Wanna Take You Home (With Me) - 2/? - PG-13
Title: Wanna Take You Home (With Me)
Author: cx7171
Genre: Romance/Humor/Family/Fluff
Chapter: 2/?
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3180
Summary: AU. She didn't know what she was getting herself into. She just needed a change. Who knew she would meet a man she absolutely hates and maybe, with time, not hate him so much?
AN: Not beta'ed. Thank you for the love. You're great.
Wanna Take You Home (With Me)Chapter 2Noah Puckerman had been born and raised in Odessa, Texas, by a single mother after his father had decided to leave the home. He had one younger sister who worked as a nurse in the same town where she lived with her husband of just a few months, a ceremony to which he had assisted and had made it into People magazine.
Growing up he hadn’t much money. He was a regular boy who liked to play sports and share time with his friends, though he got into more trouble than most.
At sixteen, he had been arrested in Dallas after some concert he had gone to, accused of stealing money from a gas station. It hadn’t been his fault but a couple of those friends of his’ that had taken him to the concert.
He and his family were part of a very small Jewish community in Odessa.
He spoke Spanish, learned through his friends, and he liked to play the guitar.
All that and more was public knowledge because he was a famous person. And Rachel hated Kurt recited it to her over the phone as they spoke that night.
“He’s an ass!” Rachel hissed despite she was alone in her hotel room, where she was going to spend that night, before Noah Puckerman and his lawyer made up their minds about who they were going to choose for the nanny position.
She took a bite of her delicious eggplant lasagna. Room service was the best.
“I’m sure he can’t be that bad.”
“He’s worse,” Rachel mumbled around the food in her mouth. “I haven’t actually spoken to him beyond the questions he asked and the looks he gave me but I can assure you, he has to be a huge jerk. He’s cocky and presumptuous-“
“So are you.”
“And stupid- Hey!”
“Why is he stupid?” Kurt dared to ask.
“Because.”
“That’s not a reason, honey.” Kurt clucked his tongue disapprovingly. “Could this all be because he’s so breathtakingly gorgeous that you feel attracted to him and you don’t want to recognize it?”
She scoffed. “Please. He’s not that good looking. He’s… a regular guy.”
“Even you don’t believe that.”
She sighed in defeat. “Fine. He’s better looking than the average guy but, don’t you think it would be very unwise of me to feel attracted to my possible boss? That has trouble written all over it. Besides, I came here for my chance to get into show business. This is temporary.”
“Okay. You’re right.” Kurt obviously could think with his brains and not hormones all the time. They both knew that the possibility of getting in a messy situation could potentially ruin everything. “So when do you think you’ll start working as the Puckermans’ nanny?”
“First, I need to be hired.”
“And you think you won’t?”
Kurt was such a good friend, sometimes he forgot they weren’t the perfect people they pretended they were. He had faith in her, just like she had in him, but things weren’t that easy. Well, he had the magic touch when it came to fashion; he was gifted when it came to combine styles and color palettes. Still, Rachel knew he wasn’t the most open minded when it came to discuss politics and religion, he was rude to the people who didn’t understand his approach to life and his bluntness when critiquing people’s fashion styles had gotten him into a lot of trouble.
Just like that, she was also a very flawed person, even if she liked to pretend otherwise.
“I don’t know. There was another woman who looked a lot like those scary nannies, taken from some of those English World War II movies. You know, severe and not very amicable.” Rachel sighed and smiled a little to herself when she remembered the way Beth’s face lit up as she told her she loved to sing.
The time with the girl during the interview had been brief but Rachel could tell Beth didn’t need as much discipline as she needed to be cared for.
For the first time, she wasn’t judging Noah Puckerman. She knew being a single father could be hard.
“Then I know they’ll pick you. You can be crazy and hyperventilate from time to time but that’s perfect for a little four-year-old.”
“I hope so. I’d honestly do it just for Beth. She’s such a cute little thing.”
“Oh, I see. So her dad doesn’t have a sexy ass or-“
“Oy vey! Kurt!”
“And that! You’re Jewish so that must add a gazillion points to your favor.”
