pause.

"I'll try," he said.

"That's not good enough."

"It's what you're getting, Brooklyn." He said it without cruelty, which was somehow more unsettling than when he was being awful. "I'll try. That's honest. Take it or leave it."

I looked at him for a moment. Then I nodded.

He pushed off the dresser and crossed the room toward me. I stayed where I was on the bed, watching him come closer, telling myself whatever my pulse was doing was purely adrenaline from the negotiation.

He sat down beside me on the bed, close enough that I could feel the warmth coming off him.

"Emerson." My voice stayed flat. "What are you doing?"

"Though I haven't been very good at keeping my distance around you," he murmured, almost to himself, eyes dropping briefly to my mouth, "I'll admit that."

"Move back."

He didn't. Instead he leaned slightly forward, one hand pressing into the mattress on the other side of me, caging me in the way he always seemed to find an excuse to do.

"Emerson." Sharper this time.

"I'm just sealing the deal," he said quietly.

"With what?"

He looked at me like the answer was obvious.

"With a kiss."