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As she stood, dazed and dumb, he suggested smoothly, ‘Now we’ve established that you don’t need the glasses, perhaps you’d care to take them off? It seems a shame to hide such beautiful eyes.’ The last was added with a certain bite, as though he didn’t intend it as a compliment.
Unable to think of a reason for refusing, Caroline took off the glasses and slipped them into her bag, trying not to meet his glance in case he should see all too clearly what she was thinking, feeling.
He opened the door and, a hand at her waist, ushered her across the well-furnished hall and into the living-room.
From the first moment they had met his impact had been stunning, and now his touch—light and impersonal though it was—proved to be devastating, trapping the breath in her throat, making her heart lurch drunkenly and her pulse begin to race with suffocating speed.
Despite its open-plan vastness and elegance, Matthew’s apartment had a homely, lived-in air. Several toys lay scattered on the Aubusson carpet, and a wooden rocking horse, ridden by a large, floppy rag doll with yellow plaits, stood in front of the long windows.
‘The playroom and nursery are this way.’ They went through a wide arch and across a second hallway. ‘And these rooms will be yours if you take the job.’ He threw open a pair of polished doors and showed her around.
Fitted with every mod-con, and beautifully furnished, the suite—sitting-room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette—was more than comfortable. It was downright luxurious.
She would have taken the job if it had been a ratinfested dungeon. But everything depended on whether Caitlin showed any signs of liking her.
Feeling a kind of dull hopelessness, Caroline wondered how anyone could expect a child of that tender age—a child who had already had one nanny she didn’t like—to take to a woman who was a total stranger?
‘Now if you’d like to come and meet Caitlin...’
Turning, Matthew led the way to a large, airy kitchen, where Mrs Monaghan was keeping an eye on her charge while making the morning coffee.
Dressed in a long-sleeved cotton shirt and brightly coloured dungarees, the child was busily engaged in tucking a doll into a pram. Looking up at their entrance, she came running over to Matthew and threw her arms around his legs.
Rumpling her dark silky hair, he said, ‘I’d like you to say hello to Miss Smith.’ Then, in a conspiratorial whisper he added, ‘If we’re both very nice to her, she may come and live with us and look after you.’
As Caitlin released her hold and turned to stare solemnly at the newcomer Caroline went down on her haunches. Her heart feeling as though it might burst, she smiled shakily at the little girl.
She was a beautiful and dainty child, her skin with the bloom of a peach, her dimpled cheeks still babyish, her long-lashed eyes an exquisite blue-green.
For long moments they looked at each other without speaking. Then in a clear, childish treble, Caitlin asked, ‘Do you want to come and look after me?’
Caroline found her voice and said huskily, ‘I certainly do. You see, I’ve been looking after two little girls who have to go away, and it would be lovely to have another little girl to take care of.’
After considering this for a second or two, Caitlin turned and trotted away, to return almost immediately with a large brown bear wearing a red and green striped scarf and a pugnacious expression on his heavy-jowled face.
‘This is Barnaby.’ She thrust the bear into Caroline’s arms.
‘Well, hello, Barnaby.’
‘He’s a boy.’
‘And a bear of character, I can see. Would he mind if I hugged him?’
Leaning against Caroline’s knee, Caitlin confided, ‘He likes to be hugged.’
‘He also likes a mid-morning nap,’ Matthew suggested, with a glance at his housekeeper.
‘Well, come along, me darlings.’ Mrs Monaghan obediently gathered up the child and the bear. “Time for a little sleep.’
As the trio departed Matthew put a hand beneath Caroline’s elbow and helped her to her feet.
‘Thank you.’ Trying to hide her desolation, she added.
‘I’d hoped to have a little more time with Caitlin.’
‘You’ll have plenty of time with her once you’ve moved in.’
Hardly daring to believe her ears, with a wildly beating heart, she asked, ‘You mean...?’
‘I mean Caitlin liked you.’
‘How can you tell?’
