by Roxie Odell
“He’s fine,” said Brodie. “Everything is fine,” he said before he hung up the call, knowing full well that he owed it all to the beautiful, nearly perfect Cara Rodriguez.
Chapter Four
Brodie ended the call with his lawyer quickly, then turned his full attention to the delicious smells rolling through the house. The scent crazed him as he hurried toward the kitchen, hoping to find out what was cooking and to refresh his cup of coffee while he was there. It confused him a bit, because his cook wasn’t scheduled to be there. Not only that, but baking was not part of her contract.
When Brodie spotted Cara peering into the oven window, with apron straps tied around her back, he only shook his head. He found the sight both endearing and erotic, completely powerful. A vision flashed through his head, and he pictured himself grabbing her lean, firm hips and thrusting against that fine round bottom of hers.
“Oh, hello there,” she said as she turned and regarded him with a bright smile.
“Hey,” he said, amazed and puzzled. “Where’s the baby?”
“He’s still napping.” Cara grinned knowingly. “No worries. I’ve got the monitor right here…and yes, it’s plugged in.”
“I don’t get it,” Brodie said, still shaking his head, genuinely confused. “How’d you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Get that kid to stay down long enough for you to actually get things done.”
“A,” she said, leaning over so close to him that he could feel her warm breath on his cheek, “he’s not my baby. B, I have lots of experience with children, and c, he’s very tired. Perhaps that’s because his daddy insists on checking on him too much and disturbs him from his rest,” she purred in a most irresistible way.
“I guess it could be that,” confessed Brodie with a shrug.
“That’s understandable,” she said. “He’s your first. Now, what about you? Are you hungry?”
“Very,” he said pitifully.
“Then sit,” she sweetly ordered.
He stared at her apron-clad body as she refilled his cup with coffee. Her breasts were so near his mouth as he sat that it nearly drove him crazy. His desire was stirred even more when she lifted the baking sheet with her oven mitt-clad hand and used a spatula to scoop a warm, oozy strudel pastry onto the plate in front of him.
“How the heck did you make these?” he asked with wonder.
She burst out laughing, set the baking sheet down on a pot holder, then braced her hands on her knees. “You wanna know my secret?” she asked, her perfect face just inches from his.
“Yes,” he replied genuinely.
“I followed the instructions on the box,” she said. “They were in your freezer, but you’re all out now.”
Brodie had a good laugh at himself, and he was sure that was a good thing.
Cara pulled up a chair and sat next to him, still smiling.
“God, these are good. I think I could eat a half dozen of them!” he said, licking the sugary frosting from his lips, then washing it down with a big gulp of coffee. He felt like a spoiled king. In the next second, though, he was once again pricked by guilt. He knew that if he kept letting Cara help out, she was going to get the wrong idea, but it was tough to give up the convenience. He loved being waited on, being served, and even as a wealthy man with a staff at his disposal, he could never get enough of that.
If not for his conscience, it would have been so easy to use her time and time again, to lead her on so she would continue fulfilling his needs and his son’s. He didn’t really know that much about her, but it felt safe and easy to rely on her. He needed to hire a nanny, but Cara seemed like a much better choice for him and little Thomas. She was cute by all standards, as well as a lovely person, and he certainly felt a bit of physical excitement around her. He knew that from the night before and from the way he felt when he saw her leaning over in front of that oven, a kind of hot all her own. What Thomas really needed and deserved was a loving mother, but Brodie knew he was in no way ready for a relationship like that, and the zing he felt with Cara was… well, a lot of heat.
Ready to nip the whole thing in the bud, he pushed away from the table. “You’d better get to work,” he said, without even offering her any thanks.
As he stood, Cara immediately stepped closer, leaving him no choice but to wrap his arms around her in a lazy hug. “I’d much rather stay here with the baby,” she said.
“Is work really that bad?” he asked, then laughed softly.
“No,” she said. “It’s just… Well, I really like that baby of yours.”
Right on the tip of his tongue, Brodie held back an offer for her to fill the nanny position he now had open. He knew he could pull it off, even if it made him a complete snake, but while it would make his life so much easier, it would do little for her. “Let me walk you out,” he said, then led her out to her car, where he had to fight the urge to kiss her.
After he watched Cara drive off, he went back into the house and packed Thomas’s things for the day. Because of his position, Brodie could drop in on the building daycare anytime, and that put his mind at ease. As he readied his sweet, beautiful boy, Cara’s playful wish haunted him. It broke his heart that his infant would spend the next eight or ten hours in a daycare center, with teachers sharing their attention with countless other kids. He knew Cara would give him loving care and undivided attention, and he badly wanted to call her and urge her back, something else he had to talk himself out of. Even as he dropped the sleeping baby off at the nursery, Brodie was consumed with guilt. His recklessness had brought Thomas into the world, and he knew the little guy deserved better than spending most of the day away from his loved ones.
Brodie was about to launch into a panic attack over that when his assistant notified him that, true to their word, the parties with whom he had brokered the deal via teleconference had circulated the contracts by email. Even though revisions would have to be made, the deal would be finalized quickly. Despite the grueling marathon review, the agreements were set in stone by five p.m. that day, and Brodie held a conference call with the various teams to thank them and offer his congratulations.
