by Donna Fasano
Without waiting for his response, Cassie turned and walked quickly toward the house, certain that she couldn't bear another of his insults without telling him how stupid and asinine he'd been for jumping to conclusions about her and the situation.
Joshua stared at Cassie Simmons's back as she marched across the grass and he fought to control his emotions. It was rare for him to lose his temper, but saving Cassie from drowning had shaken him more than he'd realized. What might have happened if he hadn't been here? The answer to that question staggered his imagination.
He raked a hand through his wet hair and shoved the thought from his mind. He sighed, tugging at his soggy trousers. This was one suit he'd never wear again, the chlorine pool water had irrevocably ruined it. He could feel the summer-weight wool shrinking as he stood there.
He sighed again, this time even deeper. Glancing across the lawn, he saw Cassie disappear through the beveled-glass French doors. So, she was moving out. She was going to pack her bags and leave his life forever.
Why did that thought bother him so damned much? He didn't even know the woman other than the little Aunt Mary had told him. He'd spent barely a quarter of an hour with her on Friday afternoon. How could a woman crawl under a man's skin in fifteen minutes' time? It was absolutely ludicrous.
But Cassie Simmons had surely ruled his thoughts the whole weekend. He'd hardly been able to concentrate on his seminar. Those jewel-blue eyes of hers had preyed on his mind until he'd felt he'd been possessed. And the dreams he'd had! The lustful images– hell, who was he kidding? Those dreams had been downright erotic. He hadn't experienced the like since his randy teenage years.
Joshua shivered in the sudden breeze. He needed to go change, but for some reason his feet were as heavy as lead. And he felt as though he had a lump of the stuff in the pit of his gut.
He knew Cassie Simmons's leaving was for the best. She never would have worked out as Andrew's nanny. What had Aunt Mary been thinking to recommend such an irresponsible and presumptuous woman for the job in the first place? Imagine Cassie bringing her brother here to live! He did have to admit, however, that he hadn't given her the chance to finish her sentence when she'd mentioned her brother on Friday. Still, though, she'd surely jumped the gun on that issue.
And she had allowed Andrew access to the pool. He knew for a fact that swimming was on the list of restrictions. He'd compiled a new list himself just before he'd left, after he'd remembered that the last nanny had ripped the old one into a dozen ragged pieces. Andrew wasn't supposed to be in the pool. He could have become overexerted, could have suffered a severe asthma attack.
No, Cassie Simmons was not the person he was looking for as a nanny for his son. He'd pay her for her work this past weekend and let her get on with her life. Why, though, did he have this sinking feeling that he was going to be missing something special by never having the chance to know her? Joshua merely shook his head, refusing to listen to the less intellectual aspects of his psyche that, he suspected, were trying their damnedest to influence him. They were called basic instincts for a reason.
After squishing his way to the house, he slipped off his sodden shoes by the door and made his way to the staircase. Passing the library, he heard Cassie's voice.
"Oh, no, Mary. You didn't."
Joshua stood at the bottom of the steps and cocked his head as he blatantly eavesdropped.
"But how did you find another tenant so quickly?" Cassie asked. "It's only been two days." After a slight pause, she murmured, "It is in a great location. I can't argue with that."
If his aunt had rented out the apartment that meant Cassie would be in a bind. She'd have to scramble to find a place for her and her brother to go. He felt an odd quiver in his chest and couldn't decide if elation or sympathy was the cause.
"I most certainly do not want you to say a word to him," Cassie said.
He smiled, easily imagining Aunt Mary offering to petition on Cassie's behalf. His aunt was one lady who was always ready and willing to go to bat for the underdog.
"Please, Mary," Cassie stressed. "I want to do this my way. Don't worry about us. I'll think of something." She hesitated. "Mary," she said, "can I leave my stuff in your storage building awhile longer?" Cassie gave a relieved sigh. "Thanks so much."
