by Kristen Echo
She reached out and knocked over her water glass. “Sorry!” Her eyes filled with tears.
The spilled liquid splashed across Meagan’s white top, soaking the front. “Go to the bathroom and I’ll get towels for Meagan. Don’t worry we’ve got this.” He placed her on her feet and she ran off down the hall.
“It’s okay. Really, it’s only water and it will dry.” She was wet from her chin to her stomach. She looked down to see her nipples were hard and the lace of her bra was visible through the damp fabric. When she glanced up, green eyes were fixed on her chest and the see-through shirt.
He approached with a towel in his hands. “I can’t say I’m sorry about that.”
“It will dry,” she repeated, fanning her top while staring at his lips. They were so close. She grabbed one of the towels he held out and pressed it against her stomach.
“Here,” he said, dabbing the towel against her neck. His other hand rested against her arm as he wiped the water from her chest. He grazed the top of her breast and her nipples puckered even more. He seemed to notice and his pupils dilated. A heated look passed between them.
Meagan licked her lips as his inched closer. His hands were on her as his breath ghosted across her mouth. She could almost taste him. The slow seduction was maddening. She closed her eyes, ready to feel more of him.
“All clean,” April yelled.
They separated quickly, and he didn’t say a word. The awkwardness was palpable. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“I should go… change and return a few calls. Have a good night you two. See you later.” Meagan raced out of the room.
The excuse to change had been lame, but she’d needed to get away. She also had to call her parents back, which was something she’d been avoiding. Hailey had left three messages and so had her mother. Both told her to call her father.
Once in her room she closed the door and sank onto her bed. If April hadn’t come back into the room, they would have kissed. Would that have been so wrong? She didn’t think so, and the more she thought of it, the more she hoped the opportunity would come around again. The way he looked at her renewed her confidence. With a smile on her face, she placed the call she’d been dreading.
The call lasted longer than expected. Once her father started tearing into her, he wouldn’t stop. She sat back, listening like a good daughter.
“I don’t like this.” Meagan’s father voiced his disdain at her lack of morals. A young, single woman should not be living with a man and his daughter. Work or not, people would talk and assume they were sleeping together. He didn’t want his daughter to be referred to as a floosy. His words, and she had to hold back a laugh. According to him, all her decisions were wrong.
His opinion mattered more than she wanted to admit, but nothing she did could please the Colonel. His recent retirement had put him in a cantankerous mood. Since she’d decided not to follow in his footsteps and enlist, nothing she did pleased him. She supported the men and women who served, but she didn’t have the stomach for it. She was too reckless and wasn’t brave like them. No matter what he said, this temporary assignment wasn’t a mistake.
“Thank you for your support,” she said, her own sass surprising her.
“Don’t take that tone, young lady. Spending all that time alone with a brigand, is not—”
“He’s not a bad guy.” She was tired of defending a man she barely knew. Her one night with the Smith’s had gone well, and she looked forward to spending more time with them. Living with Cameron and his daughter was part of the job. “I like taking care of kids. This is a career too.”
“For someone who can’t make her mind up about anything, you sure sound determined to do this. Let me remind you, playing hockey is not a profession. Playing house is not a job. Defending your country—”
“Cam makes millions playing in the NHL. You might not think professional athletes contribute to society, but we all play our part. I’m not interested in debating civilian jobs versus the forces again. We have to agree to disagree.” Meagan looked out the window and caught the hockey player and his daughter running around in the backyard. They smiled at each other and looked to be having way more fun than her. She needed fun in her life, and she was glad Mr. Northcote had asked her to help.
“There’s no debate. You will end this assignment. It’s for the best. I’ll speak with Spencer again and we’ll figure something out.”
“No, you won’t. You’re not thinking about what’s best for me at all. This is my job and if you go behind my back, I’ll resent you for it. This is my life.” She was shaking and as close to yelling as she’d ever been. She hated the way he dictated. More than anything, she hated the idea of leaving before she got the chance to know the Smith’s better. “Oh, the timer on the oven went off. I’ll call you next week. I love you. Bye.”
