Daddies & Nannies: A Contemporary Romance Boxset

by Piper Sullivan

  I got the call two weeks ago. That Abigail had passed away. She had been suffering from cancer, apparently for a while. But that wasn’t the worst of it. It seemed that Abigail had left a time bomb for me. Why she had never told me before, I have no idea. I would have helped, given her child support at the very least. But she had decided to go it alone.

  I was apparently the father of a two-year-old child. His name was Charlie. I still couldn’t believe it. But it was true. I had fast tracked DNA tests, of course. I had never even thought about fatherhood, before now. I enjoyed playing with Lilah, and my brother’s two kids. But that was the extent of it.

  What the hell was I going to do?

  The photography session had wound up, and it was time to go to the reception. A couple of classic Bentleys would transport us from the Botanic Gardens to Ripponlea, an historic Melbourne mansion. Over two hundred guests were awaiting us. I climbed into the back of the car, lost in my own thoughts.

  Then a vision in green flew past outside the window. Ah, yes. Cara. Amber’s best friend, also her bridesmaid. Over from the States. I had been watching her, before, as we were being photographed. She was a sexy woman, there was no denying that. Not my usual type; Cara had raven black hair that reached to her waist, and liquid brown eyes. I usually preferred blondes. Buxom blondes.

  But there was something about her. She had a lot of energy, for a start. She smiled and laughed constantly, throwing her black hair back as she collapsed into giggles. Her eyes flashed. I could see her figure underneath that green dress, too. Classic hourglass, long legs, nipped in waist, and decent bust. Not as well-endowed as the girls I usually dated, but then they often were surgically enhanced. Being wannabe actresses, models and trophy wives, it kind of came with the territory. She climbed into the car in front, and then we were away, veering out into the Melbourne traffic.

  I thought about my predicament. There was no choice. I would have to take on the care of the little boy. I couldn’t do anything less. He was my son, after all. But how was I going to work this out? I just started a new project that would take a year of work, and meant I had to relocate to the Gold Coast in Queensland. What would I do with the little boy, away from my family and friends?

  Then I thought of Cara. Finn had mentioned it, at his bachelor party. Amber had said something, the day before. That Cara might be willing to take on the job of nanny. Something about needing to get out of the States for a while.

  It could be a win-win situation.

  And at the very least, I would get to know the delectable Cara, just a little bit more.

  Cara

  I looked around the bare walls of my new home. I simply could not believe that I had said yes to this arrangement.

  Amber had pressured me, of course. She got Finn involved, as well. Both saying that it would be good for me, give me a chance to clear my head. A working holiday, in Australia. And they had obviously both worked on Bryce as well.

  Bryce. My new boss. I still didn’t know what to make of him.

  Oh, he was damn sexy, I knew that. Tall, and dark. He walked with that confident swagger that told me he knew his effect on women. But when he had asked me to dance at Amber and Finn’s wedding, I was surprised. He had twirled me around on the dance floor, his hands gripping my own. His touch was electric. But I tried to play it cool. Billionaire playboys had never been my style. Well to be honest, I had never met any before now. I had gone out with poor students, just like me. I hardly mixed in the higher echelon of society.

  “Are you enjoying Australia?” He had asked, staring down at me.

  “So far, so good,” I had replied. “I haven’t seen much, though. Just Melbourne, obviously, but Amber and Finn are promised to take me on a day trip down the Great Ocean Road after they get back from their honeymoon. Apparently, it’s beautiful.”

  “It is,” he said, gripping me tighter. “One of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world, with lots of gorgeous seaside towns along the way.”

  He spun me around. I almost fell against him, dizzy. “Hey, watch it,” I smiled. “I’m not good in these six-inch heels. Sneakers are usually my speed. You need practical shoes on the hospital wards.”

  “That’s right,” he said. “You’re a medical student, aren’t you?”

  “I am,” I said. “Well, I was. I’m not sure, any more…” I broke off, biting my lip.

  “It’s a hard slog,” Bryce said. “Long, long hours. I know because my sister is a doctor. She barely had any sleep when she was studying.”

