by BWWM Club
It wasn't broadcast that Christina's husband had been Leo's little brother. They didn't tend to use it unless they had to, such as for Christina's protection. Leo carried a lot of weight behind him. Even though Christina was more than capable of looking after herself, one look at Leo and people backed off. A link to him was useful in many ways.
"It's not that I'm worried about."
"What are you worried about?"
Christina sighed and rubbed at her stomach. Her insides were gnawing away, telling her that something was wrong. But she pushed this aside and shook her head at Leo.
"I don't know. I just know that something's going to happen and I don't think I want it to happen."
It was cryptic but Christina wasn't going to openly admit, especially after their conversation the day before, that she had more than a fleeting attraction for the man who had put her back up. It scared the hell out of her and there was no way she was going to let Leo give her another lecture.
She was saved from more questioning by Clive as he turned the SUV to a set of iron gates with a security guard in a booth just outside. Leo showed his ID, which was checked against the list of visitors, and they were allowed through. Clive whistled as they went up the driveway.
"Wow, when you said he lived in a big place you weren't kidding."
Christina leaned forward. Her breath caught when she saw the house. It was a huge, sprawling two-story house, seeming to spread across several acres. The grounds were massive, stretching beyond what the eye could see. Much as she thought the house was beautiful, Christina wasn't so sure about the grounds. She had never understood why someone would buy a house with a massive garden when they weren't going to use it beyond merely showing it off.
She remembered the house she used to live in. They'd had a garden. It had a slide and a little paddling pool and sandpit. They had put up a trampoline the week before the accident. Alex had loved it. He would spend hours on it, bouncing away and laughing his head off.
Christina shut down the memories. Now was not the time to think about the past. She needed to keep a grip on what they were about to do.
"Nathan has always liked to live it large." Leo said. He hadn't moved to look. "His father's hard graft got them something finally."
Christina sat back and turned to her clinical side. Perhaps if she saw Nathan Gilmore as a load of data instead of as a man it might help dampen the attraction.
"How old was he was he got into the millions?"
"Try billions. Nathan's father Bruce was into computer software. He designed security systems, databases and programs. It hit the market big-time when Nathan was in his senior year. That was when Nathan's family became billionaires." Leo looked out the window. "When Bruce died Nathan took over the business as CEO. He was only twenty-five. His sister Jane is in accounting and brother Josh is vice president. They're a close-knit family."
"Lucky them." Christina grunted.
In her book, close-knit usually meant keeping the dysfunctional secrets closer to their chests than other people. A lot of skeletons in the closet.
Clive pulled the car into the sweeping driveway and stopped in front of a set of steps going to the front door. He turned off the engine and climbed out. Christina went to get out when Leo touched her arm.
"Stay close to me and keep your mouth shut." He murmured. "You don't want us thrown out before we've done anything."
Christina rolled her eyes.
"I'll be as good as gold." She promised.
"That'll be the day." Leo snorted.
Christina bit back a grin and climbed out, squinting against the sun. It was a warm day and already she was missing the air conditioning in the car. She shrugged out of her jacket and laid it over her arm.
Leo shut the door behind him as the front door opened and two people came out. Christina watched the couple as they approached them. The man was in his late twenties, a dark brown mop topping a youthful, handsome face. He was built like a football player and wearing a charcoal suit that looked to cost several thousand dollars. The woman was in her early thirties, petite and thin. She would have been attractive once but she had hard lines around her mouth and eyes that tainted that. She wore a pale pink sleeveless dress that ended at the knees and a high neck, her black hair held up in a severe-looking bun.
The man walked over to Leo, a big beam on his face as he held out a hand.
"Leo, good to see you again."
"Josh?" Leo laughed in surprise and shook hands with the younger man, both men embracing for a moment. Then Leo stepped back and surveyed Josh. "Wow, you've grown. You were only nine when I last saw you."
"Eighteen years will change you in more ways than one." Josh chuckled. He turned and indicated the woman in pink, who had stopped a few steps above them. "You remember my sister Jane?"
"Of course." Leo gave Jane a polite nod. "Good to see you again, Jane."
