Savannah pretended to be in deep thought. “Maybe I can have a geology lesson. Talk about the mountains here.”
“I’d rather learn map-reading. Dad’s map is topographical, how do you know how to read that?”
Declan reached for the map in an outside pocket of his backpack. “I can show you,” he said flipping it open. “It’s easy once you get used to it. It shows the terrain so we know if we’ll be going uphill, finding a valley or a wide meadow.”
“Too bad it doesn’t show where there’ll be more deer,” Jacey said, looking over at the map.
“We’re about here,” Declan said, pointing. “And we’ll follow the trail here. See where it opens up for a while? That’ll be a meadow.”
The two studied the map for a few minutes. Then Declan suggested they move on to reach the meadow as a stopping place for the night. “There’s no water there, so if we don’t find a snowbank, we’ll have to use what we’re carrying,” he said as they donned their backpacks.
“And if we find a snowbank, remember the first rule of winter—don’t eat yellow snow,” Jacey said.
Declan laughed. “You remembered.”
“Always, how many times did you tell me that when we went to the snow in Vermont that Christmas? And you always laughed. It’s not that funny.”
“Maybe not, but at the time it was,” Declan said a look of amusement still on his face.
Savannah looked away. It hurt to be excluded from special moments in his life. She had thought they would share them. And look where they were today.
* * *
The hike that afternoon after their lunch stop was delightful. Jacey began to talk without the attitude. Mostly with Declan, but now and then she’d say something to Savannah. By the time they stopped for dinner, Savannah was beginning to think Declan’s idea was working exactly as he wanted. By the end of the hike, his sweet child would be back, and she hoped the surly teenager was gone for good.
Thinking about the end of summer reminded her she might not ever know the outcome. She was hired to be with Jacey only for this trip; the assignment ended when they returned to New York. She kept up with some families, but others were a one-time holiday, never to be heard from again.
The agency sent cards at Christmas, and she sometimes wrote a personal note to the families she’d really liked. Sometimes they asked for her again. But there were children growing up now she’d enjoyed watching a few years ago, about whom she knew nothing more. Ships passing in the night, never to see each other again.
As it would be with Declan and Jacey.
Whether discussing his business, his family or remembering happy memories, she couldn’t help seeing them all through the eyes of might-have-been.
Still, she thought as she gazed around her, while her sister had an assignment on the beach in Spain, Savannah wouldn’t trade this hike for anything. Painful memories and all.
CHAPTER FIVE
On the fourth day, Declan woke early. The trek was going better than he’d expected. Which was fortunate. If he’d been continually subjected to Jacey’s attitude as she’d so charmingly displayed it when she’d been left with him, he didn’t know if he could have coped. He ran a multimillion-dollar company, but his daughter baffled him at every turn.
As did Savannah. It was easy to understand why she kept her distance from him. He deserved it for the way he’d treated her. He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d hold that decision against his daughter. But she showed no evidence of it at all. Granted she treated him like a stranger—kept him at arm’s length, but with Jacey, she was friendly and was gradually working with his daughter to build her confidence, tease her out of sulks, and show that she could have a good time despite her initial reluctance.
Today was the turning point. They’d be heading back to the car and then on their way to the resort in Taylor. Much as he was enjoying the time with his daughter, he was also anticipating discussions with the resort. Murdock Sports already had several major stores across the country. This would be a different kind of outlet—high-end clothes and gear—specialty shopping tailored for that particular resort.
He’d debated taking Jacey along when he saw how she looked these days. But since they’d arrived in California the outrageous aspect of her attire had softened. He hoped, with Savannah’s help, she’d not be a detriment at the resort. If it didn’t work out, he’d have them driven back to San Francisco. He thought they’d enjoy the resort and give him space to deal with the opportunity to expand.
After breakfast they packed up. Their backpacks were lighter now as the food was being consumed. No more complaints from Jacey first thing each morning. And Savannah had never given a single complaint. She still moussed her hair every day. Fascinated, he loved to watch, hoping she didn’t notice.
In fact, he loved watching her do anything. From working with Jacey to setting up the tent, which they could do in under seven minutes now, to her enchantment with the wildlife they’d seen, to her sparring gently with his daughter. She had a great sense of humor and was able to draw the same from Jacey.
“Today we head back down the trail,” he said, pulling on his load. “By the time we reach the car in a few days, it’ll be time to move on to the resort.”
“If it has a hot shower, I’m all for it,” Jacey said.
“I wouldn’t mind one myself,” Savannah added. “I guess I thought we’d be hiking a bit longer.”
“It’ll take us three days to return. Then you’ll get to rest.”
