“I hope so. And if so, it’s more because I’m a good man than for all the money I’ve made. He was disappointed my marriage didn’t take. I don’t think he cared that much for Margo, but he adores Jacey.”
“Jacey needs as much family as she can get. To gain different perspectives. Her mother sounds like a self-centered, money-hungry woman.”
“Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? I’d think you’d have more reasons to crave money, coming from a poor background. Margo never had it as bad as you. Yet you have balance and she doesn’t.”
“I have much more than I ever had before, and actually more than we anticipated when we started Vacation Nannies. I’m living just the way I want. I have savings in the bank. What more could I want?”
“Millions?”
“Why? It’d just swell my bank account. Money for money’s sake doesn’t do much for me. But having enough to live like I want to does.”
“You wouldn’t have to work if you had millions,” he suggested.
“I love my work. I adore children, and I really like visiting exotic locations.”
“You could travel if you had millions.”
“Like you do?” she asked, teasing. It was easier walking in the dark to forget the past and future, to live in the moment. She was enjoying herself.
“Hey, I’m here aren’t I? This is a vacation.”
“Yes, selling more product to another client. Making even more money.”
“You make money when you go to exotic locales,” he countered.
“True, but I’m also enjoying myself. And someone else is paying for my trip, so why should I quit work to pay for my own trips?”
“You have fun with every assignment, don’t you?” he asked.
“Pretty much, why would I do it if I didn’t? Don’t you like what you do?” she asked.
“Yes, but for the challenge, for the testing of my business acumen, not for fun.”
“So, different strokes and all that. The end result is the same. We’re happy.”
He stopped and turned to face her. “Are you, Savannah? Really happy? I didn’t mess up your life? I didn’t ruin everything, did I?”
The serious question caught her by surprise. She considered it for a moment. “No one else has the ability to mess up my life. Only me. I like where I am now.” She hoped that would suffice. She didn’t want to tell him how much he’d hurt her. And in the end, she did like where she was in life.
He was silent a moment, then said, “You’re making a difference in my life and my daughter’s and for that I thank you, Savannah. I hope by the end of the vacation she’ll be happy. And maybe you’ll find it in you to forgive me.”
He leaned over and kissed her.
When the first instant of surprise had vanished, Savannah sank into the kiss. For a few moments she was transported to the happiest time of her life. The sensations that raced through her heated her blood and made her wish for things that could never be.
She pushed even closer, wrapping her arms around him and kissed him back. Endless moments passed. Or did time stand still?
Floating, feeling, fantasizing. Forever felt just a heartbeat away.
Then slowly, he pulled back, trying to see her in the darkness.
Her breath came fast and hard. Reality returned. She let her arms fall and stepped back.
“Do you want me to apologize?”
“Not at all.” She tried to keep her voice level, free of the swirling emotions that threatened to swamp her. What was she doing? He was off-limits.
“I never forgot you,” he said softly. His voice was low, caressing her. She wanted to close her eyes and savor every second of the past five minutes.
“Ready to return? Did you see there’s a hot tub by the pool? It’s open until midnight. Want to test it out?”
Another temptation. She almost asked if he would kiss her again. If he said yes, would she go or flee to her room wherein lay safety?
“That sounds exotic, it’s cool enough we’d enjoy the heated water. But we’ll probably freeze when we leave it.” She decided she could be the sophisticated woman she’d become. A kiss was merely a kiss.
“We’re hardy people, we can do it,” he said.
She laughed, trying to enjoying his playful mood. Aware that every second drew her closer to danger. The danger of losing her heart again to this man. Every aspect of Declan Murdock appealed to her.
“I’d love to, however, since our plans were to hike the high country, I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”
“The hotel shops are open, I bet. Let’s check at least.”
His hand held hers as they hurried back. She couldn’t help thinking about the kiss he’d just given. It had hit her with more emotion that she expected.
I will not fall in love with Declan Murdock, she repeated all the way back to the hotel. She only hoped she could keep to her vow. She knew she was tempting fate to continue to spend time with him alone. But for one night she could indulge. Their time together was fleeting. She yearned for some closure. Until then, she wanted to explore what being with Declan now would be like.
Savannah found a swimsuit at the gift shop. She also purchased a cover-up and put her clothes in the bag.
They entered the pool area a few minutes later. One man swam in the pool, two couples sat in chairs near the edge talking. No one was in the hot tub.