“We would like to invite you all to dinner to celebrate the closing,” the bank representative said. “Are you game?”
Cara popped into his mind immediately, and he couldn’t help fantasizing about her on his arm, dressed in some gorgeous little number and stunning everyone in the room. “Let me think on that,” he said. “I have a young son, and there are logistics to work out.”
“Certainly. We’re thinking of The Prime Rib, if that sweetens the pot.”
But if I take her, who will babysit Thomas? Brodie wondered. She did offer to help me find a replacement.
“Mr. Rogan…”
“Huh? Oh, sorry. Yes, The Prime Rib sounds great,” he said, returning his attention to the phone call. “Let me get back with you.”
“Certainly,” the bank personnel said, then hung up.
Brodie trusted Cara’s judgment over his, so he quickly sent her a text and then called her instead. “Offer still good on that nanny networking?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied immediately. “And, Brodie…”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t have to use work or the baby as an excuse to write to me. I like hearing from you just because.”
“Funny you should mention that,” he said playfully. “Speaking of work, I was wondering if you would like to join me for a dinner to celebrate the closing.”
“Closing dinner?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’s pretty common when a big deal is signed, blowing the money we just agreed to spend or share. The way I see it, I couldn’t have closed the deal without your help this morning, so you’re part of the team,” he said. “You deserve to be there.”
“Oh. Sorry. I thought maybe you want me there for another reason, but now that you put it that way…” she teased.
Brodie felt the heat of a blush on his cheeks. His face was on fire bec
ause he realized she was only flirting back. Without even thinking, he’d spoken to her in a sensual tone, and he had to wonder if he did so with all women or just with her. Maybe it’s just because I’ve spent so much time with her lately. Plus, I know she likes me. At the very least, he owed her dinner, since the fiasco with the former babysitter ruined their dinner date the night before. Sure, he’d treated her to a swank meal before that, but it was really only because he’d wanted to take her to bed. “I’ll make it easy for you,” he said seductively, on purpose this time.
“How so?” she asked with a smile in her voice.
“Never mind that,” he said, liking that he was inspired to surprise her, quickly being drawn into the idea of them. “Just trust me,” he said.
“Trust you?” she purred. “Sounds dangerous.”
“I will keep you so, so safe,” he said in a honeyed voice, the kind of voice he would have used if he was about to ram himself inside her. “Are you gonna be there for a while, at your nonprofit?”
“I am,” she said.
“Okay, I’m out. It’s been a great day. I woke up with my beautiful baby son, and then a wonderful friend stopped by to save the day. Not only that, but I closed a mega deal, and I had amazing pastries to go with my morning coffee. Now, I’m off to pick Thomas up from daycare.”
“Lucky,” she whined.
“I am indeed,” he agreed.
“Talk to you soon about this dinner of yours,” she said before she hung up.
The notion warmed him more than fine brandy. On impulse, he dropped a credit card in an envelope and gave it to the clerk in the mailroom, with instructions to get it quickly to Cara at the nonprofit, with a note attached: “Go shopping for the dinner if you still want to go.”
The mail clerk’s face gathered in mild alarm, as if Brodie was crazy.
“Just deliver it,” he said, still smiling. Then, he practically danced down to the daycare center, doubly happy at the prospect of seeing his son, and soon seeing Cara in some sort of delicious designer duds.
The baby was awake when he arrived, and Brodie was glad for that, because he hated missing out on time spent with his boy. He lifted the baby up to his face and pressed his lips against his round, soft forehead. He wasn’t sure why he was so intrigued about the child’s smell, but no other scent he had ever taken in had smelled quite as sweet. For a moment, father and son just smiled at each other, four eyes beaming absolute love between them.
Brodie seldom thought of Thomas’s mother, even when the boy sometimes gave Brodie a smile or a face that reminded him of her. She never called, and she was content to never see them or speak to them again. Even though Brodie had sole legal custody of Thomas, he would have happily allowed the child to have a relationship with his mother, but she never asked for such a thing.
This time, as he gazed at his son’s beautiful face, he thought of Cara and felt warm all over. He knew Thomas sensed Cara’s incredible presence in the brief moments when she cared for him, and that tender presence was one they both appreciated.
Just as he was ready to carry the baby out to the car, his phone buzzed, a request to video-chat. Overjoyed, Brodie answered, making sure to hold the lens at an angle where she could see them both. “Look who it is,” Brodie said to his baby, showing him Cara’s face on the phone.
“Aw,” Cara said with delight.
“I wonder if he recognizes you this way,” remarked Brodie.
“What a wonderful surprise,” Cara said in a babyish voice, but then she lightly scolded him. “So was the credit card, but you know I can buy my own clothes.”
“I can see that,” he said sensually, then blushed again when he realized the nursery staff was within earshot.