“It does but I don’t want to be chosen because of that and to be incompetent in every other area.”
“You aren’t.” Kurt was a sweetheart.
“I can barely cook.”
“You won’t have to cook. Your only responsibility will be Beth. Nothing else.”
“Still. I’m not prepared to be her nanny.”
“So I’ll have to do this, huh?”
“What?”
“You know what. That thing I have to do when you get all depressed and self-deprecating, and list all those good qualities you have.”
She snorted a laugh. “Not if you don’t want to.”
“You know CPR, so that’s covered,” Kurt started.
“I had to learn that when I worked as a lifeguard at the JCC pool.”
“Tiniest lifeguard ever.”
“Hey!” Rachel protested but kept focused on the long list of attributes he saw in her; everything from the big honest smile to the way she always tried to stay positive.
It was lovely of him.
“Thank you, Kurt. You’re such a good friend, even if a little… bitchy at times.”
“It’s sass, hon.”
Chuckling, she said, “I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetie.”
…
It was so unfair how adorable Noah Puckerman looked with his daughter in his arms, perched on one hip as he entered the office where Tina was already getting ready with some paperwork lay over the desk.
“Ready?” Tina asked, smiling when Beth rested her blonde head against her dad’s shoulder while hugging her plush pig tight to her chest.
Rachel smiled at the little girl, mouthing a hi as she gave her a little wave. Beth’s mouth curved up but she promptly hid her face in the crook of Noah’s neck.
Despite the first impression, Noah Puckerman had decided to hire Rachel as Beth’s nanny. It wasn’t that she was his last option. Not at all. The other candidate was surely more experienced but she didn’t seem like a friendly person and the last thing he wanted was to put sweet, little Beth under the care of a bitter woman. And Beth had actually fallen in love with Rachel and her promises to play dress-up and sing, about stories and music. He would’ve done anything for his daughter.
“Ready,” Noah muttered walking around the desk. “’Sup,” he mumbled at Rachel, adding a small nod to acknowledge her.
She scoffed, turning up her nose.
Funny. Most women threw their panties at him with just that. He kind of liked it, all that dislike and the way she purposely let him know. Meh. It was probably because it seemed like a challenge but it would lose its appeal soon.
“Hello,” Beth babbled coyly at Rachel once her father had put her back on the ground. She was a very shy girl and Noah hoped she could break out of her shell because in the world they lived, a defenseless girl like her wouldn’t make it out unharmed. He wanted her to grow up and become a happy girl.
“Hi, sweetie,” Rachel beamed at her.
Beth blinked up at her, as Noah watched them out of the corner of his eyes. The small girl grinned and motioned for Rachel to lift her up.
“Please?” Beth outstretched her arms so Rachel could scoop her up.
“How can I say no when you’re such a nice girl?” Rachel said softly as she sat Beth on her lap. “What’s your piggy’s name?”
“Puck,” Beth replied, grinning at Rachel.
“Puck?”
“Like Daddy. Uncle Sammie helped me pick the name.” Beth squeezed her pig tightly to her chest as if it were the most precious thing on Earth.
“Puck, the pig.” Rachel shot Noah a look. “How appropriate.”
Tina snorted a laugh but under Noah’s glare she tried to conceal it with a cough. “The contract is ready to be signed,” the lawyer announced. “Everything we talked about - working hours, salary, living arrangements, among others - is here so we don’t have any misunderstandings in the future. That’s the last thing we want considering Beth is our priority.” Tina smiled brightly at the girl who turned to her at the sound of her name. “Three copies will be signed - I’ll keep one. After this, Rachel will be able to move into the room we’ve decided is hers - with its respective adjoining bathroom. She’ll have free access to the kitchen and food will be provided by Puck-“
“The pig?” Rachel quipped.
Tina smiled, shaking her head.
“Ha-ha.” Noah glared. “Funny. Let’s not get used to that humor.”
