by Maria Piork
The logical approach was for Nina to stay in her room and wait out the storm, yet she knew it wouldn’t happen. She was far too anxious to remain inactive. Mrs. Wilkinson’s ghostly face came into focus again and Nina’s stomach lurched. “Think, think, think…” She said to herself. Okay. She would check in on Ian. There! It was quite possible that the boy was up and scared senseless himself.
Nina glanced at the bassinet and was tempted to take Callie with her, but the child slept comfortably. An instant later, a determined Nina was up from the bed. She walked to the nightstand grabbed her key chain and headed for the door.
Chapter Four
Outside her room, all was silent and pitch black. Nina used the small flashlight attached to the keychain as a guide. She made her way down the hall quietly careful not to miss a step. Then a distant thump made her stop. She waited and a second later a second thump. Nina turned and pointed the miniature flashlight down the opposite end of the hall and saw nothing.
“I think she’s been deceased tops two hours.” One paramedic announced. “I’d say Mrs. Wilkinson has been dead much longer than that.” A second paramedic opinioned as the stretcher carried the woman’s body to the awaiting ambulance. “Can you imagine that kid alone in the dark, with a dead body?” The paramedics chatted. “Kid is lucky the blackout only lasted three hours, or else it’d been much later before we got to them.”
Nina swallowed hard and pressed herself against the wall. Her brow dampened and her mouth went dry. It’d been so long since that awful day that most of the specifics of Mrs. Wilkinson’s passing were now very vague. And really that was fine by Nina as she rarely wanted to call to mind the details of such dreadful experience.
The thumping continued and after a moment of panic stricken idleness Nina made herself move. “Go and check in on Ian like you said you were.” She spoke out loud. But when the noise she’d been listening to became faint and less intimidating Nina opted to head in the direction of the sound.
It was when she entered the living room that Dex’s shadowy figure came into focus kneeling by the fireplace. She saw him work the logs using a poker to shove them about. A pleasant walnut aroma wafted from the fire soothing her nerves.
“Oh, hi,” Dex said quietly when he spotted her, “I didn’t know you were standing there.”
Nina stared out the set of French doors and asked, “How long has the power been out?”
Dex stuffed more logs onto the fireplace. “About an hour” he replied as he got to his feet, “I was actually working on my laptop went the lights went out.”
She brought her attention to him and said, “I was going to check on Ian.”
“I just did. He’s fast asleep.”
She nodded and gave him a weak smile.
“It’s been years since we had a blackout.” Dex said dusting his hands off.
Nina’s stomach recoiled. The mere mention of a blackout made her queasy.
“I’ve put off having the generator serviced. Go figure.” He commented ruefully.
At that moment Nina had a sudden urge to bolt and head for the safety of her bedroom, but instead she remained standing there.
Dex hooked his thumbs in his front pockets and nodded over to the fireplace, “It’s the best I can do for lighting for now. I was on my way to get candles and a flashlight from the storage shed.” His gaze fell to the minute flashlight in her hand, “I see you came prepared.” He teased.
Nina heard Dex’s voice clearly, yet her mind wandered off again. In a instant Nina was back at Mrs. Wilkinson’s house.
Her babysitter’s untimely death had haunted Nina all through her childhood. That day a seven year old kid had seen what no kid should ever have to and as if witnessing a person die wasn’t awful enough, the loneliness and sense of abandonment that followed had been far worse.
Suddenly an overwhelming sense of loneliness enveloped Nina and a quick jab at her gut made her face a sharp reality…she and Callie were currently all alone in Alaska. Grammie Lynne the only family they had was now a thousand miles away in Portland on business.
Cold sweat formed on Nina’s forehead and her hands trembled then she went into panic mode. She needed to fetch Callie at once! Nina turned away and attempted to walk off, but instead wobbled.
“Whoa!” Dex grabbed her arm, “You okay?”
“Hmm, yeah…” Nina replied feebly.
Dex placed his arms on her shoulders and turned her to face him, “Nina, you’re pale,” His voice softened, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing...” Nina replied avoiding his eyes. Bad enough that she was supposed to be the professional, the one in control, the one seeing to the care of two young children, but here she was about to fall apart and validate all the rumors. “How can she be a nanny, she’s only twenty-one?” “You know there are better qualified nannies right here in Anchorage, yet he hired that little nobody from Seattle.”
“Nina?”
“Yeah?”
“I asked if something was wrong.”
Why had Dex hired her? Nina was not so naïve not to recognize that some of the things the other nannies were saying were valid. She was just very young and had only worked as a nanny for two years in Seattle. What if, in fact, Dex had brought her on just because he pitied her? An unmarried young woman dumped by not only her immature boyfriend but also by her estranged mother… That was pitiful enough Nina concurred. “Guess I’m a sucker for a lady is distress.” Dex’s very words echoed in her head. Suddenly Nina was sick to her stomach.
“Nina, are you ill?”
No, she wasn’t ill she was humiliated! At that moment all she wanted to do was run. She broke loose from his hold and said, “I’m fine.”
“Talk to me,” Dex urged.
