Chapter Nine: A Kiss and a Promise – The Au Pair Affair

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After leaving a brief note for his daughter Lissa and instructing the doorman to tighten security, Burgess races to a Boston club in response to Tallulah’s call for help. He arrives ready for a confrontation, but instead finds her intoxicated but unharmed. She openly checks him out, and their banter includes her teasing him about being “mean Daddy.” When she loses her balance, Burgess catches her, pulling her against his body in an intimate hold. A fellow student from school approaches—the man Tallulah had agreed to share an Uber with before panicking. To discourage him, she asks Burgess to pretend to be her boyfriend by kissing her. Burgess obliges with fierce passion, lifting her onto the passenger seat and deepening the kiss until he remembers she has been drinking. He stops abruptly, apologizing repeatedly. On the drive home, they discuss his lack of small-talk skills and his prolonged celibacy. Tallulah confesses that since her assault she no longer feels bold or adventurous, and she longs to reclaim activities like concerts, climbing the Citgo sign, and skinny-dipping. Burgess offers to accompany her as her protector, drawing on his identity as a hockey defenseman. In response, Tallulah announces she has an even better idea.

Key Events

Burgess speeds to the club after receiving Tallulah’s call; he leaves Lissa with instructions.
Tallulah emerges drunk but safe; she checks him out and calls him “mean Daddy.”
She almost falls; Burgess catches her, causing a moment of charged physical contact.
A male classmate approaches; Tallulah asks Burgess for one kiss to make the man believe she has a boyfriend.
Burgess kisses her intensely, lifts her onto the passenger seat, but stops when he realizes she is intoxicated.
On the drive, Tallulah reveals her post-trauma fear and her desire to be adventurous again.
Burgess admits he hasn’t been with a woman in a while and expresses vulnerability.
He offers to be her protector while she attempts risky activities; Tallulah then hints at a new plan.

Character Development

Tallulah shows raw vulnerability in this chapter. She struggles with the gap between her old fearless self and her current cautious state. Her willingness to explain her fear and her list of longed-for adventures demonstrates her desire to heal, even as she acknowledges her limitations. She is also playful and flirtatious, especially when drunk, yet she retains enough awareness to ask Burgess to stop when the kiss goes too far.

Burgess reveals a more tender side beneath his gruff exterior. He is intensely protective, jealous, and physically drawn to Tallulah, but he exercises self-control the moment he realizes she has been drinking. His confession about not being with a woman in a long time shows his isolation. Offering to be her “defenseman” formalizes his commitment to her well-being beyond his role as her employer.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Protector and Protected: Burgess’s job as a hockey defenseman becomes a metaphor for guarding Tallulah from both physical threats and her own fears. His offer to accompany her on adventures symbolizes his willingness to stand beside her during recovery.

Boundaries and Consent: The kiss begins as a consensual favor, but Burgess halts it when he remembers Tallulah is drunk. This moment underscores the importance of ongoing consent and his determination not to exploit her trust.

Reclaiming Identity: Tallulah’s list of activities (Paradise Rock Club, the Citgo sign, skinny-dipping) represents her desire to rebuild the bold person she was before trauma. Her hesitation shows how deeply the assault has reshaped her sense of risk.

Communication Styles: Their clash over small talk versus bluntness highlights the differences in their personalities. Burgess’s directness both intimidates and attracts Tallulah, while she yearns for a gentler ease.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is a pivotal chapter for the relationship between Burgess and Tallulah. The kiss creates undeniable physical chemistry, and the ensuing conversation builds emotional trust. Burgess shifts from a distant authority figure to a devoted ally in Tallulah’s healing journey. Her “even better idea” at the end raises anticipation for future collaboration, suggesting that their connection will deepen as they tackle her bucket list together.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Burgess stop the kiss even though Tallulah initiated it?
Burgess stops because he realizes Tallulah has been drinking. He feels guilty for taking advantage of her intoxicated state and fears she may regret it later. He prioritizes her safety and trust over his own desire.
How does Tallulah describe the change in herself since the assault?
She says she is no longer bold and fearless. She now feels distrustful, helpless, and forced to behave like someone she no longer is. She states that she is learning she is not the same person as before.
What does Burgess offer to do for Tallulah, and what does it symbolize?
He offers to accompany and protect her while she does adventurous activities she used to enjoy. This symbolizes his willingness to be her guardian and help her reclaim her adventurous spirit, using his experience as a defenseman.