The Nanny and Me

by Teresa Southwick

  Clothes were scattered on the plush beige carpet and across the pink-and-green floral comforter, along with the iPod that was usually attached to the girl’s person. Papers and books littered the white desk. It all looked normal, except that Mia wasn’t sprawled across the bed, looking hostile and bored.

  There was no indication here of whether or not Casey should be worried, so she reversed direction and headed to Blake’s home office, her next stop. But in the family room she caught a glimpse of movement outside and walked to the sliding glass door. In a navy blue tank suit, Mia pushed herself up out of the pool to retrieve a blow-up beach ball. And she had a big grin on her face. Blake was in the shallow end, his broad, bare chest visible above the choppy pool water. He was smiling, too.

  This had all the makings of an alternate universe.

  Casey opened the sliding door and walked outside. The sun was descending on the other side of the building, leaving the terrace in shade. “Hi.”

  Mia’s smile widened with genuine pleasure. “Casey! I’m glad you’re back.”

  Definitely an alternate reality in which there was no hostility. “I’m glad to be back. What have you two been up to?”

  Blake moved from the middle to the side of the pool and looked up at her. “Come on in. The water’s fine.”

  “I’m not wearing a bathing suit.”

  “Go put one on,” he suggested.

  “Haven’t got one,” she lied and the look on his face told her he knew. Exposing her scars wasn’t high on her list of things that constituted a good time. There would be questions that she didn’t want to answer.

  Mia moved beside her. “Uncle Blake took me to Red Rock Canyon. We did the scenic drive and stopped at the visitor center. Then we went to LBS, the hamburger place at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa. The burger was as big as my head.”

  “Really?”

  “An exaggeration,” Blake said. “She has a pretty big head.”

  “Look who’s talking,” Mia retorted, then threw the ball and hit him squarely in the chest.

  A good shot, Casey thought, but what a fabulous target. The contour of tantalizing muscles was sprinkled with a dusting of hair, which tapered to a place hidden beneath the waistband of his swim trunks. Her palms tingled and the sensation was all about an intense yearning to brush her hands all over him. The oh-so-tempting thought made her back up a step.

  She turned her attention to the girl, who’d jumped back in the pool. “So what did you think of Red Rock Canyon?”

  “It was so awesome.” Mia tipped her head back and wet her long hair to get it out of her face. “The red in the rocks is really pretty.”

  Casey squatted down by the edge of the pool. “You don’t suppose that’s how it got its name, do you?”

  “No.” Mia rolled her eyes in a nonhostile, oh-brother kind of way that was so incredibly normal.

  Casey felt a little bubble of satisfaction expand inside her. Blake had taken an interest in Mia and it showed in the girl’s softening attitude. He’d taken her advice and come out of his cave. It had made a difference, at least for today, and that made her happy and proud.

  “Did you see anything at the visitor center about it being named by a man?” Casey asked, feigning innocence.

  “You mean because of the red color running through the rock formations?” Blake asked, eyes narrowing.

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you implying that men have no imagination?”

  “Pretty much,” Casey admitted. “And I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s straightforward. You know exactly what it is. Or where you are. For instance, a street that runs into a home improvement store could be called Home Improvement Boulevard.”

  His grin made her stomach pitch and roll as surely as if she were on a ship during the storm of the century. Ribbons of desire floated and curled through her, making it a challenge to draw air into her lungs.

  “And women are so much better at calling a spade a spade?” he asked.

  “Of course. Have you ever noticed how clever the names of hair salons are?”

  “Such as?”

  “A Cut Above.” She tapped a finger against her lip as she tried to think of more. “And A Wild Hair.”

  “I’ve got one,” Mia said, floating on the ball. “Hair Raisers. And Hot Headz Hair.”

  “Right. Good for you,” Casey said, praising her.

  “Figures she’d remember names like that,” Blake complained good-naturedly.

  “What about Curl Up and Dye?” Casey suggested.

