He shook his head and blinked, trying to brush away the preposterous thoughts. Not only was this woman overstepping her bounds, but she was also irritating and obnoxious, and he should probably fire her on the spot. However, his dragon did not agree in the least. His inner beast wanted nothing more than to rush across the room, pull the severe little woman into his arms, and plant a hot, passionate kiss right on her stern mouth.
“What about the other men in the house?” Hanish asked.
“How involved are they in the care and upbringing of young Tor?”
“They’re my brothers,” Hanish said.
The dragons of the House of Flames, who had awakened from stasis months before the House of Storms, had told everyone they were all brothers. So far, it had worked out for them. Dragons of Dragonia didn’t use last names the way humans did. They went by their house name, and they’d continued the tradition on Earth. Hanish was called Hanish Storm. Ragnar was called Ragnar Storm, and the other men used Storm as their last name as well. Even though the men were not technically related, it was easier to call themselves brothers.
“And do your brothers participate in caring for Tor? How involved are they in his life?”
Hanish was taken aback by her question. “As much as any uncle would be.”
“I’m trying to gauge the child’s sphere of influence and whether or not those influences are healthy for him.”
“I assure you, the men of my house are excellent influences for my son. There are no better.”
“I wasn’t suggesting they weren’t. But from what I saw today, I question the safety of the child’s environment.”
Hanish couldn’t completely disagree with her on that point. Yuki and Zephyr were constantly running experiments, creating inventions, and working with semi-dangerous chemicals. Explosions like the one earlier were not uncommon. Hanish was not a man of science, but he had a great deal of respect for the practice. He wouldn’t dream of trying to limit his primary counselor or the work of his engineer.
“The environment is safe,” he assured her. “This is our life. And if you cannot adapt to our environment, then this might not be a good fit.”
JoJo didn’t reply. She simply ran her hands down her dark-gray suit jacket as if smoothing out a nonexistent wrinkle, then cocked her head to look at him. “Very well.” She put her hands behind her back and pursed her lips. “I can be on the first plane back to London in the morning.”
Hanish let out a long sigh then gritted his teeth. From what he understood, this woman was the best nanny he would find anywhere. She was worth every penny he had offered to pay her. He had to decide fast—his crew or his nanny. It was one of the most difficult decisions of his life. He would have to break it to his men that they needed to be more discreet, which they probably should be, anyway. JoJo was a human. They couldn’t let her know that they were dragons from another planet.
“Okay, I will meet your demands, Ms. Morris,” Hanish said. “But I expect the utmost care for my son. He is my number-one priority. We will do everything in our power to accommodate you. And if you have things under control here, I need to go speak with my crew—er, my brothers.”
He handed her the baby before turning on his heel, completely flummoxed. Had he just let a human take control of his home, his crew, and his family? This can’t be happening. Hanish charged away, shaking his head as his inner dragon roared that this woman was everything he’d been waiting for. Indeed, he knew she was the nanny he’d been waiting for.
But it wasn’t just that. There was something more, something deeper, something full of lust and passion and power. His inner dragon demanded that JoJo Morris, the irritating, bossy woman with the strange accent, was his mate.
Chapter 4
JoJo was unsurprised by Captain Hanish’s response. She had enough experience to know that his was a common reaction for parents in need of her services. But if she was going to take care of Tor, the first thing she needed to do was ensure the household was under control. From what she’d seen so far, the place was in total disarray. By all accounts, it was an extremely well-appointed household, but she’d noticed that the carpets probably hadn’t been vacuumed since the men had moved into the place. There were dirty dishes stacked on every surface, and the child was in a diaper that hadn’t been changed since that morning. She was sure that Captain Hanish meant well and wanted to be a good father. However, he was failing dreadfully.
He had hired her and offered to pay her three times her usual salary, and she had come all the way from England to take the job. JoJo wasn’t in a big hurry to return home, but if he wouldn’t listen to her, she certainly would leave. There was nothing worse than working at a job in which she couldn’t do what she was hired to do. Parents employed her because of her expertise and skill. And there was no point in trying to do the job if they wouldn’t allow her to do it.
The look on Captain Hanish’s face had been priceless when she’d given him an ultimatum. For a moment, she’d thought he was going to send her away. She had not been bluffing. JoJo Morris was not a woman who bluffed. But she would have been disappointed. She had already invested a great deal of time and energy into coming to America and taking the position, turning down several other excellent offers in the process. But that wasn’t the only thing.
As much as she loathed to admit it, there was something deeply attractive about Captain Hanish. She’d noticed it the first time she’d laid eyes on his photograph. Not only was the man extremely attractive and alluring, he also had an undeniably compelling presence. It certainly didn’t work on her, but she had to admit it held a certain appeal. She scoffed at herself. These thoughts were all quite ridiculous. She had a strict policy against ever getting involved with an employer. The possibility of them ever becoming romantic was completely off-limits. It would never be a consideration.
She looked down at baby Tor and smiled. He was an attractive young boy with a big smile and was in desperate need of appropriate care. “Let’s get you cleaned up and have some lunch, shall we?” she cooed at the baby.