“I want to go look in on Callie.” Her throat constricted. She attempted a quick get away, but didn’t get further than two steps.
“Nina, stop.” Dex demanded as he caught her arm. He didn’t hold it tightly, but she knew she couldn’t break his grip.
Dex whirled her to face him and pulled her forward. “Nina, what’s the matter?”
She could let him in on her woes. Nina could bring up Mrs. Wilkinson and tell him all about her and distract them from the real reason for all her misery. Or Nina could go into detail about what the other nannies were saying. She could also add that she, herself, questioned the real reason why he’d hired her. “Guess I’m a sucker for a lady is distress.” His words reverberated in her head yet again.
“Nina, I’m a good listener,” Dex said putting his hands on her upper arms. “Really, I am.”
His thumbs worked soothing circles on her shoulders and prickles of pleasure danced across Nina’s skin under her robe. A wave of heat swept through her and her heart stalled. Nina stared into space and tried to ignore the exquisite feel of Dex’s touch and the primal desire that it had ignited in her.
Dex was undeterred Nina realized. He wanted to know what disturbed her and unless Nina wanted to further aggravate the situation by dumping her insecurities on him she’d fib. “My cousin…” Nina voiced.
Dex searched her features as if gauging her response, “Your family?”
She nodded. It wasn’t a lie really.
“I’m sorry your family is so far away.”
Nina was too, sorry. Most of all she missed June, her cousin. Twenty-eight-year old free spirited June was the only other person in the world who understood her, who ‘got her’. Here in Anchorage, a city thousands of miles away from the only place she’d ever called home, Nina had no friends.
She felt the shock of moisture on her face. Then without warning, tears streamed down her cheeks. What the hell wrong with her?! “Your hormone levels may take a while to return to normal…on the average it can take four to six weeks.” Dr. Ting’s voice echoed in her head.
“Callie and I are alone…” Nina sobbed as tears blurred her eyes.
Dex gathered her close and hugged her. It was a responsive gesture Nina thought a friendly embr
ace so she offered no resistance and sagged against him.
“That’s not true Nina,” Dex replied after a moment of silence, “You and Callie have me.”
Dex circled his arms around her and Nina was instantly awash with a sense of calmness. His protective embrace gave Nina’s a sense of security made her feel as if nothing could hurt her. He held her tighter and whispered something indecipherable, yet soothing and comforting. His hands caressed her back in light strokes and Nina finally allowed herself be swept away by the sheer bliss of his protective hold.
“I don’t want you to think you’re alone.” He said just as his lips lightly brushed the top of her head. The brief physical contact made Nina jolt made her skin prickle.
“I would never let anything happen to you or Callie.” He concluded, “You know that, don’t you?”
What! Her knees buckled and her heart went to her throat. For several seconds, she couldn’t speak, think, breathe even. No, she actually didn’t know!
Chapter 5
When Nina had been hired on as the nanny, she’d taken very specific orders from the agency that certified her. Dexter McIver was a very private person and as personal matters went, Mr. McIver rarely discussed anything outside of Ian and the McIver household with anyone on his staff and that included the nanny. So, naturally there was little about Dex or his feelings or his emotions that Nina was aware of.
“No.” Nina replied unsure of what else to say. She was not to read any more into what he was saying. Nope.
“Well, now you do.” He told her taking a step back to look at her.
“Thank you.” She whispered.
Thank you? Really? What the hell what she supposed to say?
Unable to establish eye contact she looked away but concentrated on Dex’s voice instead.
“Nina…”
She liked his voice actually. It was a nice deep baritone and at that moment hearing her name on his lips it sounded a lot more like a purr than a word.
Nina took a moment to pull herself together and to put her thoughts in logical order. Dex was a decent person a Good Samaritan. He’d given her and her child a place to live and Nina a means of earning a living. Dex was a good father to Ian and he recognized that the care Nina provided was excellent and did not want to risk her leaving on account that she was homesick. That made sense, of course. Yet, his statement didn’t fit into her logical conclusion, “I would never let anything happen to you or Callie.”
“…you know?” Dex said cupping her face, “You and Callie have become part of us.” His thumbs stroked her cheeks and wiped tears away.
Nina was so shocked by his gesture she could barely speak, “Us?” She heard herself say. What did that mean?
“Yes. Us...” He said that time kissing the top of her head. “The McIvers.”
The bombshell he’d just dropped on her rocked Nina to the core and she was at a loss for words. “What do you mean by that?” She asked the words tight against her throat.
The corners of his mouth creased into a smile and he grinned, “It means that I care about you and Callie very much.”
“How much?” She blurted.
“This much.” Dex said as he slid his hand behind her neck slanted his mouth and parted her lips open. A low groan rumbled from Nina and as his tongue twirled inside her mouth, excitement skittered through her and Nina melted into his kiss. Minutes later when they parted, Nina’s breathing was uneven and went in short puffs. His breathing too was labored. Dex examined her face for a moment and she stared. He just kissed me! Nina screamed inwardly.
She’d fantasized about Dex for so long that at that very moment it all seemed so surreal. With the way his eyes studied her and the way his body was plastered against hers it was all Nina could do not to jump into his arms and tell him exactly how much she…cared about him.
