Bree stared up at him, impressed, intrigued, and much too interested in him. “You need to back up a step so I can think.”
Ryder’s jaw tightened, but he nodded and backed up two huge steps. Bree took in some long breaths, which was much easier to do when she wasn’t inhaling his cologne. What was happening here? She wanted to help these two and she’d been taken in by Ryder’s impassioned plea. She needed the money and loved the challenge, but she didn’t know if she could remain impartial, professional, and detached. Especially being around them twenty-four hours a day like he’d just said. She focused on the adorable little boy. He stared unabashedly at her, just like his father was doing. There was a lot of intelligence in his eyes and a world of hurt and need. Was that why he wasn’t speaking? He missed his mother too much? Her heart cracked. She’d never had a mother of her own but ached for one all the same.
“If I do this, you have to swear to not cross any lines.” She planted her hands on her hips and threw Ryder a challenging glare.
“I can do that.” He nodded. “I’m not some playboy who throws himself at women. I can control myself around you, no matter how beautiful you are.”
He was as blunt as she was. Maybe that was for the best. At least, they would both know where they stood. The only problem was this underlying tension that was already getting under her skin. She was drawn to Ryder Quinn, and it would be tough to bury that attraction if she was with him a lot. Yet she couldn’t say no to helping this little boy. They needed her. Ryder saying that had touched her deeply.
She studied both of them for a few beats then strode to the chair and sat down. Ryder let out a loud breath and hurried back to his own chair. He sank down and resumed his gentle bouncing of Tate. The first thing Bree would have to work on was Ryder not coddling Tate. It was sweet but would stifle the child’s development. The little guy was over four years old, and she had yet to see Ryder set him down.
“Is he always this well behaved?” she asked.
“Yes, unfortunately.”
So he recognized that Tate was unusually docile. “What do you mean?”
Ryder pushed out a breath and kept bouncing the little boy. “Sometimes I can get a laugh out of him, but mostly, he just smiles and plays quietly with his toys or looks at books.”
“Has he ever spoken?”
“When he was little, he babbled and said his first words like any child. He’s so smart that by eighteen months he was talking in sentences. Then my wife died when he was three and a half.” He shook his head, his lips pressing together. “Not a word since.”
She nodded, her mind racing with similar scenarios she’d studied in school. Grief could break a body, even one so young that they couldn’t understand that they’d been broken. “And she’s been gone eight months?”
“Yes.”
Eight months. It wasn’t enough time to heal a battered heart. Bree wondered how Ryder handled all of this—losing his wife, being a single dad, and still succeeding at his career.
“I told you I’ve tried everything. You name, it I’ve tried it. His nanny, Lila, who’s been with us since Jessica died, retired last week. She and her husband are family friends, and they’re ‘off to see the world.’” He smiled, obviously he had fond feelings for Lila. “My brother Mack dealt with a speech impediment when he was younger, he gave me the idea of talking to the universities in the area and seeing if I could find … you.” He smiled kindly at her. “You’re an answer to my prayers.”
Bree stared at him. “You’re saying you’ll do anything to hire me?”
“Yes, I will.” His eyes held her captive. “I told your professor a dollar figure, including a signing bonus and another bonus each time Tate makes progress. If you want more, it’s yours.”
She shook her head. “Your offer is more than generous.” It would change her life, and she could hire the P.I. she’d been dreaming of hiring. Peter Ormond promised he could find her sister, but he didn’t come cheap.
“Thank you.” He kept bouncing Tate on his knee as if it was instinctive and he didn’t even know he was doing it. “I know it’s a little unconventional to have a speech pathologist with a master’s degree being a nanny, but I want you to be so much more than a nanny for us …” He trailed off then gave her an irresistible smile. “That didn’t come out quite right. Please don’t try to leave again.”
Bree’s heart was thumping hard and fast. He had an alluring smile that she doubted any woman could resist. But she wasn’t a woman who fell for the hot jock. She couldn’t even count how many athletes had tried to snare her throughout high school and college.