When he heard Cassie winding up her conversation, he jogged up the staircase. After closing his bedroom door, he tugged off his trousers and tossed them over the brass clothes butler. Don't become involved in this woman's problems, he told himself. He peeled off the rest of his wet things, tie, shirt, socks, briefs, and quickly toweled himself dry. But as he pulled on dry socks, Joshua had to admit there was a part of him that was interested– too interested– in helping Cassie Simmons. And he could find no logical reason for it.
Just as he'd finished dressing, there was a soft tap on his door. "Come in," he called.
Andrew entered, his shoulders rounded, and took one step into the room. "Dad," he said, "can I talk to you?"
"Sure. Come on over here." Joshua raised one eyebrow quizzically when Andrew took only one step closer and then stopped.
"Come here, son," Joshua gently coaxed. "After what happened out at the pool, it's no wonder I didn't get the chance to give you a proper hello. Come sit on my lap."
"Aw, Dad," Andrew lamented. "You know I'm too big for that."
It didn't seem all that long ago that Andrew would have raced to accept such an invitation. Joshua pinched at his chin a couple of times. Why could he do so few things right when it came to raising his son? "I guess you're right. But at least come sit next to me." He patted a spot on the bed.
Andrew climbed up, settled himself on the mattress and immediately began to gnaw on his thumb.
"You know," Joshua said, "your mother used to do that when she was nervous or upset about something."
"She did?" Andrew's eyes grew round.
Joshua nodded. "And you know something else?" he asked. "She was very proud of you."
"She was?" Now the boy's gaze filled with awe and pleasure. "I miss her."
Joshua nodded again, but his son didn't see it as silent memories settled around them both. Finally, Joshua smoothed a palm over Andy's hair. "So," he said, "what's troubling you?"
"Well, I wanted to talk to you about Cassie and Eric."
Sensing the return of his son's earlier apprehension, Joshua softly replied, "I see."
"Dad, it wasn't Cassie's fault that we went swimming. She asked me if I was allowed and I told her I was. She checked the list and asked me if I was sure, and I told her I was. It was all my fault. I wanted to go in the pool. Dad, please don't make Cassie and Eric leave." Andrew spoke all the sentences as though they were one. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Me and Eric played quiet almost all weekend. We played cards and marbles and checkers and pick-up sticks and board games. We read comic books. And watched a movie. Cassie stopped us every time we started runnin' around." He stopped to inhale again. "I like having Eric here. And Cassie took real good care of me. She remembered my medicine every morning. She cooks real good. She even made me try broccoli. Please, Dad, please don't fire Cassie. Don't make 'em go away."
Tears welled up in Andrew's eyes, and Joshua's frown deepened. Never had his son come to the defense of any of his previous nannies. In fact, when each of the women had quit for one reason or another, Andrew had actually seemed relieved.
Joshua rubbed his fingers back and forth across his jaw. Cassie Simmons and this little Eric had certainly come to mean something to Andrew over the past two days.
He rested his palms on top of his knees. "And did you like it?"
Andrew blinked. "Like what?"
"The broccoli."
His son hesitated, then he gave a small shake of his head. "But please don't tell Cassie. She smiled really big when I ate it."
"Well, Andrew," he said gently. "I didn't let Cassie go. But I am certain she intends to leave. She was just on the phone with Aunt Mary about renting an apartment."
"But, Dad, we gotta stop her! Eric's my friend. I don't want them to go." Emotion got the best of the boy and he scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand.
The desperation in his son's voice squeezed at the very heart of him. After his mother had died, Andrew had been inconsolable. The sound of him crying had wrenched Joshua to his very core. He'd have gladly borne any amount of pain and anguish to have relieved Andrew's grief back then, and to this day he couldn't stand to see his son upset. Suddenly the most important thing in the world was to comfort Andrew, make his distress disappear.
"Look, son," Joshua said, clasping Andrew's knee. "Let me go down and talk to her."
