The Nanny and The Don

by Tatum James

I had seen a million beautiful women. There wasn’t a woman in the very room I sat in who wasn’t pretty as hell. Still, something about her presence commanded every ounce of my attention. She was tall. Tall enough to make everyone in her vicinity take notice of her. Not just because of her height, but her stature spoke of regality. She was a queen in any room she entered. What the hell was she doing here?

On my initial visit, I asked her if working here was the end of the line for her and she mentioned being a student. I didn’t want to pry too much. I just wanted to get a good read on her. It had been close to a week, and I still couldn’t get her off my mind. It was typical for guys to fall for the women in a strip club. It was part of the game. I was far from typical. I hated this place.

Hearing her refer to Brendan as her boss made my blood boil. She had no business slaving and serving people. My princess doesn’t have to do any of this shit. My princess needs to sit on her throne while people serve her. I studied my hand as Brendan picked his cards up. “Fire her.” “Fire who?” he asked, knitting his brows in confusion. “The girl.” “What girl, Steel?” he questioned. “The one that was just here.”

“How about this? If my woman is working here when I make it back from Japan, I’m leveling this whole building, then you can sort that shit out with your insurance company.”

“You should wear a crown,” I stated as she walked over to me. “Why?” she asked, chuckling softly. “Because you came in here and made yourself the queen of this house, no matter the circumstances that brought you here. You have literally saved my life and made this unfamiliar territory tolerable. I know I didn’t bring you here on the best terms, but I would be a fool not to tell you how much I appreciate everything you do for the kids. You’re like a prettier, chocolate-covered Mary Poppins,” I said, finding myself chuckling.

“There’s nothing little about you,” I told her. “I mean I know that’s true. I’m five-ten and almost two hundred pounds last time I got on a scale.” “I don’t mean your stature. I mean your personality, your aura, your light. They’re all big and bold. There is nothing small about you in general. You’re amazing and beautiful and special, Devlan. Don’t let anything or anyone make you feel any differently.”

Placing his hand under my chin, he lifted my eyes back to his fervent gaze. “Keep your head up, princess. Don’t lower your eyes from anyone.”

“Devlan, it doesn’t matter how intimidating or scary someone is. You are just as good and just as important as anyone in any room. You hear me?”

I need you like a flower needs rain. I was dying slowly before you came here. I want you to keep watering me,” he said, cupping my face.

She was so beautiful that I still found it hard to look away. Devlan was the epitome of beauty and sophistication with a special mix of down-to-earth goofiness to keep her balanced. She was the perfect mix of everything that must have been missing in my life because she made me feel complete.

“You’re nurturing. You’re loyal. You’re strong. Your energy is addictive. When you walk into a room, you make me smile for no damn reason. You’re beautiful and sexy. Your hair is gorgeous.

“I need you. I can’t go back to the dark, baby. I might not make it out this time. Keep me in the light, love. Bring your light back to me. I need to be able to see you. I need to hear you laugh. I need to hear you sing when you don’t think anyone is listening. I need to hear you hum that one tune that I can almost recognize, but I never ask what it is because I’m in love with the mystery of it all. Just be there. You can move back upstairs, just don’t leave me.”

I didn’t want you walking around in those skimpy outfits with niggas giving you money to feel on your ass. I’m the only nigga feeling on that ass. That’s my ass.”

“I understand that you don’t belong to me, Devlan, but I belong to you.”

“Uncle Steel!” King cheered as he burst out of the room. “Hey, buddy. I missed you,” I said, scooping him up in my arms. “My mom said we can move down the road, so we don’t have to miss you no more.” “That’s good, buddy. I was missing you too. It’s too quiet around here without you,” I admitted.

The undeniable aroma of coffee filled the room, and I quickly found the source when I spotted a drink station with one of those fancy expresso makers, a coffee pot, and an electric tea kettle on it. There were various flavors of tea and coffee that I would have to explore later. I was too overwhelmed by the rest of the room to put my focus there.

My giant bookshelf had been turned into an entire library. Not just one wall, the whole living room was nothing but wall to wall books. That’s aside from the enormous bean bag that had to be as big as a full-sized bed. I rushed over and threw myself on the bean bag and closed my eyes once I felt how comfortable it was.

At 3:00 p.m., I fell in love all over again as Stella Rose Gray was born.