“But you’ll be working,” Jacey said.
“Not all the time.”
“What’ll we do there?” she asked.
“There are tennis courts and swimming pools, hiking trails. And a day spa—maybe you and Savannah would like that.”
“No maybe about it, that’s right up my alley,” Savannah said.
“What’s a day spa?” Jacey asked.
“You’ll love it. You get to be pampered all day—massages, manicures and pedicures, hair styled—though I like mine the way it is,” Savannah said.
Declan looked at her. “I do, too.”
She looked at him in astonishment.
Jacey looked at her. “Would I have to get my hair styled?”
“You don’t have to do anything. It’s usually buffet style—you pick and choose the aspects you want. They do makeovers which are really fun. I’m sold.”
Instead of the scowl Declan expected, Jacey looked thoughtful.
They retraced their steps, seeing the scenery a second time from the opposite direction. Once they saw a mother bear and a cub at a distance. Declan had them go quietly so the bears wouldn’t notice three hikers. But Jacey and Savannah insisted they stop for a moment to watch the cub’s antics. When Jacey laughed aloud, he hurried them along.
He had enjoyed the trek more than expected. Even with Savannah. He wished he could turn the clock back.
* * *
It seemed to Savannah as if the next days passed in double time. They were familiar with the terrain and better suited to walking long stretches than they had been when they started. They saw more wildlife on their way and passed more hikers as the weather was warming and people were taking advantage of the open trail.
Declan gradually shifted his own focus from testing the new hiking gear to the business opportunity ahead. He spent less time in conversation. Twice she saw him lost in thought when his daughter asked a question. She’d call his name loudly before he’d react.
The day before they were to reach the car it rained. A sudden storm came upon them before they knew it. Declan quickly erected the tent and the three of them and their backpacks huddled together inside as the rain poured down.
“This’ll melt the snow,” he said. The temperature had dropped; the dampness in the air made it seem even colder.
“We weren’t walking in the snow,” Savannah reminded him. She lay down on the ground cloth, using her backpack as a pillow. “I guess we were lucky we didn’t have rain before.”
“The forecast didn’t call for it when we left San Francisco,” Declan said. “But maybe it’s just a local storm. Quickly started, quickly over.”
“Or maybe it’ll rain until tomorrow and we can’t even cook dinner,” Jacey said, gloomily.
“We have trail mix.”
“For dinner?” The horror in her voice had Savannah smiling again.
“Think of this as an adventure. Won’t it be fun to tell your friends when you get back?”
“None of them will care a bit about my summer vacation. They’re doing cool stuff like exploring New York or going to Coney Island or the Hamptons.”
“Ummm,” Savannah said, looking at Declan. In such close quarters it was hard not to. So maybe neither of the others would suspect she looked at him when she could, when he was not watching her. It make her heart race and gave her squishy feelings inside. Determined to ignore the sensations, she listened to the rain and wondered if she could get Jacey to have a makeover. And new hairstyle.
Their last night camping, and they were stuck in the tent. When Declan excused himself to “use the facilities,” as he said, Jacey looked at Savannah. “I wish we weren’t going to this resort after all,” she said softly.
“Because?”
“Dad’s not the same. When we were hiking today he didn’t see the deer until I pointed them out and I had to call him twice.”
“I’m sure he’s thinking about business.”
“What about me?”
“What about you? He hasn’t forgotten you. He’s taking you on this great trip. And I expect you’ll love the resort.”
“But he won’t be with us, I bet. He’ll be all business. Like he is at home.”
“It takes a lot to run a successful company like your dad’s,” Savannah said. She’d seen the change in Declan as well and hoped once he was at the resort he’d remember to spend time with Jacey. “Try getting him to talk about it. After all, you have a good shot at being the president of that company someday.”
Jacey looked at her in surprise. “Me?” she squeaked.
“You’re his only heir. Who else is he leaving everything to?”
The teenager was silent for a moment. Then she shrugged. “He could get married again and have more kids.”
“Still, he adores you. Even if he has other children in the future, you’ll always be his first-born precious child. And if he has a boy, what’s to say the boy would want to work in sporting goods? He might want to be a soldier or a banker or artist.”
“I don’t know if I want to work in sporting goods,” Jacey said thoughtfully.
“So find out about the business, see if it’s something you’d be interested in. Get him talking—he’ll love that you’re interested, even if in the future you decide to do something else,” Savannah said.
Declan came back shaking the rain off himself as much as he could before sitting down and looking at the two of them sitting so close. “What’s up?’
“The moon,” Jacey said, then laughed.
“The stars,” Savannah said and smiled at Jacey.
