Declan and I simultaneously looked away from the TV just as Laurel came down in a nude colored dress and matching lace up block heels.

Neither of us could keep our eyes off her. Granted, we've never seen her in anything but her usual tee shirt, jeans, and converse.

The dress she wore was tight fitted to show off curves I never knew existed on her petite frame, and short to accentuate her long, smooth legs.

I always thought she was beautiful before, but she looked especially beautiful tonight.

I frowned when I remembered that she wasn't wearing it for me. Not that I think a woman should ever have to look good for me. But it was clear that she got dressed up for someone.

I watched the way she nervously played with her auburn hair, her thighs pinched together as she stood before us with a tiny black clutch in hand.

"Where exactly are you going tonight?" I asked, curious to know what or who was making her so nervous.

"I'm going on a date," she replied, holding back the more important information like where and with who.

A date?

The doorbell rang, Declan and I rushing to the door to answer it. It seems we both had the same idea.

My brows lifted in surprise at seeing who was standing on the other side of my door. It was the bartender who served me last night while I was out with Everett.

Seeing that it was him just made me wish even more that I hadn't gotten so drunk last night. Maybe then she wouldn't be going out with this skinny punk.

I have nothing against him. I'm sure he's a nice guy. But the kid doesn't deserve her. Nor does he look like he can take care of her, let alone himself.

"Uh... hi again." He gives me an awkward wave and a smile before bending down to offer Declan a fisted hand to bump.

He refuses, shaking his head and frowning up at him with his arms crossed over his chest.

The bartender clears his throat, straightening back up. "Cute kid."

"Thanks." I also cross my arms over my chest, silently analyzing him. He's wearing a simple black crew neck underneath a blazer with jeans and a pair of worn out converse.

Does he even know who he's going out on a date with? He must not have gotten the memo since he's currently dressed like a youth pastor.

Laurel shuffles between me and Declan, the kid's eyes nearly bugging out of his head when he sees what she's wearing.

"Wow. You look-"

"So where are you taking her?" I interrupt, my brows furrowed as I watch him rest his hand on her waist. I want to rip his hands off her, but decide to keep my cool as not to ruin her night.

I can get a little possessive over the people I care about. Laurel doesn't know this about me because there hasn't been a reason to show that side of me.

Until now, of course.

"Oh I uh figured I'd take her to one of my favorite restaurants in the city." He looks to her with a nervous smile. "Unless there is some place else you would like to go."

She shakes her head, grabbing his hand and leading him over to his dark blue Honda. I watch from a distance, hating the fact that I can no longer smell her perfume.

Waving at us from the passenger's seat of the car, I wait until she's no longer in sight to look down at Declan. "Hungry?" He looks up at me and nods. "Great. I know just the place."

****

"Are you really about to go in there and spy on your nanny and her date?" Everett asked incredulously.

"Yes," I replied, adjusting the black baseball cap on my head. "How do our disguises look?"

He stared at us through his phone screen, shaking his head. "That's your disguise? All you did was put on a hat."

"Sounds like your uncle Everett is being a hater," I say, glancing back at Declan in the backseat.

"Sounds like you're jealous," he shoots back.

I jerked my head back in his direction, quick to defend myself. "I'm not jealous."

"Says the guy dressed like Joe Goldberg," he mutters with a roll of his eyes.

Flipping him off instead of cursing him out like I want to because Declan's with me, I hang up on him, ending the video call. "I'm not jealous," I repeat to myself.

What the hell do I have to be jealous of?

Getting the Valet's attention, I exit the vehicle, grab Declan, and head inside the five-star restaurant.

It's a quick exchange between me and the host as I am in a hurry to find Laurel and her date.

When I spot them at a table a little too private for my liking, I choose a table a few rows down so that I am close enough to listen in, but far away enough to avoid possibly getting caught.

"Good evening Mr. Isaacs," a waiter dressed in a white dress shirt, black slacks and an apron greets with pen and paper in hand, ready to jot down my order.

I ignore him, trying my hardest not to eavesdrop in on Laurel's date. She's smiling and laughing, which has me curious to know what that bartender could possibly be saying to make her react in such a way.

I finally look away when I feel Declan's tiny fingers tugging at the sleeve of my shirt. "Macaroni and Cheese?" I ask, looking over at him.

"We don't have any Macaroni and cheese sir," he says nervously.

Fetching my wallet from within my back pocket, I hand the waiter a crisp fifty dollar bill. "I want Macaroni and cheese on this table in the next ten minutes."

He gives his head an incessant nod, quickly writing the order down on his little notepad before scurrying off to find some way to prepare my son's order.

Handing Declan my phone to distract him until his food arrives, I focus my attention back on Laurel.

She's still laughing, her hand on her chest and her head tilted back as her entire upper body rumbles from laughter.

From what I can see, she's having a good time. Seeing her enjoying herself makes me realize how stupid it was of me to spy on her.

And that maybe I am jealous.

Jealous of that bartender and how he's managed to effortlessly put a smile on her face.

I was feeling a little down as a result, because I wasn't the cause of her happiness.

Reminding myself that she is just my nanny and nothing more, I shake myself out of the trance-like state and look at Declan.

I have no right to feel the way I do. It's unprofessional of me to even be here spying on her like this.

I should leave.

When the waiter returns with Declan's food exactly ten minutes later, I give him a chance to eat before we head home.

He smiles with the Macaroni and cheese in his mouth, shimmying contently.

Chuckling at his goofy behavior, I end up forgetting about my reason for coming here in the first place.

Until a certain sultry voice reminds me all over again.

"Levi?"