He didn’t need to tell her that. By the time she reached the nearest chair, she was out of breath and her legs no longer supported her. “H-how’s Jamie?” she stammered like a fool.
“Other than missing you, he’s perfect.”
She’d started trembling and couldn’t stop. “What’s going on? Where’s Mr. Soffe?”
“He’s a professional friend of mine. I asked him to make himself scarce while I talked to you first.”
Maybe she was hallucinating. “Why would you do that?”
“When my uncle Lew assigned Rich Bonner to be the fall intern, he made a mistake. You were the top candidate from Wharton’s, but as you know, blue bloods don’t consider women equal to men, so he chose Mr. Bonner, who’d been ranked second highest in his class.”
Reese wanted to die. “You’ll never forgive me for that, will you. Don’t you know how sorry I am?” she cried out emotionally.
His eyes flashed dark fire. “You have nothing to feel guilty about. Why would you when it was the truth! I straightened things out with Gerald. He’s been in contact with Mr. Bonner, who will be coming to work for Miroff’s in a few days.”
With those words, Reese felt as if she was in a strange dream where nothing was as it should be. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate what you’ve tried to do for me, Nick, but I don’t want anything changed, because I have no intention of working for your corporation. Even though I was a woman, Miroff’s took me on. I plan to make them very happy with their choice.”
He studied her for a tension-filled moment. “In that case you’ll have to walk across the street with me while we visit with Greg, Uncle Lew’s son. You met him the night we had dinner at the Yacht Club. You need to tell him what you just told me. Then he’ll make it right with Gerald and your friend Rich.”
Searing pain drove through her to think that in the future she’d be working across the street from Nick. She couldn’t bear it.
He came around the desk and picked up her briefcase. “Shall we go?”
How many times had she heard him say that before in connection with Jamie. Like déjà vu she left the building with him. Whenever they walked together, she had to hurry to keep up with his long strides. They maneuvered the crowded crosswalk and eventually entered the tall doors of his family’s firm.
Nick nodded to the foyer receptionist and continued to the elevator. “Greg’s in his office waiting for us.” They emerged on the third floor and entered a door marked Gregory Wainwright, President.
President? But Nick was the CEO.
Before she could ask what it meant, Leah Tribe was there to greet her. “We meet again, Ms. Chamberlain.”
But Mrs. Tribe was Nick’s secretary. What was going on? “How are you, Mrs. Tribe?”
“I couldn’t be better. I hear you’re going to be working for us. How do you feel about that?”
How did she feel? “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. I need to talk to Mr. Wainwright.”
“Oh—” The secretary looked surprised. “Go right on in. He’s expecting you.”
Nick slanted her a glance she couldn’t read. Still carrying her briefcase, he led her inside the inner door.
Reese remembered Nick’s cousin, who got to his feet. He was a man in his thirties who bore a slight resemblance to Nick, though he was shorter and less fit looking.
“Greg? You were introduced to Ms. Chamberlain before. Apparently there’s been a mistake. She intends to stay with Miroff’s and you’ll be getting Mr. Bonner as planned.”
His cousin looked completely thrown, but before he could say anything there was a buzz, then Leah Tribe’s voice came over the intercom. “I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Wainwright, but Stan needs a minute of your time for something that can’t wait.”
“I’ll be right there, Leah. Nick?” He turned to him. “If you’ll keep Ms. Chamberlain occupied, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
The door shut, enclosing the two of them in a silence so quiet, she was sure Nick could hear her heart hammering. He took his seat behind the desk. She found a wing chair opposite him and sat down.
“Did they let you go because of what happened at the Yacht Club?”
“No. It was my choice. In fact I stepped down before I left for Greece with you and Jamie.”
“Why?” she asked in shock. “I don’t understand.”
He stared at her for a long time. “Because I wanted to be free. You see…I’m getting married right away. You could say I’m starting a new life.”
