by Ripley, Meg
Her face softened, and her brow wrinkled ever so slightly. “Poor sweet thing. You know, stuttering is often exacerbated by anxiety. He might be having a hard time communicating with the temps because he doesn’t know them very well. Andy needs to know that nobody’s rushing him or judging him.”
Cameron nodded slowly and pursed his lips, remembering that Welda had said something similar. “I have to be honest, Samantha. I know I shouldn’t be sitting here in a bar interviewing a nanny for my son. It’s just silly. But I have a really good feeling about you. I’d like to hire you.” There was no telling what Welda might’ve said if she could see him practically hiring a girl off the sidewalk to come take care of his son, but he didn’t care. At the very least, giving Samantha a shot and having her around for awhile would be better than running through various nannies from the agency. Jane had vouched for her, and that was good enough for him.
“Are you sure?” She leaned a little further forward, her eyes probing.
This surprised him. “I thought you wanted the job.”
“I do, but I don’t want you to rush into anything. Andy deserves the absolute best, the person who’s truly right for him. I appreciate the job offer, but I also understand that you don’t really know me. I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing anything you’re not comfortable with.” Her smile now was a nervous one.
But those few sentences told Cameron everything he needed to know about her. Samantha cared more about a child she’d never met than she cared about a job that could mean the difference in how well she did out there in Beverly Hills. The job market was a competitive one, and as soon as he put an ad in the paper, his phone would be ringing off the hook. It was time to just be open with her, since that was what his body had been demanding he do for the last few minutes. “Look, I’m sure there are several people out there looking for this type of position who would do well with Andy. The trouble is going to be finding them and sorting them out from everyone else. I think it’s better to see how the two of you do together than to risk waiting for another person to come along that I feel comfortable with.”
She fingered the napkin under her drink and shook her head, her golden curls tumbling around her face.
“What is it?”
“I just wish more parents cared as much about their children as you obviously do for Andy. It sounds crazy, I know, but so many of them are more interested in their own lives and their own agendas than what’s best for the kids. I’ve seen it so many times, and it always breaks my heart.” Her gaze was distant, and she must have been remembering her former students. “I come to think of them as my own, but at the end of the day, I have to send them home. It’s hard.”
“If things work out, it might not be like that anymore.” Cameron instinctively reached across the table and laid his hand on hers in a gesture that was meant to be reassuring. As soon as his skin touched hers, he realized he’d made a mistake. Something like a spark traveled up his arm and down his spine, and he shuddered as he felt several scales erupt from the skin between his shoulder blades.
“Oh!” Samantha yanked her hands off the table and stared at him in surprise. Her eyes were wide.
“What’s wrong?” Cameron ran his tongue over his teeth to see if they had sharpened into fangs, but they felt normal.
She looked down at her hand as though she’d find evidence of his touch on her skin. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s just a weird night. Here.” Cameron reached inside his jacket pocket and produced a business card and a pen. “I’ll put my address and my personal number on the back. I’ll be home tomorrow around six. You can come over and meet Andy. We’ll have some dinner and spend some time getting to know each other, and you can get settled in.” It felt better to get back to business instead of focusing on whatever it was that had happened between them.
She took the card, glanced over it, and tucked it in her purse. “Great. Thank you.”
Cameron was saved from having to coordinate an exit by Jane, who trotted over with an excited look in her eyes. “Sorry to interrupt!”
“It’s okay. We just finished up.”
“Great! Samantha, you’ve got to come with me. Annie Lennox just showed up. She’s not in town very often, but she’s a real kick to hang out with. Come on!” Jane grabbed her friend by the hand and dragged her away as Samantha gave a polite wave.
Cameron once again watched her go before picking up his drink and returning to Blane, who looked like he was about to fall asleep on the table.
“How did it go?” Blane asked. “She seems more normal than my sister, at least.”
“That might depend on your definition of normal.” Cameron’s eyes were scanning the crowd, hoping to catch another glimpse of her, even though he was guaranteed to see her the next evening. Samantha definitely wasn’t “normal,” but Cameron couldn’t quite put his finger on why. Maybe that was what intrigued him about her so much; he just couldn’t figure her out. “But she’s hired.”
“That was quick.” Blane glanced at him out of the corner of his eye as he signaled to a waitress for another drink.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures.” And maybe he was just completely insane, or maybe he’d been single for far too long. Either way, he truly did have a good feeling about her. Cameron just hoped he was right.
Chapter Four
Jane’s house was amazing. Massive modern paintings hung on every wall, a brilliant contrast to the white carpet and the black leather furniture. She had every commodity a person could want, and the bedroom she’d given Samantha to use was as big as the entire first floor of the house Samantha had just moved out of.
But as much as she knew she should be enjoying living in the lap of luxury, Samantha couldn’t stop thinking about Cameron and the little boy she would be meeting that evening. Jane was sleeping in and there wasn’t much to do to keep her occupied, which wasn’t helping. Cameron seemed like a truly great guy, not like she would’ve imagined a Hollywood producer to be. Jane had introduced her to several celebrities the night before, and they had ranged from personable to snobby. Cameron was something else entirely, and from the tender and worried look he got in his eyes when he spoke of his son, she knew this was going to be a good thing.