“Is the resort not full?” Savannah asked as she shed her cover-up and walked to the bubbling hot tub, feeling slightly self-conscious in the suit. It had been the only one in her size in the boutique and she’d been grateful to have something. Normally she didn’t even think about her employers when she took children swimming. Tonight, however, as she turned, she caught Declan’s decidedly masculine appraisal. Those flutter-feelings started again. She stepped into the hot tub and sat down, the water coming to her chin. It was getting harder and harder to remember what was in the past and what was in the present.
“Mmm, this feels heavenly in the cool night air,” she said.
He joined her a moment later and the water rose another notch. He rested his arms along the edge, tipped back his head and stared at the sky. “I might have to get one of these.”
“And put it where?”
“Do you think the building manager would let me put it on the roof?”
“As long as it didn’t crash into the apartment below, he might.”
“Naw, too many other tenants would then want to use it. I like it like this—just us.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She liked it with just the two of them, as well. She always had.
“Tell me more about your grandmother,” he said. “And about growing up in Palmerville.”
“Not a lot to tell.” She thought a moment and then began to talk about her early feelings when her parents had died so unexpectedly and she and her sister had arrived at their grandmother’s.
Time seemed to fly by. When the attendant came to close the pool area, Savannah was surprised it was so late. They’d discussed their respective childhoods and first impressions of New York when they’d moved there.
To her disappointment, there were no more kisses, or any hint of a move on his part while in the hot tub. Was he having r
egrets?
They dried off as best they could with the pool-side towels. Covering up, they returned to the suite. Would he kiss her again? she wondered.
“Good night, Declan,” she said, ready to retreat to her room.
“Thanks for spending the evening with me, Savannah.” He brushed his lips lightly against hers.
She went to her bedroom and closed the door quietly. Her heart raced. The kiss had her silently chanting the mantra to keep her heart whole, but the emotions that swirled through her had her dreaming things that would never be.
She was years older than that naive coed and wiser. She refused to fall again for the man. She’d met dozens of dynamic captains of industry, gone to events with high-level politicians, businessmen, even with some European aristocracy. Why did this one man flood her with awareness and attraction and sensual feelings that wouldn’t go away?
* * *
Declan stood in the lounge for a long moment after Savannah left. He felt he was balanced on a high wire, one misstep and he’d crash below. He’d wanted his funny, sweet Jacey back. Now he wanted Savannah—in a totally different way. She was beautiful, sexy. Did she have any idea how that spiky blond hair had him yearning to touch it, feel the softness beneath the mousse, run his fingers through it to see what happened?
Did she have any idea how much he longed for the trust and love she’d once so freely given? Had he made any progress tonight? Her kiss would likely keep him up tonight, remembering the feel of her body against his, her mouth moving against his, sending his desire off the scale.
Was there any probability of them becoming a couple again?
He turned and headed to his room. At least he knew where he stood with business. With women—it was an entirely different matter. Yet, even as he thought about his parting remarks so long ago, he wondered if he could change her mind. There wasn’t another woman in the world like Savannah. Too bad he’d learned that too late.
CHAPTER SIX
Savannah woke early the next morning. After dressing, she went to take a quick walk, expecting Jacey to sleep in as late as she could. Teenagers loved to sleep to noon. To her surprise, Declan was standing by the window in the lounge looking out.
“Good morning,” she said.
He turned and she caught her breath. He looked so amazing. Her heart picked up speed. She felt suddenly tongue-tied.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“I did, you?”
“Short but good. I waited for you to have breakfast. I thought we could have it together.”
Savannah considered the invitation. She wanted to spend more time with him. Not to rekindle anything, but because she could.
“Okay, sounds good.”
“I’ll leave a note for Jacey and we can go downstairs. Too cool to sit out on the terrace, I think, but we ought to be able to get a window table.”
When they entered the dining room, they were quickly shown a table by the window. The breakfast was buffet style and once they filled their plates they sat down. Coffee appeared and Savannah took a sip as she looked at Declan over the rim of the cup.
“Anything special you wanted to talk about?” she asked.
“No. You enjoying the trip?”
“Very much. And I believe Jacey is, as well. She especially is looking forward to the spa day with Ada.”
“Women love to be pampered,” he murmured with a smile.
“Right on that. She’s in for a treat. Apparently your ex-wife doesn’t indulge as much as you think. Jacey didn’t even know what a spa was.”
“I don’t know what Margo does now. Do you have any hints on keeping Jacey happy for the rest of the trip? I’d hoped we’d build a closeness like that we had when she was younger. But it’s not moving as fast as I wanted.”