“As I was saying,” Tina continued. “In case of need, Rachel will be able to use the car and ask the chauffer - Freddy - to take her and Beth wherever it’s needed. More details about Beth’s routines, activities and others will be provided in form of a few digitalized files that you will be able to check on the computer in your room. Besides that, it’s expected that you also take notes of Beth’s every life and, of course, this will not be shared with anyone other person but Puck and me - as stipulated in this second confidentiality agreement.” Tina sighed and took a deep breath. “Is everything clear?”
“The maid? I was told I didn’t have to necessarily cook or clean but, shouldn’t I know about that?”
“Two maids and a cook,” Puck intervened. “The maids take turns so there’s always one in the house and the cook takes care of most things in the kitchen, so any girly stuff you eat or don’t eat, you have to tell her.”
“Oh.”
“She’s vegan,” Tina murmured for Puck, who rolled his eyes.
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Excuse me?” Rachel squeaked as she bounced Beth on her knee. The girl happily ignored them.
“You must weigh less than a hundred pounds soaking wet.”
Rachel snorted rudely. “I do not. My weight is none of your business but it’s very healthy, and I make sure to keep a well-balanced diet that doesn’t lack any kind of vitamin. I never get sick because of that and I also enjoy physical activity which helps me to keep my body in very good shape.”
Puck smirked at her. “Yeah. But you’re so tightly wound that I bet I can guess the one exercise you don’t do very often.”
Gasping, Rachel quickly covered Beth’s tiny ears with her hands as Puck chuckled. Poor thing.
Tina smacked Puck upside the head with the folder in her hand. “Watch it, Puckerman. You better don’t mess this up for Beth or me. I’m not going to look all over the country for another nanny or deal with a therapist for your daughter if you traumatize her with your language.”
“I won’t,” he stuttered guiltily as he watched Beth. Her hazel green eyes were wide as she looked back at him, not understanding a thing of what was going on. “I won’t,” he repeated firmly as he locked eyes with Rachel. “She’s everything to me, okay?”
And then Rachel knew he meant it. All things considered, he probably could lie about every single thing but this. Noah Puckerman could joke about very serious things but never about his daughter. And Rachel might have despised him before but knowing that he was father who cared, diminished the force of her fury; a parent who cared of his child couldn’t be completely bad.
Smiling at Beth, Rachel said, “I’ll take care of this little princess.” Beth giggled at her. “I promise. Where do I sign?”
…
Three days. Three.
Puck gulped down an entire glass of OJ while he gripped the counter with his free hand.
How had he missed this show? Oh, right, he had been filming a few scenes for some TV show that was widely popular right now. A guest star spot was something that helped him not to get bored after reading too many scripts full of shit. He liked it. Well, even if action flicks were his thing, he also liked to do comedy from time to time.
Anyway. Back to the present.
Jesus.
For the last three days, Rachel had started to get used to Beth’s routine. His little monster was an early bird but luckily for them, so was Rachel. Him being up that early, though, that was a coincidence. A really fucked-up coincidence because he had just been trying to work out but he got too hungry so he went into the kitchen and… god. What was Rachel doing there in those tiny little shorts? Why was she bending forward… damn, he was such an ass. Of course she was taking care of Beth but why in that outfit?
He should’ve hired the nun.
Drool must have been leaking at the corner of his mouth but fortunately for him, Rachel was too busy ignoring him and talking to Beth as they munched on some fresh fruit.
“Morning!” Tina interrupted his train of thought.
Puck wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and his lawyer shot him a strange look. He shook his head at her, berating himself inwardly about his juvenile and hormonal behavior. He just couldn’t help it.
“How are things going with my little monkey?” Tina cooed as she smoothed a hand over Beth’s curly hair.
“She’s a lady,” Rachel responded cheerfully as she picked up the now empty plates. “I don’t know who she got that from but she’s certainly the best behaved person in this house.” Rachel’s furtive glance didn’t go unnoticed by Puck.
“Certainly. I’m sure New Yorkers could learn a thing or two of her.”
Rachel’s fury met him quickly when she whipped her head around.
Tina cleared her throat. “So I was talking to Mike and he’ll be back next Friday, which means you and Sam can try, as always, to deprive me from my husband’s precious presence just to watch some stupid football game.”