The child sniffed and turned his red-rimmed gaze up to his father's face. "You'll do it, Dad? You'll get them to stay?"
For one quick moment Joshua felt doubt niggling the fringes of his mind. Was he about to do the right thing?
He was taken off guard when Andrew threw his arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely. Closing his eyes, Joshua let the love he felt for his son fill him to the brim with heart-stirring warmth. He'd persuade Cassie Simmons to stay if it was the last thing he did. For Andrew's sake.
"I'll do my best," he promised.
The two of them went out into the hall together.
"Go in and play quietly with Eric," Joshua said. "I'll talk to Cassie."
Stopping at the bedroom door adjacent to his own, Joshua could hear Cassie sliding out drawers and thumping them closed.
He knocked lightly three times and waited.
"Come on in, Eric," she called.
Joshua opened her door and leaned into the room. Her face was turned away as she bent over the bed folding clothes and stuffing them into a suitcase. She hadn't changed out of her bathing suit and terry robe, and the robe gaped open at the bottom to show a slice of creamy thigh. Joshua's pulse quickened, his heart thumped in his chest, and he was once again amazed by his powerful physiological reaction to the mere sight of this woman.
Damn, but she's got beautiful legs. He stared, unable to speak. Her tiny feet were perfectly shaped and Joshua pictured himself slowly massaging them as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Before the vivid image in his mind could progress further, he cleared his throat to alert Cassie to his presence.
She jerked a quarter turn to face him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Professor Kingston."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Could I speak with you?" he asked.
Curiosity flitted across her face and she nodded. "Of course."
"Downstairs in the library," he suggested. "Whenever you're ready."
"I'll be down in five minutes."
He closed the door between them and took his time going down the steps and into the library. He relaxed into his chair and took several deep breaths, but his heart continued its illogical, yet nonetheless furious, racing.
~ ~ ~
Cassie had never dressed so fast in her life. After tugging out of her damp swimsuit, she slipped on a pair of panties and threw a cotton dress over her head, her fingers flying to fasten the buttons. She ran a brush through her wet hair and braided it quickly with trembling fingers.
She didn't want another argument with Joshua Kingston, she had too many other things on her mind right now. Where she and Eric were going to stay tonight took precedence over everything.
Mary had rented the tiny apartment out to a college student who was in dire straits. Well, this particular college student's gain was certainly Cassie's loss.
She couldn't help regretting her quick and angry reaction to Joshua. Although she still felt he deserved to be told to take a flying leap for calling her asinine, she wished now that she hadn't quit this job. What good was saving face if you ended up sleeping on a park bench?
How was she going to tell Eric that they had no place to go? She moved out into the hallway, closing the bedroom door behind her. At least Joshua owed her wages for the weekend, she remembered. Maybe she and Eric could stay in a cheap hotel for the night. Maybe she'd find an apartment tomorrow. Maybe she'd find a job. Maybe...
All these maybes were driving her crazy! What on earth was she going to do?
Cassie tamped down her rising panic. She could handle this. She'd handled worse, hadn't she? Right at this moment, facing Joshua Kingston for the last time was what she needed to focus on. She knew she had to remain calm, cool, and collected. She didn't want to become angry, because then she just might say something that could make him decide not to pay her at all. Her apprehension soared like the temperature gauge at mid-day. She needed that money!
The muffled sound of Eric and Andrew's laughter made her stop short. Looking around at the welcoming walls of this house, she wondered where she'd be later on this very evening. In some cold, impersonal hotel? Or worse yet, would she and Eric end up spending the night in the car? Damn, could she drag them any lower?
The questions made her skin prickle with icy fear. With no place to go and no money to get there, Cassie felt more than frightened; this whole mess left her desolate inside.
Suddenly feeling weak in the knees, she crumpled down onto the step at the top of the stairway and cradled her head in the crook of her elbow. She gulped in air to try to calm herself. She'd gotten through bad situations before. She'd get through this one.
