The Employer

Chapter 17

Celeste Peters

Marc and I spring apart...for the second fuckin' time in the span of twenty four hours. I glance over to see Nina at the threshold of the kitchen in her PJs and the sight is like cold water splashing over me. Fuck, was I seriously just about to kiss Marc right before his daughter walked in? The poor girl would've been traumatized.

A burning sensation covers my chest. I shouldn't be getting mixed up with this family like this. They don't need my kind of baggage. What am I doing?

"Nina! Good morning!" Marc says gruffly and then clears his throat.

My heart is beating hard against my ribcage and my skin is still buzzing. Maybe I just imagined that he was going to kiss me? We were just having a bit of fun, and nothing like that was going to happen.

Images of Marc's heated whisky eyes glancing down at my lips flash to mind as if calling me on my bullshit. My body surges with heat as I replay it but I start re-tying my hair to focus on something else.

There was space between us—it wasn't like I was straddling him or something like that.

Nina runs to Marc and jumps into his arms. He carries her while giving me a look that seems to say fuck.

Does he regret asking me here this morning? Does he regret every single thing about me?

"You're home?" she asks lazily as she leans her head over his shoulder. If she's weirded out by what she just saw, she's giving no indication of it.

"Yes, habibti. I took the day off of work today to spend time with you and your sister. Everyone else is off for the day, but Ms. Celeste is here in the morning to make sure I don't spoil our breakfast."

"What? You're making us breakfast?" She starts wiggling excitedly in Marc's arms, and glances over at me, smiling so wide.

"Morning, Nina. Good to see you!" I say while grabbing some butter from the fridge to melt on the pan.

"Nina, hayati, go wake your sister up so we can finish making it and we can all eat together."

"Okay!" She jumps off of him and sprints out, her little feet creating soft thuds against the wood floor as she disappears from view. "Laila! Wake up!" Her shout in the distance streams through the kitchen.

Marc turns to me with urgency in his gaze. "Celeste," he says in a deep, low tone, making my nerves frenzy again. "That was too close."

"Nothing was going to happen. We were just having fun." Whisky eyes. Heated lips. Ughhh, stop thinking.

He crosses his arms and his biceps bulge out, raising the sleeves of his light blue t-shirt. Come to think of it, I've never seen Marc in anything but a button down. While those looks make him drool-worthy, this casual one is giving them a run for their money.

"Whatever the case is...let's keep our distance until we figure it out. For the girls," he says.

Sharp pins prickle over me. "You're the one that asked me to be here alone with you this morning. Not me. So, do whatever you want," I say as I cross my arms. Against my ears I sound annoyed. But I'm not fucking annoyed.

"I know. I know. I just didn't realize how difficult it would be to keep my hands off of you."

Pleasure pierces through my abdomen, but I maintain my stance. "Marc, you're acting like you finger fucked me on this counter," I whisper sharply. "We haven't done anything for Christ's sake!"

His eyes grow dark, causing more pleasure to run through me. Is he picturing it too? Yet, he steps away and closes his eyes briefly. "Celeste, I'm serious. We can't be alone together anymore until we've figured out what this means."