  He folded his arms over his chest. “Oh, that’s cheerful.”

  “D-y-e,” she spelled out. “Hair Today Gone Tomorrow.”

  “Creative,” he agreed, “But counterproductive.”

  “Hair Four U,” Mia chimed in.

  “Hey, two against one,” he protested

  “So speaks wimp boy,” Casey taunted.

  “Them’s fightin’ words.”

  “I used to be a warrior,” Casey reminded him. “Is that a challenge?”

  A gleam stole into his eyes. “I’m just saying…”

  Casey started to stand and back away, but she wasn’t fast enough. Blake grabbed her almost before she saw him move. Strong fingers gripped her hands and tugged her forward, into his arms. Surprise pushed a shriek out of her; with her mouth open, she swallowed water. She came up sputtering and pressed against the world-class chest she’d practically drooled over a few minutes ago.

  Laughing, Blake steadied her. “For the record, brute strength trumps cleverness.”

  “No fair, Uncle Blake.”

  Mia sneak-attacked him from behind. She grabbed his shoulders and tried to push him under but couldn’t manage it. Because he was caught by surprise and thrown off balance, Casey added her weight to the assault, and the girls were able to take him down.

  When he surfaced, Casey said, “That’s two against one.”

  Retaliation burned in his eyes as he hooked his hands beneath Mia’s arms and tossed her into deeper water while she shrieked with delight.

  Then Blake turned on Casey. “Cheaters never prosper.”

  Casey laughed as she eased backward, toward the steps and escape. “That wasn’t cheating. It’s known in the military as overwhelming force.”

  “I’ll show you overwhelming.”

  He dove into the water and wrapped his steely arms around her legs as he positioned her midriff on his shoulder. Seconds later he had his feet beneath him and was standing with her hanging over his back. The sudden move surprised her, but this alternate view of his butt wasn’t bad at all. Casey wanted to squeal with delight, but her motivation was far different from Mia’s.

  “Okay, Hercules, you made your point. You can put me down now.” The tone seriously lacked conviction.

  “Throw her in like you did me, Uncle Blake.” Mia was grinning.

  “Hey,” Casey cried. “Whose side are you on?”

  Blake half turned and gave the girl a thumbs-up. “She knows which side her bread is buttered on.”

  “So it’s true what they say.” Casey tried to wiggle free but he was too strong.

  “What do they say?”

  “Blood is thicker than water,” she answered.

  “Yeah.” He shifted her off his shoulder and into his arms.

  The early evening breeze in the desert was pleasantly warm, unless you were wearing wet clothes. Casey shivered and he felt it because he was still holding her.

  “You’re cold.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he walked to the shallow end shelf and stepped out of the pool and onto the concrete deck, carrying Casey as if she weighed nothing. If that wasn’t enough to make her feminine heart go fiddle-dee-dee, nothing would. And then in true hero mode he grabbed one of the big, fluffy towels on the table and dragged it around her shoulders.

  “Thanks,” she said through chattering teeth.

  Mia joined them and he wrapped her in the remaining towel. Obviously Casey was using his and she d
idn’t miss the thoughtful gesture.

  The girl freed her long hair from its terry-cloth confinement. Her thick, dark lashes were wet and spiky and made her turquoise eyes look even bigger and more beautiful. But the coolest thing was the fun shining in them. “You know, Uncle Blake, I’ve been thinking—”

  “That’s a dangerous prospect,” he teased.

  Mia grinned without an eye roll. Imagine that. “Seriously. I’ve been thinking about the anniversary party—”

  He pointed at her and faked a stern expression. “You’re not getting out of going, so you can stop thinking.”

  “A little advice,” Casey offered, her shivering under control. “Don’t spread that message to the youth of America.”

  “Will you guys listen?” Mia demanded. “If I have to go, I think Casey should go, too.”

  “A rousing endorsement.” Casey tucked wet hair behind her ear. “It’s not in my job description and I’m not part of the family.”

