Page 16 of Baby Nanny

He eased into the boulevard traffic before sparing her a brief glance. “You’ll be pleased to know that I took your advice. I’ve arranged for us to stay at a small bungalow on the beach.”

He was careful not to use the word vacation. When he’d said it the previous day, Isabella had reacted with something approaching hysteria. Not until Annalise made the connection between the word and the accident that had claimed the lives of Joanne and Paul that she’d been able to figure out a way to comfort his niece.

Annalise grinned. “A bungalow on the beach, huh? Sounds fantastic.”

“It’s not quite as modest as you requested,” Jack warned. “But I think it’ll do.”

“I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”

Her quiet confidence in his abilities affected him more than he cared to admit. He was thirty years old with a first-class education. He came from one of the oldest families in all of Charleston. He owned and operated a billion-dollar international company with countless employees at his beck and call, most of whom were confident in his overall abilities. But for some reason, he responded to Annalise’s admiration like a cat being presented a bowl of cream. If he wasn’t careful, he’d start purring.

“Part of the problem is that I need someplace that will allow me Internet access so I can stay in touch with the office.”

“Of course,” she agreed. “Perfectly understandable.”

“And a location that protects our privacy.”

“An unfortunate aspect of your position in life.”

“Luckily , Ihave a friend who owns an estate with a guesthouse right on the water. He’s in Europe for the summer, so we’re welcome to stay for as long as we want. It’s only two bedrooms, but it has a kitchen.” A sudden thought struck. “Do you cook?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, now for the important question. Are you willing to ? Irealize it’s not part of your duties, but I’d be happy to compensate you for the additional work.”

“That’s not necessary.” Annalise turned her head to stare out the window. “I’m happy to help out.”

“And yet, you sound annoyed.” A sudden thought struck, one he could scarcely credit. “Have I offended you by offering to pay you extra?” he asked.

Annalise released a sigh and shifted in her seat to face him again. “Yes. The ridiculous part is , Ican’t figure out why.”

Maybe not, but he could. “It’s because of what happened yesterday. In the playroom,” he clarified.

She stiffened. “You mean when we—” She broke off and spared Isabella a quick look. “You know.”

“Yes , Imean when we you know. The ‘you knowing’ blended business with personal.”

“Then I suggest we unblend them since there won’t be any more of either ‘you,’ let alone ‘know,’ ever again.”

He shrugged. “We can try, though I doubt we’ll succeed. How do you take the color green and turn it back into blue and yellow? We can say we’re going to keep all the colors separate, that we’ll resist the temptation to… er… blend. But I can’t even offer to compensate you for the extra duties you’ll be taking on these next couple weeks without it offending you.”

“I’ll get over it, just as I’ll get over the urge to do any more blending.”

“Tell me how that works for you. I’m afraid I’m still a vivid shade of green.”

An attractive blush tinted her cheeks. She deliberately twisted around and engaged in a one-sided conversation with Isabella. He didn’t push. There’d be plenty of time over the next couple of weeks to tempt her with more blending. Even if he couldn’t engage her on a personal level, he hoped she’d become so attached to Isabella she’d be willing to accept his proposal forhis niece’s sake. He just needed to find the right lever that would tip the scales in his favor.

He ignored the small prick of conscience prodding him for his cold-blooded plan. He couldn’t afford a conscience, not if he wanted to keep custody of Isabella. If his father had taught him nothing else in life, Jonathan Mason had proved himself an expert instructor on how to pursue one’s goals with ruthless disregard. Nothing mattered but the end results. Not compassion. Not kindness. Not any of the gentler emotions. And definitely not family.

Jack had been brought up with a single motto: No matter what it takes. And that was how he would respond to his custody battle. When it came to Isabella, he would do whatever he had to, no matter what ittook.

He pulled into a broad drive, guarded by a ten-foot-high stone wall and a high-tech electronic security gate. He keyed in the code Taye had given him and, once the wrought-iron doors swung open, drove toward a mansion even more elaborate than his own. Beside him, Annalise’s jaw dropped. He turned down a narrow, graveled pathway, just wide enough for his Jag, and followed it for several hundred yards to a bungalow snuggled between beach and marsh.

Beside him, Annalise relaxed, possibly because the bungalow offered an exercise in simplicity in comparison to the main house. “It’s lovely,” she said with all sincerity.

He smiled in satisfaction. “I hoped you’d approve.” He thrust his door open. “Come on. Let’s check it out.”

Even Isabella lost her more typical apathetic mien and showed some enthusiasm. She darted into the bungalow behind him, one arm wrapped around her doll, the other around her stuffed lion. Jack couldn’t help but wonder if the lion providedher protection—not that he blamed her if that were the case. If it added to her sense of security, he’d surround her with a dozen lions.

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