Reese thought she would faint, but she wouldn’t let him know how his news had affected her. “Someone you’ve known for a long time?”
Nick cocked his head. “Do you remember the day you stepped into my limo for the first time?”
She frowned. “Surely you don’t need an answer to that question.”
“Surely you shouldn’t have had to ask me that question at all,” he fired back. “Who else would I marry but you.”
Blood hammered in her ears. “Be serious, Nick,” her voice trembled.
“I would never be anything else but with the woman who’s about to become my wife and Jamie’s legal mother. We took a vote while we were on Milos and decided it was you or no one. Andreas and Gabi seconded the motion.”
Reese shook her head. “I’m so confused I must have missed something. I’m going to work at Miroff’s. How could you think I would be your wife?”
“It’s possible to be both. You convinced me of that a month ago during one of our more scintillating conversations. Here’s my proposal. We get married in Nebraska and honeymoon there. I want to meet your family. Then we’ll come back to the penthouse and you start work. I’ll be a stay-at-home daddy during your internship.”
She couldn’t possibly be hearing him correctly.
“When you’re through at Miroff’s and graduate, we’ll take care of Jamie together while you decide where and how you’re going to start your own brokerage firm. You’ll be doing it all on your own. When you’re ready to take on a partner, I’m your man behind the scenes.”
“Nick—”
“We’ll get my office set up in the other bedroom at the end of the hall like you wanted to do in the first place. I’ll work for you at home. I’m counting on you being a huge success because you’re going to be the one bringing in the money for both of us, starting with the stipend you’ll make being an intern. You see, I’ve signed away my entire inheritance to the family.”
Her gasp reverberated in the room.
“The money I earned myself allowed me to buy the penthouse. But it represents my old life with Erica. When your company gets off the ground, I want to sell it and buy us a house outside the city. Somewhere in a residential neighborhood where Jamie and another brother or sister can play with other children on the block and have a dog. The rest I’ll invest for our children’s future.”
“Oh, darling—”
Reese flew out of the chair and around the desk. Her feet never touched the ground before she landed in his arms. She threw them around his neck, so deliriously happy she couldn’t talk. Instead she started sobbing. “Nick— I love you and Jamie so terribly. You just don’t know—”
“Tell me about it,” he whispered into her hair, crushing her to death.
Neither of them was aware Mrs. Tribe had come in until they heard her voice. “I like what I see, you two. I like it very much.”
Nick lifted his mouth from Reese’s. “Thank heaven for you, Leah.”
When the door closed, Reese urgently pressed her mouth to his again. She couldn’t get enough and never would, but her euphoria was interrupted once more. This time she heard a baby crying, but it had lost its newborn sound.
“Jamie?”
“Who else? He’s living for you to hug and kiss him, but this is one time he’s going to have to get in line.”
Miroff’s closed down for Christmas on the eighteenth, which would be Reese’s last working day as an intern. But when she approached Gerald a few days before and
told him she had a special surprise for Nick that required the last day off, her boss was happy to give it to her.
In fact he handed her an enormous bonus for her outstanding work. Then he offered her a job with his company. She hadn’t expected either offering and was overwhelmed.
After expressing her gratitude, she told him she couldn’t accept the offer because she and Nick had other plans. But she thanked him with a big hug, which he reciprocated, and she gave him his Christmas present. It was a box of chocolate truffles from his favorite candy shop. She’d given the same gift to Leah.
On the seventeenth, she kissed her husband and son goodbye and pretended to leave for work. Paul was waiting for her out in front of the apartment building as always. When she climbed in the limo, she asked him to drive her to the studio apartment she’d leased in August. Unbeknownst to Nick, Paul had been bringing her here most every working day on her lunch break for the past four months.
When she got out of the limo into the freezing cold, she walked up to the window. He put it down. “This is for you. Merry Christmas.” She handed him the gift she’d had engraved for him. It was a gold ring with a stunning black onyx stone. Inside it read, Ever Faithful.
