She turned back to him and grinned. “It’s Bailey approved. Chocolate cupcake and confetti frosting.”
“Yum.” He actually wasn’t so sure about the confetti. He figured it was too rich for his taste.
“Taste.” Bailey held out a finger for him to lick, but it was a wet finger that had been in her mouth numerous times. “Umm, I think I’ll take a pass.”
Mia chuckled. She picked a clean part of the bowl that Bailey hadn’t yet tackled and swiped her finger into the batter. She slid it into her mouth and moaned in delight, inadvertently meeting Austin’s gaze as her lips cupped the frosting-coated finger.
His cock twitched at the sexy sound that escaped her lips, not to mention the visual of her sucking off her finger, something she’d yet to do to him. He was grateful the counter between them blocked his firm package from being noticed. Her gaze locked on his, sudden awareness in the mossy depths. He wanted nothing more than to say to hell with what was for the best and drag her off to his bedroom so she could suck on his cock the same way.
“Isn’t it good?” Bailey asked Mia.
She jerked her stare away from Austin and he swallowed a rough cough.
“I think your friends are going to love the cupcakes,” Mia said in a husky voice. “Let me set a timer.” She turned away to focus on her task but the awareness between them remained.
* * *
After dropping the cupcakes off at Bailey’s school, Mia returned home to a blue car turning into the driveway. Since it was blocking her ability to pull into the garage, she parked on the street and exited the vehicle, walking toward the car.
A man climbed out of the driver’s side and met her halfway down the drive. “Mia Atwood?” he asked.
She didn’t recognize him at all, which made her nervous, especially after what had happened at the grocery store.
“You’ve been served,” he said, handing her the manila envelope she hadn’t noticed was in his hand.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Information’s inside. Have a good day.”
“But—”
He didn’t wait for her to speak, merely returned to his car, climbed in, and turned on the ignition. She stepped aside so he could pull out of the driveway, turning her attention to the ominous-looking envelope.
Could this have to do with Austin’s custody case? She opened the folded flap and pulled out the blue-backed page, scanning the contents, a sickening feeling settling in the pit of her stomach with every word she read.
The State of New York versus Parker Alexander. Retrial for embezzlement among other crimes. She swallowed hard, nausea filling her. She didn’t understand, thought her ex-employer was in jail. She flipped the envelope in her hand and a business card fell out. A glance told her it was the same district attorney she’d dealt with during the last trial.
She headed inside, glad Austin was at his weekly meeting in the office. She didn’t need him to see her shaken up before she had all the details.
A quick call to Kate Collins, the district attorney, answered her questions and she didn’t like what she learned. Parker had been released from jail when his conviction was overturned due to a technicality the DA didn’t bother to explain and Mia really didn’t care why. The end result was the same. He was out and the state was retrying him. Because she’d moved to Connecticut and there had been no reason for her to leave a forwarding address, as the case had been concluded, it had taken Kate time to find Mia and let her know she’d be needed at another trial.
She was not happy.
She didn’t want her life, her job, or Austin and Bailey’s life disrupted by her having to go to New York to testify.
She sighed and was about to head to her room when the home telephone rang. She answered. “Rhodes residence.”
“Hello, is Mr. Rhodes home?” an efficient female voice asked.
“No, can I take a message?” Mia tucked the phone between her ear and shoulder and grabbed a piece of paper and pen.
“It’s the Lakewood Elementary school.”
“This is Mia Atwood, Bailey’s nanny. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, Ms. Atwood. I see you’re on the approved list to pick up Bailey. We seem to have an issue. There’s a woman here claiming to be Bailey’s mother and she’s insisting she see her daughter. She wants to remove her from the premises but she’s not on our list.”
“No, she isn’t. I’ll call Mr. Rhodes immediately. Please don’t let her anywhere near Bailey,” Mia said. “I’ll come by myself to pick her up when school is over.”
