She blinked away the ridiculous image of dining with the handsome doctor over a candlelit meal she’d whipped up in this dream kitchen. Good grief, she was his employee. Actually she wasn’t even that. He hadn’t even offered her the job yet. She needed to remember her place and stay focused on what was important. She couldn’t let her mind wander to places it had no business going. So what if he was a handsome man? So what if he had a nice smile and great eyes? If he hired her, her focus would be on the children.
From the kitchen, she followed him into the large family room that looked a little more comfortable than the rest of the house. It had warm wooden floors and an overstuffed sofa arranged across from two masculine-looking leather club chairs. A massive wooden coffee table anchored the grouping. On the wall to her right, a huge flat-screen TV loomed above a fireplace. The windows on the far wall overlooked a nice fenced-in backyard. She could see it better from here and finally caught her first glimpse of the other three kids.
“While Megan, George and Bridget are playing out back, why don’t we talk for a few minutes and then I’ll introduce you to them?”
Lily watched the trio running around the yard, playing what looked like a game of tag. At the moment, the kids showed no traces of sadness. Still, her heart broke for them. She hadn’t been much older than they looked when her own parents were killed in a car accident. Her one silver lining had been that her maternal grandmother had taken her in and raised her. Her mother had been an only child. So she and her grandmother shared more of a mother-daughter relationship, filling the void for each other the best that they could. At least they’d had each other until she’d died. She’d been gone almost two years now.
Lily had always felt loved and safe and wanted with her. Dr. Dunlevy obviously cared about the well-being of his charges, but she couldn’t help wondering what the kids must be going through. To be so young and dependent.
Or maybe the innocence of youth protected them? She hoped so.
Lily settled herself on the edge of the sofa. Dr. Dunlevy sat across from her on the closest chair. With his elbows on the armrests, he steepled his fingers and gazed at her for a moment, as if he were collecting his thoughts.
Finally he said, “Lily Palmer, I’m glad you don’t scare easily. Please tell me you know how to make order out of chaos.”
She sat up straighter, unsure how to answer that question.
He laughed. “Even if you don’t, you come highly recommended.”
“That’s very nice to know.”
She held up a finger. “I have a résumé for you.” She slid a folio out of her shoulder bag and retrieved a résumé and list of references. He gave it a once-over.
“Have you had any experience as a nanny in the past?”
“Actually I haven’t. No nanny experience per se, but as I said, I’m a second-grade schoolteacher.”
“I suppose that’s like being a full-time nanny to a bunch of kids,” he said.
She nodded. “Pretty much.”
“Let’s see,” he said as he continued to read the rundown of her career history. Suddenly, he put down the paper. “What would you do with four spirited kids? How would you care for them?”
“I would keep them busy, of course. But first you and I would need to discuss your expectations for them.”
Cullen nodded and rubbed his temples. “I’m glad you brought that up. I’m not going to lie. They’re a handful. They’re good kids. Their father was my best friend. But since the loss of their parents, they seem to be working through their grief by acting out. They are the reason my housekeeper quit.”
“I’m very sorry for your loss. The loss of your friend, I mean.”
Of course he knew what she meant. He wouldn’t think she was consoling him over the loss of his housekeeper.
Would he?
Ugh. She felt her cheeks heat. Why was she suddenly so nervous?
Her words hung in the air between them for a few awkward beats.
“Thank you. The kids seem to be resilient, but they have been a challenge. I wanted to be up-front with you about it. It’s better that I tell you exactly what to expect than to have you walk out on us like Angie did.”
Lily squinted at him. “What do you mean, Dr. Dunlevy?”
“Please call me Cullen. There’s no need for formalities.”
“Okay. Cullen. Did Angie interact with the children?”
“As little as possible. Her main objective was to come in and do her housework. She was my housekeeper for a number of years. With the kids here, it was difficult.”
“No disrespect to Angie—I’m sure she’s great at what she does,” said Lily. “But in my experience, when a child acts up, it’s usually a sign that he or she is looking for attention. I would imagine that the kids feel displaced and frightened after losing their parents. I would keep them busy doing fun activities. When kids are busy, they don’t have a lot of time to get into trouble. And they tend to sleep better at night because they’re tired.”
“Would you be willing to get out in the yard and run around with them like that?” He hiked a thumb toward the windows.
“Absolutely. Unless it’s too cold or the weather is bad. And then there are lots of things we can do inside, like holiday baking and decorating for Christmas.”
She noticed the lack of decorations in his house. It was only December first, and yes, it was still early for some people to decorate. But it had been a tradition in her family to deck the halls the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
“Would you mind if the kids decorated for the holidays?”