“I don’t cook,” she said. There were a lot of other things she wasn’t willing to do either. Was it smart to put herself in this man’s house, in his power? She highly doubted the quintessential gentleman with the sweet little boy was going to force himself on her, but you never knew. People surprised her all the time.
He chuckled. “Neither do I. I have a maid service come in every morning, a grocery service brings in fresh food three times a week, and a chef brings in dinner every night. We keep breakfast and lunch simple. I don’t need you to cook.”
“What do you need me to do?” If he kept looking at her with that tempting glint in his blue eyes, she was going to have to storm out of here and move a lot quicker than she had last time.
“Get my son to talk.” It was raw and honest and tugged at her.
Bree swallowed hard. She had to be logical and not get emotionally invested in this handsome duo. She was being offered a solid six-figure salary with the bonuses on top of that. She could finally have the money she needed, find her sister, and once she finished this job, go help children wherever she wanted in the world. There was just one huge and desperate request. Figure out why this little boy wouldn’t speak.
She nodded, forcing a confidence she hoped she could back up. “I got this.” She tossed her spunky hair.
Relief washed over his face. He pulled the little guy in tighter. Tate turned to his dad and wrapped an arm around his neck. They were obviously close. Her initial assessment was they were too close, but she’d heard about the hours professional football players were gone in the regular season. Maybe they were just making up for lost time.
“I’m around a lot right now as we’re in the off-season, so it won’t be as demanding for you, but once July hits, I’ll be gone. Of course, I’d be happy to hire more help for evenings, weekends, and vacations so you don’t get burned out. Lila promised she’d come around when they’re in town to give you some days off when I’m in season. My siblings and parents show up sometimes and are great help. For the next few months, I can give you breaks whenever you need. In fact, I’ll be around most of the time. I spend several hours each morning working out. Sometimes, I have to go to meetings or do sponsorship stuff or commercials, but mostly, I’m here.”
“So I might have to kick you out to get some privacy?” It sounded very intimate, just the three of them in this gorgeous house. What would they do all day together?
“Yes, ma’am.” His blue eyes brightened, and Bree had the strangest feeling, like she was lightening his heavy load. She liked helping people, and being an answer to someone’s prayers certainly fit that bill. She’d heard a lot of lines from men, but she didn’t think his plea for help was a pick-up line.
“Let me show you the rest of the house and the suite you’ll be staying in.” He stood, cradling Tate in one well-defined arm. “Did you bring your things?”
She nodded, standing as well. “I’m hoping to call a tow service to dispose of my car.”
He glanced out the window and chuckled. “It’s nicer than the car I had in college.”
“Really? You must have had a pile o’ junk then. What’d you drive?”
He pointed down at his legs. “These guys. I never had a car.”
She laughed. “Luckily, your legs are speedy fast.”
“True.”
He gestured in front of him. “Shall we get your ba
gs first?”
“Sure.”
They walked silently through the foyer, out the front door, and down the front porch steps. Bree popped her trunk and started reaching for her suitcases.
“Stop,” Ryder said, edging her out of the way with his arm. “My mama would cut my hands off if I let a lady carry her own bags.”
Bree planted her hands on her hips. “I’m not some helpless female, jock boy.”
Ryder lifted his free hand up. “I know, but it’s a respect thing, and it runs deep in my family. Please.” He studied her, not backing down.
Bree appreciated and liked gentlemen, but how was she going to remain professional and independent if he kept being so … cute didn’t work as he was far too sexy for cute, but he was definitely a good guy.
“For my mama, please.”
Bree stared at him and finally shook her head. “For your mama.” She would love to meet this mama who had ingrained manners and a respect for women so deeply in this man that he couldn’t let his new nanny pick up her own suitcases. She’d researched him and knew he had four other brothers and one sister, several of them were as well-known as Ryder in their respective careers. She wondered about his family and how often they stopped by.
