There was only one right decision...he only wished he knew which one it was.
* * *
Playing outside in the yard was always so much fun for Darcy. She loved hearing Iris’s squeals of delight and seeing her little carefree spirit. Darcy had been here for a full month now and had easily passed the trial period. Each second she spent with Iris only had Darcy more thankful she’d fought for this position. Holding onto Iris’s tiny little hand just felt right. Everything about being with this sweet child felt right.
Not to mention that working for a man who oozed sexiness, power and control was one giant glob of icing on the proverbial cake.
Talk about landing the job of a lifetime. Still, Darcy couldn’t help but wonder what happened to Colin’s late wife. He didn’t mention her, didn’t even have any photos around the house. The man seemed as if he was running away or hiding from something, but she truly had no clue what. She could easily research him online, but she wasn’t going to snoop into his life. That would be sneaky and Darcy prided herself on honesty. If he wanted to discuss his life, he would when the time was right.
Iris pulled away from Darcy and started running toward the landscaping framing the patio. Shielding her eyes with her hand, Darcy stared ahead as the little girl ran after a butterfly that had landed on one of the vibrant flowers. By the time Iris got there, the butterfly had flown away.
Iris looked around and when she realized the insect was no longer nearby, her chin started quivering. Closing the space between them, Darcy knelt down in front of the toddler and smoothed the curls away from her forehead, making a mental note to pick up some hair accessories for Iris.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Darcy consoled. “Miss Butterfly had to go home for a nap. I bet she’ll be back another time. Would you like to go in and lie down? I saw a butterfly book in your room. How about we read that?”
“No,” Iris cried, shaking her head. “No, no, no.”
The one word kids learned early and used for nearly every reply, especially when they were in need of a nap. Darcy may have been working with older children these past several years, but certain things she would never forget.
When Darcy scooped her up and headed toward the house, the tears instantly transformed from sad to angry, and Iris’s arms started flying as the instant tantrum went into full swing. Maybe Darcy shouldn’t have taken Iris on that walk. Apparently the window of opportunity was missed and the nap should’ve come first.
Patting her back and trying to dodge the whirlwind arms, Darcy took Iris into the house. Of course, inside, the cries seemed to echo into surround sound. Colin came running from the office off the kitchen, his cell to his ear, worry etched across his face.
“What happened?” he said, holding the device away from his mouth.
“She’s just tired,” Darcy explained. “Sorry we disturbed you.”
Colin didn’t resume his call as Darcy walked by. Maybe he was waiting for them to pass because of Iris’s ear-splitting screams, but the way he studied them, Darcy worried he was wondering why his daughter was so unhappy. This was the first time Iris had truly thrown a fit around Darcy, but every kid had their moments and as a nanny, one just had to learn how to adjust to that child’s needs accordingly.
And right now, little Miss Iris needed her bed and a couple of hours of peace and quiet.
As she reached the top of the stairs, Darcy didn’t have to glance over her shoulder to know that Colin was staring at her.
“Come on, little one,” Darcy cooed.
After walking around the room, shutting the blinds, turning on the small fan for white noise and grabbing Iris’s blanket and doll, Darcy settled into the cushy rocking chair and began to hum, occasionally adding in a few lyrics to “You Are My Sunshine.” Iris’s eyes started to grow heavy. Darcy knew the rule of thumb was to lay young children down while they were still awake, but holding and rocking a baby was a temptation she couldn’t avoid. Today Darcy justified it by telling herself she was just waiting for Iris to calm down.
Darcy held onto the precious bundle in her arms and came to her feet. Iris still clutched the silky blanket and stuffed doll as Darcy eased the sleeping beauty into her bed.
With her hands resting on the rail, Darcy stared at the spiky, damp lashes resting on Iris’s reddened cheeks. Moments ago this child was throwing a fit and now she slept peacefully. When she woke she wouldn’t remember she’d been upset, and that was how Darcy wanted to live her life.
Moving forward was the only way to prove there was life after the death of a dream. She couldn’t allow endometriosis to define her. Discovering that the family she’d dreamed of having one day wouldn’t happen had been a crushing blow, but Darcy had persevered, forcing herself to become stronger than her disappointments.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Darcy turned from the bed and headed into the hall. She’d just pulled the door closed when she turned and ran straight into Colin’s hard chest.
The instant force of colliding with him threw her off balance. Colin’s hands immediately gripped her bare arms to steady her. Breath caught in her throat, her heart beat a fast, bruising rhythm against her chest. An instant flash of their heated kiss flooded her mind and all Darcy could think of was how perfectly they fit together.
Down girl.
Colin’s eyes studied her face, her mouth. Tingles shot through her...tingles she shouldn’t be feeling for her boss.
“We need to talk.”
The statement, laced with such authority, delivered a punch to her stomach. Were they going to talk professionally? Personally? Was he upset with her for something she’d done?
Or did he want her alone for purely selfish, carnal reasons?
The second he turned and walked away, Darcy followed.