She gave him a bath, put him in a clean diaper, and dressed him in fresh clothes. Now the child looked more comfortable. He was having issues with teething, but JoJo had an old recipe she’d learned from her great-aunt Mary. She rubbed a bit on the child’s sore spots, giving him much-needed relief. With that done, she picked Tor up and held him on her hip.
Looking over the nursery one last time, she spotted a toy out of place on the floor. JoJo winked once and waved her finger at the toy. It levitated through the air and plopped back into the toy chest.
“That’s better.” She smiled at Tor. “It’s good to keep the nursery tidy.” Tor squeaked and smiled, tugging on the lapel of her jacket. “I’m glad you agree, young man. I think we’re going to get along quite well.”
She took Tor down to the first floor and began to investigate the surroundings, quickly finding the kitchen. She opened the cabinets to inspect what Captain Hanish had stocked for the child. She found the usual baby foods. They seemed to be from good, healthy brands. In the refrigerator, there was a bottle of some mysterious milky substance with a label that read “formula” across the glass. She lifted the bottle and sniffed the contents. It smelled extremely sweet and creamy. JoJo blinked several times, not knowing what it was she was smelling. She would have to ask Captain Hanish about it. She certainly wouldn’t be feeding Tor anything full of sugar.
JoJo placed Tor in his baby seat and gave him a sippy cup of water. Then she began to spoon mashed peas into his mouth. He didn’t approve of the peas at first, but with patience and persistence, JoJo finally got him to eat his healthy lunch.
“That’s a good boy,” JoJo said. “You’re doing well.”
After Tor was done with his lunch, JoJo was getting him cleaned up when Hanish entered the kitchen.
“Captain Hanish, I need to ask you what kind of formula you’re feeding Tor. If you are giving him too much sugar, it could explain any behavior problems he�
�s experiencing.”
“That’s his formula,” Hanish said flatly. “He needs it.”
“But what is it?”
“We make it specifically for my son.”
“Was it created by your crew of scientists?” JoJo asked, looking for clarification.
Hanish poured himself a cup of coffee. “Yes.” He did not look happy. But there was a certain gleam in his eye that said something else, something she wasn’t prepared to notice.
JoJo cleared her throat, trying to brush off the obvious attraction they had for each other. It was so ridiculous. They had nothing in common. Hanish was certainly not the type of man she ever felt attracted to. She liked men who were intellectual, accomplished, and… English. Captain Hanish was obviously an American military man with a boorish and demanding personality. They would never get along, even if she didn’t have a strict policy of never dating her employers.
“Would you mind if I asked your science officers about the ingredients?” she asked.
“What do you want to know?”
“Is it full of refined sugar?” Her voice was more exasperated than she’d meant it to be.
“Certainly not,” he scoffed.
“Good. That’s all I needed to know.”
He looked down at his son then back at her. He seemed to be at odds with himself. She would prefer if he were happy with her performance. But if he wasn’t, then he could always let her go, no matter how much she wanted to stay. Even if Hanish drove her to distraction with his devastatingly good looks, JoJo had to stick to her principles. “Very well, then. I will include a bottle in his feeding routine. He’s just eaten an entire jar of mashed peas. He was quite hungry.”
“Tor doesn’t like peas,” Hanish said.
“He didn’t at first, but eventually we got them down.”
“Are you forcing my son to eat things he doesn’t like?”
“Of course not.” She was extremely offended by that suggestion. “You can get what you need from a child if you are consistent and patient. I stand by my methods. I would never force a child to do anything unless he was being naughty and needed to be disciplined.”
“Disciplined?”
“A child Tor’s age will not require discipline. But when he is a bit older, in his toddler years, it is possible there may be cause for time-outs.”
Hanish grunted and frowned.
“I assure you I am the best in my field. I know what I’m doing.”
“That’s what I have been led to believe,” Hanish said. “I will not have my son treated poorly. Consider this a trial employment. If things work out, you can stay. If not, I will pay you for a month, and you can be on your way. I hope that’s agreeable to you.”
“It sounds perfectly reasonable, Captain, and I’m glad you suggested it. I wouldn’t want either of us to be surprised or disappointed in our partnership in raising young Tor.”
“You should know, Ms. Morris, that I am not a man who is used to taking orders from anyone.”
“Well, it would make sense that you would have a hard time accommodating me or the demands of child-rearing. Children, especially as young as Tor, are seldom good at taking orders.”
“That much, I understand.”
JoJo crossed the kitchen, brushing past Captain Hanish. The heat of his body radiated across the space between them. The scent of his cologne filled her nostrils. She felt a rush of inexplicable desire and immediately felt lightheaded. This would not do at all. She couldn’t behave like a swooning teenager with her employer, especially an employer who was as difficult as Captain Hanish.
“I will feed Tor his formula now,” she said, pulling the mysterious liquid from the refrigerator.
“I’ll give it to him myself,” he grunted. “I didn’t hire you to replace me. I hired you to help me.”