He smiled. “Thank you.”
“How are you going to carry my bags holding the little man?” Bree thought it would be good for both of them to have Tate stand on his own two feet.
Ryder’s face tightened, and his eyes took on a panicked look. Would he hand Tate off to Bree? She had no objection to holding him. She adored children, but she was starting to wonder why his dad wouldn’t let him out of his arms. She knew from reading over all of the information on Tate that there was no physical impediment.
“No problem.” Ryder winked at his boy and spun him around onto his back. “Hold on tight, buddy.”
Tate let out a cute little giggle, the first sound Bree had heard him make. He clung to Ryder’s neck as Ryder, with his hands now free, grabbed Bree’s two heavy suitcases, shut the trunk with his elbow, and waited for Bree to walk in front of him before he started moving with his load. It was cute but confirmed Bree’s first thought. This dad was coddling his son. How was she going to help them both break the dependence without being the bad guy?
Chapter Two
Ryder followed Bree’s shapely legs up the grand staircase. Don’t look at her legs, he reprimanded himself. He’d gotten in enough trouble for saying something about her perfect face. He’d never been drawn in by a woman so quickly, and he couldn’t risk upsetting her and having her leave them. She was his last hope for helping Tate speak before he started kindergarten next year. His youngest brother, Mack, had been teased mercilessly when he stopped speaking because of embarrassment over a speech impediment when he was five. Ryder and his brothers had gotten into far too many fights defending Mack. He couldn’t stand the thought of Tate going through that at school, especially with no older brothers to stand up for him.
Tate’s hands were clasped so tightly around his neck he was choking him, but Ryder wouldn’t complain. He tried to keep his little man close as much as possible. Tate needed his dad, especially with Lila retiring.
Hopefully, his new nanny/speech pathologist would fill in the holes Tate had. Ryder couldn’t believe how gorgeous she was. She was tall and almost too thin, like a model, but her face was the thing that was really model-like. The fine bone structure, smooth chocolate skin, big brown eyes, and those lips. Wow. He didn’t know the last time he’d been that intrigued by a pair of lips. His wife, Jessica, had been a beautiful woman, but her grouchy attitude, annoyance at everyone but their son, and hatred of her cancer had made her face more pinched throughout her short life. During that last, heartbreaking year, the only time Jessica had looked pretty to him was when she was with Tate.
He shook all that off and directed Bree around the wide second-story balcony to the left where the bedrooms were situated above the master suite.
The first two bedrooms were empty, guest suites for when his parents, siblings, or Lila and her husband might come stay. The third bedroom was ready for Bree. She walked in and turned to him with an arched brow. “I like it,” she said with that little sass he’d already come to appreciate. He smiled but held back the response he wanted to make—he liked her. He couldn’t go there. This woman had to help Tate, and she’d already made it abundantly clear she wanted Ryder to keep his distance, instructing him to not cross any lines. He couldn’t endanger Tate’s last chance for help.
The bedroom overlooked the yard, trees, and lake beyond. It had its own large bathroom and walk-in closet and was done in pale blues and bright white. He gratefully set her suitcases down then grabbed one of Tate’s legs and tugged him free of his neck. Tate laughed as Ryder let him swing upside down, hanging by one foot, before he threw him up into the air and caught him in his arms again. He grinned at his little boy. Tate framed his face with his hands and grinned back. Ryder felt complete when he had Tate in his arms. It was better than a game-changing interception.
If only Tate would say something, anything, but Ryder didn’t dwell on that. He loved his boy and didn’t need him to speak for him. He wanted him to speak so his son could have a future, express himself, and associate with people beyond his own family. Tate starting school next fall felt like a looming deadline. They’d tried the sign language route, but Tate wasn’t very interested and hadn’t made much progress. He mostly pointed and nodded or shook his head when he wanted something. The tough thing was he rarely asked much of anyone—eating whatever was put in front of him and playing with whatever toys were on hand. He was much too content and easy, and it worried Ryder.