She ended the call before he could say anything more. The happiness she’d experienced before had shrunk into nothingness. His problem wasn’t with Cameron Smith, it was with her. Her father was a stubborn man. Wealth and status didn’t impress him. He believed in hard work and so did she. She’d prove to him and herself that her decision to stay was the right one.
CHAPTER FIVE
M eagan had avoided Cameron for the rest of the night and only made an appearance to help tuck April into the bed. It appeared he wanted to say something, but she never gave him the chance. Her father’s words had struck a chord and rattled her confidence. He had a way of tearing her down without realizing it. Halfway through the night, April woke up with another nightmare. This time Cameron had waved her away when she offered to help. She had tried not to let that bother her, but it had been another rough sleep.
It was a new day, and she was determined to make it a good one. She wore her hockey jersey and jeans since it was a game day. This would be her first time attending with corporate box seats. The one game she attended had been in the nosebleed section with her ex in their senior year. Until recently Mr. Northcote hadn’t wanted his daughters to attend the games, and he never brought them to the arena. Since Caroline married the team captain, he’d changed his mind.
“Good morning,” she said when Cameron walked into the kitchen. His short hair was wet from a shower and his face was freshly shaven. He looked smoking hot in a tailored suit. The buttons on his shirt were only halfway done, revealing his defined pecks. He had the cuffs rolled up, showing off his muscular forearms. She held up the coffeepot, nearly spilling it as she ogled him. “Cof… coffee?”
“Thanks, but not on game days. I’ll make a smoothie before I head out shortly. April’s sleeping in for a change. She had a tough night, and it took her a while to fall back asleep,” he yawned. “You have the passes for the game, right?”
She nodded, unable to form any words. He smiled, flashed those killer dimples and went to work, making his breakfast. He had to know how fantastic his ass looked in dress pants. She watched in awe as he moved with precision and grace.
“Does April wake up every night?” She leaned against the counter, holding her coffee, but not drinking it.
“She was getting better. Down to maybe one a month and then Mom left; now you’re here. She doesn’t handle change well. It’s not your fault so don’t take it personally. I think the nightmares are her way of coping.” He turned on the blender and peeked towards the hall. Waiting to see if he’d woken the lady of the house.
She didn’t wake. He poured the green, mostly plant-based concoction, into a glass. It was clearly packed full of nutrients and looked interesting, but when he offered her a glass, she declined. Coffee was her morning staple.
“Next time she wakes in the middle of the night, I can sit with her until she falls back asleep. That’s why I’m here. To let you rest and help you focus on the game. I don’t mind.”
“That’s above and beyond the call of duty. I wouldn’t expect you to lose sleep.” He chugged his beverage and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand when he was finished.
> Her eyes were fixed on his mouth the entire time. The chemistry between them filled the air like a heavy mist. She felt like it wasn’t one sided, but did it matter? It wasn’t appropriate for her to want him. He’d told her his life was complicated and she was supposed to make things easy not harder. She was there for April, not to find a boyfriend.
“I’m offering because I want to help. You were clear about your expectations. I’m just reminding you you’re not alone.”
“Nice jersey. Who’s on the back?” He stepped towards her and she wished it had Smith written on it. She didn’t move. He gripped her shoulders, turning her around. “Larson. Bloody hell. I’ll leave one of mine at the front for you. Why him?” He turned her towards him and held onto her arms.
Her face heated as did the rest of her with him so close. “He… he saved me from hypothermia and Mr. Northcote gave it to me. I… we hadn’t met yet.”
“Hypothetically, you walk into a store right now; which jersey do you buy?” His eyes locked onto her, and his body caged her against the counter, leaving her nowhere to run.
This method of flirting was far more direct than she was used to. Once she told him, there was no turning back. “Do you really want to know?” She pressed one hand against his bared chest, directly over his heart and she felt hers expand.
