Nanny and the Alpha Daddy

#Chapter 51: The Dinner

Moana

Friday evening came much more quickly than I expected. I was nervous for my dinner with Ethan, more so because of the constant looming threat of Edrick finding out and getting upset than anything.

I found Selina in the kitchen that morning and decided to tell her about my plans, since we had an understanding between us now and I knew I could trust her.

“Selina,” I said, walking up to her. “I hope it’s alright if I go out for dinner tonight. Will you be able to check on Ella while I’m gone?”

“That’s fine,” Selina said, not prying about who I would be dining with. She had been much more open toward me since she had learned about the pregnancy, and it was a comfort. “I’ll make sure Ella gets to bed, but just be back by ten o’clock. Don’t forget that Ella has training in the morning.”

I nodded, just relieved to have an upcoming dinner that could possibly take my mind off of the baby for a little while and help me relax. The support of a good friend was all I really needed — I was sure of it.

As I emerged from my room wearing my new blue dress with my hair curled and styled and a bit of minimal makeup on, however, I could tell from the wide eyed look on Edrick’s face that he was a bit shocked by my appearance. He was still holding his briefcase with his suit jacket slung over his forearm, having just come home from work.

For a moment, I stared at him with wide eyes, too. His tie was loosened, and the first few buttons of his shirt were undone. He had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his veiny forearms, and his hair was a bit tousled. He must have taken a pit stop at his bar before coming home. Admittedly, seeing him like this made me feel aroused, although I couldn’t be sure if it was because of the pregnancy hormones or not.

“You look…” His voice faltered, and he quickly looked away. I knew that he wanted to say more, but he decided not to. “Where are you going?”

my heart skipped a beat. I had been hoping to leave without seeing

dinner with a friend,”

on Edrick’s face seemed to imply that he thought I was going on a date, not just dinner with a friend — but I was just having dinner with a friend. I had decided weeks ago that being anything more than friends with Ethan was not

returning to his cold and indifferent demeanor once more. “Well… Try not to be back too late. Don’t forget that Ella has

gathered my purse before taking a deep

up in front of the penthouse, I decided that it wasn’t the best idea for Edrick to know who exactly I was going out with, so I walked a few blocks away toward the nearest subway station where Ethan was

of the car and came around to open my door for me. “You look

chuckle as I climbed into the car. His smile widening, Ethan closed the

entered. I felt my face get hot and red as I hooked my arm with his, but that shyness turned to astonishment when I saw how beautiful the inside of the restaurant was. And it was empty,

with its high ceilings

“I rented the whole place out. For privacy, of

and showed us to a table. It was located not inside the restaurant, but rather on an intimate, covered balcony on the second

nodded and scurried away before I had a chance to protest.

and looking out over the ocean. “How

wanting to get into too much detail. “I can’t tell

ocean to look at me. “Don’t let it get to you, though. You’re lovely. Whatever issues

had grown up together, after all. “If you don’t mind me asking,” I said, “what was it like growing up