  I laughed lightly. “It goes with the territory. No sleep for the first four years. But I’m a bit over it. I’m not sure if I want to continue.”

  He looked at me, then pulled me closer as the music slowed down to a ballad. I was acutely conscious of his arms around me, his hands resting lightly on my shoulders. Damn, he was an attractive man. I would have to watch my step. I had heard he chewed through women before breakfast. Although I didn’t think I was his type. Amber had mentioned that he liked his women buxom and brainless, in that order.

  “Cara,” he said, looking down at me. “I’m in a bit of a predicament. I was wondering if you might help me out.”

  I stared up at him, taking in that chiselled jaw and deep blue eyes. I had an idea what he was about to say, and I still didn’t know what my response would be.

  “You’ve heard, I guess, that I suddenly have a son to take care of,” he continued. “His mother died, and she never told me about him. Charlie, is his name. I want to do the right thing, but I’m in a bit of a mess with it. On top of everything, I have to take up an appointment on the Gold Coast this week.” He stopped, drawing a deep breath. He looked forlorn.

  “Okay, okay, I’ll do it.” The words had left my mouth before I had control of them. Damn. I was a sucker for a man in distress, obviously.

  He broke out in a big grin. “You’ll do it? Come and work with me as my nanny, in Queensland?”

  “If you can sort out the working visa quickly enough,” I answered. Inside, I was kicking myself. I didn’t usually make life changing decisions so spontaneously. But the guy obviously needed help, and as quickly as possible. What was a girl to do?

  “You won’t regret it,” he said.

  And now, here I was. Regretting it, at least a little bit.

  A Surfer’s Paradise mansion, newly rented. Furniture was supposed to have been delivered this morning, but the house was empty. And a little boy, asleep in a makeshift bed. I had done the best that I could. But I couldn’t help being scared, and thinking I had got into a situation way over my head.

  I had flown up to the Gold Coast with him from Melbourne that morning. Bryce was already up here, having started his project the day before.

  Charlie had cried the whole way, and I simply didn’t know what to do. I had tried to pacify him with a newly bought toy from an airport kiosk and his bottle, but it had been a hellish trip. He had fallen asleep in the taxi ride to his new home, snuggling into my arms like a little bear.

  My heart had broken a bit, at that. The poor little thing. His mother was dead, and he was too young to understand. He was starting a new life with a father he had never met, and a nanny who was new to him, as well. Everything that he had known and cherished in his short life had been ripped away from him. His mother, and his home.

  And where was Bryce? He had promised to be here, to meet us. But I hadn’t heard from him.

  I couldn’t even make myself a coffee. The kitchen was bare. I had been told to expect the housekeeper, a Mrs Hall, but she wasn’t here either. I rested my head against the ceiling to floor windows, staring out over the sea.

  At least it was beautiful here, and a damn sight hotter than Melbourne had been. I had heard that Queensland had gorgeous weather. I could see sunbathers on the beach below, and life guards in yellow and red patrolling the waves.

  Charlie wasn’t the only one who had been ripped away from all that was familiar to him.

  I was feeling pretty lost and
confused as well.

  Bryce

  Damn! I had promised Cara that I would be at the house when they got there. And here I was, stuck in a meeting.

  I got up surreptitiously, sliding my phone into my jacket pocket as I did so. I would have to call her from the men’s room. Hopefully, she would understand. But I felt like I had let them down. Charlie was only two, and being taken away from the only life he had ever known. And Cara was new to all of this, as well.

  Who was I kidding? So was I. Quaking in his boots at the thought of disappointing a two-year-old and his newly acquired nanny. I just didn’t know the rules of this strange new world that I had entered. It was kind of surreal, to say the least.

  I called Cara, willing her to pick up.

  “Hello?” Her voice flowed down the phone line like honey.

  “Cara, it’s me.” I turned toward the wall, trying to keep the call private. “I’m so sorry, I’ve got stuck in a meeting. Are you and Charlie okay?”

  I heard her sigh. “It’s pretty poor, Bryce. No one was here when we arrived, and there isn’t a stick of furniture in the place. I had to make a bed for Charlie out of clothes.”

