Page 10 of Baby Nanny

“Yes,” he stated baldly. “But you’re like a damned dog with a bone. You just don’t let go.”

She stunned him by leaning in and offering a teasing smile. “Isn’t that precisely the sort of person you want on Isabella’s side? I’m a fighter. And you’re right . Idon’t give up.”

He paused to consider. He did need someone like her, someone who’d help him take on Mrs. Locke. Maybe it was time to listen to her. “What do you suggest?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Two things. First, simplify Isabella’s environment so she isn’t so visually stimulated and overwhelmed. Second , Isuggest you take a few weeks off work and spend time with her in a—” she spared a brief glance around “—shall we say, in a more basic setting.”

“I can’t afford to take a few days off right now, let alone a few weeks.”

Annalise tilted her head to one side, and more curls escaped from the knot at her nape, tumbling down her shoulders and back in glorious abandon. No wonder she attempted to maintain such tight control over her hair. It was every bit as willful as the rest of her. Her eyes darkened as she regardedhim.

“I thought you were willing to do whatever it took to keep custody of Isabella,” she said. “Any. Damn. Thing. Remember?”

“I have a business empire to run.”

“Then let her go.”

The softly spoken recommendation—identical to the one his lawyer, Derek, had made—hung in the air between them, vanquished only when he released a single, harsh expletive. “I must have been insane when I hired you.”

“Would it help if I promise I’ll always put Isabella’s best interests first?”

“I don’t doubt that for a minute.” He forked his fingers through his hair. Every instinct told him she was right. He’d just been looking for an easier solution. He should have known he wouldn’t find one. Building his import/export business had been no different. It had required total dedication and had demanded his attention every hour of every day, and then some. “Fine. We’ll try it your way for now.”

Her grin blew him away. “Thank you.”

He snagged the collar of her suit jacket and tugged her close. Close enough that he could feel the explosion of her breath against his jawline. “We’ll try it your way for now. But one stumble and that changes. Are we clear, Ms. Stefano?”

“Are you a perfectionist, Mr. Mason? Are your employees expected to be just as perfect?”

She’d reverted to a more formal manner of addressing him and he could guess why. Since she couldn’t pull free of his hold without losing their small battle of wills, this was her subtle way of putting some distance between them. “Jack,” he reminded her. “And yes , Iam a perfectionist . Ican afford to be—just as I can afford to hire the very best and expect them to give me precisely what I want.”

She didn’t cave, not one inch. Instead, she continued to gaze at him with those ancient, deep-set eyes, eyes that seemed to alter color with her every mood change. Right now, they reminded him of tarnished gold. “In that case I’ll have to see that you get your money’s worth.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth , amouth full and lush and red, and more enticing than the legendary apple Eve had offered Adam. “I’ll hold you to that,” he warned.

Temptation beckoned, urging him to take a bite of sin. He didn’t bother resisting. Something about this woman made him want to stake his claim, to gather up all that passion and energy she tried so hard to hide and allow it to storm through him. He’d been so cold for so long. He needed her heat, needed to feel the flames of desire. To—just this once—release the rigid control which governed every aspect of his life. What harm would this one timemake?

Was she as curious as he to see where their embrace took them? He could spare her the suspense. He’d accomplished step one of his marriage project. He’d hired a nanny who would put his niece’s best interests first and stick around long enough to satisfy CPS. Now for step two. To engage her emotions just enough that she’d cave to the insanity of marryinghim.

He lowered his head and captured her mouth with his. He half expected Annalise to yank free of the embrace, but to his relief, she didn’t resist. Nor did she burn with the same fire sweeping through him. Instead, she responded with a heady delicacy. Her mouth turned soft and responsive, yielding for those first seconds. Then her lips parted ever so cautiously, and she deepened thekiss.

Rational thought disintegrated. All he could think about was the woman in his arms and how quickly he could strip away the layers of clothing until burning flesh collided with burning flesh. He skated his hands down her back and cupped her lush backside, pulling her more fully against him. His groan slid from his mouth tohers.

A soft moan hummed in her throat and she slid her hands across his chest to his shoulders. “Jack…”

The sound of his name, overflowing with feminine desire, swept away the final remnants of his self-control. He urgedher backward across the room toward the padded window seat overlooking his cloistered garden. The back of her legs bumped against the half-wall and she teetered on the edge of tumbling. He grinned against her mouth, preparing to follow her down onto the thick cushions, when an unmistakable noise distracted him. The sound of weeping crackled through the baby monitor clipped to hisbelt.

He released Annalise, and for an endless second their gazes locked and held. Shock and disbelief glittered in her eyes, though whether directed at his actions or her own, he couldn’t quitetell.

The breath exploded from her lungs and she shook her head. “Oh, no. Hell, no. This is not going to happen ever again, Mr. Mason. Are we clear on that point?”

“Crystal. And just so you know?” He traced a finger along the curve of her cheek and watched as her eyes overflowed with helpless desire. She fought it, but it was there for him to see. “It will happen again, for one reason and one reason only.”

Her chin shot up. “And what’s that?”

“I doubt either of us will be able to keep our hands off each other.”

With that, he turned and left the room, unwilling to admit even to himself how difficult he found the choice.

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