  “Boring.” Mia’s mouth puffed into a pout. “At least if you come, it will be a little fun.”

  “Woo hoo,” Casey said. “Way to change my mind.”

  “You should go,” Blake agreed. “My dad likes you.”

  “Because I’m perky. Or was it plucky?”

  “I think he said spunky, but that’s beside the point.” Blake folded his arms over his chest. “The folks would love to see you.”

  “C’mon, Casey,” Mia pleaded. “Say yes. Don’t make me go alone.”

  Casey sighed. “This is piling on. And I have to say the whole ‘blood is thicker than water’ thing is darned annoying.”

  “That means you’ll go. Right?” Mia asked.

  “That means I’ll think about it.”

  Although she hadn’t said a solid yes, Blake and Mia gave each other a high five as easily and naturally as if they’d been doing it for years. That was the good part. The bad? She’d practically agreed to go to a family function that was over and above her regular duties. She tried to tell herself that it was all part of the job, but she wasn’t buying that.

  She was getting pulled in emotionally as easily as Blake had tugged her into the pool. Her life felt like quicksand, and every step she took, every maneuver, every day with the Deckers made her sink a little more deeply.

  If she didn’t extract herself from this situation, there would likely be hell to pay.

  Three days later, after her summer school finals, Casey stopped by the home office of the Nanny Network president. She’d called earlier to make sure it would be okay and now waited after ringing the bell. Moments later the door opened.

  Ginger Davis smiled. “Come in, Casey. It’s nice to see you.”

  “Thanks for letting me come by.”

  “It’s important.” She shut the door and led the way through the beige travertine-tiled foyer and into the living room.

  The spacious area, with a white sofa and a glass-topped coffee table, was serene with soft lighting. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the lights of the valley but screened out the bustle of Las Vegas far below. The room was luxurious and suited her boss, an elegant woman with an address in one of the city’s most recognizable buildings.

  Ginger’s red-highlighted brown hair was pulled away from her face and restrained with a rhinestone clip. Even dressed casually in crisp denim jeans and a white cashmere sweater with three-quarter-length sleeves, she would have a hard time passing for ordinary. But that didn’t mean her life had been easy. Rumors about her past circulated, and the compassion in her eyes hinted at a history full of speed bumps. Right now she exuded welcome and warmth, which made what Casey had come to say that much easier to relate. Then she remembered what Ginger had said moments ago.

  “How do you know it’s important?” Casey asked, sitting on the edge of the overstuffed sofa cushion.

  “Because this isn’t normal business hours and you didn’t want to discuss it over the phone.”

  “Right.” She folded her hands and settled them in her lap. “Big clues.”

  Ginger slid back into the plush cushions and tucked her bare feet up under her. “You’re stalling, Casey. Just tell me what’s bothering you.”

  So many things, not the least of which was facing the fact that she was a coward. This side trip to see Ginger was what the army classified as running for cover.

  Casey took a deep breath. “I can’t work for Blake Decker any longer.”

  “I see.”

  The words were spoken in a soft, calm voice but did nothing to soothe Casey’s concerns, especially when Ginger didn’t say more. The silence stretched between them, a management technique to gather information, because a nervous employee felt compelled to fill the silence. Casey didn’t bite, mostly because she didn’t want to share further information unless absolutely necessary. So they stared at each other until the other woman blinked.

  “Is there a reason you want to leave?”

  Casey nodded. “It’s not working out.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you could be more specific.”

  That would mean admitting that she was making the same mistakes after promising herself it wouldn’t happen again. She’d vowed to remain objective, but kissing Blake had made detachment impossible. So she only said, “I agreed to take this job on a temporary basis. As a favor to you.”

  “I’d hoped time with Blake Decker would change your mind.” Ginger sat up straight, her eyes widening. “Did he do something to make you uncomfortable?”