“I can’t remember the last time I even put up a tree,” he said. “I guess the kids will want one since they’ll be with me until the New Year, if that long.”
“Are they going somewhere after that?”
Cullen raked a hand through his hair and looked a little unsettled. “They’re not living with me indefinitely. It just wouldn’t be fair to them. That’s why I only need a nanny for a month. It may not even be that long if the attorney I’m working with is able to find a family willing to take them in. I want to keep them together. After all they’ve been through, it wouldn’t be right to split them up. Of course, if you agree to take the job and the attorney comes through before the end of the month, I’ll pay you through the end of December. That’s only fair.”
Attorney?
“Those poor kids.” The words escaped before Lily could contain them.
Cullen drew in a deep breath and let it out. He seemed to be weighing his words.
Finally he said, “I know it’s not ideal, but I’m not married and sometimes I work eighty hours a week. Kids their age need a family to care for them. As much as I hate the thought of shuffling them around, placing them in a good stable environment with a traditional family will be better for them in the long run. The agency is working hard to keep them together, but we’re racing against a deadline. They have to go back to school after the first of the year. It would be less disruptive for them to start at their new school than to have them start here and transfer somewhere else.”
“They don’t have any family who can take them?”
“If they did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“Those poor kids have dealt with so much loss at such a young age. To be all alone, except for each other...”
The back door banged open and a cacophony of voices and running feet put an abrupt end to Lily and Cullen’s conversation.
Cullen’s gaze locked with Lily’s. He seemed to be asking, Are you on board?
She nodded.
He smiled, then called to the kids, who had blown right past them on their way to the kitchen. “Megan, George, Bridget, please come here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
The three of them walked back into the room and stood in front of
Lily and Cullen. They cast suspicious, sidelong glances at Lily and then back at each other. Looking more subdued than they had when they were out in the yard, they seemed to be communicating in their own silent language.
Cullen introduced the children. “Please say hello to Ms. Palmer. We’ve been talking about the possibility of her being your nanny while I’m at work.”
“I’m almost eleven years old,” said Megan. “I don’t need a nanny. I can babysit George, Bridge and Hannah. Mom used to let me do it all the time.”
“She did not,” cried George. “Don’t be a liar.”
Megan gave her brother the stink-eye. George clamped his mouth shut and stared at his shoes.
“I’m not lying.” Megan sounded a lot older than a typical ten-year-old. Losing both parents made you grow up fast, Lily knew from experience. “I’m just saying, we don’t need a babysitter.”
“Well, I don’t babysit,” said Lily. “So I think we’re okay. We can just hang out.”
“Hang out?” Megan scoffed.
“Yes,” said Lily. “Don’t you like to hang out?”
Before Megan could answer, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” said George. He sprinted out of the room before anyone could protest. Cullen hadn’t been joking when he’d said the kids were spirited...well, except for Bridget. She hadn’t uttered a single word since they’d met.
“Excuse me,” said Cullen. “I’m expecting someone. I’m sorry about the interruption. Everything seems to happen at once around here. It’s a new way of life.”
He smiled and Lily liked the way his eyes creased at the corners. At least he had a sense of humor.
“Continue to talk and get to know each other. I’ll be right back.”
Lily nodded. It would be good for them to have a few minutes of girl time.
“How old are you, Bridget?” Lily asked.
“She’s seven,” Megan answered. “George is nine and Hannah, who you haven’t met, is five. She’s the baby.”
“I met Hannah when I first arrived,” Lily said. “She was in the living room having some quiet time with Franklin.”
“I’m the oldest,” Megan underscored.
“And I’ll bet you’re a very good big sister.”
Megan didn’t smile, but the compliment seemed to soften her demeanor a bit.
Lily heard Cullen and the voice of another man. Their tones were low and muffled. Whatever they were talking about sounded important. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but she was trying to get a sense of how long Cullen might be occupied. He hadn’t officially offered her the job and she didn’t want to assume it was hers for the taking. He might even have had other candidates to interview.
Still, Lily did her best to engage the kids in conversation, taking care to steer clear of sensitive topics that might upset them. It was more difficult than she’d imagined. That was why she was a bit relieved when George bounded back into the room holding a box of candy. It was one of those big yellow sampler types available in drugstores.
Megan shot him another of her stern glares. Maybe she didn’t want to share the chocolate. That was fine. Split among four siblings, even the big box wouldn’t go far. Lily didn’t want to take the kids’ candy.