“I don’t know what Nick and I would do without you.” She smiled. “Until later.”
He winked. “I can’t wait to see Nick’s face when I pull up with him.”
“I’m living for that, too.”
When he drove off, she walked toward the entrance of the former bookshop with so much excitement, she could scarcely contain it. A large, classy-looking black-and-white-striped awning gave the storefront a whole new look and caught the eye of every passerby. Her eyes traced the formal gold lettering on the squeaky-clean glass door with a stunning holly wreath hanging above.
Chamberlain & Wainwright Brokerage.
For the rest of the day she wrapped presents and put them under the lighted Christmas tree in the center of the room. By two o’clock everything was ready upstairs and down.
With her pulse racing, she reached for her cell and phoned Nick.
“Reese?” She hadn’t heard that tinge of anxiety in his voice for a long time.
“Hi, darling.”
“Is anything wrong? You don’t usually call me this time of day.”
“Everything’s fine. I’m just tired and feel like leaving early. Gerald gave me the time off. I thought if you and Jamie came and picked me up, we could have an early dinner at a cozy little place I’ve found.”
Whenever Nick worried, he was always quiet before he responded. “We’ll come right now. Are you sure you’re all right? You’ve been working so hard you’ve knocked yourself out.”
“No harder than you. How’s our boy?”
“He’s been trying to stand up, but keeps falling down.”
“I have no doubts he’ll be walking sooner than most children his age. Come soon? I miss you both horribly.”
Convinced something was wrong, Nick phoned Paul and told him to bring the car out front. Getting up from his office chair, he rushed down the hall to the nursery. Jamie wasn’t due to wake up from his afternoon nap for another half hour, but it couldn’t be helped. It wasn’t like Reese to call in the afternoon. That’s when she was normally in conference with the staff.
“Sorry, sport.” Jamie was still half-asleep while Nick changed his diaper and put him in his blue snowsuit with the white fake fur around the edge of the hood. He grabbed a couple of bottles of formula and put them in the diaper bag. Once he’d shrugged into his overcoat, they left the penthouse for the limo.
As far as he was concerned, this ought to be her last day at work. His wife was a dynamo and needed to slow down. They could go get a Christmas tree in a few days after she’d had a rest. Deep in thought, it surprised him to discover they’d turned off Broadway at Seventh. It had started snowing. What was going on?
He spoke into the intercom. “Paul? Did you have to make a detour?”
“No. Your wife phoned and asked me to drop you off at the restaurant to save time. It’s only a few more blocks now.”
Nick frowned. “Did she sound all right to you?”
“Perfectly.”
He glanced out the window, not seeing anything because Reese’s call had disturbed him. Pretty soon they pulled to a stop in heavy traffic. Nick climbed out and lifted Jamie’s carryall from the car seat. Paul came around and handed him the diaper bag.
When he looked around he said, “I don’t see a place to eat anywhere. Are you sure you have the right address?”
“It’s right there in front of you, Nick.”
All he could see was a business of some kind. He brushed the flakes off his lashes. On the awning he saw the words Chamberlain & Wainwright Brokerage.
Suddenly he could feel the blood pounding in his ears.
His gaze darted to the front door with the same words done in gold lettering. Through the falling snow a Christmas tree with dozens of colored lights beckoned him from behind the glass.
“How long have you known about this?”
“About four months.”
“You’ve been helping her?”
He nodded. “Driving her to and fro on her lunch hour. She gave me this.” He held up his hand to show him the ring he was wearing. “There was an inscription.” When he told Nick what it was, Nick felt this thickness in his throat. There was no one more exciting, more thoughtful, kind and full of surprises than his beloved wife!
“Thank you for helping her, Paul.”
“It’s been a pleasure. I’ll be around when you need a ride home.”
He started for the door.
Reese couldn’t wait any longer and opened it. “Merry Christmas early, darling.”