Seven
Fisting his hands at his sides, Colin cursed himself as he went downstairs and into his office. He had to keep reminding himself that the woman he’d hired to care for Iris was an employee, not an object to be lusting after. He’d never been sexually attracted to an employee—before, during or after his marriage.
Not once had his professional and personal needs ever crossed paths, but every single time he looked at Darcy he felt that kick to the gut that demanded he take notice of the all-American beauty.
Added to that, she was the only woman since Karina to have any connection to Iris. Colin would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit that seeing Darcy around his daughter in all her youthful, vibrant glory had something tugging on his heart.
Damn it, he didn’t want his heart tugged. He had too much on his plate right now and craving a woman, his nanny, for pity’s sake, was not an option.
“You wanted me?”
Grinding his teeth to keep from saying what he really wanted, Colin turned to face Darcy. He’d assumed coming to his office would make this conversation easier, less personal.
“I want you to stop rocking Iris before you lay her down to sleep.”
Darcy blanched and Colin cursed himself for the rough tone he’d taken.
“She was always used to just being laid down,” he went on, trying to lighten his voice. It wasn’t Darcy’s fault he was fighting a losing battle with his attraction for her.
Darcy straightened her shoulders, tipped her chin and gave a quick nod. “I apologize. I’ll be sure to lay her down right away next time.”
Stiffly, she turned toward the door and Colin hated himself for making her feel bad about herself. Damn it. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want the chemistry or the awkward sexual tension, and he sure as hell didn’t want to have to mask his arousal by being snippy and gruff with her. He wanted Iris to have that loving touch, to be wrapped in the arms of someone who cared for her, and it was obvious Darcy cared for his little girl.
Maybe he wasn’t capable of being happy anywhe
re if this was any indication. He’d taken out his frustrations with himself on Darcy. If he wasn’t happy here, though, did that mean he wasn’t happy stepping away from his duty? Is that what all of this boiled down to?
Colin had been in a great mood moments ago as he’d been talking on the phone with his best friend, Prince Luc Silva. He hadn’t spoken to him in months, other than texts or emails. As soon as they’d hung up, Darcy’s soft voice had filtered through the monitor system in the home and damn if hearing all of that softness wasn’t like being wrapped in her sweet embrace.
He couldn’t afford to be wrapped up in anything that didn’t involve his country, his loyalty and the decision he needed to make regarding his and Iris’s future in the kingdom.
“Darcy,” he called out before she could clear the doorway.
She froze, but didn’t turn around. “Yes?”
Anything he wanted to say would be a bad idea, rocking their already shaky relationship. “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head.
Regardless of the attraction, Colin was glad he’d decided to let Darcy stay on after they’d verbally battled that first day. He couldn’t imagine anyone else with Iris.
Each day brought them closer to the six-month mark, closer to his staying or going. And, to be honest, he was growing too fond of having her here, in his life. He was finding an inner peace he hadn’t expected. He was almost angry at himself for allowing his emotions to get the better of him, but where Darcy was concerned, he was finding he had little say in the matter.
Stefan was putting the pressure on, but Colin couldn’t deal with Galini Isle and Darcy simultaneously. Both issues were overwhelming and threatened to take over his life. Right now, though, he wanted to concentrate on Darcy. Even though he knew Galini Isle should come first, he needed to see if there was more to their attraction than pure lust.
* * *
After dinner, Colin wanted to give Iris her bath so Darcy took the opportunity to sew a button back on her only dress shirt. The button right at the breast had popped off after a big inhale. In order for this top to fit properly, she either needed to lose a few pounds or stop breathing. She was thankful Colin had been nowhere around to witness the mishap.
Threading the needle, Darcy quickly fixed the shirt and was putting her small sewing kit away when a knock sounded at her door.
“Come in,” she called as she wound the unused thread back around the spool.
Colin stepped in, holding Iris who was wrapped in her thick terrycloth monogrammed towel. Darcy didn’t even want to know how much that plush towel cost...she’d seen the designer label.
“I need to make a phone call,” Colin told her, taking in the shirt in her lap and the supplies spread over the bed. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Oh, no.” Darcy scooted everything out of the way and came to her feet, smoothing down her pink T-shirt. “I was just sewing a button back on my shirt.”
Colin’s brows drew together. “Just buy a new shirt.”
Yeah, why didn’t she think of that? Between being technically homeless, nearly ready to shut the doors on the business barely keeping food in her mouth and trying to keep her car running, why hadn’t she just hit the mall in her spare time for a new wardrobe?
But he didn’t need her sarcasm. A man like Colin wouldn’t understand because if anything in his life was broken, he could just pay to have it fixed or snap his fingers and have people at his beck and call.
Another layer of division between them, showing her just how vast their differences were.
Ignoring his question, because anything she would reply with would most definitely be snarky, she came to her feet, crossed the room and reached for Iris.
“Go on and make your call.” The sweet scent of freshly bathed baby always made her heart weep just a little. “I’ll take care of this sweet princess.”
“Don’t call her that.”