  “No.” That wasn’t exactly true, but not the way the other woman meant. And part of the reason Casey wanted out was because of how badly she’d wanted him to kiss her and how much she wanted more. It was wrong and she wasn’t sure how to keep from going there if she stayed.

  “Did he come on to you?” Ginger asked. She frowned and slid forward on the sofa. “He did. I can see by the look on your face. There are laws against that sort of thing. He’s an attorney and should know better than that. The Nanny Network has an attorney on retainer. I’ll contact him, and Blake Decker will wish he’d kept his hands to himself—”

  “No,” Casey said. “It wasn’t like that.”

  “How was it?”

  It suddenly became absolutely necessary to share further information.

  Casey had hoped to make this quick and easy, but now knew that wouldn’t work. Ginger saw too much, and she, Casey, would have to come clean.

  “He did nothing inappropriate.”

  “But he did do something?”

  “He kissed me. Twice,” Casey replied.

  “And if you’re taking it out of the inappropriate column, that means you were okay with it.”

  “Yes.” Casey waited two beats, then said, “And no.”

  Ginger sighed. “What’s going on, Casey? Talk to me. I can’t help if you don’t give me the facts.”

  “The fact is that I’m attracted to him,” she admitted miserably.

  Very attracted, she added to herself. So much so that he filled her thoughts during the day and her dreams at night. And she’d never been a starry-eyed, dreamy sort of woman. This was different, something she couldn’t seem to control.

  “Okay,” Ginger said.

  “See, that’s the thing. It’s not okay. It crosses a line. It’s a problem.”

  The other woman looked thoughtful. “Is it impacting your ability to care for Mia?”

  “No. In fact she asked me to go along when the two of them attend an anniversary party for Blake’s parents. She’s not, shall we say, enthusiastic about going and said it will be more fun with me there.”

  “Sounds like you’re bonding with her.”

  Casey nodded. “That probably happened when I helped her pick out Frankie—”

  “Excuse me?”

  “The dog. Francesca. We call her Frankie.” Casey had to smile at the memory of the ill-fated laptop. “Anyway, Mia was pretty upset when Blake blew off counseling, and she wanted a dog.”

  “I see.”

  “He’s improvi
ng, though,” she added quickly. “They attend sessions once a week, and he’s home for dinner every night now. He also makes it a point to be there for his niece when I have a class or my weekend afternoon off.”

  Casey remembered coming back to the two of them having a great time in the pool and pulling her in. Literally. In the beginning she could have walked away unscathed. Now she had feelings for the little girl and the man. If history repeated itself, somehow it was going to blow up in her face, and she was here to prevent that.

  “So,” she continued, “you can see that it would be best for me to quit working for him.”

  Ginger looked a little shell-shocked. “What I see is that the Deckers are making progress in family bonding. Thanks to you, as far as I can tell.”

  “They’re doing better.” But Casey refused to make it about her.

  “I don’t have to tell you that every child needs stability to thrive.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  The last child she’d befriended had only known violence, and Casey had believed kindness and caring could undo that state of mind. She’d been so wrong and others had paid the ultimate price for her mistake. It was imperative that she get out before anyone got hurt.

  “I also don’t have to remind you that because of her past Mia Decker needs constancy more than the average kid.”

  Casey sighed. She so didn’t want to hear that. Not long ago Mia had said that her uncle would dump her like everyone else. And there was a very real possibility that leaving Blake’s employ would fall into that category for the kid. This whole mess could be filed under the heading “damned if she did, damned if she didn’t.”

  “No, you don’t have to remind me of that,” Casey finally said. “But the stability she needs comes from Blake, not me.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.”

  “If I didn’t think leaving was the best thing for everyone, I wouldn’t have come here and suggested it.”

  Ginger nodded thoughtfully. “I just hired someone to fill your previous position with the Redmonds. They’re back from their extended vacation, and this seemed like a good time to make the transition since Heidi and Jack aren’t used to seeing you every day.”