“For some reason, yeah, I do. You’re different. In a good way. I’m curious about you and what you like.” He placed his huge hand over hers, rubbing it against his chest.
The act was intimate. “I’m not so different,” she breathed.
“You are. I like the way your cheeks flush when I’m near you and the way you say everything on your mind. I bet you’re shit at keeping secrets. That’s... I fucking love that. Your honesty and innocence are very attractive qualities.” He sucked on his lower lip for a moment. “I shouldn’t be saying any of this.”
“Keep going. I don’t mind. Your talking stops me from talking. Although, if you knew what was in my head, you wouldn’t say I’m innocent.”
He tapped against her temple. His palm rested against her cheek and she resisted the urge to melt into his touch. “What are you thinking?”
For a girl who hated making decisions, she made one in that second. Putting herself out there might be scary, but never knowing would be worse. Lindy told her to embrace every opportunity that came her way and this qualified. Chemistry like that didn’t come along often. “Smith. You… um, asked about whose jersey. Well, I’d march right up to the cashier and buy one of yours.”
Any attraction she had for Joe Larson had vanished. She only had eyes for Cameron Smith. Her boss. Pseudo-boss.
“Good answer.” His lips loomed closer. He hesitated and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, he stepped away, removing his hand from her body and leaving her bereft. “I’m a magnet for complication and you should stay away from me.”
“If I don’t want to?”
“Life is unpredictable and I’m rolling with it. Now, you’re here and there’s something I want to do. I wish I had the time to do it properly because I don’t want to rush it.”
“Rushing… wouldn’t want to do that. Mistakes happen when people move too fast and don’t think things through. Not that I’m saying you’re not thinking properly. Maybe you’re the only one thinking straight. I don’t know what I’m saying. I will stop talking and go wake up your daughter.” Meagan stepped away from the counter. Her steps slow and controlled so she wouldn’t fall over or trip. She glanced over her shoulder and he was watching her. “Yup, walking away now.”
He laughed. The sound spread over her like lotion on a sunburn, soothing the sting of the missed kissed. “I’m admiring the view.”
“Me too,” she said before disappearing down the hall.
April woke up with a smile that faded the instant Cameron said goodbye. The meltdown hadn’t lasted long as Meagan distracted her with blueberry pancakes topped with raspberry puree. They made an enormous mess of the kitchen and had a blast doing it. There was flour and leftover mix all over the counter. The tiny Smith was an excellent sous-chef. Although, she wasn’t much of an eater. A mountain of pancakes remained once they’d finished their meal.
Rather than clean their mess, they went for a quick walk around the block. Cameron’s home was modest compared to the multi-million-dollar homes in his neighborhood. There was a playground at the end of his street, but it was too cold to stay out for long. The March temperatures hadn’t fully welcomed Spring with open arms. Once back in the warmth of the house, they read a book and got ready for the big game.
She was ready to tackle the cleanup when she heard a faint knock on the back door. The sound of the door opening sparked her into motion. April was on the floor, playing with her blocks, oblivious to the company. Meagan rounded the corner to find a woman in her early thirties, closing the door behind herself.
“Hello, can I help you?” She crossed her arms over her chest, in an effort to come across as tough.
“I’m Gail. Mr. Smith’s housekeeper.” She held up her key and smiled brightly. Her blonde hair was curled to perfection and her makeup applied flawlessly; not the appearance of your typical maid. “He told me he had a new nanny. You must be Megun.”
Her mind wandered to the approved guest list and the name Gail rang a bell. “It’s Meagan not Megun, and it’s nice to meet you.” She held out her hand and received a limp shake in return.
The woman shucked her jacket off and waltzed past her, wearing tight blue jeans and an even tighter shirt. She had an exceptional body. Meagan second guessed her decision to have the extra pancakes.
“It didn’t take you long to learn your way around the kitchen?” Her steel blue eyes looked her over from top to bottom. “What a mess.”
