Nanny for the Grumpy CEO: An Enemies to Lovers Billionaire Romance (Grumpy Boss) by Aimee Bronson

Author:Aimee Bronson [Bronson, Aimee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-03-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Troy

“Do you want to play chess with me?” I was shocked as the words left my lips, but watching Ali sitting in the sun in my kitchen—she was captivating. Her shorts were a little shorter today and she wore a cropped T-shirt, exposing a tantalizing sliver of sun kissed stomach. I just wanted to spend more time with her.

“Uh. Okay?” I couldn’t blame her lack of enthusiasm. But I told her to meet me on the terrace and I got my chess set from my office.

“Where’d you learn to play?” I asked as I started setting up the board on the patio table. Outside, she seemed excited and opened up a bit more. I accepted the fact that there was something about her I couldn’t quite place my finger on, and knowing she was up for a game that challenged the mind—and challenged me—didn’t come as a shock.

“An old neighbor taught me when I was a kid. Erling.”

“Erling?”

She nodded her head.

“He was Norwegian and had a cat named Spice. Those two were the best things about the building. He’d sit in front of the building with his chess board, sometimes playing alone, other times with other folks from the neighborhood. He’d play with me sometimes when my mom was at work. My sister, Sarah, had no interest in learning. But I’d spent time watching him and was curious.”

“Where is Erling now?”

“He died three years ago. Cancer.”

She dipped her head but I thought I saw her eyes gleaning with moisture.

“Sorry.” She looked back at me and smiled weakly.

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “He was a good man.”

“Sounds like it.”

She paused and I watched as her eyes scanned the board for a second before she played a move.

“What about you?” she asked.

“Been playing since I was about thirteen.”

She looked up at me.

“Thirteen?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you ranked?”

“Used to be.”

“What happened?”

“Didn’t want to make it my life. I was fine having it as just a hobby and I don’t regret it.”

“Wow. So there’s a chance I could be playing against a world-class chess player right now?” She laughed. The sound was husky and vibrated against my skin.

“Don’t remember the last time I had an international game,” I answered. “I might not be a ranked grandmaster but I’m pretty sure I can stand my ground against any challenger.” I winked and moved a pawn across the board.

“Of course. It’s completely a Troy move to underestimate a challenger who learned from a seventy year old man.” She made another play.

I barked out a laugh.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I might know what I’m capable of, but I also learned long ago never to underestimate any challenger.”

I moved my eyes up to hers and there was something burning in the caramel depths. Something stretched between us like an electric chord. I was almost overcome with the need to reach over and touch her. Stroke a lock of her golden brown hair. Run my thumb across her warm, pink cheek.

“Convenient words.” Ali’s eyes sparkled. Her fingers swept mine as she made her move.

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