“It’s not your concern,” she said with a shake of her head.
He should have been concentrating on her words, but instead he was concentrating on her very soft-looking lips. “I don’t want you to feel I twisted your arm into taking my office job. If you feel I’m asking too much, it’s fine to say no—it won’t impact your job here as nanny.”
She looked confused for a moment and then she said, “Oh, no. I don’t feel that at all. It’s an opportunity I really want to explore, even if it is only for two weeks.”
“Then what’s troubling you?” He kept from touching her, though it was extremely difficult to keep his hands by his sides.
She crossed over to the love seat and sat on it. “I’m sure you don’t want to get involved in my personal life.”
If he didn’t, he’d leave. If he did, he’d go over and sit beside her. That’s what he did. “Who said I don’t?”
Her eyes widened as their knees touched, skin to skin.
“Did your father have a problem with you staying here?”
“I didn’t exactly tell him that I was. I told him I found a job in a lawyer’s office as an office manager, but I’m also taking side jobs. I also explained about volunteering at the animal shelter.”
“But not that you’re a nanny?”
“No, not yet. I thought it was better to let him get used to one thing at a time.”
“Which thing is he getting used to first?”
“That I want to stay in North Carolina and build a life here. I need to separate myself from my father’s protectiveness.”
Something about that sounded off to him, as if there was more she wasn’t saying. After all, Daniel was a lawyer and he had lawyerly instincts. “Did something happen because of his protectiveness?”
“What happened was probably my attitude. Dad has always been cautious, wants to take everything step by step—A before B, B before C.”
“What does your dad do?”
“He’s a professor of Hispanic Studies at Penn State.”
“Professors are logical,” Daniel suggested.
“Yes, but it can go too far—especially when it comes to parenting. I began rebelling against his logic. I know, I’m a little too old to rebel. I wasn’t even conscious I was doing it. I think I became more impulsive over the years because of his strict rules and rigid traditions.”
Reaching out, Daniel laid his hand on Emma’s arm. “Why did you come to North Carolina? Did you throw a dart at a map of the United States?”
She gave him a weak smile. “No, that’s probably what I should have done instead of chasing after a man who didn’t love me.”
Whoa. Daniel hadn’t expected that. Who wouldn’t love Emma? He didn’t stop to think why he’d come up with that question. He let his hand slide down to hers. “I’m a good listener.”
When she eyed him warily, he thought maybe she’d picked up some of her dad’s caution. Then she gave a little shrug. “Let me give credit where credit is due. My father never approved of John, though he couldn’t give me a good reason why. In the past I’d respected my dad’s opinion. Although he’s a successful tenured professor and while he hears new ideas from his students every day, he’s still old-school. His great-grandfather came to America from Mexico and worked on the railroad. His grandfather was an engineer and his father was an electrical engineer. My dad broke from tradition and worked his way through degrees until he earned his PhD in Hispanic Studies.”
“He sounds like an accomplished man. And truthfully you can’t blame him for being protective since you lost your mom.”
“I know. But dating has always been an issue between us. And when he didn’t particularly like John... Anyway, John and I had been dating about six months. He’d come to Pennsylvania to manage a start-up company. I met him at a conference and admired his ambition. I fell for his charm.” She said this with an embarrassed glow coloring her cheeks.
“If he was working in Pennsylvania, how did you end up in North Carolina?”
“North Carolina was his home base, and he lived in Spring Forest. He insisted a long-distance romance would keep our relationship fresh and interesting. And at first, it seemed like it did. He would fly back to Pennsylvania or drive back fairly often. He never seemed to want me to fly down here. There was one spell of three weeks when he was too busy to visit for the weekend. I thought our relationship was becoming too difficult to sustain long-distance, so I decided to give up all for love. I quit my job, packed necessities in a suitcase, grabbed my messenger bag and drove down here to surprise him. But when I reached John’s apartment, I realized I should have listened to my dad. John’s fiancée answered the door. His fiancée! He’d never been serious about me. I’d simply been a distraction while he’d worked out of state.”
Her eyes were glistening now and Daniel couldn’t help but put his arms around her and draw her close. She leaned her head on his shoulder and took a few bolstering breaths. He wanted to kiss her but he didn’t want to take advantage of her.
Instead, he just tightened his arms slightly and said, “I know what betrayal feels like, Emma. Believe me, I do.”
When she turned to face him, their noses were almost touching. It would be so easy to lean in, taste her lips again...taste more.
But that wasn’t what she needed right now and he probably didn’t, either.
Seeming to recognize the need for some distance between them, she pulled out of the hug and out of his embrace. He was so sorry she did. She’d felt so good in his arms.
She was looking a bit more embarrassed. “I’m sorry I spilled all that out on you.”
“No need to be sorry, Emma. I do understand. Although it’s been two years since Lydia left, I still have regrets. I wonder what I could have done differently. I wonder now how I can make her communicate better with Pippa, Penny and Paris. About a year ago, I realized I have to let that go. I can foster a relationship between Lydia and the girls if that’s what they all want, but I can’t make it happen.”