“Sorry about that. April helped make breakfast, and we got carried away. I’ll help.” She raced towards the sink and filled it with soap and water as Gail collected the plates from the table. April waved and continued playing. “Have you worked for Cameron long?”
Gail snickered. “Already on a first name basis. Sure doesn’t take him long.” She placed the dirty dishes next to her and grabbed a sponge to clean the counters.
“What do you mean? Doesn’t everyone call him by his first name?” She turned off the water.
“I’m not implying anything. Relax. It’s… he has a habit of um, how shall I phrase it,” she whispered the last part, not wanting little ears to overhear. “Getting friendly with his staff. A personal approach some might say.” She winked and scrubbed the counter, shaking her size-one ass in the process.
“Have you and he… you know?” Meagan couldn’t finish her sentence. Her blood ran cold. If he got friendly with women like Gail, there’s no way he’d be interested in her. They were like two different species. Light and lithe versus dark and solid. They were built differently, and men didn’t typically alter their tastes to those extremes.
It was possible she’d misread the signs and the flirting. She felt sick to her stomach and gripped the edge of the sink for support. Why had she asked? She didn’t want to hear about it.
Gail tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Wouldn’t that be fun? Have you seen his hands? They are enormous.” She wiggled her over-plucked eyebrows. “I’ve been told, he knows how to work with them,” she added with a giggle.
“It’s none of my business; I don’t—”
“I can’t speak from personal experience. He dated my best friend. So, huge cock or not, I’m not interested in her seconds. I’ve heard great things about him from every single one of his hired help. They all fall madly in love with him until he fires them. Sex complicates things, and he doesn’t like complicated. He’s got enough of that around him.” Her eyes moved over to April. “The only reason I’ve lasted this long is because I won’t sleep with him. If you like your job, you might want to keep your distance.”
Cameron Smith was a playboy. That didn’t fit the persona of the man she’d met, but she’d only known him a short while. In th
at amount of time they’d almost kissed. Twice.
“Are you spreading rumors or did you talk to these women? I mean, it makes little sense. He’s—”
“A hockey player and sexy as fuck. Yeah, I get that. He’s also a single dad who is on house arrest like ninety percent of the time. He’s young and saddled with a kid.”
“Quiet. April’s right over there. That’s not something she should hear. Maybe they were fired for other reasons.”
Gail stopped cleaning and faced her. “Think about it. Cam hasn’t dated since his mom left town weeks ago. He’s in his sexual prime. So, a quick and easy fix is to hire young women who will do anything he wants. Once he gets his fill, he moves onto the next.”
Meagan stood there with her mouth open. She didn’t want to believe she wasn’t special. His touches and words were a ruse to get between her legs. She’d foolishly bought into all of it. ‘I’d buy your jersey’ she’d told him. He could probably smell her arousal like a shark.
“I’m not saying he’ll do that with you.” Gail’s eyes surveyed Meagan’s hips. “I shouldn’t even be saying any of it because it’s truly none of my business. Four times a week, I come here to clean. I’ve stayed clear of the drama and I plan to keep it that way. Who he fucks is not my concern, but you’re so young. I’d feel bad if I didn’t at least give you the facts. If you get the chance and decide to jump his bones, you’ll know the score.” She shrugged her shoulders and returned to the counters.
Her fingers were wrinkled as she finished cleaning the mixing bowl and placed it on the drying rack.
“Thanks for the heads up. It was a pleasure meeting you. I’m certain our paths will cross again. I’ll be here for a few weeks. Enjoy your day. April and I should get going.”
“Have fun at the game,” she said loud enough to catch April’s attention.
“Is it finally time to go?”
She nodded and took the girl’s hand, leading them towards the coats. She would fulfil her obligations to watch over April and find a permanent caregiver. Her duties ended there. The attraction and chemistry didn’t matter. No matter what signals or moves he put out there, she no longer had any intention of pursuing Cameron Smith.