“The problem is, the children were in the hallway walking to the gym and Bailey saw Ms. Gibson. We took Bailey away and brought her to the nurse’s office but Ms. Gibson is still here and making a scene,” the other woman explained, sounding upset now that she’d gotten into the details.
Mia’s stomach flipped over. “I’ll call Mr. Rhodes immediately. Please don’t let her near Bailey,” she repeated urgently.
Mia hung up the phone, grabbed her cell phone in one hand and her keys in another. She set the house alarm and called Austin’s cell phone as she ran for the car, which she’d left in the street, thinking only of getting to the school and to Bailey as quickly as possible.
He picked up on the second ring. “Mia? What’s wrong?” he asked, probably because she never called him unless Bailey was sick.
“Your ex is at Bailey’s school.” She detailed the rest of the situation. “I’m heading over now.”
Austin swore. “Okay, I’ll meet you there. I’m already on my way home, so it shouldn’t take long. You know what to do. Keep her away from my baby.”
Mia swallowed hard. She knew. “You got it,” she promised as she reached her car.
The school wasn’t far from the house and Mia reached it in record time, bypassing yellow lights that turned red as she drove past.
Mia arrived at the school, stopping at the main office to sign in. She didn’t see Kayla and she didn’t ask where she was. “Where’s Bailey? Is she still at the nurse’s office?”
The gray-haired woman behind the desk in the office nodded. “I thought it would be best to put her someplace where she couldn’t see her mother since what she said seemed to upset her so much.”
Mia swallowed hard. “Where is it?”
“Down the hall to the left,” the other woman said.
Mia ran, slowing when she reached the nurse’s office, not wanting to freak Bailey out. She stepped into the room and smiled at the school nurse. “I’m here for Bailey?”
“Mia!” The little girl flew out from a side room and wrapped her arms around Mia, holding on tight.
“Hey, baby.” Mia glanced over her head to meet the nurse’s kind gaze. “Is she okay?”
“A little shaken up. She stopped crying when I gave her juice and a book to read so she’d put the incident out of her mind. I just thought it was best she went home early to her family.”
Mia stroked the child’s head. “Her father will be with her in a little while,” she assured the nurse. “Ready to go home?”
Bailey nodded against her.
“Do you need to get anything from your classroom first?”
“No.” She stepped back and glanced up at Mia. Tears stained her cheeks and Mia’s heart squeezed tight in her chest.
Unfortunately, to leave the school, they had to walk past the main office. If luck held, they wouldn’t run into Kayla. Mia led Bailey down the hall and turned toward the office. She immediately caught sight of Austin, having his say with the principal and the office staff, no doubt making it clear Kayla was not allowed anywhere near his child and only Austin, Mia, and Austin’s parents were allowed into the school or to pick up Bailey.
“Daddy!”
Austin turned and Bailey ran into his open arms. He picked her up and held her tight against him. “Do we have an understanding?” he asked Principal Shay, a middle-aged man with a good reputation among teachers and parents.
“Of course. And we have your
instructions in writing. Don’t worry.”
Austin nodded. He glanced at Mia. “I’m getting a restraining order,” he muttered. “Are we ready to go?”
She nodded. “I’ll meet you and Bailey at home.”
“I want to ride with Mia.” Bailey wriggled to get down from her father’s arms.
“Honey, no. I’m sure your dad wants to talk to you.”
“It’s fine,” Austin said, an unreadable glint in his eye. But she didn’t get the sense he was unhappy about his daughter’s proclamation.
Mia made sure Bailey was buckled into her car seat and they headed home. The adrenaline of her day was beginning to wear off and she was exhausted. She hoped Bailey would be in a let’s-just-chill-and-watch-a-movie mood. All Mia wanted to do was relax.
But when they arrived at the house, the burglar alarm was going off and the police were parked out front. Obviously their day wasn’t over yet.