Nick came inside and shut the door, bringing the cold in with him. She held her breath, waiting to hear what he would say and think. The first thing he did was put the carryall with Jamie in it on the floor and crush her in his arms. She got a face full of snowflakes, but she didn’t care.
“I don’t know how you did it,” his deep voice grated, “but you did it.”
“I hope you won’t be upset I put your name on the door, too, but I am a Wainwright now.”
“You most definitely are, my love. If you hadn’t put it on there, I’d have been devastated.”
“Oh, Nick—”
Their mouths fused in rapture. They clung for a long, long time.
“Mr. Soffe gave me a bonus,” she explained when he let her come up for breath. “It was enough to buy all the office equipment and furniture.”
“Where did you find this place? How did you manage it?”
“When I leased the upstairs part thinking I’d be living here while I worked at Miroff’s, the place was going out of business. Mr. Harvey from the bank was one of the clients I’ve been working with at the brokerage.
“I told him my idea for my own plans and he was willing to give me a lease and a loan to refurbish the whole place without a cosigner. That’s because of you, darling. But I have to make good this time next year to pay it back. Now I’m terrified!”
Nick laughed for joy and swung her around. “Of what? I’m convinced you can do anything! Trust my wife to pull all this together.”
“I used part of the money you paid me to hire Toni to do the painting.”
“The waiter? You’re teasing me.”
“I hope you’re not upset about that. He paints houses and apartments on the side part of the week to earn money while he’s at night school. He attached the awning for me, too. I think he did a wonderful job.”
His dark eyes roved over her face before he covered it with kisses. “I think you’re wonderful.”
“Thank you for being there for me every step of the way. I’ve never known such happiness in my life. Now I want to make you happy. Take off your coat and follow me upstairs.”
While he removed it, she undid Jamie from the carryall. “Don’t you look so cute in your snowsuit? I could eat you up. Yes, I could.” She kissed h
is neck while she took it off. He laughed over and over again as she kissed one cheek, then the other. “I love you, little guy.”
She looked up to see the love light in Nick’s eyes. “Come with me.”
The three of them ascended the winding steps to the studio. Reese had bought a playpen, which she’d set up next to the double bed. She lay Jamie in it and handed him a ball just his size. “With the tiny kitchen to one side of the room, there’s hardly any space left to maneuver.”
“I like it when we’re so close nothing comes between us,” Nick whispered against her neck. He slid his arms around her hips and before she knew it, they’d fallen on the bed together. “I love this innovation, Mrs. Wainwright.”
“I figure it will come in handy for small naps in the next seven and a half months.”
“What are you talking about?” he murmured, burying his face in her neck.
She smiled secretly. “Why, Nick Wainwright—imagine the financial prince of Park Avenue having to ask a question like that.”
He lifted his head to look down at her with fire in his dark eyes. “The what?”
“You heard me. That’s my mom’s secret name for you. You are known to have a computer brain that catapulted you to be the former CEO of Sherborne and Wainwright. No one would believe it if you couldn’t calculate the significance of a simple number like 7.5.”
His black brows furrowed.
“Maybe if we go downstairs and open a few presents, you’ll understand.”
“Give me a hint now.” He claimed her mouth again in a deep kiss that went on and on.
“Even though we won’t need it until July, I got it on sale now. It goes in the limo.”
More silence, and then she heard his sharp intake of breath. He sat all the way up. If she’d been worried, she didn’t have to be. On his handsome face she saw the eager, tremulous look of joy, making him appear younger.
“I’ve made you pregnant?” he cried. “But you went on the pill.”
“No, I didn’t. On our honeymoon there was a night when you told me you had this dream about giving Jamie a little brother or sister right away, so he wouldn’t grow up alone the way you did. Of course you knew it wasn’t possible you said and brushed it off as if it were nothing.
The Nanny and the CEO Page 15
