The Au Pair (H.S.) [COMPLETE]

{twenty-five}

Over the next couple of days, Harry and Niko met in the pool house every morning — unbeknownst to anyone else in the house. It was naughty and it was dirty, and they loved every second of it.

Harry hadn't yet surprised her again in her bedroom, but she wasn't too broken up about it. She figured she needed her rest for their morning trysts anyway.

By the end of the week, Niko decided to take advantage of her weekend off since Harry had plans to take the kids to the aquarium. She wanted to see what California had to offer, but didn't have a car, so she decided to walk Zeus down the beach to see the area.

Toward the end of their walk, she made the mistake of letting him off his leash and he immediately dashed for the water, getting soaked.

"Zeus, no. Oh my god," Niko groaned as she held the empty leash, watching as the petite dog frolicked in the small waves that crashed against the shore. He was having the time of his life, and Niko couldn't help but laugh and enjoy that time with him.

"C'mon, Zeusy. C'mon, boy," she called to him and he dashed toward her immediately, causing her to giggle.

"Good boy," Niko praised him as she clipped his leash to his collar again.

"Let's hope your daddy isn't too upset when you start smelling like a dirty fish," Niko told the dog as she stood back up, looking down at the pup.

A second later, Zeus shook his body, spraying her with water and she could only laugh.

"I should have known that was coming. Huh, buddy? Should we sit down and try to dry off a little bit before we go home?"

Zeus looked up at her, his tongue sticking out as he panted. He just looked so happy all the time and it made her happy.

"Yeah. You're down for anything aren't you? C'mon, let's sit down," she continued to talk to the dog.

The two of them walked up the beach a little ways before finally plopping down in the sand. Zeus laid next to her, cuddled up to the side of her leg as she sat there watching the waves crash against the shoreline.

There were a lot of people out on the beach that day, scattered around sunbathing and swimming and playing volleyball. California was such a dream. Niko still couldn't believe how lucky she had been to get such an amazing job in such a beautiful place. There was something about the Pacific Ocean that just seemed superior to the Atlantic.

Maybe because her side of the Atlantic was framed by the massive skyscrapers in New York City, whereas this side of the Pacific Ocean was framed by sand and palm trees. Plus, it had been warm every single day she had been in California. Absolute paradise.

Niko closed her eyes, appreciating the warm breeze on her face and breathed in the salty air. She didn't want to ever go home.

"Hi," she heard, breaking her out of her moment.