  I screwed my eyes up tight. “Jesus. They promised that the furniture would be there this morning. I even hired a couple of people to put it all together. It was supposed to be ready and waiting for when you guys arrived.”

  “Well, it wasn’t.” Her voice was tight. “This is a little boy who is all out of whack. He needs stability, the sooner the better.” She paused. “I hope you’re not going to be doing this all the time. I understand your work load, but this is important.”

  “I know.” I leaned my head against the wall. “I’m trying.”

  “Bryce?”

  I turned. One of my new colleagues was standing there. “We really need you in there, buddy,” he said, looking at me. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, yes. I’ll be there in two minutes.” I turned back to the phone. “I’m sorry, Cara. I have to go. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I hung up.

  She would probably be pissed off with me, but there was nothing I could do about it for the moment. I returned to the meeting, alarmed to find that I was shaking slightly.

  I had only just started this fatherhood caper, and already I felt like it was doing my head in.

  It was two hours later when Gilbert, my new chauffeur, pulled into the driveway of what was to be my new home.

  I looked it over. My assistant had rented it over the net. I hadn’t inspected it. But it seemed to be adequate. Actually, more than adequate. A three-storey beachside mansion at Surfer’s Paradise. It was pretty spectacular. I could see the gardener working away on the landscaped tropical gardens which surrounded it.

  I turned to look at the beach. Yes, it was a million-dollar view, stretching out over the ocean. I unlocked the front door, stepping into a bare foyer. “Hello?” I called. My voice echoed around the rooms.

  A middle-aged woman came out from the kitchen. This had to be Mrs Hall. I talked to her for a minute, then I climbed the stairs. The furniture, such as it was, had arrived. But it was only the basics. A seven room mansion would need a lot more to fill it.

  Cara came out of a side room, hands on her hips. “You’re here. At last.”

  I grinned. “Sorry. It’s been a bit of a mix up all round. How is he?”

  As if in answer to my question, a little boy toddled out of the room. His head was a mass of blonde curls, and he had the biggest blue eyes I had ever seen.

  My son. My throat grew tight, looking at him.

  “Hi, Charlie.” I squatted, so that I was on eye level with him. I held out my hand.

  He looked at me shyly, scurrying behind Cara. He peeked out from behind her legs, looking solemn. Well, at least he had bonded with her. That was something. I knew it was going to take time. We had to get used to each other, after all.

  “Come and see his room,” Cara said now, scooping him up into her arms. I followed her into the room she indicated.

  She had worked wonders. The racing car bed and draws were assembled, and so were the mass of teddy bears and toys that I had ordered. It almost looked like he had lived in it forever.

  I breathed deeply. “It’s wonderful. You’ve done a great job.”

  She smiled, planting a kiss on Charlie’s curly head. “I’m pleased. It took us all afternoon, didn’t it, Charlie?” Charlie looked at her, nodding. A smile slowly broke out onto his face.

  “He will need more,” she said. “Some of this stuff isn’t age appropriate. What were you thinking when you ordered this?” She picked up a complex looking racing car, filled with tiny parts.

  Probably more suited to a seven-year-old now that I thought about it.

  “Hey, I don’t know what two-year olds need,” I said, in my defence. “I am an instant father, let’s not forget.”

  Cara looked at me, then smiled. “Yes, it’s daunting for you, I can see that,” she conceded. “Don’t worry, you’ll get there. But Bryce…” She stopped, looking at me.

  “Yes?”

  “If you make promises to a child, you need to keep them.” Her voice was firm. “He might be too little to know at this age, but one day he will. Don’t ever put work before your own child.” She looked down at the floor, seeming to be lost in thought.

  I studied her. Cara, pensive? It seemed a contradiction from what I knew about her. She was always so upbeat and positive. A whirlwind of energy.

  She was looking particularly sexy today. She was wearing denim shorts and a tank top, less clothes than I had seen her in up until this point. Well, it was very hot up in Queensland. Her long legs seemed to go on forever, and I could see the tops of her breasts. Firm, and ripe. Ready to be plucked.