“It’s tough when we have to admit we can’t control everything, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is. You know, don’t you, that your dad just wants to control your life so that you’re happy.”
“I know, and I will tell him I’m a nanny. I just want to let the rest settle in first.”
Daniel couldn’t advise Emma on what was best for her. She had to figure that out on her own. He stood and so did she.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You were right. You’re a good listener. I’ll have to remind your daughters of that from time to time.”
Daniel laughed. “You do that.” He headed for the door and closed it behind him.
His attraction to Emma Alvarez was growing in leaps and bounds. There had to be some way to put a stop to it.
Chapter Six
The following Monday, Emma began working in Daniel’s office while the girls started their camps. She could work with Daniel from eight to two before picking them up. She thought about the weekend and the time they’d spent together. On Saturday she’d volunteered at Furever Paws. At supper on the patio that night, they’d shared a healthy meal of hamburgers, fresh tomatoes and zucchini cooked in a basket on the grill. The girls had played croquet in the yard. Paris had still been quiet but Emma couldn’t say she was sullen. Emma had watched her eat, though, and had been disappointed to see that Paris had only eaten the grilled veggies and a slice of tomato, along with drinking a lot of water.
Emma caught on quickly to Raina’s system in Daniel’s office with the files of clients and the computer scheduling program. At 10:00 a.m. she’d made the list that Daniel needed of possible associates to hire. There was one name, one woman, who seemed particularly qualified. Emma circled Megan Jennings’s name. Originally from New York City, now living in North Carolin
a, she had an undergraduate degree in finance in addition to her law degree.
Still unsure of what Daniel preferred—a knock on the door or a buzz of the intercom—she buzzed him. When he answered, he said, “Emma, you can come right in if there’s something you need.”
“I have something you need. I’ll be right in.”
When she entered Daniel’s office, she saw that he was working on something on his computer. A brief, maybe? He swiveled his chair around and watched as she crossed the office to him. There was a sparkle in those green eyes that said he appreciated what he saw. She hadn’t worn anything special. She really did have to go shopping for clothes. She’d dressed in a pair of white slacks with a yellow sleeveless cotton blouse.
Before she could present him with the list, he said, “Just looking at you makes me think of a summer day.”
“Thank you,” she returned, realizing in her heart that his compliment had been sincere.
She handed Daniel the list. Without hesitating, she advised, “I think your first interview should be Megan Jennings. She’s qualified and she even lives in Spring Forest.”
Daniel asked Emma about Megan’s degrees and such, and then he nodded. “I’ll trust your judgment on this since you’ve done the legwork. Can you set up an appointment with her? The sooner the better.”
“Sure, no problem, if I can get hold of her. If I reach her voice mail, do you want me to leave your cell number?”
“You do think ahead,” he noted with a grin. “I like that. Yes, give her my cell number if you leave a message.”
After Emma returned to her desk and left a message for Megan Jennings, she glanced out the window. She’d checked the Weather Channel and the temperature was going to go up. It would be a great day for swimming.
She leaned into Daniel’s office again. “After I pick up the girls from their camps, I’d like to take them swimming. Would that be okay?”
“Sure, that’s fine. It’s a perfect day for swimming. Are you going to swim, too?” The expression on his face said he might be imagining her in a swimsuit.
“I might. I did pack my bathing suit when I came to Spring Forest though I need to shop for some other summer clothes. One of these days after camp I’d like to take the three P’s shopping. They’re definitely outgrowing their jeans.”
Daniel looked disconcerted for a moment, picked up a pen on his desk and clicked it on and off a few times. Emma could tell he wanted to talk to her about something but seemed to be having trouble doing it. She waited.
Finally, he set down the pen. “I don’t know whether to bring this up with you or not, but since you are going to take them shopping...”
“Yes? Is there something you want me to buy for them?”
“It’s Paris. There’s a subject I know she won’t talk about with me, but you might be able to find out.”
“Find out what?”
He blushed a little. “Find out if she thinks she needs a bra. It’s just one of those conversations that I don’t think dads and daughters are good at.”
“No, they’re not,” Emma agreed. “I remember asking my dad for money for clothes and he questioned me on what clothes I needed in particular. That’s just the way he is. So I told him that I needed new bras. I wish you could have seen the expression on his face. He turned a color of red I’ve never seen before, and he was totally speechless. My dad, speechless. Never happened.”
Daniel chuckled. “Is it awful of me not to want to go through that with Paris?”
“It would be wonderful if the two of you became comfortable enough to talk about something like that. But I do feel Paris isn’t at that stage yet. I think she’d be as embarrassed as you would be.”
“My point exactly, and I don’t want to create more walls between us.”
He looked down at the list she’d given him. He tapped it. “Thank you for this. It’s good work. Did you get a grasp on the scheduling program?”