“Since Ms. Palmer is going to be our babysitter,” George said, “we should give her something special.”
As he held out the box to Lily, Megan crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
“That’s so nice of you, George, but I don’t want to take your candy. Save it to share with your sisters.”
The boy jumped up and down on one foot. “No! I want to share with you. Here!”
He thrust the box at Lily. She took it, fearing he might drop it hopping around like that.
“Okay, just one piece. Thank you—”
When she lifted the lid, something long and black and jumpy sprang out at her. Before Lily could stop herself, she screamed and threw the box into the air.
Copyright © 2014 by Nancy Robards Thompson
ISBN-13: 9781460341896
The Soldier’s Holiday Homecoming
Copyright © 2014 by Judy Duarte
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Wanted: One mom for Christmas!
High school football coach Ethan Noble works wonders with his players. But at home, the handsome widower is just trying to keep four adorably unruly kids in line. He definitely isn’t looking for love…or so he thinks. When his oldest insists her drama teacher, Claire Jacobs, is perfect for him, it’s all Ethan can do to resist Claire’s bright smile and infectious laugh.
Claire privately admits that she wouldn’t mind Coach Noble making a pass at her. But his family dynamic is as complicated as Hamlet’s! For one, Ethan is still grieving for his late wife. Besides, Claire knows she’s not meant to star as a stepmom, although the entire Noble clan warms her heart this holiday season. Will Claire wait in the wings for Mr. Right, or make her curtain call a very Noble happily-ever-after?
“Yeah. Kid’s got a knack. Good head for business.”
Claire knew exactly where he was going with this and chose not to follow. “Clearly. Well. Give everyone my—” love, she started to say “—best. And have a good night. All of you.”
“You, too,” he said, his gaze locked on hers. And she thought, Hell.
Because, as she zipped out to her car, the thought nagged that despite what she’d wanted to see—to believe—about things easing between them…had they really? If they’d truly settled into friendship—which was the only logical choice, given the circumstances—why had that conversation felt like a pair of shoes that didn’t fit?
“Don’t even bother answering that,” she muttered to the universe.
Which was probably laughing its damn ass off.
* * *
Jersey Boys: Born…raised…and ready.
Dear Reader,
It’s been many, many years since I was a child, but Christmas still feels magical to me—the lights, the music, the special treats that only appear once a year (thank goodness, or I’d have to wear Santa’s XXXX-size outfit!). And I have to watch It’s a Wonderful Life every year. Because I love the movie’s angel message, that no matter what happens, we’re always more blessed than we might think…and that good always triumphs over tragedy.
A message Ethan Noble, still grieving over the loss of his wife three years earlier, hasn’t quite heard over the roar of duty and responsibility to his four children. For this football coach, it’s all about following the playbook, never deviating from the plan to restore order and stability to his children’s lives…even if that means sacrificing his own happiness. Until cutie-patootie—and free spirit—Claire Jacobs arrives on the scene to shake things up…and shake Ethan out
of his self-imposed emotional prison. And how, exactly, does she do that? Guess you’ll have to read on and find out.…
Wishing all of you love, and blessings, and, yes, a little magic this holiday season…
Karen
SANTA’S PLAYBOOK
Karen Templeton
Books by Karen Templeton
Harlequin Special Edition
§Husband Under Construction #2120
+Fortune’s Cinderella #2161
¤The Doctor’s Do-Over #2211
¤A Gift for All Seasons #2223
¤The Marriage Campaign #2242
§§The Real Mr. Right #2313
§§More Than She Expected #2324
§§Santa’s Playbook #2369
Silhouette Special Edition
**Baby Steps #1798
**The Prodigal Valentine #1808
**Pride and Pregnancy #1821
ΩDear Santa #1864
ΩYours, Mine…or Ours? #1876
ΩBaby, I’m Yours #1893
§A Mother’s Wish #1916
§Reining in the Rancher #1948
ΩFrom Friends to Forever #1988
§A Marriage-Minded Man #1994
§Welcome Home, Cowboy #2054
§Adding Up to Marriage #2073
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
∆Plain-Jane Princess #1096
∆Honky-Tonk Cinderella #1120
What a Man’s Gotta Do #1195
Saving Dr. Ryan #1207
Fathers and Other Strangers #1244
Staking His Claim #1267
♦Everybody’s Hero #1328
♦Swept Away #1357
♦A Husband’s Watch #1407
Yours Truly
*Wedding Daze
Harlequin Special Edition November 2014 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Weaver Christmas GiftThe Soldier's Holiday HomecomingSanta's Playbook Page 41