"Leo." Jane nodded at Clive and then looked Christina over, her expression haughty. "And you must be the replacement nanny."
Christina bristled but bit back a retort. She was going to have to work for this woman's family, after all.
"Christina Maudsley, Miss Gilmore."
"Miss Maudsley is my resident computer expert, Jane." Leo glanced at Christina before addressing her again. "She's also my sister-in-law."
That was a warning. Christina recognized it. Somehow Leo thought Jane Gilmore was going to be a bit more than uncivil towards Christina and was nipping it in the bud to remind her she wasn't merely the hired help.
Jane's expression shuttered down. But when she spoke she sounded more cordial.
"Of course."
She turned away and strutted up the steps, effectively ignoring them. Josh beckoned them up the steps.
"Come on in, Leo. Nathan's expecting you."
Leo went on ahead, talking to Josh in low voices. Clive and Christina followed behind, Christina watching Jane go into the house, turning back to give her a look that Christina didn't like. Then she disappeared inside.
"I don't think that woman likes me." She murmured.
"She probably doesn't like anyone." Clive whispered back.
Christina grunted. That sounded true enough. She didn't know what Jane's problem was with her but she wasn't interested in getting into a bitch fight with the woman. Chances were Jane wouldn't walk away unscathed anyway and Christina didn't want to get fired.
Josh led them inside, across the huge foyer and to a door near the back of the house. He knocked three times and entered without waiting.
"Leo's here, Nate."
He beckoned them in. Christina went in after Leo and took in her surroundings. This had to be Nathan's study. It seemed just as huge as the rest of the house. Bookcases covered two of the walls, a desk of computers against a third. A black leather three-piece suite was in the center of the room. There were a set of double doors going onto the terrace. Both of these were open.
Jane was standing by the desk, hands folded primly in front of her, but Nathan was crouched on the floor in front of his desk playing with a little boy aged around three. They had the Lego bricks out and Nathan was showing the child what to put where. For a moment Christina couldn't see anything except his interaction with the boy. Towards the child he was gentle, caring. Loving.
Her heart ached. Whatever this man was, he loved his son. It was a pity he had to drive like a maniac and make his kid worry if he was going to come home at the end of the day.
Nathan looked up and grinned, sending Christina's heart into pitter-patter mode. God, he was gorgeous. He stood up and came over to them.
"Leo." He shook hands with Leo and then turned to Christina, holding out his hand. "Christina."
Swallowing, Christina shook his hand quickly and pulled back. The zing of attraction that had pulsed between them the minute their hands touched was tingling up her arm and through her body. Her core clenched and the blood went south to between her legs.
"And Clive." Nathan embraced the big man. "It's be
en a long time. How you doing, you big brute?"
"Better and better, Nate." Clive grinned. "You're looking good yourself."
"No better than you are." Nathan looked at Leo. "I thought I asked for two bodyguards. I know Clive is good but I don't think he's good enough to separate himself into two men."
Leo laughed.
"We have another bodyguard on his way. Joe Hodgkiss. He's finishing off an assignment in Oregon. He'll be with us in the morning."
Nathan grunted.
"I suppose that'll have to do." He turned and smiled at the boy, who was watching the newcomers with wary interest. He beckoned him over. "Jack? Come here and meet my friends. Don't worry, they're not scary."
Jack stood and trotted over to his father. Nathan picked him up and turned to introduce him.
"This is my son Jack. This is Leo, Clive and Christina. Christina's going to be your new nanny for now."
Christina's heart stopped for a moment. Jack was the spitting image of his father. Jet-black hair and dark-eyed, there was no mistaking whose child he was. She swallowed and managed a friendly smile at Jack, who shrank back a little but didn't look away.
"Hi, Jack. What are you playing?"
"Lego."
Jack's voice was even and clear. Christina guessed his vocabulary was probably better than hers.
"I love Lego. I used to play..." She was about to say with her son but stopped in time. "When I was little."
"You used to play with Lego?"
"Yes. They were my favorite toy." Christina glanced at Nathan. "Can I pick him up?"
"If you don't mind being kicked in the stomach." Nathan passed his son across. "He doesn't take well to strangers."