  Jesus, where had that come from? But as I looked at her, I couldn’t deny her sex appeal. It seemed to emanate from her, in waves. I felt a stirring.

  “Let’s go and check out the kitchen,” I said, more to distract myself from thoughts of getting her naked than a desire to check out the house. “You’ve met Mrs Hall, I gather?”

  “Yes, I have,” she said. “Maybe I could make us all an espresso. The kitchen gadgets arrived an hour ago. Some I don’t think I’ll ever work out. And who needs a pasta maker, for God’s sake? If you think that I am going to be making pasta from scratch, you can think again. Canned spaghetti is more my speed. Although maybe Mrs Hall is adept at making it. Which is probably good, seeing as she’s the cook?”

  She kept chatting as she walked down the stairs, Charlie on her hip. The pensive mood that had suddenly enveloped her seemed to have shifted, like a cloud moving over a summer sky. I watched her hips sway as she walked, and tiny rivulets of sweat on her neck.

  Cara sure was one intriguing woman.

  I was looking forward to knowing her better, that was for sure.

  Cara

  I sat on the beach, adjusting my sun hat. It was another hot day in Queensland.

  I stared out over the sea, watching jet skis in the distance. It was a billionaire’s playground, here. Full of wealthy and beautiful people. Women sashayed up and down the beach, showing off their bronzed bodies, displayed to perfection in itsy bitsy string bikinis. The life savers patrolled the beach, buff in their red speedos, dragging kayaks behind them. Yes, it certainly was eye candy central.

  I looked at Charlie, dressed in a full-length bathing costume to keep sunburn at bay. I had put a wide brimmed hat on his head, as well. Oh, and let’s not forget the ubiquitous zinc cream spread over his nose. Australians loved the stuff. He was covered in fifty plus sunscreen, as well. The Aussie sun was harsh, and I had already been caught out. I didn’t want the little guy to suffer.

  I gazed at him fondly. He had his bucket and spade, carefully digging sand. Absorbed, he would dump the sand he had collected back on the beach, then repeat. He didn’t seem to know how to make sand castles, yet. Sometimes I would make one for him, but he would just stare at it, pushing against it until it collapsed.

>   This had become our routine. Playing on the beach in the morning, and then I would take him back to the house. I would make him lunch, and then it was afternoon nap time. He had an early supper, and was usually in bed for the night by seven. Sometimes Bryce would be home in time to see him, read a quick bedtime story and tousle his golden curls before he fell asleep. But usually not.

  Bryce. He was a strange one. He seemed to want to do the right thing by Charlie, but he floundered a lot. It didn’t help that he worked long hours. I was willing to cut him some slack because this was all so sudden and new to him, but inwardly, I despaired a bit. I hoped that he would start to develop better habits with his son, really devote some time to him and try to bond. Charlie deserved nothing less. He was a beautiful boy, with a very sweet nature and a rambunctious laugh. He could also be cheeky, but he wasn’t a naughty child.

  Yes, I had become attached to Charlie. I felt very protective of him; he had lost his mother and his home. He needed love. But what could a transient nanny really provide? I had been caring for him for a month now. But I wouldn’t be here forever.

  “Cara! Look!” Charlie was pointing out to the sea, where the lifeguards were zipping through the surf. I laughed.

  “Yes,” I said. “It’s a speed boat!” I tousled his golden curls.

  I checked my phone. Almost time to get him back for lunch. What would it be today? I wasn’t what you would call a gourmet cook. Thankfully, Charlie seemed happy with the peanut butter sandwiches or instant mac and cheese that I could whip up. Mrs Hall always provided dinner, but I had told her I could do lunch. I was still getting used to this being-cooked-for caper.

  As I gathered our stuff, I thought of Bryce again. He mightn’t be the best instant father in the world, but he sure was one hot man. There was an attraction there, I couldn’t deny it. Sometimes I caught myself staring at his hands, wondering what it would feel like if he placed them on me. I would shiver, in a good way. He had invaded my thoughts.