Chapter Seven
Austin stood in the kitchen, talking to the police detective who’d arrived along with the uniformed officers when the alarm company hadn’t reached anyone at the house. According to the detective, someone had entered through the back door off the kitchen. They’d already done a sweep and the house was clear and safe. Whoever had broken in was gone. They’d shattered the window on the kitchen back door and unlocked it from the inside. The police had had a team come in and check the knob for prints. Everyone agreed the perp had probably worn gloves.
Obviously the alarm had scared them off but had it been before they’d taken anything? He’d done a quick walk through the house. No electronics, televisions, computers, or anything worth money appeared to have been stolen.
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and glanced at Bailey and Mia from the window over the kitchen sink. Mia had taken her to the swing set to keep her away from the adult talk and chaos inside.
Austin had filled the police in on the custody issue he was having with his ex-wife, although breaking and entering didn’t strike him as her MO. She had nothing to gain and everything to lose by taking such an extreme step or persuading someone to help her.
Austin had a call in to his parents and they were on their way to pick up Bailey. He wanted her out of here for the night—or longer. He didn’t know what was going on but he didn’t like it and he didn’t want his daughter at risk.
“You’re sure I can let my daughter inside?” he asked the officer who was writing up a report.
“Yes. We checked closets, the basement, and every room in the house. We just have a man going through room by room to see if we missed anything.”
Austin opened the window, avoiding the broken glass on the door. “Mia!” he called and waved to her to bring Bailey inside. “Come in through the garage!”
She flashed him a thumbs-up gesture. A few seconds later, they joined him in the kitchen. “Can you take Bailey upstairs to pack? She’s going to have a sleepover at her grandparents’.” He ruffled his daughter’s hair.
Mia nodded in understanding.
“Really??” Bailey asked, obviously surprised.
“They miss you. Let’s call it a special occasion,” he said to her, forcing an easy smile he didn’t feel.
“Okay, Daddy.” She unhooked her backpack from her shoulders, where she’d slung it to come inside, and placed it on the kitchen table.
Austin caught sight of an unfamiliar manila envelope on the counter. “What’s this?”
“Oh my God.” The color drained from Mia’s face. “With all the excitement of what happened at school and then the break-in, I completely forgot! Shit.” She winced, glancing at Bailey. “I was subpoenaed to testify at a retrial for my old boss.”
“I thought he was in jail?” The hair on the back of Austin’s neck began to prickle uncomfortably.
“Apparently he got off on a technicality and it took the DA a while to find me since I moved out of state.”
“Mia, do you think he has anything to do with the guy who approached you at the supermarket? Or this?” He gestured to the still-broken glass by the back door.
“I… The supermarket definitely. Threats are something he’d do. A break-in?” She shook her head. “He’s done nothing like that in my past experience.”
“Detective?” A uniformed officer walked out from the hallway where Mia’s room was. “I found this on the bed in the extra room down here.” He held up a white paper with typing on it.
The detective accepted the sheet. “‘Mind your own business,’” he read out loud.
Austin shot Mia a knowing look. “Still so convinced?” he asked her.
“Oh my God. I’m sorry. I mean, I had no idea there even was a retrial until today. I’ll pack. I’ll go. I would never put you or Bailey in any danger. I’m so sorry.” She started for her room but Austin stopped her, grabbing her arm. “Whoa. Slow down. You’re not going anywhere.”
Panic had rushed through him at her words. She wasn’t leaving when she was in trouble. Guarding against it was his specialty and he’d already arranged for Bailey to be away from things for a while. School could wait. She was only six, after all. If she was going to turn to anyone, it would be him.
“But—”
“Please go help Bailey pack. I’ll fill the detective in on your situation and you can answer any questions when you’re finished. Okay?” He glanced at the other man, not wanting to step on toes.
“Fine. Make it quick,” he said to Mia, his gaze softening when he glanced at Bailey.
Austin began to explain Mia’s previous employer’s trial, conviction, and subsequent release, and while he was doing so, his parents arrived. It took a few minutes to calm his mother down and reassure her the break-in was under control and everyone was safe and would remain so.