“No problem with that. It’s similar to the one I used in Pennsylvania.”
Daniel sat back in his chair and studied her for a moment. “I’m glad you’re here, Emma. You really are an answer to a prayer.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Before their conversation turned even more personal, she said, “I’m going to check over the appointments you’ve lined up for the week.” Without waiting for a reply, she left his office and this time shut the door.
* * *
Daniel had spent moments during the afternoon imagining Emma in a bathing suit. When he finished work around five, he wondered if it was too late to join Emma and the girls at the pool. Maybe he’d just drive by and see if he could spot Emma’s car.
However, he drove home first. Finding an empty house, he checked on Fiesta, then quickly changed into his bathing suit, stepped into board shorts, slipped on flip flops and grabbed a tank top. He headed out with a towel and his duffel bag. At the pool he wasted no time showing his membership card and entering the pool area. Immediately, he spotted his daughters in the pool. Their suits were neon colors so it wasn’t hard to find them. Then he canvassed the area around the pool, and his focus stopped as soon as he spied Emma.
She wore a one-piece turquoise suit with a halter top. Sitting on the blanket, her gaze was turned to the three P’s. The sun shining on her hair brought out the red highlights. She was beautiful. What was he thinking, showing up like this? He should have stayed at work or back at the house.
Just then Emma turned, saw him and waved.
Yes, he had been thinking about retreating but now he couldn’t. He was already sweating and he was sure that wasn’t just from the sun’s heat.
It didn’t take him long to realize that Emma’s gaze was roving over him. Did she get revved up when she looked at him?
The closer he got to her, the more he could see that her cheeks were rosy. Just from the sun? Or from staring at him and maybe having the same thoughts he was having?
He finally stopped at the blanket she’d laid on the grass. He felt an awkwardness between them that hadn’t been there before. Deciding there was no point in dancing around the subject, he just came out and said, “You look gorgeous.”
Her face expressed surprise. Didn’t she know how pretty and sexy she was?
Then he remembered what John had done to her. It had probably been easy for insecurity to set in, easy not to trust a man, easy to see all compliments as idle flattery.
All that meant he’d said the wrong thing.
Pippa and Penny had spotted him now. They were jumping up and down in the pool, shouting and waving.
He waved back and called, “I’ll be in soon.” He turned back to Emma and asked, “How many times have you slathered them with sunscreen?”
“Three and counting,” she answered, looking away from him.
“Do you want me to put my tank on?” he asked her.
That brought her gaze back to his. “No, of course not. You’re at the pool.”
“We are, but I’m half-naked, and you’re looking like a swimsuit cover girl.”
“Nonsense,” she scolded. “Those girls all wear bikinis or else half their breasts are showing.”
Daniel chuckled.
“What?” she asked, indignant.
“Emma, in some ways you are so innocent and in others, you’re so honest. I never know what to expect.”
“Sometimes you hold in what you’re thinking, and sometimes you’re straightforward. Are we even?”
He smiled at her. “Should I put my tank on? I really don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“No, no tank,” she said with some admiration in her voice. “Do you work out?”
“I have weights in the master suite. After Lydia left, I turned her walk-in closet into my weight room.”
It was obvious Emma was trying t
o hide a smile.
“What?” he asked. “In some ways I have moved on.”
Now she did smile.
He nodded toward the pool. “Do you want to get wet? I know the girls shouldn’t stay in too much longer.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Daniel walked close to Emma as they made their way to the pool, but not so close that their arms brushed. He motioned her to go down the steps first, and then he followed. He noticed right away that Paris was swimming laps rather than playing with her sisters or the other kids in the pool. He frowned but decided to talk to her later. She had to learn that exercise in moderation was the best way to go.
Penny and Pippa dog-paddled over to them. “Want to play ball?” Penny asked.
“Only if we don’t bother anyone else doing it.”
“There’s a spot over there,” Pippa said, pointing.
Daniel swam to the deep end and retrieved a ball from a net hanging there. When he reached the shallow water again, he tossed the ball and Penny caught it.
It wasn’t long before they were all diving under the water for the ball, jumping up to catch it and tossing it again before anybody could catch their breath.
Penny tossed it at Emma. Emma dove but Daniel did, too. They bumped into each other under the water and he grabbed her around the waist. He was holding her as they came up for air.
For that moment, the world stopped spinning. For that moment he didn’t feel the coolness of the water against his skin. He only felt heat. He and Emma generated it. She was pressed against him and reflexively his arms brought her closer. They were staring at each other as if there was no other place in the world to look. Emma’s lips parted slightly and he practically groaned. He couldn’t kiss her, not here, not now, and definitely not in front of his daughters.
Reality must have crashed down on Emma at the same time it crashed down on him. Her legs and arms fluttered as she moved away and out of his grasp.
“Did you trip, Emma, and couldn’t find your way back up?” Pippa asked innocently.
The Nanny Clause Page 7
