Chapter 13

Gabriele

I walked out of the office around lunchtime, I let out a relieved breath. This morning was hectic. I told Heather she could have the week off. Luca has been moody ever since I did, he told me that she promised she'd be coming back but now she isn't. I have this feeling he is beginning to see her as his mother, but I didn't want him to think like this. She could always leave or decide to quit since I was too forward by telling her how I feel.

Things were just so complicated at the moment, I couldn't catch my breath with all of it. I walked down the corridor, Aiden joined me and walked beside me as headed to the parking lot. He looked at me for a moment.

"You look different."

"No, I don't," I stated, he raised his eyebrow at me.

"Someone's touchy today, don't tell me...wait I know what's different, you got lucky." I glared at him.

"No, I didn't," I commented for the second time.

"What about that nanny of yours?" He enquired with his sometimes irritating British accent.

"No, she's not ready yet." I let it slip that things happened.

"Mmh? So I'm guessing her boyfriend isn't in the picture anymore. What are you waiting for? If you don't act another guy is going to come after her. Did you even tell her about your kind of sex?" I frowned gesturing for him to shut up. This guy is the most irritating person around and he knows just how to push my buttons.

"I'm going to keep my distance from her, she is the nanny-besides you, no one knew about that except Clara." I huffed.

"You better tell her before you get freaky, you should tell her about your super-freak side."

"Superfreak?"

"Yes, I mean you don't do missionary style, you go the whole nine yards, whips, binding and whatever else you have in your arsenal."

"What don't you understand about me keeping my distance. Besides, there are a lot of people that like something different."

"Just please tell her before it happens because seriously if you show it to her too late she's going to freak out, shy girls don't like surprises like those."

I waved him away as I walked to my car. It was true I liked it different and experimenting with things, no shame in that but I didn't want other people knowing it since that isn't anyone's business but my own. I must admit (not to his face) that he is right, that would be some surprise.

I shook my head, distance. Then I wouldn't have to worry about her and what I'd be saying to her or how to explain it. Why have I gotten myself into this mess, for Pete's sake she is the nanny. I told my mother that she didn't have to worry about the nanny and me, but yet here I am. I was going to keep my distance, however hard that may seem I'm sure that it is possible.

I got other worries besides her, like how the hell I'm going to manage without her, with Luca's mood I really don't know what to do. I tried talking to him but he throws a tantrum if I do.

I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket, I unbuttoned my suit and took it out.

I didn't know the number. Sometimes there are clients cal me from unknown numbers.

"Gabriele Armanto speaking."

"Hi Gabriele, it's Tristen" Tristen? Oh right, Heather's brother.

"Hi."

"When have you last heard from Heather?"

"Last week, why? I gave her the week off."

"I tried calling her but she isn't picking up, she told me about Tyler but I can't be there to talk to her since I'm in Seattle for the next week or so."

"I haven't tried calling her. I'm going to try and call her and if I can't reach her, I'm going to her apartment."

"I'm worried. She loved that asshole twat very much and you never know what she could do. I'm sure she's fine but I can't help but feel something is wrong."

I tried calling her after our conversation ended, he was right, it just kept ringing. I gave up and decided that I have to go to her apartment. I stopped at her apartment, I knocked on her door. I didn't hear anything on the other side of the door. There was no movement.

"Heather if you're there please open up it's Gabriele." Still nothing. I was getting more worried by the second.

"Please, open up or I'll break this door down. I can promise you I will." I looked around, yup her car was there. I should've checked for that first.

I knocked a few times again, I stepped back. I was about to kick the door open, I rushed to the door and with one kick the door swung open. I didn't see Heather anywhere. I looked around she was nowhere in sight. I rubbed my face agitatedly. Maybe something happened to her, maybe Tyler did something. I turned around, I saw Heather approaching from afar.

She came closer and stopped at her broken front door. She studied her door in shock and looked at me.

"Uhm Gabriele? What did you do to my door?"

"I thought something happened since I haven't heard from you and Tristen couldn't get in contact with you. Sorry, I'll fix that."

"My phone is off since Tyler has been trying to call me a lot. I'm fine." She looked tired, still she had bloodshot eyes.

I walked to her so that I was in front of her looking down at her. I noticed she was wearing a summer dress, she looked so different. Our proximity had made a heat wave rush through me. I stepped back. Distance.

"I have to get going, sorry again about the door. Please call Tristen." I walked back to my car. I felt like I made a fool of myself, I overreacted thinking something might have happened to her, then I kicked her door down. Like I said before, things have been getting more complicated by the day. Boundaries have been becoming hazy for me.

It was a battle, a battle with myself to stay away and give her breathing room. Our relationship should be strictly professional. But the first time I kissed her, it had me hooked and that's where the trouble started. It is in Luca's best interest that I stay away, as far as possible for as long as possible. Why did everything have to get so complicated, I mean she is just the nanny and nothing else should happen. I should've hired an older woman as a nanny, the old bat that was on my mother's list would have been the best choice since then I'd know that there wouldn't be a chance in hell of attraction.

Yet, here I was feeling a desire within to just kiss Heather. If I kissed her again then I wouldn't hold back, I wouldn't just keep it at kissing. I needed so much more with her. As I finally reached my car my heart was racing a hundred miles a second and my palms were sweaty. I sighed, keeping myself occupied would be the best thing. The more I keep saying that to myself the more I would believe it.

I drove back to work and put all my unused energy into the work that had to get done. I felt a tinge of excitement bubble in me when my boss came in and handed me the final papers before I could buy them out the whole company, well actually his stock but that would make me the owner since he has the biggest cut of the company. I didn't want to be just a partner.

I felt great when I arrived at my mother's house. She took Luca for the afternoons this week. I knocked a few times when I heard a 'coming' coming from inside. My father opened the door, he smiled giving me a handshake and a pat on the back.

"Ah Son, coming to get Luca?" He still had an Italian accent coming through.

"Yeah, he must be driving you mad," My father gave me a disbelieving look.

"He reminds me of you when you were little, I'll call your mother to get Luca."

"Is he sleeping already?" My father nodded.

"Then I don't want to wake him, I'll go up and get him" I walked up to the stairs as my father went back to the living room most likely watching his favorite documentaries. I went to the room he usually stays over in, he was fast asleep. I hoisted him up into my arms, he didn't even stir really all he did was cuddle to my chest.

I slowly walked downstairs, my mother came out opening the door for us kissing Luca on the head and me on the cheek. I got him into the car without a hassle and it wasn't long after that we were home. I got home and unlocked the door before I carried Luca upstairs to his own bed. I took off his shoes and tucked him in. He was growing up so fast.

As I went back to my room I noticed the time, it was way later than I usually came home, with a grumble of my stomach I went downstairs and searched through the fridge. I found leftovers from the other day that Heather made. I placed it into the microwave waiting a few minutes.

With a hot plate of spaghetti in front of me, I sniffed the smell drifting around. I missed the sight of her cooking in the kitchen and helping Luca with his homework. Seeing her play with his toy soldiers to entertain him, listening to all the stories he makes up about his soldiers.

After finishing the nostalgia-filled meal, I showered and sat down in my bed. I picked up the book that I've been reading but concentrating was hard, all I could do was think about Heather. I sighed, I couldn't keep my distance even if I wanted to, even if I have to tell her about my secret it would be worth it if I could kiss her again.

All worth it.

Every taste, every smell, everything, damn I just had to have her.