Samantha had been prepared to find dozens of attractive men out there in Hollywood. After all, this was where the most beautiful people came to find their careers in entertainment. She’d also known that she wasn’t interested in any romantic relationships. Her split from Mark had been devastating enough, and Samantha wasn’t ready to start up something like that again.
Meeting Cameron, however, had been like a scene out of a movie. Samantha could see the humor in the comparison, since he was a film producer after all, but it still had been an experience unlike anything else. She and Jane had gotten into Indulgence easily, which she knew never would’ve happened if she’d tried to get in on her own. Her friend had explained that the place was packed only with celebrities, the socially elite, and those who knew them. The thought excited Samantha, but only because she figured it’d be a great opportunity to meet a few stars. After all, if she was there, she might as well make the most of it.
She’d been surrounded by beautiful people as soon as she’d walked in the door, but she’d only noticed them in passing as if they were part of the scenery. Jane had been explaining to her how Jackson had developed the place when Samantha locked eyes with the intriguing man across the room. His dark hair had probably been combed neatly earlier in the day, but it was now tousled. He had a boyish smile, but it had faded into a straight line of captivation as soon as his eyes had locked with hers. And what eyes they were! A paler blue than her own, they shifted almost to gray and almost to green depending on how the light hit them, and they seemed to burn right into her soul. For a long moment, the music, the dancers, and even Jane had faded to the background as they regarded each other from across the room. Eventually, she’d shaken off the spell th
at he’d cast on her, but it’d been a struggle to act normal for the rest of the night. If Jane had any idea just how attracted Samantha was to Cameron, would she still have suggested her for his new nanny?
Then there was the matter of that hot flicker of energy they’d exchanged when he’d touched her hand. Samantha was a professional, and she knew that Cameron hadn’t meant anything by the action. But something inexplicable had happened between the two of them, and she found her attempts at getting her mind off it futile. While Samantha had no idea what he might have experienced on his end, she’d picked up a massive influx of psychic energy. The touch had been brief, and the vision that threatened to come to her had been cut off quickly, but it was clear to Samantha that there was a lot more to Cameron than what he showed on the surface. This had been the first instance of her powers in action since she’d arrived in California, and she wasn’t certain how to feel about it.
When it was finally time, Samantha’s stomach jumped inside her as she caught a cab to the address Cameron had given her. Traffic was thick this time of evening, and she hoped she’d left enough time for the trip. She didn’t want to give her boss a bad impression by showing up late.
The cab rolled into the circular driveway just on time. The arched doorways and light brown brick made the place look more like a French chateau than a Beverly Hills mansion, and the thrill in Samantha’s stomach shifted from one of nervousness to one of excitement. It was gorgeous.
Apparently, the cabbie agreed. He rolled out of the driver’s seat and limped to the trunk to unload her bags. “Quite a place, honey. You live here?” he nodded his balding head toward the house.
Samantha shrugged. “I’m going to be, if all goes well.”
He put one hand on his hip and scratched his ample belly with the other. “I wouldn’t want to have to clean it, that’s for sure. Good luck!”
By the look of the interior of the cab, the driver didn’t like to clean much of anything. “Thanks. Have a good day!” Samantha paid the man, picked up her overnight bag, and headed for the front door.
To her surprise, Cameron himself answered it. He was casually dressed in a light blue safari shirt and khakis, and he smiled nervously at her as he stepped out onto the covered porch and closed the door behind him. “I told Andy what’s going on because I wanted him to be at least a little prepared. He’s pretty nervous about it, though. He was with one of the temp sitters today while I was at work. I should’ve taken the whole day off for this.”
There was something endearing about the concern he had for Andy, and Samantha smiled. It was funny to think that a man who orchestrated huge productions, who likely had no problem ordering around all the top talent in Hollywood, could be a little shy and nervous when taking on a new caregiver for his child. “It’s fine. I’ll have plenty of time to get to know him. There’s no rush, and there’s no need for you to feel bad about it.”
His shoulders sagged visibly with relief, and he nodded. “Come on in. I’ll get your bags.” He trotted out to the driveway where the cabbie had left the other two suitcases.
Samantha stepped inside and was immediately impressed. The curved marble stairs in the center of the foyer were lined with a wrought iron banister and led up to a landing before spreading off to either side of the second floor. The arched doorways she’d seen on the outside of the home carried through in there, with several sets of French doors in dark wood. A number of expensive-looking rugs dotted the floor, and a massive floral arrangement stood on a side table. The walls and floor were all shades of dark cream and light coffee, giving it a much cozier feel than Jane’s place. She was just craning her head back to look at the crystal chandelier overhead when Cameron came through the door with her luggage.