Just for a second his green-gold eyes warmed into laughter. ‘Only the people she really likes get to meet Barnaby. So, if you want the job...?’
Filled with joy and excitement, she breathed, ‘Yes... Yes, I do.’
‘Then as soon as we’ve had some coffee I’ll drive you over to the Amesburys’ to pick up your things. That way you’ll have the afternoon and evening to settle in before you start work tomorrow morning.’
After so much heartbreak, Caroline could hardly believe her good fortune. But even as she rejoiced the voice of caution warned that she mustn’t let gladness blind her to the danger of being here.
Every minute spent in Matthew’s company added to the risk of betraying herself, so she must stay out of his way as much as possible, and pray that he never suspected who she really was.
CHAPTER TWO
CAROLINE finished tucking Caitlin and Barnaby into bed and said softly, ‘Goodnight and God bless.’
‘Is Daddy home yet?’
Matthew, who had been away on a business trip for almost two weeks, was due back tonight, just in time for Christmas.
‘No. he won’t be home until quite late. But if you go to sleep like a good girl, when he gets here I’ll ask him to come in and give you a kiss.’
‘Tell me the toad story?’ Caitlin pleaded. She was getting tired, and her long silky lashes kept drooping.
Heart melting with love, Caroline agreed. ‘All right, if you close your eyes while you listen.’
Obediently the child’s bright eyes closed, and a small thumb went into her mouth.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, in the pool of golden light cast by the bunny lamp, Caroline began the fairy story that during the last month had become Caitlin’s favourite.
‘Once upon a time there was a handsome prince...’
‘What was he called?’
‘He was called Matthew...’
This part had become a familiar routine, with the same question, the same answer, and the same giggles because, on the first occasion, when Caroline had asked, ‘What do you think he was called?’ Caitlin had unhesitatingly chosen the name Matthew.
‘Now, poor Matthew had been turned into a toad by a naughty witch, and the only way to break the spell was for a beautiful princess to kiss him. One fine morning, when he was hopping through the forest...’
The story was one from her own childhood, and Caroline knew it off by heart. The words were soothing, familiar, allowing her thoughts to wander...
It seemed incredible that it was only about a month ago since Matthew had insisted on driving her to Morningside Heights to pick up her things.
While he had talked to Lois Amesbury she had packed—her few clothes and possessions going into a single suitcase—and said goodbye to the twins. With the prospect of having Caitlin to take care of, leaving the family hadn’t proved to be the wrench it might have been.
Mrs Monaghan had been kindness itself, and Caroline had settled into the penthouse well. To her very great relief there had been no mention of Matthew’s former fiancée, and the days had been filled with the kind of happiness she had never expected to know again.
But, while she gave Caitlin all the love and attention the child needed, Caroline was trying not to make the little girl too dependent on her. Always, at the back of her mind, was the knowledge of how uncertain the future was.
It was a blessed relief—or so she’d told herself—that after the first few days she had seen very little of Matthew.
At first he had watched her as relentlessly as a cat watches its potential prey, then, observing that she had won the child’s trust and affection, he had left her to it and set about catching up on a huge backlog of work before heading for Hong Kong.
Without his dynamic presence the apartment had seemed curiously empty, devoid of life and warmth and excitement.
While she admitted that she ought to feel safer when he was away, part of her longed to see him, to hear his voice and know he was close at hand...
‘And the beautiful princess said, “Little toad with crooked leg, open quick the door I beg...”’
Seeing Caitlin had fallen asleep, Caroline stopped speaking and, rising softly to her feet, took the child’s hand from her mouth and tucked it beneath the duvet, before stooping to kiss the rosy cheek.
As she switched on the monitoring system and turned to the door the tender smile lingering on her lips gave way to a gasp of fright.
The tall, shadowy figure, lounging in the doorway straightened. ‘I’m sorry,’ Matthew murmured mockingly, ‘did I startle you?’
Wondering how long he’d been standing there listening, she stammered, ‘I...we...weren’t expecting you home so early.’