Jerking her attention from the wrapped, squirming bundle in her arms to Colin, Darcy jerked. “Call her what? Princess?”
“I don’t like that term,” he stated, crossing his arms and leveling her gaze.
“It’s a simple term of endearment,” Darcy defended herself, shifting Iris to settle her more comfortably on her hip. “I’m not sure what you think I’m implying when I say it, but—”
“No more. I don’t want her to be a spoiled child and that term suggests too much.”
“Colin—”
He held up a hand, cutting her off once more. “She’s my daughter. She will not be called princess.”
Feeling her blood pressure rise through the onslaught of confusion, Darcy took a step forward. “Yes, sir. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get Iris ready for bed.”
She pushed by him and exited her room, headed into the nursery next door and closed the door. What on earth had gotten into him? He was still in a mood and Darcy had no clue why. Darcy quickly dressed Iris in a pair of yellow footed pajamas with little bunnies on each of the toes. Every single baby item the toddler possessed was adorable. Darcy was getting more and more used to being surrounded by everything baby. The only thing she worried about now was how she’d leave at the end of the term they’d agreed upon. Staying away from babies for years had helped to soothe her ache somewhat, but being thrust into the world of all things tiny and pink brought Darcy’s wishes back to the surface. To think all of that would be taken from her again in a few months.
She had no clue what he’d do when her term was up. Perhaps he just wanted to get his feet back on solid ground since he was a widower with a baby. Maybe he thought he could take it from there. Darcy had learned long ago not to question her clients’ intentions.
She couldn’t get too used to the weight of Iris in her arms, or the way Iris would clutch that ugly old doll Darcy had given her or the way she had started to reach for Darcy. But such simple things had already infiltrated Darcy’s heart.
And Colin, as grouchy and moody as he’d been, had also managed to capture her attention in a way she hadn’t expected. She couldn’t get the image of him dominating her, kissing her, demanding more, from her mind.
As Darcy turned off the lights and clicked on the projector that danced stars across the ceiling, she knew she needed to find him and figure out what was going on. The man was a walking mystery, and if she was going to stay, and she really had no choice, she needed to clear the air. He obviously had something on his mind. Now all she had to do was let him know she was here if he wanted to talk and try to prevent anymore kissing episodes from happening.
Because kissing Colin had turned into another one of those fantasies leaving her wanting more. But Darcy was a realist by default. She may want a man to love her and a family to go right along with him in her perfect world, or the image she had of perfection, but the truth was Colin and Iris were out of reach.
Darcy had to keep reminding herself of that or she’d be severely crushed when time came to leave...alone.
* * *
Oh. My.
There was a reason Darcy had made her way through the house searching for Colin, but right at this moment she had no clue what it was. In fact, she had no thoughts whatsoever because her mind and her sight were filled with a glorious image of Colin doing one-armed pull-ups, shirtless, displaying that tattoo in a sweaty way that had her all but panting.
Dark skin wrapped around taut muscles flexing with each movement had Darcy gripping the doorframe. She wasn’t about to interrupt this free show. There was no way she could miss the chance to see her boss in all his sexy glory. She wasn’t dead, after all. She just couldn’t think clearly when he was around...an issue she’d never had with any other man.
With a grunt, he pulled himself up one last time before dropping back to the floor. Hands resting on his hips just above his low-slung shorts, Colin’s shoulders shifted up and down as he pulled in deep bre
aths. Then he stilled, turned his head over his shoulder and spotted her.
Busted.
He held her gaze. It was now or never.
“We need to talk,” she informed him, bolstering her courage by tamping down her girlie parts and stepping into the gym.
“If you want to work out, fine. I’m not in the mood to talk.”
Darcy crossed her arms over her chest. “Seems like your mood is flat-out grouchy.”
Colin turned fully to face her, but continued to stare. Darcy wondered if she’d crossed a line. But, boss or not, he shouldn’t take his attitude out on her.
“I came to see if you wanted to talk about whatever has you brooding,” she went on, trying her hardest to keep her eyes on his and not on the sweaty pecs and the ink that had her heart racing. “This tension is something I prefer not to work around and it’s not good for a child because they can sense such things even at an early age.”
Colin took a step forward, eyes locked on hers. “Is that right?”
Swallowing, Darcy nodded. “Yes.”
He took another step, then another, eventually closing the gap between them. Darcy inhaled that musky, male scent, took in those muscles that were within striking distance and blinked up at Colin.
“If you’re trying to intimidate me, you’ll have to try harder.” She had to keep the upper hand here because her control was slowly slipping and she had to at least put up a strong front. “If you don’t want to talk, I’ll leave you to your workout so you can take out your frustrations that way.”
His stunning blue eyes traveled over her face. “Go change and join me.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Because of my mood?”
Darcy took in a deep breath. “Among other things.”
“Like the pull between us?”
Why deny the obvious? She’d never been one to play games, though she did do her best to avoid uncomfortable situations. So how did she find herself here?
What the Prince Wants Page 7