“If it’s all right with you, I’d like for the three of us to go ahead and have dinner together so Andy can have a chance to meet you. Then I can show you your room later. There’s a powder room just here under the stairs if you need to freshen up. You’ll find me right through this doorway.”
“Thank you.” Samantha ducked into the room he indicated and closed the door gently behind her. She didn’t really need to freshen up, but he’d been so polite in giving her the opportunity that she didn’t want to turn him down. Once inside the bathroom, Samantha had to admire the fact that even a powder room for guests under the stairs had been decorated to match the rest of the house. The pale yellow wallpaper carried a rich, tapestry-like design and was complimented by the large framed print of farmers in the French countryside. Samantha leaned on the pedestal sink and studied her face in the oval mirror above it. She was just a small-town girl from Illinois, and she’d been instantly transported into Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It was so strange, but there was only one way to find out if she could handle it. Touching up her lipstick, Samantha took a deep breath and headed into the dining room.
Cameron stood up as soon as she walked in, once again the picture of manners. “Andy, this is Ms. Parker, who I told you about. She’s going to have dinner with us.” He gestured for his son to get up from his chair and meet the new nanny.
Andy regarded her with wide brown eyes that were the spitting image of his father’s, except for the color. He had the same shaggy brown hair as well, but his nose and his mouth must have come from his mother. The boy approached slowly, as if afraid Samantha might lunge forward and bite him, and he kept himself just behind his father’s leg as he stared up at Samantha. “He-he-hewo.”
“It’s very nice to meet you.” Samantha wanted to scoop him right up into her arms. He was so adorable, but she could tell that he was also very reserved. It must have been tragic for him to lose his beloved nanny after knowing her his entire life, and as far as Andy knew, Samantha was just another temp who would come and go like the wind. She certainly hoped that wouldn’t be the case.
“Please, have a seat. Dinner’s ready.” Cameron gestured toward the table and pulled out a chair for her.
Samantha felt more like she was on a date than a trial period for a job, but she didn’t mind. It would be hard to separate her physical attraction to her new boss from the professional relationship they would need to have between them. “You have a lovely home.”
“I can’t take any credit for it,” Cameron replied as he poured each of them a glass of wine. Andy already had a cup of milk sitting near his plate. “My late wife was in charge of all that. But thank you.”
This was the first time Cameron had really mentioned his spouse, other than when he’d briefly explained he was a widower during their impromptu job interview at Indulgence. That probably had something to do with the psychic noise she’d received from him when he’d touched her. As curious as she was about it, she knew it would be dangerous to probe any further. She wouldn’t only risk her job, but her sanity. It’d been nice not to have spirits howling at her all the time as they’d done in Illinois.
Samantha took a bite of the chicken breast on her plate. “This is delicious. Did you make it?”
Cameron nodded. “I did, but I had a little help. Right, buddy?” He looked to his son.
Andy hadn’t touched his food yet. Instead, he’d been watching the grown-ups with a fearful fascination. “I p-put de owe-owe-owegano on.”
“You did a very good job,” she replied sincerely, pleased to see that Cameron was close enough with his son that he’d involved him in cooking dinner. That might not have sounded like much, but Samantha knew those bonding moments could make all the difference in a child’s life. Cameron didn’t need a nanny because he couldn’t be bothered to raise his own child. If that were the case, he could’ve hired anyone. He still wanted to be involved, and Samantha was pleased to see it. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself, Andy? What do you like to do?”
He looked to his father for approval before he started talking. His stutter was a heavy one, causing him to stumble over words almost continually. Samantha listened patiently, not interrupting, rushing him along, or correcting him. There were a few words that he
missed entirely, but she could guess well enough what they were as he explained that he enjoyed soccer, playing board games, and going to the park.
“That’s good to know. Is there a park close by that you like going to?” Samantha noticed from the corner of her eye that Cameron was watching her with an odd look on his face, but she ignored him for the moment. She’d asked Andy about himself and he deserved her attention.
“Dewe’s one!” he said, a spark of excitement coming into his eyes. “My d-d-dad takes me dewe. It has a big s-s-swide!” Andy chattered on for another solid minute, telling her all about the other children that he saw at the park and some of the playground equipment besides the slide.
“Sounds like a great place.” Samantha had nearly forgotten about her food as she’d listened to the boy speak. “And what if it’s a rainy day? What are your favorite board games and toys?”
“Just a s-s-sec! I’w show you!” Andy jumped out of his chair and ran from the room.
Cameron leaned toward her as soon as his son was out of earshot. “You can understand him?”
Samantha tipped her head in surprise. “Of course.”
He glanced once again in the direction Andy’d gone. “He’s had a lot of trouble with that. The other kids his age don’t want to talk to him because he takes too long to get his thoughts out, and most adults have a hard time, too, other than Welda. I’ve had a few days over the last week that I’ve come home to find him in tears because he couldn’t explain to one of the temps that he wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
The thought broke Samantha’s heart. “I’ve had a few students with various speech impediments before, so I’m sure the experience helps.”