He was still wearing his dark business suit. His lean face looked a little strained, she thought, as though even his magnificent stamina had been tested by such an intensive trip.
She felt a rush of tenderness, a longing to open her arms to him and welcome him back.
But even as she wished she had that right she saw that his eyes held a glint, a dangerous sparkle that made warning bells ring.
As he moved into the room she attempted to slip unobtrusively past him, her heart thudding, when he caught her wrist. ‘Don’t go...’
Ignoring her sharp intake of breath, he stooped to touch his lips to Caitlin’s forehead before leading the way out of the nursery and into the playroom, where a single shaded night-lamp burnt. ‘We have some unfinished business.’
‘Unfinished business?’ Alarmed by his air of intent, the build-up of tension she could feel, Caroline made an attempt to free her wrist.
His grip merely tightened, until his fingers felt as though they might crush the delicate bones. Moving closer, he suggested silkily, ‘Surely we need the beautiful princess to kiss the poor toad?’
Finding she’d been backed into a corner, and trying not to panic, she said as lightly as possible, ‘It’s just a fairy story Caitlin’s taken to.’
‘Ah, but a fairy story has to have a happy ending, and as the leading character...’
His dark face was only inches away. She looked at his mouth, that austere yet sensual mouth, and remembered with stunning clarity what it felt like when it touched hers.
A treacherous wave of heat engulfing her, somehow she managed, ‘I really don’t think I’d rate as a beautiful princess.’
‘You may not rate as a princess, but you’re certainly beautiful enough.’ All at once he sounded angry, driven.
Terrified of what might happen if he touched her, she begged hoarsely, ‘Oh, please, Matthew...’
Ignoring the plea, he took her face between his hands and his mouth closed over hers.
All thought obliterated, her whole being melted instantly, completely, so that without the support of the wall she couldn’t have remained on her feet.
His touch, his kiss, was what her heart and mind and body had craved. When finally he lifted his head, it took her a few seconds to gather herself and register that he was breathing as though he’d been running hard.
Knowing he’d only kissed her because he was inexplicably angry, she felt a fierce satisfaction that he hadn’t remained totally unmoved.
‘Well, well, well...’ he drawled, and his voice had a harshness to it. ‘Who would have dreamt such a prim-looking nanny was capable of so much passion?’
Terrified that her uncontrolled response might have stirred memories in him that were best forgotten, she said raggedly, ‘Please let me go. You have no right to treat me like this.’
‘Can I plead provocation?’ He was laughing now, making fun of her. ‘Promise never to touch you again?’
‘I’d prefer it if you did, Mr Carran.’
‘Why so formal? A minute ago you called me Matthew.’
She felt a quick stab of fear. ‘I—I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to...I was upset.’
He was still holding her face between his palms, and his thumbs stroked backwards and forwards across her cheeks in a movement that was no caress but an expression of his anger.
‘Tell me, Miss Smith, if I find it impossible to keep my hands off you, what will you do?’
She wanted to say that she would go, but at the thought of being anywhere else her heart seemed to shrivel and die in her breast..
‘Will you leave?’
Somehow he must have guessed that she would never leave of her own accord, she thought agitatedly, and he was deliberately taunting her.
Her voice impeded, she pointed out, ‘I don’t think that would help Caitlin. She’s just got used to me, and a child of her age needs some stability.’
As though the mention of Caitlin had sobered him, Matthew let his hands drop to his sides and stepped back, his expression controlled and dispassionate now.
But, when Caroline would have hurried away to the safety of her own suite, he once again stopped her. ‘Don’t disappear,’ he said briskly. ‘I want to talk to you. Have you had your evening meal yet?’
‘No.’
‘Then we can eat together and talk at the same time.’
Desperate to be alone until she had regained her equilibrium, Caroline made the first excuse that she could think of. ‘Oh, but I usually eat in the kitchen with Mrs Monaghan. She might think it strange if I—’
‘Isn’t Friday her night off?’
