His Nanny Mate By Eve Above Story

Chapter 21: The Secret Brother
Moana

“Uncle Ethan!” Ella jumped up and ran over to Ethan. Smiling, he picked her up and twirled her around in a circle. The quiet air of the garden became briefly filled with the sweet sound of the little girl’s giggles before he sat her back down and patted her on the head.

“I think your grandma is looking for you,” he said, to which Ella immediately perked up and took off to find Verona.

I was still sitting on the bench, utterly shocked by Ethan’s presence. “Fancy seeing you here,” he said, walking up to me and standing in front of me so that his tall body blocked the light.

“Fancy seeing you here, too,” I said, standing. “I had no idea you were related to the Morgan family.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, running a hand through his hair. Even now, dressed in his formal attire, I could see a small smudge of paint on the artist’s left pinky. “The whole ‘Bradley’ last name is just a pseudonym. Well, sort of; it was my mother’s maiden name. I use it now to protect my true identity.”

I nodded, not sure of what to say. Ethan turned and walked over to the fountain, gesturing for me to follow, which I did.

“So… You’re Ella’s au pair, right?” Ethan asked as we slowly walked together around the garden. The summer air was still and humid, but the feeling of the cool spray coming off of the fountain was refreshing.

had just gone. “I have been for a few

ripe fruit. From where we stood, I could smell the citrus in the air. As we passed underneath the trees, Ethan casually reached up and plucked one. I watched as he expertly peeled the orange while keeping the peel in one long strip, then tossed

Ella’s nanny. I know

I replied. “I love Ella.

then passed through one side of the large colonnade, where the feeling of the cold

the railing of one side of the colonnade that looked

a little embarrassed by it. “I still live here now, part of the time, whenever I need to have some peace and

now, and looked up at the palace behind us. The party sounded as though it had gotten more lively inside; I could hear music now, and the sound of laughter. Through one of the large draped windows that led to the banquet hall, I could see the silhouettes of people ballroom dancing. I was a bit glad

bit for a few moments before turning toward me and holding his

“Care for a dance?”

my face

how,” I admitted, staring down at

from the railing. “It’s easy. Besides, no one is here to see if you mess

placed it on his shoulder, then placed his other hand on my waist. I felt him firmly pull me in a bit

“It’s like this…”

then the right, and backwards and forwards. Surprisingly, with him leading me, it was easy to move along with him. Soon enough, we

an end, and with a final spin, Ethan dipped me. He hesitated at the bottom of the dip, our breathless faces hovering close enough to one another that I could smell the citrus on his breath. I felt my heart rate quicken and my face flush red again as his eyes flickered down to my

as quickly as it happened, Ethan placed me back on my feet and stepped

“Some might even call you

still pounded from our near-kiss, but I knew that it would never happen; not only was I just a human, but it would also be wildly inappropriate for me to get romantically involved with