Mari wasn’t sure what she was really asking. “Uh, fine. Harper was excited to see him, and he’s been really sweet with her.”
London nodded. “Good.” She paused a moment. “My flight is early in the morning, but I’ll FaceTime Harper each night before she goes to bed. I’ll be eight hours ahead of you, but I’ll do my best to make it work.”
“She’ll love that.”
A wistful expression came over London’s face. “I will too. She’s my world, you know.”
Mari knew that. She’d seen how hands-on London was with Harper, how close the two of them were. “I know.”
“All right. Take care and I’ll talk to you soon.”
Mari put the phone away and helped Harper finish getting ready for bed. A few minutes later there was a knock on Harper’s bedroom door.
Harper raced to the door and flung it open. “Daddy!”
He swept her into his arms. “I came to tuck you in.”
Harper threw her arms around his neck and snuggled against him.
Mari smiled in approval, then said, “Good-night, Princess Pink Rose. I’ll be in my room if you need me.”
“Good-night, Mari.”
She walked out of Harper’s room and went to hers, wondering if Hank still wanted to talk to her.
When a knock sounded on her door ten minutes later, she had her answer.
Inhaling deeply, Mari crossed the room, then slowly exhaled before opening the door to find Hank standing on the other side. Every time she saw him, she was drawn to him. He was more handsome in person than he was in his online pictures, and after seeing him with Harper, how sweet he was with her, Mari knew she could easily become smitten. Not something she wanted to happen. Not with him being London’s ex-husband. Mari had really grown to like and respect London and she didn’t want to do something that would damage the relationship she had with her. Especially if that would mean losing her job.
Controlling her heart was critical.
Mari waited for Hank to say something, but he just stood in her doorway, quietly appraising her, and she wondered what he was thinking.
If Mari wasn’t Harper’s nanny, Hank would have liked to go out with her. Too bad she was off-limits.
Trying to get a read on her, he studied her face. As a running back for the Sacramento Vipers, he’d gotten pretty good at reading the other players’ body language, and as he looked at the way Mari held herself so stiff while she chewed on her lower lip, the only emotion he read was nervousness. What was she nervous about? Was she worried about the conversation they were about to have? He didn’t plan to interrogate her. At least not too harshly.
“I’d like to give you a tour of the house.” Maybe that would put her at ease before they sat down for a chat.
“Okay.”
He swept his arm toward the hallway and she walked out of her room. There was that fresh, floral scent again. What was it? He had no idea, but he liked it.
“Besides your room and Harper’s, there’s another guest bedroom up here, and my room is at the other end of the hall.”
She nodded.
He gestured toward the stairs, then followed her down to the cozy sitting area where the stairs ended. He showed her where his office was as well as a small home gym.
“You’re welcome to use the gym,” he said, wanting her to feel at home.
“Thanks.”
Then he led her into the large family room, which was open to the kitchen and a less formal dining area. “Don’t hesitate to get what you need from the kitchen.”
As the tour progressed, Mari seemed to relax.
“Let’s go out back,” Hank said before flipping a switch. The backyard lit up and Hank walked out the door and toward the pool. “As you probably know, Harper is a good little swimmer, but we still need to be careful around the pool.”
“Of course.”
He looked toward a large grassy area and pointed out a play set. “She loves to play out here.”
Mari nodded.
“That building over there is a game room. Not much Harper would want to do in there.” He smiled at her. “That’s the basic tour. Feel free to explore while you’re here.” He turned toward the house, then faced her. “Let’s have that talk now.” Mari immediately tensed up, but Hank ignored that and led the way to a covered sitting area.
Chapter Six
The distraction of the tour had calmed Mari’s nerves, but now Hank’s attention would be focused completely on her. The man was hot beyond belief and Mari couldn’t deny her growing attraction, but if she wanted to keep this job, she would have to.
Mari walked with Hank to an inviting sitting area. It was near where they’d had dinner and she remembered the way he’d abruptly ended their conversation when she’d asked him about his education. Was he sensitive about that? She knew he’d been drafted into the NFL while he was just a college sophomore, that he hadn’t completed his degree. That was nothing to be embarrassed about. Even if a job in a silly game like football was what had stopped his forward momentum.
They sat in adjacent chairs and she braced herself for his questions.
“How are you settling in?” he asked.
Reminding herself that this wasn’t a date, that it was more like a job interview—something she could handle—her confidence grew. “It’s beautiful here, and I can tell Harper’s happy.”
A slow smile lifted his lips. “That’s not what I asked you.”
The sexy way he smiled made this job interview feel much more personal. “I’m settling in fine, and once I get more familiar with everything, I’m sure I’ll feel right at home.” Hank’s eyes were steady on her, making the butterflies in her belly come to life.
She needed to turn her mind away from thinking about how hot he was, how sweet he was with Harper, how much she was attracted to him…
Enough. Focus.
“Earlier,” he began, “we started to talk about your qualifications. You said you have an art history degree. That’s completely unrelated to taking care of children, so what led you to become a nanny?”