“Your mouth tastes sweeter than I imagined.” Dex said as his lips curved into a half smile.
“And you…you’re a good kisser.” She commented a low grin on her face.
“Am I?” He asked cupping her neck and pulling her toward him again.
It wasn’t without apprehension that Nina considered how a liaison would affect Dex. Bad enough that one of Anchorage’s most eligible bachelor’s reputation had been tarnished when Dex had taken in a stray, but with Nina being his employee and ten years his junior, anything more than just platonic involvement would compromise Dex to a much greater extent.
Nina placed a hand on his chest and held him at bay, “Stop…” she whispered.
Dex cocked his head sideways and narrowed his eyes at her.
“I don’t want them talking about you.”
Dex pulled away slightly and stared, “Who’s ‘them’?”
Nina shrugged and said, “Anchorage.”
“You mean all of Anchorage?” He smiled.
“Yes.”
“Anchorage may not be as big as Seattle, but it is still a large city.” His gaze flickered downward and rested on her mouth for several seconds. “Doubt all of Anchorage is talking about us.” A slow sexy smile emerged from the corner of his mouth, “Maybe half of Anchorage, but not all.”
His answer surprised her. Dex actually knew people in town were talking about them? “Do you know what they’re saying? About me? About us?” She asked looking at him square in the eye.
“Yeah, I do,” he replied promptly as his index finger touched her chin and he brought her face towards him.
His feathery soft touch ignited her, sent shivers up her spine. Nina’s body came alive.
“Let them talk.” Dex told her as he brushed his lips over hers once then twice. “I don’t care what others have to say. Do you?”
“No.” Nina replied instantly. “They’re lies anyway.”
“Oh” he jumped in quickly, “Which one is the lie, the one about you wanting to seduce me? Or the one about you being in love with me?”
“What?” Nina cried out.
Dex tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear and said, “You know? They also say I’m lovesick over a much younger woman and that I’m stupid.” Something hot and intense flared in his eyes then his hands slipped down to the small of her back and he pulled her close, “I say the former is true, the latter not so much.”
With his body that close Nina could detect his arousal against her belly. A wave of heat swept through and her flesh quivered. The noise of the storm outside and the fireplace behind them faded, making time stand still. Suddenly Nina found it hard to breathe. A single tear formed at the corner of her eye and he gently brushed away. They both stared at each other as if they were suspended in time each sensing as if what they were about to start was something very real.
His fingers curled deep into the hair at her nape and Dex lowered his face to hers until their lips touched and he kissed her again. Nina flattened her palms against his chest and tightening her grip on his shirt, she parted her lips and he gave into him.
Dex smoothed his lips back and forth over hers probing, “If you rather we stop we can.” he murmured.
“No,” Nina whispered breathless and impatient, “Don’t stop…please. I don’t want you to.”
Dex was more than willing to appease. He threaded his fingers through her hair and tightened her curls around his fingers. He invaded her mouth hard and demanding and delved in with pent up desire. Nina kissed him back with equaled unbridled passion.
In the next minute, Nina felt her own hands reaching upwards, her fingers enlacing at the base of his neck pulling him as close as she possibly could. He responded, holding her tighter. His fingers slipped down further and he cupped her buttocks, she whimpered in response. Prickles of pleasure beaded her skin and her insides turned to mush.
Dex pressed her against the couch and they both stumbled onto the sofa frame. Their mouths parted momentarily and they both smiled with pleasure. She shifted closer, nestling her frame between his legs.
Dex stared at her, his gaze moving over her features before returning to he
r eyes. “You’re beautiful.”
She patted his chest softly and glanced at him above her eyes lashes, “You’re not so bad yourself.” A moment later, her hands moved to his shirt and Nina began unbuttoning it slowly, kissing and caressing the sculpted muscles beneath the fabric. When the pajama top was completely opened, she touched his chest with fascination; he was magnificent to look at. She leaned in and captured a taut male nipple with her teeth and scraped it lightly. He hissed.
A moment later Dex smiled and captured her hand raising it to his lips and held it in place, “Nina, we need to talk.” He told her.
Nina was caught off guard by the sudden shift in mood. Something odd flared in his eyes and she almost panicked. She took a steadying breath then moistened her parched lips. “Yes…”
He couldn’t possibly be reconsidering!
Chapter 6
Dex didn’t respond immediately and his unreadable expression unnerved her. She’d hoped that he would give her some indication of what he was thinking; instead, he just continued to stare.
“I need to know something?” He finally said.
His gaze remained fixed on her with an intensity that made Nina edgy. “What’s that?” She managed.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Of course I am,” she retorted after a brief pause.
Dex was quiet again then he said, “I am ten years older than you.”
At that, she laughed out loud, “I’m well aware of that, Dex,” she searched his eyes and asked, “Does that bother you? Our age difference?”
“Well,” Dex said searching her features, “Doesn’t the age difference concern you at all?”
Nina shook her head, “No. It doesn’t,” she stroked his cheek then turned the question on him, “Does it concern you?”
He looked away and hesitated. An eternity later he brought his attention back to her and said, “No. But…”