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“We know each other—”
“That’s not technically true,” she interrupted. Best to take the wind out of his sails before he picked up speed with that thought process. “Knowing each other would imply you remember my name. But every time our paths cross you stick out your hand and say ‘Hi, I’m Jess Donnelly.’” She slid her own shaking hands into the pockets of her jeans. “That says Teflon brain.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know. Teflon. Slippery. Nothing sticks. Like the fact that we’ve met. In my book, we really don’t know each other.”
“You were Charity’s maid of honor. You came to their housewarming barbecue. You’re godmother to that child.”
“And you’re godfather.”
“I remember.”
“All evidence to the contrary.” She bit her tongue but it was too late because the words were already out.
His gaze narrowed on her. “I learned a long time ago not to assume that everyone recalls who I am. I meet a lot of people and always introduce myself.” He lifted one broad shoulder in a casual shrug. “It’s polite, avoids potential awkwardness and now it’s a habit of mine.”
“I see.” But it wasn’t really okay and she didn’t know why. “So you’re aware that I’ve been taking care of Morgan for over nine months?”
“Ben mentioned it.” A dark look slid into his eyes. “Before he and Charity left—”
“When he asked you to be her legal guardian if anything happened,” she finished.
“Yeah.”
“Obviously there’s been something of a misunderstanding. Just so you know, I’m more than willing to take on the nanny job.”
“No.”
“Even though I’ve been caring for her all this time?” She blinked. “Just like that? You don’t even want to think about it?”
“There’s nothing to think about.”
“So you really want to take on a child you hardly know and didn’t come to see while her parents were gone? Not even when you found out her mother and father had passed away?”
“I already explained that I was out of the country at the time.”
“And I was the one here with her. The one who had to break the news that Ben and Charity weren’t coming back.”
“I promised my friend that I would raise his child if anything happened to him. I gave my word.”
“But they gave Morgan to me,” she countered.
“So you want to keep her. I get it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The thing is they made me her legal guardian.”
“Paperwork. It can be changed if you agree.”
“I don’t.”
“Even though you don’t really want her?”
“Who said I don’t?” he asked sharply.
She raised a hand to indicate his posh penthouse. “There are signs.”
“I assured Ben that his daughter would have everything she needed and he shouldn’t worry.” He looked at her. “So I found the finest child-care service available to provide supervision. Now you’re here. How did that happen?”
“Since you were too busy to seal the deal, maybe you should ask your lawyer and secretary.”
“I will. And Ginger Davis is on my list, too. Frankly I’m questioning her judgment in sending you.”
“She wouldn’t have sent me unless you approved,” Libby defended. “I’ll admit it was my idea—”
“There’s a surprise.”
She glared at him. “Just think about it and you’ll see that this makes sense. Morgan has been with me since her parents left and it could potentially be harmful to leave her in the care of strangers. I’m willing and eager to be her nanny. It’s a good plan.”
“Define good,” he said.
“Continuity of care for Morgan at a time when she’s especially vulnerable.”
“By that you mean yourself.” He stared at her. “Why didn’t you come to me? Approach me up front and run this scenario by me?”
“I tried.”
“Apparently not very hard.”
“You’re not really like the rest of us, are you? Do you remember what it felt like when the name of gazillionaire Jess Donnelly didn’t open doors or grease the wheels in getting you past secretaries, administrative assistants, doormen and security? Right to the top of the food chain?”
“I’ll admit there are layers to my organization.”
“No kidding.” She blew out a breath and struggled for calm. “I didn’t set out to campaign for this job. As it happens I already work for Ginger at the preschool. We discussed the arrangement and she decided there was some merit to my suggestion. I assumed that when she said everything had been worked out you’d agreed to it.” She folded her arms over her chest. “No one told me negotiations had gone through your minions.”
“Look, I’ve only ever been introduced to you as Libby. I didn’t know you and Elizabeth Bradford were one and the same. It seems a conflict of interest since we have a prior relationship.”
“What we have isn’t a relationship. It’s a series of brief encounters, ships passing in the night. Nothing about that is personal enough to prevent me being Morgan’s nanny.”
He shook his head. “Look, Libby, I don’t think this is going to work out—”
“Aunt Libby?”
Jess whirled around and when he moved, Libby saw Morgan behind him. She didn’t know how long the little girl had been there. “Hey, sweetie. Is SpongeBob over?”
“No.”
“Is something wrong?” Libby asked. Stupid question. Everything was wrong, she realized. But nothing good would come of letting Morgan see her desperation.
“I got scared. You sounded mad.”
“I’m sorry. And I’m not mad.” Not at you, she wanted to say. She hurried over to the child whose brown eyes were now worried and filling with tears. So much for hiding the highly charged situation from her. “We didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Morgan brushed a finger beneath her nose and stared uncertainly at Jess. “Is he making you go away?”