“Shouldn’t we focus on the nanny? If we’re going to go to this dinner, we need to find a good person to watch Thomas, not just some random sitter from a service,”
There was no question that Brodie liked Cara, but her mention of “we” struck a chord of fear in the pit of his stomach. He had certainly asked for and appreciated her help, but the words coming from her didn’t sound anything like a business arrangement. It was way too personal, too possessive, but before he could conjure up the right words to put it to rest, she continued.
“I’ve actually got someone in mind,” she said.
“Well, it’s good that you know them personally,” said Brodie with some relief from his anxiety of wondering who would care for his most precious treasure.
“I know her really well,” said Cara. “She’s my older sister, and she’s far more experienced than I am. She’s a single lady, so she’s got plenty of free time.”
“Are you saying she’d be busy if she was married?” Brodie asked suggestively.
“Well…”
“Busy doing what?” he teased.
The color of her face was intoxicating, and Brodie leaned back and slumped against the daycare waiting room chair as he watched her blush.
“Well, that was awfully fun,” he said. “Look, the card is just an invitation to fun. I like sharing what I have, so please feel free to spoil yourself. You helped me out, so it’s the least I can do. Also, take your time deciding about dinner. You’re not obligated or anything.”
Cara paused, and for the first time since Brodie had met her, her face became a bit distressed.
“What? Did I say something wrong?” he asked sympathetically.
“Well, it’s just that… It was kind of weird that you sent your credit card over,” she said.
“Why is that?” he asked.
“Look, Brodie, it’s not like I don’t know who you are. No one can mention you without calling you a bazillionaire. I saw you on the cover of Forbes. The thing is, I don’t care about any of that. I like you for…you,” she confessed a bit shyly.
“Well, I like you the same way,” he said. “And since you brought up the b-word, you obviously know money is no object. I really do like to share. Please indulge.”
As their face time neared its end, Brodie felt the sting of his lie. He did like Cara, but much of that was simply because he needed her. She was his childcare connection and his date and nothing more—or at least that was what he tried to tell himself. “Gotta go,” he said. “Tom and I have to hit the road.”
There was quiet between them as they both lingered on the app, Brodie taking in the view of Cara’s huge brown eyes.
“See ya,” she whispered in a syrupy tone.
Chapter Five
For the next day or so, Brodie trolled his credit card activity online, hoping to find some clue about what Cara might wear. As much as she protested the credit card, she didn’t send it back. He tried to tell himself that he wasn’t obsessed and wasn’t falling for her, but he thought about her almost as much as he thought about his little son, and looking at his credit card statement was akin to gazing at her picture.
He smiled as he was reviewing an account and she crossed his mind again, right before she called and said, “Hi,” in her usual perky voice.
“Hey,” he replied.
“Since we’re going to the closing dinner—” she began.
“Oh, we are?” he teased.
“Yes,” she purred. “Of course I’m going with you.”
“Okay,” he said. “Just checking.”
“Anyway, I figured you’d like to meet my sister and introduce Thomas to her. Is tonight doable?”
“It has to be,” he said in a silky voice. “We’ll be at The Prime Rib tomorrow night.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you then, and don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll even cook for us.”
“Can’t wait,” he replied, instantly hard as he imagined her in nothing but that apron, trotting around his kitchen again, filling his house with inviting aromas. He could no longer deny that he was crazed for her, and he even checked his phone to see how long he would have to wait to have her under his roof, just to see her and have her near him again.
As soon as possible, Brodie picked
up the baby from daycare and headed home. He dressed his son in an outfit almost identical to his own, then set him in his little baby swing and played with him. Every time Brodie spent time with his son, he fell in love with him all over again. He was really a sweet little guy, not a bit of trouble. Brodie was saddened when he saw the boy’s little eyelids growing heavier and heavier as they waited for their dinner guests, and by the time the women arrived at the door, the little guy was out of it, completely asleep in his father’s arms. Even the commotion of the women bustling in with dinner didn’t wake him.
The resemblance between Cara and her sister, Mya, was undeniable. They both had the same dark hair, though Cara’s was far more lustrous. They shared the same olive complexion, and their eyes were soft and dark, but Cara’s younger skin made it clear that she was the baby of the family. Brodie was relatively certain her sister was at least ten years older, and he figured he had five years on her. As similar as they were in looks, their personalities were quite different; while Cara was always bubbly, her sister seemed to be the more solemn, reserved type, in charge and far more disapproving.
After Brodie placed Thomas carefully in his swing to rest, the three adults sat at the table to share a casual meal. Cara wore the apron again to make and serve their dinner, and that stirred something fierce in Brodie. Once again, he imagined bending her over the stove and taking her right there on the linoleum.
Unfortunately, her familiarity was a sign of high hopes. She clearly thought they were becoming a thing, so much so that she was willing to involve her sister in Brodie’s life. Everything began to feel complicated, almost suffocating, and all he really wanted was for his life to be easy and convenient again.
Maya took the sleeping baby from his arms after praising his beauty and went to lay him down for the night. Anytime so much as a peep came from Thomas, she was happy to get up to handle it. When the baby was awake, he clearly took a liking to Maya right away.
“How perfect is she?” Cara gushed, clearly very pleased that things were going well. “You won’t have to worry whether the baby is in good hands.”