Austin’s dad stepped up and ushered Bailey and his wife out of the house. Austin kissed his daughter good-bye and promised to video chat with her later. He and Mia finished up with the police, and they said they would let Austin know about anything new they found out.
Finally, the cops were gone, Bailey was safely with his parents, and Mia and Austin were alone.
He walked up to her and grasped both hands in his. “Do you really think I’d let you go through this alone?”
“I think you’d put your daughter first and you should.”
“And I did. She’s safe with my parents. Now I’m going to take care of you.”
She met his gaze, gratitude and something more shining in their depths. “Thank you—”
He pulled her close, cutting her off by sealing his lips over hers. He kissed her hard, wanting her to understand that she was a priority, as much as he didn’t want to admit that to himself. He didn’t want anything to happen to her and not because being a protector was ingrained in his veins. No, it was because this was Mia and she’d gotten under his skin.
“What am I going to do?” she asked.
“You mean what are we going to do?” he corrected her. “First, I’m going to clean up the mess and board the window. We’ll spend the night here, and first thing tomorrow, we’ll get on the road.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Where are we going?”
“The papers say you don’t testify for another week or two. We have time. And I have a cabin upstate. We’re going to get away from everything for a few days while I think and formulate a plan to deal with both my ex-wife and your former employer.”
“Okay.”
“And Mia?”
“Yes?”
His gaze fell on hers. “I plan to pick up where we left off a month ago. I still want you.”
And he meant to have her. They’d have the opportunity to distract each other and forget about their problems… if only for a little while.
* * *
Mia had mixed feelings about going away with Austin. Of course, she was looking forward to being alone with him, and yes, excited awareness rippled through her veins, but she couldn’t forget the reason for this trip. It wasn’t just about sex; that was the bonus
. This excursion was because someone was serious about preventing her from testifying. Serious enough to break into his house, and she felt guilty about bringing trouble to his doorstep and separating him from his daughter.
But after his earlier declaration, I still want you, she’d decided to leave her fear behind and savor the time they spent together. She wouldn’t overthink things and she definitely wouldn’t let herself dwell on the pesky feelings and emotions that could mess up the good thing she had going with him.
There were no heavy expectations and she told herself it worked for her. And it did, as long as she didn’t let herself think about all his finer qualities. Like his protectiveness when it came to his daughter and how he’d transferred it to Mia. He could have sent her packing when he realized she was bringing trouble to his doorstep. Instead he’d stepped up and taken charge of her safety. It was hard not to fall for a guy like that… but falling wasn’t an option. It wasn’t what they’d tacitly agreed to. An affair was all this was, all it could be.
And she intended to enjoy until the real world intruded once again.
She packed and met him out at the SUV parked on the driveway. He wore a pair of jeans and a cream-colored sweater, looking sexy with a pair of aviators covering his eyes.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes.” She gestured to the carry-on-sized suitcase she’d packed, trying to be practical and not overdo it with too many choices. It wasn’t like they were going out to fancy restaurants. They were staying in and she’d chosen accordingly.
He loaded the trunk with their bags and they got on the road. The trip passed in comfortable silence, the discussion mostly about music and other things they liked… and didn’t like.
They stopped at a grocery store not far from the cabin and she insisted on food she could prepare for them. Cooking relaxed her and she liked taking care of people. He’d gone on about the fireplace he loved at the cabin, and so she added some fun things to the grocery list, hoping he liked her idea later.
Throughout the morning, they were just two people enjoying each other’s company. Of course, that was on the surface. Right below was a simmering awareness that she couldn’t deny. He’d pushed up the arms of his sweater and her gaze settled on his muscular forearms with a sprinkling of dark hair. Those arms were sexy. The man himself was delicious and she wanted to get her hands on him again. They’d just had that one time together and nothing since except in her daydreams and at night when her subconscious took over and let her imagine him sneaking into her room and taking her hard and fast, slowly and sensually, and many other ways.
Tempt Me Page 9