Tate released his face, and they both turned to look at Bree. She was smiling at them, but there was something analytical in her eyes, and Ryder felt like he was doing something wrong. He wasn’t sure what. Maybe being watched twenty-four hours a day wouldn’t be much fun, no matter how attractive their watcher was. He shrugged it off, took her elbow, and walked her back out of this room toward the nursery. Touching even her elbow sent a thrill through him. He’d just been alone too long. It probably meant nothing. People assumed he’d been alone for the past eight months, but the truth was he and Jessica hadn’t had a relationship in years.
They entered the nursery, and Bree pulled in a breath. “Wow.”
Ryder smiled at her reaction. It was a cool room. The floor-to-ceiling windows faced the side of his property that was a forest of trees, so it felt like you were outside. The colors were soft greens and grays. The room was two-stories tall with a ladder up to a play fort that looked like something off of Swiss Family Robinson. There were toys in the fort and toys underneath the bed. The bed was a few feet off the ground, a big round mattress with wooden railings to keep Tate from falling out while he slept.
Ryder had made himself put Tate to sleep in his own bed every night, even though it was tough as Tate quite often woke with nightmares. He would cry inconsolably until Ryder sang him back to sleep.
Bree pointed down the stairs that continued from the tree fort to the floor below. “Where does that lead?”
“My room.” He had requested the nursery be attached to his master suite and loved the way the designer had accomplished that.
Bree’s eyes widened, and she glanced down. “I don’t think I need to see your room.”
Ryder’s eyebrows lifted. Would that be too intimate for her? He might be reading this wrong as he had no experience with women. Jessica didn’t count. They’d dated since they were sixteen, and she’d never really matured into a woman. Still, he had the impression Bree was interested in him. When he went out in public, he was inundated with interested women. Bree wasn’t like the cleat-chasers, but she definitely seemed to like him, or maybe her vibrant attitude just made her friendly with everyone.
He smiled and moved on. “Let’s check out the gym and playroom.”
They walked back around the open balcony that looked down into the main living area. On th
e opposite side of the house, over the garage, was his home gym, a huge playroom for Tate, and a home theater. Bree took everything in with wide eyes. Her counselor had revealed a lot to Ryder, sharing Bree’s upbringing in foster care and her complete lack of family. He couldn’t allow just anyone into their home and lives, so her background had concerned him. The counselor had reassured him Bree was sparkle and sunshine. She’d produced recommendation after recommendation about not only Bree’s excellence and aptitude in her field but also about how kind, loving, and competent she was. He felt like she was the right choice. He prayed he wasn’t just completely desperate and hoping for a miracle from Bree.
As they perused the gym, he asked, “Do you like to exercise?” It seemed like a stupid question seeing how lean and fit her arms and legs were, but she was so thin she might just be naturally built that way.
“I love it.”
“You’re welcome to use this facility any time, or if you like to run or bike outside, we live in a very safe area.”
“Thank you. Can I swim too?”
He smiled. “Of course. I need at least three hours each morning to exercise, but we can figure out a schedule so you can work out before or after me while one of us stays with Tate.”
“How early do you workout?”
“I’m really flexible.” He usually started his routine at five or six in the morning so he could be with Tate as much as possible during the day.
“I’ll do the early shift, say five to six. Then you can go after me. How early is Tate up?”
“Eight or nine. This man likes to sleep.” He gave Tate a squeeze and was rewarded with a big smile.
“Sounds perfect.”
They toured the theater and toy room then went back down the main staircase where he showed her the living room, dining area, kitchen, the laundry and mud rooms, and the five-car garage. He only had his Lexus sport utility, his 1967 Camaro that he’d restored, and Ryder’s outside toys in the garage.
The Devoted Groom Page 2