Dark memories flitted through her mind, memories of herself– a young woman left with a six-year-old brother and no clue as to where to turn. And through sheer tenacious persistence and lots of luck, that young woman had survived. So far. But it looked as though her luck may have just run out.
Her eyes followed the heavy, solid banister that ran down the length of the wide staircase. Her gaze ran over the walls and the elaborate crown molding. This was a good house, a solid house. More than that, it was a home. It was a much better place for her and Eric to be than some cheap, flea-bitten hotel.
The professor hadn't fired her. Maybe, if she apologized, if she tried once again to make him understand what he'd walked in on, she could turn those odds around and keep this job.
But he'd called her stupid. Asinine even!
Lifting her chin, she resolved not to let her own pride get in the way of keeping this job. Especially when Joshua could provide a warm bed and a hot meal for her little brother.
So what if he'd called her names? He'd only done it because he hadn't known all the facts. What she needed to do was go down there and calmly explain things to him.
Maybe if she apologized for the mix-up about Eric, and then show him that swimming wasn't on the list of restrictions, perhaps Joshua would see she wasn't at fault and let her remain here as Andy's nanny.
She stood and smoothed her palms down the skirt of her dress, waiting for even the tiniest ray of hope to arrive. But it never did.
Chapter Four
Cassie stopped at the open archway of the library and took a moment to steel herself. She'd need every ounce of self-control she possessed if she was to succeed in swallowing her pride to keep this job.
"Come in, Cassie."
The professor's voice sounded strained, and the nerves that twisted in her stomach made her a little nauseous. She squared her shoulders and entered the room, stopping in front of the big oak desk.
"Sit down," he said.
When she hesitated, he pointedly added, "Please."
She perched on the very edge of the chair and remembered that it was just two short days ago that she'd sat in this same seat while Professor Kingston decided whether or not to hire her. Lord, that felt like a lifetime ago.
"Professor–"
"Cassie–"
They spoke in unison, stopped, and both cracked a half smile. Cassie knew anxiety caused hers and was pretty certain that he was simply trying to be cordial even though he wanted to be rid of her.
She lifted her hand in a wordless invitation for him to continue with what he'd been about to say, but then she stopped mid-motion. If she let him speak his mind before she explained, she was certain this job would slip right
through her fingers.
As she lowered her hand to her lap, she said, "Before you say anything, Professor Kingston, please let me explain something to you."
He laced his fingers together and rested his hands on the desktop. "I'd like to hear what you have to say."
The sincerity in his voice surprised her.
After only the merest hesitation, he added, "And please, call me Joshua."
This time his tone was warm and liquid, and it sent a shiver racing across her skin. And the look in his eyes... Personal. Intimate, even. Lord, but he was a handsome man.
She couldn't keep the tiny frown from creasing her brow as she tried to figure him out. One minute he was formidable and intimidating, the next he was calmly sincere and approachable. Which was the true Professor Joshua Kingston?
"Cassie?"
His gentle prodding snapped her to attention and she lifted her gaze to his eyes. She hastily assembled her thoughts, deciding that the best way to deal with this situation was to tell him the honest truth.
"Professor, I want–"
"Joshua," he prompted her.
She offered him a nervous bob of her head, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips. "Joshua," she began again, then she stopped long enough to swallow. "I want you to know right up front that... I… I really need this job."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she stopped him with one upraised hand. "Before you say anything, please let me assure you that I took excellent care of Andy this weekend. I know it sounds as though I'm tooting my own horn, and my mother would be disappointed because she always taught me that that was a very rude habit. But... well... there's no one around to do the tooting besides me. Andy and Eric got along really well. I kept them busy with quiet activities. Lots of them. And I know you're not going to believe this, but Andy didn't use his inhaler once while you were away. I was going to tell you that when we were all out by the pool, but–"