This was better. Focus on the job. Only the job. Not on how hot Harper’s father was. Focus!
Mari tossed her hair over her shoulder as she desperately turned her mind to the question he’d asked. “It was kind of a fluke, actually. I’d finished school and was looking for a job when my father, who’s an attorney, told me one of his clients was looking to hire a nanny. He suggested I apply, and since I’ve always loved children I thought it was a great idea.” She shrugged. “She was the mother of the twin boys.”
As Mari spoke, Hank tried not to get distracted by the fullness of her lips, or the way her eyebrows lifted when she was emphasizing a point. But it was difficult, and out of the blue he wondered what it would feel like to have those lips pressed against his.
No! No no no! Stop that line of thinking right now. She is your daughter’s nanny. Not some groupie looking to get close to you. She’ll be living under the same roof as you. Show a little mental restraint.
“…to embarrass you.”
He’d completely missed what she’d said, and he couldn’t begin to guess what she was talking about. Scrambling, he said, “Embarrass me?”
“Yeah. When I asked about your education.”
Oh. At dinner. Right. “You didn’t embarrass me.” Well, maybe she had a little, but he wasn’t about to admit that.
Those shapely eyebrows rose. “Okay.” Now those lovely lips tilted into a smile. “I just…when you abruptly ended the conversation…I just thought…”
He shook his head, not only to deny her point, but also to clear his mind from the distraction of her beauty. “No. I thought it would be better to have this discussion in private.” There were other things he would like to do with her in private, but he shoved those inappropriate thoughts aside.
She nodded, then she tucked her hair behind her ear. She missed a few strands and Hank had to resist the urge to reach out and tuck those tawny strands behind he
r ear as well.
He needed to get this conversation back on track.
“Tell me, Mari. Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Her forehead creased and she bit her lip. Had she never thought about her future? His life had been centered on football—even as a kid he’d been shooting for a spot in the NFL. Then again, not everyone was as hyper-focused as he was.
“No idea?” he asked. Or maybe her future had nothing to do with being a nanny and she didn’t want to admit that.
A soft blush rose on her cheeks, giving her skin a lovely glow, and Hank’s fingers itched to trace the smooth skin along her jaw.
Get a grip and think about the question you asked her.
He waited for her reply, wondering what was going on in that head of hers.
Mari knew exactly where she wanted to be in five years—painting all day, displaying her works in galleries, earning a living from her art. Did she want to admit that? It was one thing to say she loved to paint, that she had a passion for it. But to tell Hank—a man who’d achieved so much, a man she’d just met—that she thought people would actually pay for her work, that she had the talent to paint for a living…. She wasn’t sure she was ready to admit that.
Then again, she didn’t want to pretend like she had no ambition because that wasn’t true at all.
“Come on, Mari,” he said. “You must have an idea.”
The way he goaded her made her pride kick in. Her work was good enough. If she didn’t believe it, who would?
“I know exactly where I want to be in five years.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Okay. Let’s hear it.”
Gathering her courage, she pursed her lips. “In five years I hope to see my paintings hanging in art galleries.”
Hank’s head tilted. “You paint, huh?”
Pleased by his interest, Mari smiled. “Yes. I’ve been teaching Harper how to paint and she’s been loving it.”
“Really? I’d love to see her paintings.” He grinned. “Yours too.”
Her cheeks heated. Not sure she was ready to show her work to him, she hedged. “I don’t have anything with me, but once Harper puts brush to canvas, I’m sure she’d love to show off her work to you.”
His green-eyed gaze was steady on her, making her shift in her seat. “What about your work?”
“I guess so.” And maybe she actually would show him. Once she’d completed something. Now that they were talking about painting, it was a good time to address a concern she had. “Do you have a bright space where Harper and I could set up our art studio?” During the tour she hadn’t seen any particular place that had the kind of space and light she had hoped for.
“Art studio?”
Why did he make it sound silly? Football was silly. Art was not. “Yes. A place where we can paint. We need lots of light.”
“Okay. I’m sure we can figure something out.”
She appreciated his willingness to accommodate her. Especially since he didn’t seem to understand how serious she was about her work. “Thank you.”
Hank had never been into art. Sports were his passion, particularly football. But he understood passion, and Mari obviously had it for painting. He liked that. He also liked that she was teaching Harper. Another star in her column. In fact, all he’d given her were stars. He hadn’t found anything about her he didn’t like and his confidence in her ability to care for Harper had grown. As had his attraction to her.
She kept her gaze on him, waiting for him to ask more questions. But he’d heard enough. His gut told him she was the right person for the job. And Harper clearly adored her. Which is why he had to keep their relationship strictly professional. If London got wind that he had a thing for the nanny, he was sure she’d fire her. He didn’t want that. Not for Harper, not for Mari. And truth be told, not for himself.
“Thank you for meeting with me, Mari.”
“Are we done?”
The look of surprise on her face made him smile. “Yep. Unless you had questions for me.”