“I would never presume to replace you as a parent. I only wish to be an asset to the family.”
He took the bottle from her hands. “I’m glad we’re in agreement.” Hanish gathered his son in his arms and cradled the baby close as he offered him the bottle.
JoJo watched Hanish hold his son, and the sight of the big man’s affection for the child filled her heart with warmth. She practically melted as she watched him. She knew it shouldn’t affect her so much. She had worked for parents like him many times in the past. But something about Hanish and his love for his son made her weak in the knees.
“You’re doing well,” she said.
He looked up at her with a mixture of appreciation and annoyance. “We’ve had a bit of practice.”
“You’ve been taking care of him by yourself his entire life. You should be commended.”
“Thank you,” he said, not meeting her gaze. His tone was sincere, and she could tell he appreciated her approval.
When Tor was finished with his bottle, Hanish handed him back to JoJo. She held the baby in her arms, gently rocking him and patting his back. The little boy let out a loud burp, and his father’s eyes grew wide.
“Have you been burping him after his meals?”
“I have not,” Hanish said.
“That could lead to some colic.”
“I had no idea.”
She smiled. “That’s why you brought me here.”
“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me and my son.”
“I’m here to help,” she said, holding the child close.
His father observed her, his eyes twinkling. Hanish had the same hint of attraction in his expression that she felt for him.
She smiled and tried to slough it off. “I’ll take him upstairs for his nap now if that’s all right.”
“It’s the new schedule.”
She nodded once and turned to leave, but Hanish called her back.
She turned to him. “Yes?”
“I hope this works out.” His expression was strange and unreadable.
“As do I.”
She turned to go and hurried up the stairs to the nursery, where she put Tor down for his nap. The baby quickly fell off to sleep. Upon arrival, she’d installed a white-noise machine and new blackout curtains. They provided a much more restful environment for the child. She gazed down at his sleeping form and noticed he’d kicked off his blanket. She blinked once and flicked her finger, pulling the blanket up over his shoulder. Nodding, she smiled, satisfied that she was able to help another child.
Chapter 5
Hanish punched the punching bag until a hole burst in the tough surface and his fingers bled inside his boxing gloves. He growled and kicked the bag, sending it flying off its hinges, across the room into the wall, narrowly missing the window. A loud crack echoed through the room. He just knew that JoJo would hear it. “Dammit.”
“What’s the matter, Hanish?” Zephyr asked, walking through the door.
“The nanny. She’s an insufferable, bossy woman. I don’t know how I’m going to endure her presence.”
“The offer still stands to create a robotic nanny. Then you will not have to accommodate this human or her demands.”
“I’ve put her on a trial basis.” Hanish picked up the punching bag and frowned as he inspected the broken fixture.
“Yuki can fix that,” Zephyr said.
“Now I have nothing to punch.”
“What is the problem? This is your home, and Tor is your son.”
“I don’t feel like I have any control anymore. She’s been telling me what to do since the moment she stepped through the front door three days ago. And instead of telling her to take a hike, I’ve obeyed. What’s wrong with me?”
“You only want what is best for your son.”
“Yes. But it’s something else. My inner dragon is agitated.”
Zephyr raised an eyebrow. “Agitated? Could you explain?”
“He growls incessantly, demanding that the nanny is my mate.”
Zephyr stroked his chin, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “That is interesting.”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“Of course it’s possible. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“She’s insufferable.”
“And what is it about this woman you find insufferable?”
Hanish hissed out a long breath. “She keeps telling me what to do in my own home. I am the captain and the prince of the House of Storms. I’m in charge.” He stabbed his thumb to his chest.
“Keep her or get rid of her.” Zephyr shrugged. “It’s quite simple, sir.”
“Zephyr, you are my oldest friend and my closest advisor. I trust you to tell me if I’m being a fool.”
“I know.”
“And am I?”
“I have never known you to be indecisive, Captain.”
“There’s something definitely wrong with me.”
“Have you considered that your dragon is correct?”
Hanish dropped the punching bag and paced across the room, looking out the window onto the grounds. JoJo had Tor in a stroller and was walking him at a quick pace down the trail in the back garden. She was speaking to him and pointing out flora and fauna as they walked. The child gazed up at her, seeming to observe and take in every word she spoke.
“What should I do?” he asked Zephyr, not taking his eyes off JoJo.
“I suggest we take a sample of her DNA and perform a mating analysis. It’s the only logical reaction.”
“Perhaps. But I have many illogical impulses surging through my blood as we speak. My dragon wants nothing more than to crash through this window, swoop down to the garden, scoop JoJo up into my arms, and plant a hot, wet kiss on those beautiful lips. I want to see her hair tumble over her shoulders and pull that tweed jacket down her arms. I want to slip her out of those sensible-heeled boots and see her writhe naked on my sheets.”
“Those are illogical thoughts, sir,” Zephyr said.
Hanish turned to him, frowning, a deep grimace on his face. “Let’s get a DNA sample. What can we use?”
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