“I think you need to give her time. It’s only been a couple of weeks. She’s with her mother all the time, and it sounds as if Margo gives her a slanted view of things.”
Declan took a moment to eat some of his omelet and gaze out the window, then moved his gaze to Savannah.
“I’m giving serious thought to asking Jacey to come live with me for the next few years. She’s not going to be living at home for much longer. I’ve toyed with the idea for a while. Seeing her as she is now, I think it’d be for the better. Her mother’s had her for her entire life, sharing her reluctantly lately. Once she graduates from high school, she’ll be off to college and then on to life. If I ever want a chance to really get to know her, I need more time with her now.”
“She’s very protective of her mother. And I think she has a very biased outlook on the situation—Margo’s position all the way.”
“My fault. I should have made more of an effort while we were married. And then even more these past couple of years. I’ve enjoyed talking with her this trip, learning her take on things. I might have been able to head off some of the ideas Margo implanted. I should have insisted on every weekend I was scheduled.”
“It’s not too late. When you have free time in the next few days, spend it with her. She needs to know you care. I mean she needs to really know it, by your asking her opinion on things, getting her ideas. And one other bit of advice, don’t come across as defensive. She’ll be quoting her mother and you’ll hear Margo in the words or tone. Don’t react.”
“You think I wouldn’t come across cool and collected?”
She grinned and shook her head. “I think your first impulse would be to defend the situation and present your side as the only one.”
“Isn’t it?” he teased.
“Only in your mind,” Savannah retorted.
“Ah, so I should do what? Turn my feelings and opinions aside?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe role-play or something.”
“You sound like a shrink. I hate role-playing.”
“When did you ever go to a shrink?”
“Never, but I watch TV.”
“Ah, but when you set the rules, you get to be the hero. Anyway, it’ll help her to get inside your head, and if she reacts differently from how you’d do it, you can correct her and teach her at the same time.”
He nodded thoughtfully.
Savannah wasn’t convinced he’d try it, but at least he hadn’t laughed outright. She admitted she had difficulty seeing him in role-playing. But she recognized his sincere desire to reconnect with Jacey. And she wanted to help.
“Tell me your favorite vacation spot,” he said, changing the subject.
“They’re actually work places for me, vacations for my clients. I think my favorite was the cruise in Alaska. Not the children I watched, but the spectacular scenery I saw.”
“The children were brats?”
Savannah laughed and then regaled him with an exaggerated story of some of the trials and adventures she’d had over the years with unruly kids or difficult parents. She kept the information vague enough that he’d never know of whom she spoke. But in retrospect some of her experiences were funny.
They sipped their coffee companionably when they’d finished eating.
“Has Vacation Nannies fulfilled all the expectations you had in class?” he asked.
“More, even,” she said w
ith enthusiasm. Savannah began telling him how they began each stage of development, watching to see if he was growing bored. He seemed as interested as if it were his own company. He had questions, made complimentary comments from time to time. She basked in his approval, still grateful for the information he’d so freely shared with the students in his class. She felt she and her sister had benefited tremendously because of it.
“Yours is the only company I know of that has succeeded so well. Makes me feel the time I spent was worthwhile,” he said slowly.
“You never know when the others will venture forth and take the chance. In our case, we had nothing to lose because we started with nothing. Most of the students in that class were either focused on an MBA, which lends itself more to bigger corporations, or they already had jobs. It’s hard to walk away from a steady paycheck to try something never done before,” she said.
“Maybe.”
Jacey pulled out a chair at their table and plopped down. She eyed the empty coffee cups. “If you’d finished, why didn’t you come back to the room?” she asked.
“Good morning to you, too, sunshine,” Declan said.
“Good morning,” she mumbled, throwing a quick glance at Savannah. “Ada called and said we should meet her at ten at the spa. I didn’t know when you were coming back to the room.”
“I’m glad you joined us,” Declan said. “Go pick out your food and come back.”
“We’ll sit with you while you eat,” Savannah suggested.
“I’ll get my plate.” Jacey served herself and ate quietly while Declan and Savannah discussed some of the locales she’d worked in.
“How did you like celebrating the new year in London?” he asked.
Jacey looked up at Savannah. “You were in London at New Year’s?”
Savannah nodded. “We had the best visit. We saw lots of the sights there and took day trips on the train to Salisbury and Bath. I’d love to have taken a car trip, but I didn’t want to chance driving, and my employers were happy staying in London. I don’t drive much in Manhattan, I sure didn’t want to try the English roads.”
The Nanny Who Kissed Her Boss Page 11