“We were just talking about that.” She looked at him.
“I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to stay here by myself. Please, Aunt Libby—”
When Morgan started to cry, Libby gathered her close. “It’s going to be okay, baby. It will.”
“I d-don’t want you to g-go away.”
Jess ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t cry, Morgan. Your Aunt Libby isn’t going away.”
“Really?” Libby said.
Morgan lifted her head and looked at him. “Really?”
“Really. I’m sorry. I didn’t handle everything very well. Your Aunt Libby is mad at me.” He shrugged when she lifted one eyebrow. Points to him for getting it. “The truth is that you’re both going to stay here with me and Aunt Libby is going to be your nanny.”
“What changed your mind?”
“You were right,” he said. “It wouldn’t be a good idea to let a stranger look after her. So I’d appreciate it if you’d stay on. Until she’s adjusted to the situation.”
“Okay.”
“Is that all right with you, Morgan?”
“Yes.” She nodded eagerly.
“Then we have a plan for the short term.”
That was good enough for Libby. She’d take what she could get and figure out the rest later.
“Seemed like a good idea at the time” was the best way Libby could describe her first week under Jess’s roof. Libby had been so sure the living arrangement would take the edge off her attraction, but not so much in the first week. Even when he wasn’t there, which was ninety-five percent of the time, the place was all about him.
Pictures of him hiking in Red Rock Canyon. A carelessly discarded expensive silk tie in the family room. The spicy scent of him in every room made it feel like having his arms around her. Or was that wishful thinking? Not that it mattered. Or it wouldn’t if she could say the idea was unpleasant. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“Aunt Libby?”
“Hmm?” She pulled her thoughts back to tucking Morgan into bed. “Sorry, sweetie. I was thinking about something else.”
“That’s okay.” The little girl pulled the sheet and blanket more securely over her.
“Do you want me to finish the story?”
“No.”
Libby studied the serious little face. “Is something on your mind?”
“Yes.”
Libby suppressed a smile. When Morgan first came to stay with her this method of communication had taken some getting used to. Instead of blurting out whatever was going through her head, she worked her way to it with a series of questions. It wasn’t efficient, but eventually what she needed to discuss got discussed.
“Is everything all right at school? Your kindergarten teacher says you’re one of her pet pupils and she’s not supposed to have favorites.”
Twin dimples flashed on the child’s cheeks when she smiled. “Miss Connie is nice.”
“She is very nice.”
Nooks and Nannies Preschool had a kindergarten class and Morgan went there while Libby was working with her preschoolers. Charity and Ben had been supposed to come home before first grade to enroll the little girl at the school near their home. Now their child lived in a luxury penthouse condominium, a different home. Fortunately, Jess had agreed with her that changing schools right now wasn’t the best plan.
“So if school isn’t keeping you up at night, what’s bothering you?”
Morgan clutched her doll against her thin chest. “I don’t think he likes me.”
“Who? A boy at school? Is someone being mean to you?”
“No. That guy.”
“Who?” Alarm trickled through Libby.
“My daddy’s friend.”
“You mean Uncle Jess?”
She nodded. “I don’t think he’s very happy that we came to live with him.”
Libby had hoped Morgan didn’t pick up on the signs that he was ignoring them, but no such luck. “Why do you think that, sweetie?”
“He’s never here.”
“Sure he is,” Libby protested. “In the mornings.”
Her stomach tightened as she remembered just today he’d come into the kitchen to say goodbye before heading to his office. In his pinstriped navy suit and red tie he’d looked particularly handsome. Freshly shaven, with every hair in place, he’d set her female parts quivering with awareness. Darn him. He’d revved up her hormones, then raced out the door.
“Two times he drank a cup of coffee while I ate cereal. But he doesn’t sit down with me. Not like you do, Aunt Libby.”
Sometimes a smart and perceptive child could be worrisome and this was one of those times. At least she wasn’t perceptive enough to notice Libby’s insane crush on Jess, but that probably had more to do with her young age. There was still an ick factor regarding boys.
Libby wished for the good old days because her current plan wasn’t coming together very well. Every exposure to Jess was supposed to be like a vaccination and living here should have been the booster. Should have being the key words.
“Jess is a busy man, sweetheart. He has lots of people working for him and depending on him.”
“Does he eat supper?” Morgan asked.
“I’m sure he does.” If he didn’t, the impressive muscles that filled out his T-shirt would be fairly nonexistent. And they were definitely existent, positively thriving. In a mouth-watering way. Libby had no ick factor where he was concerned.
“I’ve never seen him eat supper, Aunt Libby. He doesn’t like us.”