“T, don’t be the b-word.” Puck stuck his tongue out cheekily.
Beth’s brow furrowed. “What b-word? Bear? Beard? Bbb… bore! Don’t be a bore, Auntie T!”
Puck snorted a laugh and Rachel did as well despite how much she tried not to.
“Exactly. Don’t be a bore, T.” Puck kept chuckling until it died in the back of his throat when Rachel pushed herself on tiptoes to reach for something in a cabinet above her. Her shirt rode up and allowed him to see a stripe of her smooth back.
Sooner or later he was going to get in trouble and the last thing he wanted was Beth hating him for ruining things with her adored nanny.
He groaned before grabbing Tina by the arm and dragging him out of the kitchen.
“What the heck is wrong with you?” Tina hissed smoothing down her skirt.
He could deal with her anger now but not if he screwed things up with the new nanny.
“You, you have to tell her to stop wearing those tiny, little, shorts,” Puck whispered as he motioned towards the kitchen.
Tina looked at him surprised and after a few seconds she snorted a laugh. “Why don’t you tell her? If it bothers you, you should mention it. I’m sure she’ll do the same if she happens to think your parading around the house without a shirt is inappropriate.”
“Come on,” he scoffed. “She’d be totally okay ogling me.”
“Are you ogling her?” Tina wondered and rolled her eyes when he averted his gaze from hers. “Then tell her to stop wearing the darn short shorts!”
“You cuss like a toddler.”
“Puck,” Tina warned.
“I can’t tell her because if I do, she’ll think I was looking at her ass.”
“And you weren’t?”
“I was, that’s the problem.”
“And if I do, she won’t think I was looking at her butt?” Tina joked but Puck just looked at her unenthused.
“Maybe but that’s because you’re a married woman, bored with your… lame life and- Ow!” He rubbed his arm after she slapped him sharply to scold him. “Damn Chang for teaching you those ninja moves.”
Tina looked unimpressed. “He’s Chinese.”
“It’s the same.”
“I won’t waste air in an explanation of how wrong you are but let’s say you’re lucky you’re hot.”
“You love me.”
“I do, just like one can love a puppy that keeps smashing his head on the door while trying to leave the house.” Tina smiled at him and snickered when he pressed a teasing kiss to the crown of her head.
“Please?”
“I’ll tell her but… try to keep things under control. She’s a good woman and Beth likes her. You know how shy she is around strangers.”
“I know. But you know how much I love her.”
Tina smiled at him, nodding. “Let’s go. I need to play the prude part once again to protect your honor. The bit you have left.”
Puck shook his head. Tina might have been his lawyer but above all, she was his Jiminy Cricket - his best advisor and friend. Well, she was the smartest of them all. He had lucked out with her.
He had just put a foot inside the kitchen when something cold hit him right on the chest. It was orange juice making his shirt clung to his chest - a very expensive shirt, for that matter.
“Oops,” Tina muttered, grinning wickedly at him. “My fault.”
Beth giggled at him. “You’re all sticky, Daddy.”
“I am.”
“I’ll put it in the washing machine,” Tina offered. “Take it off.”
“What? No!” Puck glowered at her while his gaze flicked to Rachel.
“Take it off. You can afford to get sick. You have a lot of work. Now, take it off!” she demanded and he finally caved in, not knowing what was about to come. “Great. Now, get dry.”
“I’m fine.” He chuckled nervously.
“You’re such a baby.” Tina patted his sticky chest and pulled a face of disgust. “But I’m sure Rachel can help, right?” She smiled evilly as she tossed the roll of paper towel at Rachel. “Revenge is a dish better served cold,” Tina murmured as she made her way out of the kitchen with his ruined shirt.
Rachel looked up at him with wide doe eyes before she started to help him dry his chest.
“You don’t have to do this,” he croaked, not knowing if this was punishment or a prize.
“It’s okay,” Rachel babbled, blushing.
“May I help you, Daddy?”
And then things were okay, because Beth was smiling up at him and that was enough to make him endure anything.
TBC.