Huntley Square

My life and career have conditioned me to be prepared for-and desensitized to-traumatic events. Rather, they should've. But one phone call blindsided me in a way I never expected, and now there's a screaming eight-month-old in my custody. I would've done anything to ensure my niece didn't enter the system, but I never wanted a family. I never wanted ties to anyone, period. But then my meddling office administrator forcibly hires a nanny for me, and all my resolute vows start crumbling when I come face to face with Lainey Pearson … again. She's no one-should be no one. Just an oblivious girl I saved nearly a year ago. But she's the only one who's ever rocked me. Consumed me. I immediately want to fire her, but with the social worker breathing down my neck, I need her. Then again, now that she's fallen back into my life, having a working boundary might be for the best. My life doesn't allow for relationships, and last I checked, it was frowned upon to date your employees. Especially when they're already in a relationship.

For years, I've toed the fine line between wanting women to fill the empty spaces of my life and not letting them get close enough to know I struggle with my time overseas. Thankfully, one woman I don't have to worry about finding that tricky balance with is our new office admin. Even if she hadn't dropped me with a knee between my legs, making me choke on a donut all before I met her, I wouldn't want anything to do with Chloe Whitlock. Not only would she rather remain unaware of the world's harshness by keeping her nose in a book, but she's also too bubbly. And all that joy she breathes into the world is an obvious front, which means she's hiding something. In our line of work, that makes her a threat. What's clear? Chloe needs to go. But even as my suspicions grow, I reluctantly start falling for the bubbly threat I've been tasked with protecting. Unfortunately, I'm not the only one who wants her.