“Uh, no. I don’t think so. But if I think of any…”
“Yeah. Feel free to ask.” He paused, then said, “I leave by six-thirty most mornings, and I get home anywhere from four o’clock to seven. And I’m gone nearly every day.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Wow. You work a lot.”
“Contrary to what people think, playing professional football is time-intensive.”
“What do you do all day?”
Her interest seemed genuine, which pleased him. “Meetings to go over game plans, workouts, more meetings, more workouts, practices.” One side of his mouth quirked up. “It never ends.”
“Well, I’m sure Harper and I will find plenty to do.”
“Good. And Mrs. Stillman will be around if you need anything.”
The most important thing was that Harper was happy and well taken care of, but to Hank’s surprise, it had become important to him that Mari enjoyed her stay at his house.
He stood, and she did as well. That floral scent drifted off of her and straight into his senses, slightly intoxicating him. Trying to be subtle as he inhaled, he paused a moment before saying, “It was good talking to you, Mari. I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
And for the first time in a long time, he knew he’d be eager to come home after a long day of football.
Chapter Seven
“Higher,” Harper squealed as Mari pushed her on the swing in Hank’s backyard. It was early afternoon, and after a busy morning playing with dolls, it felt good to be outside. The September day was getting warm, and Mari was about ready to suggest they go for a swim.
Pushing Harper in the swing, Mari let her mind wander to Hank and their conversation the night before. Though it had started as all business, when it had veered into more personal things, Mari had surprised herself with the way she’d opened up to him, exposing her innermost desire. What had made her do that? Had she been trying to impress him? Had she felt a need to show there was more to her than being Harper’s nanny? Why did she care what he thought anyway?
And why was she spending so much time analyzing her feelings for him?
“I’m hot,” Harper said. “Can we go in the pool?”
“Yes. I think that’s a fabulous idea.”
She helped Harper out of the swing, and fifteen minutes later they were changed into their suits, slathered with sunscreen, and climbing into the cool, clear water.
With floaties on her arms, Harper swam with confidence, but Mari stayed right beside her.
“Doesn’t this feel wonderful?” Mari asked as she treaded water.
“I like it,” Harper said with a big smile.
“Me too.”
London had an enormous pool, which they used quite a bit, but Mari liked the intimate feel of Hank’s pool. It was still plenty big, but with the trees around the edges of the tiled area it felt cozy.
If only Hank were here it would be even better.
The thought took Mari by surprise, but it shouldn’t have. He’d been on her mind all day.
“Does your daddy like to swim?” she asked Harper.
“I don’t know.” Harper kicked her feet as she swam, splashing water in all directions.
“Don’t you swim with him when you come?”
“Yes.”
Holding back a laugh, Mari tickled Harper’s feet. “Then he probably likes it.”
Harper giggled.
“Maybe he’ll come swimming with us sometime,” Mari murmured, imagining how he looked in his swim trunks—six-pack abs, powerful biceps, sculpted chest. Yes, that would be fun.
Then she remembered him telling her he wouldn’t be home until seven. And after a twelve-hour day he would undoubtedly be tired. Especially with all the physical demands his workouts and practices surely required.
And going over all the new plays? That would be mentally exhausting as well.
Maybe football wasn’t as silly as she’d always believed.
Hank
pulled into his driveway, sore and exhausted, but when an image of Harper—and Mari—filled his mind, his energy renewed. He went inside, and when he heard laughter coming from the sitting room, his heart warmed. Smiling, he strode into the sitting room where he found Mari and Harper sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table, a board game between them.
“That looks like fun,” he said.
“Daddy!” Harper said when she saw him, leaping to her feet and flinging herself at him.
He swung her into his arms and snuggled her against him, then his eyes cut to Mari, who was watching him with a soft smile. He almost hated to admit how many times she had popped into his head that day—more than Simone had. That wasn’t good. But knowing it wasn’t good didn’t change the fact that it had happened. Repeatedly.
Forcing his mind away from the intriguing and beautiful nanny, Hank turned his attention to Harper. He set her down. “What did you do today, little miss Princess Pink Rose?”
She giggled. “I played on the swing and there was a bee, but it didn’t sting me.”
He smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“We swimmed in the pool and the bee didn’t come. And now we’re playing Candy Land. Wanna play too?”
An image of Mari in a revealing bikini jumped into his mind, and without meaning to, he looked at her again.
“Yes,” she said. “Join us.”
At that moment, there was nothing he wanted more. “Give me a few minutes and then I’ll join your next game.”
“Yay!” Harper squealed.
Ten minutes later he was sitting beside Harper on the floor in front of the coffee table, Mari across from them.
“You be the blue guy,” Harper said as she placed his game piece at the beginning of the colorful path on the game board.
“Who goes first?”
Her face lit up. “You do!”
Chuckling, he asked, “How do I play?”
Harper tilted her head like she couldn’t believe he didn’t know this, and Hank glanced at Mari, who was clearly suppressing a laugh.
Blindsided (Fair Catch Series, Book Three) Page 3