“The rain clouds.” The teenager laughed again. “So, Dad, tell me about the boutique at the resort.”
If Declan was surprised at the question coming out of the blue he didn’t show it. He relayed a brief version of what he planned to propose and what he was looking to find out on their visit. Savannah was pleased at some of the questions Jacey asked. They showed genuine interest—perhaps for the first time. When they turned in that night, Savannah also knew much more than she had before. Quietly, in the dark, with only the gentle sound of the rain for background, Jacey asked more questions.
Savannah liked listening to Declan talk. His thoughtful approach to the opportunity reminded her of his warnings and guidance when she was in class. Not for Declan the exciting pie-in-the-sky outlook. He was a firm businessman wanting to make sure his business ran efficiently and profitably. She remembered the discussions they’d had in the class she’d attended. Some of his ideas flew in the face of long-established traditional business models. Yet he was now living proof his ideas worked.
As they had worked with Vacation Nannies.
Savannah listened to Jacey and her father talk and felt a twinge of envy. She didn’t remember her parents. Grams was the only family she’d known except for her sister. How often had she longed as a child to have the normal family unit of parents and kids? Too numerous to count. She wished Jacey would appreciate what she had. Even with her parents divorced, she still had the love from both, and she could spend time with them.
“It’s getting late. I’m going to sleep,” Savannah said. They had unpacked in the limited space and spread their sleeping bags.
“Dad and I’ll stay up. We’re talking,” Jacey said proudly.
Savanna hid a smile. Gone, for now, was the attitude. There was hope for the teen.
“We’ll be quiet soon,” Declan said.
“I’m so tired, I won’t even notice,” she said. Savannah fell asleep listening to the murmur of Declan’s voice, a smile on her face and an ache in her heart.
* * *
The next morning they awoke to a cloudless day. Everything dripped from the rain, but the tent had kept them dry. After a hasty breakfast, they were on their way. They’d reach the car by midday, drive to the resort and be there in time for dinner. During the walk, Declan fell into step with Savannah.
“What caused Jacey’s interest last night?” he asked.
“Shouldn’t your daughter be interested in what you do?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder to glimpse Jacey studying the trees they were walking through.
“Never happened before,” he said.
“Just be glad she’s interested.”
“I am, just wondering what brought about the change. Are you glad to be going to the resort?”
“In some ways, of course, but I think this hiking idea was good. Look how much she’s changed in such a short time. A few more days and she might even want to change her hair back.”
He laughed softly. “Wish that was so.” He smiled at her. “I appreciate your hanging in there. She’s still snippy but definitely improving.”
Jacey caught up with them. “I hope we see some more deer before we reach the car,” she said, from her dad’s left. Savannah was on his right but dropped behind them as they walked.
“Me, too. But we always have the memory of that first day,” Declan said.
“We should have
brought a camera. I could take pictures to send Mom,” Jacey said, head up, looking around.
Declan nodded. “We can get a disposable one at the resort and take some picture there.”
“But we missed those deer,” she said.
“We’ll take others. That image you’ll have in your head anytime you want to think about it,” he said. Declan was pleased with the change in Jacey in just a few short days. Granted she still lapsed into sulky behavior. She hadn’t exactly warmed up to Savannah, but they interacted in a way that was good for his daughter. With the heavy makeup gone she looked much more like the sweet little girl he remembered.
He glanced at Savannah. Opportunity lost. He wished the two of them had been on the trek alone. Spending nights together in the tent. Seeing the splendor of the mountains, the soaring eagles together. Sharing.
Even with the distance she kept, he wished they had a few more days in the wilderness. He knew once they reached the resort his free time would be limited.
Savannah looked up at the sky and smiled. He felt it like a fist to the chest. He wanted one of those smiles directed toward him.
He scanned the trail ahead. How soon would they reach the car? The sooner they were at the resort, the sooner he could get to work and avoid so much time with her.
He had dated occasionally over the years since he and Margo had split the second time. Not often, and not for long. More time was devoted to building the firm. Now he could coast a little—but that didn’t mean he wanted to get entangled with some woman. None had compared with Savannah in making him feel like the most important man in the world.
Frowning, he focused on the immediate future, getting to the resort, checking in with the New York office, starting the ball rolling with the potential negotiations. He needed to let go of all thoughts of Savannah. He hoped he could.
* * *
They arrived at the resort around four o’clock. Once again they had a suite, but this one had three bedrooms. Declan showered, shaved and dressed in casual clothes, pulled out the laptop and called his second in command. It was evening in New York, but Nick had been expecting his call and was still at the office.
The Nanny Who Kissed Her Boss Page 9
