Chapter 120

After my lunch with Angela, I walk back toward the Pyramid. On the way, however, I stop near the quad, when I see Beau there. There’s an empty stroller beside him. He’s holding Mia in his arms. Around him, are a group of doting women, all making doe eyes at Beau and the baby.

He can’t be using Mia to pick up girls. That would be low even for him.

Still, just to be sure, I start walking in that direction.

When I get close enough, I hear enough evidence to make my blood boil.

“If any of you lovely ladies want to spend more time with us, I’d be happy to accept your numbers,” Beau says smoothly.

At once, all of the girls in the crowd have their phones in their hands.

“Excuse me!” I say, and I’m running now. I push through the crowd of girls, coming right up beside Beau, and I pluck Mia from his arms. I immediately begin to chastise Beau, “You can’t do this to Mia.”

“Do what?” Beau asks. “We’re just out for a stroll.”

“You know very well what you are doing,” I snap.

The women shift their glances onto me. Suddenly, they are all glaring daggers.

“Who is this?” one of them asks.

Beau rolls his eyes. “That’s the Nanny.”

“Oh,” the same girl who called me out, begins to smirk, a malicious look in her eyes. “In that case, why don’t you get lost? No one wants to hear any opinions from the help.”

I draw myself up to my full height in surprise and distaste. What did she just say to me? I start to hand Mia back to Beau. I’ll need my hands if I’m going to put this bitch in her place.

Beau, however, does not accept Mia. Instead, he steps forward in my stead. “I think you’ve overstayed your welcome,” he says to that girl. Then to the rest, “All of you. I’m bored of you now.”

“But… our numbers…?” another says.

Beau sighs, and turns his back on her. That gives them the message, and they scurry away.

When they are gone Beau looks at me. “You always know how to ruin my fun, Nanny.” There’s no heat in the words and he’s smiling a little. So I don’t take it too harshly.

I will not thank him for standing up to those girls for me, when I could have handled the situation myself. Also, the situation only existed at all because of his blatant misuse of a baby.

“You can’t use Mia to pick up women.”

“Why not?” And he seems genuinely confused. “Do you have any idea how many numbers I have in my phone now? I have sixteen different Jennifers. Sixteen. How many Jennifers are in your phone?”

“This isn’t a fucking contest,” I grumble. For the record, I don’t know any Jennifers, and have about ten numbers total – maybe— in my phone. Not that I’m about to tell him that.

Beau’s smile grows before I realize my mistake. “Interesting choice of words.”

I groan – loudly. Loud enough to make Mia giggle.

Her giggle heals my soul, and reclaims all of my attention. Gods, I’ve missed her.

“There’s my girl,” I tell her and tickle her tummy just to get her to laugh more.

Beau watches for a long moment. The smile freezes on his face. He looks a bit lost for a minute.

“You okay?” I ask him.

He snaps back to himself, then turns from me. “Peachy.”

Odd. Did I hurt his feelings? That seems unlikely, but… his behavior here is strange.

To make up for it, I tell him a kernel of truth and pray to the Gods that it doesn’t go to his head.

“You know, you don’t need Mia to pick up women.”

“Oh?” he asks. He turns his head like he’s listening, but still hasn’t turned back to me.

Still upset? Okay. One more kernel then. “Come on, Beau. You know how handsome you are. And how smooth. All you have to do is walk into the room, and the women are ready to drop their panties.”

He hums. When he finally turns to face me, I can see his smug smirk. That absolute bastard played me like a fiddle into giving him compliments!

“Tell me more about how desirable I am,” he purrs.

It doesn’t affect me. Not at all. If I have to press my thighs together for a second to take the edge off, that’s no one’s business but my own.

I huff and turn my head, making it clear I’m not going to play that game.

Beau watches me a moment. It’s unnerving. I feel like he’s plotting something.

“You could utilize a baby to pick up men,” he says.

I scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious.”

Since when is he serious about anything? I glare at him.

“Single mothers aren’t exactly in demand with guys. Most of them would give a wide berth,” I say.

“Lies and slander,” Beau says. “You just have to do it right.” He tilts his head. “Although… with you… Maybe it would be too difficult.”

He is baiting me. I can feel it in my bones. He wants to play a game, with me as a pawn, and if I’m not careful, he will be able to convince me using my natural love of competition.

Fortunately, I’m too strong-willed for that.

Beau shrugs. “I suppose you are too much of a coward…”

“What did you call me?” I snap.

Ten minutes later, I am standing at a different corner, where three sidewalks meet, cooing gently at Mia.

“Be cute. Be open,” Beau said earlier, to prepare me. “Don’t look so constipated.”

I glowered at him.

“Exactly the opposite of that. You want to seem welcoming. Available. And make Mia giggle. That will pull them in.”

This all seemed ridiculous. “Guys don’t want girls with babies,” I said again.

“Then you’ll win this challenge,” he said. “But trust me, werewolves are naturally attracted to fertile mates. Just look like you want to push another one out, and it will be fine.”

I clapped a hand over my eyes. “You are disgusting.”

“But also irresistible, remember?”

“I never said that.”

His smug smile had ruined my argument. This man’s confidence could not be shaken.

So, as I stand on this corner of sidewalk, I try to make myself look available and… fertile…

Gross.

How am I even supposed to do that? Stick my ass out? I can’t very well doing that while I’m holding a baby.

I look at Mia and she giggles at me.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I tell her. “I have no idea how I dragged you into this mess.”

Actually, I do. It has everything to do with that handsome jerk who is currently hiding behind a tree, not-so-subtly watching. He gives me a thumbs up. I roll my eyes.

“He can’t think this is actually going to work,” I say.

Mia tilts her head as if she’s considering me. Then she giggles again.

I can’t help but smile in return. She is so cute. A mischievous handful, for sure, but a cute one.

I’m so fond of her. I didn’t mean to be, but she pulled me under her spell straight from the start.

I’d do anything for this baby.

I shouldn’t have her out here, using her like this. I should call this whole ridiculous challenge off. I know I’m right anyway, and –

“Excuse me,” says a male voice from beside me.

I look up into the soft brown eyes of a tall man my age. He seems a bit shy. Or… nervous?

“I couldn’t help but notice you standing here,” he says.

No.

No, no, no.

No way that Beau could be right?