Teresa Southwick - Marrying The Virgin Nanny / The Nanny And Me

“I think he’s hungry.” She set Brady on the changing table. “When did he last have a bottle?”

Jason glanced at his watch. “About three hours ago.”

“Just as I suspected. You’re ready to eat.” She undid his terrycloth sleeper and slid his legs out, grabbing one tiny foot and kissing the toes. “You have hollow legs, Brady Garrett. Yes, you do.”

Jason was completely caught up in the tenderness that she lavished on the baby. And apparently he wasn’t the only one. When she smiled down, Brady’s tiny mouth curved up in response. His arms waved and legs kicked with genuine excitement rather than agitation. If that was anything to judge by, the little guy had missed her, too. No, not too. That would mean Jason had missed her and he refused to admit to anything but feeling her absence.

He was so caught up in that thought and watching her with his son, it took him several moments to realize she hadn’t answered his question about her day off.

Now that he thought about it, she looked tired. There were circles beneath her eyes that made them look even bigger and more vulnerable.

“I’ll get a bottle,” he said.

“Thanks.” She glanced at him for a moment, then finished changing the diaper.

Jason went to the kitchen and took from the fridge one of the formula-filled bottles she’d prepared before leaving yesterday and set it in the automatic warmer. When it was ready, he returned to the nursery where she sat in the glider with Brady.

“Did you have a good time with Daddy?” she said to the baby, holding him close.

As if talking back, the baby made a cooing sound that was new and Jason’s chest tightened with tenderness. He’d never worked as hard in his life as he had taking care of his child. His only goal had been to make sure Brady was comfortable, happy and content. But it was nice just to be a spectator and watch, noting the milestones in his son that he’d been too busy to notice.

Maggie smiled at the cooing, and said, “I know, sweetheart. I bet you were an angel. Because you’re just the best baby in the whole world. I’m so glad you have food and a place to sleep and a roof over your head.”

Her eyes darkened and there was an edge to her voice. For the second time he remembered that she hadn’t answered his question. “How was your day off, Maggie?”

She glanced up and held out her hand for the bottle. “See what Daddy brought, Brady?”

He handed it to her, then leaned a shoulder against the wall and watched while the boy latched on to the nipple and eagerly started to suck. Maggie smiled gently but it never chased the shadows from her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Maggie?”

Her gaze lifted to his. “Excuse me?”

“How was your day off?”

“Same as always,” she said. “I helped with the kids.”

He didn’t know if her reaction was the same because he had no basis for comparison. No one would accuse him of being the most observant guy on the planet, but even he could see that there was something eating her. “Are you always bothered after spending your day off there?”

“I’m not in the habit of discussing things with my employer.”

“Look, I’m a businessman.” He slid his fingers into the pockets of his jeans. “And the nature of your employment makes it necessary for you to live under my roof. The lines blur. As your friend and employer I ask again, what’s wrong?”

She sighed as she set the bottle on the table beside her, then lifted the baby to her shoulder to gently rub his back. Within moments he burped, a sound that did a father proud. Instantly, he started squirming and whimpering, a sign he wasn’t finished eating.

When she had Brady settled, Maggie looked up. “What’s bothering me? Roofs.”

“Would you care to elaborate?”

“Very soon the kids at Good Shepherd may not have one.” She sighed. “Sister Margaret told me that the building needs repairs. If they’re not done, the state could withhold or refuse to renew a certificate of occupancy, putting their license to operate in jeopardy.”

“I see.”

Her expression was ironic. “How could you possibly understand? You live in a castle in the clouds. That world is so far removed from your frame of reference.”

He couldn’t argue with that and decided not to try. “What are they going to do?”

“Sister says they’re hoping for an extension that will give them time to come up with a plan. She’s been there for a long time and if anyone can come up with a miracle, it’s her.” She glanced down at the baby who was limp and relaxed in her arms. “She told me not to worry.”

“And it’s obvious you’re following that order.”

“Trying to.”

Maggie stood with Brady in her arms and looked around the room. “Where’s the infant seat?”

“The other room.”

She walked out of the nursery, down the hall and stopped dead in her tracks as she surveyed the living room. Jason had been so caught up in having her back that he’d forgotten this chaos. There were blankets, clothes, stuffed animals and toys everywhere. The infant swing, with a onesy hanging from it, stood in front of the sliding doors to the penthouse patio. It seemed a clash of cultures with the landmarks of Vegas just outside.

Numerous used baby bottles sat on the coffee and end tables as if Brady had invited over all his infant buddies and they’d had a blow-out party the night before.

Maggie looked up at him, then back at the clutter and chaos. “So, how did it go?”

“Good.” The casual tone was forced. After glancing at the disorder he met her gaze and smiled. “Everything went fine.”

“I can’t believe you’d stand there and lie to my face when it looks like a gigantic baby store exploded in here.”

“It’s the truth,” he protested. “By my definition of the word fine, that’s how it went.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. There are no casualties to report. Therefore things went fine.”

“Has the cleaning staff seen this place yet?”

He shook his head. “They have the weekend off.”

“Well, it won’t be fine when they do damage assessment.” The corners of her mouth turned up. The spunky comebacks she was firing off were more like the Maggie he knew.

As he watched her easily put the baby in the swing that he’d needed blueprints and specifications to operate, he breathed a sigh of relief. Now that she was back, all was right with his world.

“Maggie?”

She stood and put a finger to her lips as she walked over to him and drew him far enough away to not disturb the baby. “What?”

“Brady missed you.”

“He told you that?” she asked, her mouth curving up in a smile.

“Pretty much.”

Now that he was this close, he couldn’t seem to stop staring at her mouth. “And I’m so glad you’re back I could kiss you.”

“Always nice to be appreciated.”

It was more than that. But he ignored the pull of attraction and concentrated on what was best for Brady and, by extension, himself. After twenty-four hours without her, he never wanted the penthouse to be a Maggie-free zone.

The time had come to step up his campaign to change the terms of her employment.

Maggie’s large, comfortable room in the Garrett penthouse was more like what she imagined a luxury hotel suite would look like, including its own bath. The walk-in closet was big enough to live in and the oak dresser, armoire, headboard and nightstands all matched. No garage sale or flea market stuff here. Brass lamps stood on either side of the king-size bed, which was covered in a beautiful Laura Ashley floral-print comforter. Accent pillows in shades of light pink and rose were piled high. A flat-screen TV was mounted on the wall in the sitting area complete with sofa, recliner and reading lamps.