But Jack went willingly into Christina's arms, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face into her neck. Shocked at the response, Christina held him for a moment, memories of her son flooding her. It was something he often did when she picked him up. She bit back the tears and smiled at Nathan over Jack's shoulder.
"I think he's taken to me quite nicely."
Nathan was staring at her, mouth open in amazement. Then his eyes darkened with an intense emotion Christina couldn't quite read but had her whole body feeling like she was about to combust. Her pussy throbbed and she had to squeeze her thighs together without falling over from the heavy weight in her arms.
"I've never seen him do that with someone he's never met before." Josh was looking as surprised as Nathan but without the intense look.
"Neither have I." Nathan hadn't taken his eyes away from Christina's. "You're amazing."
Christina didn't know what to say to that. Her mouth felt dry. She swallowed but she still felt like she had eaten sandpaper. Finally, Nathan dragged his eyes away from her and looked at Leo, giving him an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry to spring this on you, Leo, but it was last minute. I've been asked to attend a garden party of sorts for a friend of a friend. They're expecting me at eleven."
Leo frowned and glanced at Clive.
"Do you think that's wise with the threats you've had?"
"They're major investors." Nathan pointed out. "I need to show my face." He looked at his son and his expression softened. "And they want to see Jack."
Christina drew in a sharp breath. He wouldn't do that to his own son, would he?
"Do you want to put Jack in unnecessary danger?" She hitched Jack higher up her hip. "I don't mind staying here with him. He'd probably get bored if it's a grown-up party."
"Jack knows something's wrong here, Christina." Nathan reached out and lovingly stroked Jack's head. "He doesn't want to be away from my side for long."
His fingers brushed against her cheek and Christina gasped. Nathan looked at her and the spark jumped between them. Nathan's nostrils flared but that was the only reaction he gave. Christina took a breath to steady her pulse, which had skyrocketed. What was it about this man that set her off?
"I can handle a screaming toddler, Mr Gilmore." She said.
"Nathan, please." Nathan smiled. "I'm sure you can but I want Jack near me."
Christina closed her eyes and sighed.
"I guess that means I'm coming, too."
"Naturally. However," Nathan added, casting an appreciative look over her clothes. "You might need to wear something a bit...different. If you're playing the role of the nanny, you'd better be dressed for the part. No one would believe you were the hired help dressed like that. You look more cop than nanny."
Christina bit back the angry retort she had building up on the tip of her tongue. Leo gave her a look that told her not to argue. She swallowed and faced Nathan with a scowl.
"I'll see what I can find." She said stiffly.
The smile she got almost had her melting. Almost.
"Good." Nathan turned to Leo, speaking to Christina over his shoulder. "We leave in an hour and a half. Get Jack ready as well, if you would?"
Christina was seething as Nathan drew Leo, Josh and Clive away, dismissing her. How dare he treat her like a lowly member of staff? She may not have been a male with muscles to rival Sylvester Stallone's but she could do a damn good job if they needed her to.
Now was not the time to argue, though. With Jack still resting his head on her shoulder Christina left the room. She would find Jack's room on her own. Then she could let lose any expletives she had for the insufferable, gorgeous man who was going to be bad news for her.
She knew he was bad news. But her body was saying otherwise.
And that was what made it worse.
*****
Christina felt hot. Her hair was sticking to the back of her neck and she was sweating. The only dress she had packed was black with long sleeves and a skirt that fell to mid-calf. It was good as an evening dress but it was terrible for an outdoor summer event.
She felt out of place here. The party was predominantly for the rich, outfits costing thousands and would probably be only worn once and left in the closet to gather dust. People looked fake, air-kissing and light laughter that didn't sound right. They were putting on an act, pretending to like everyone around them when they would easily stab anyone in the back to suit their own purpose.
Nathan looked like he fitted right in. He was talking to a short, stocky man with a bald head and a Hispanic man as tall as him with black hair tied back in a ponytail, a goatee completing his handsome face. Christina could appreciate a good-looking man but her eyes kept going back to Nathan. He was smiling, a genuine one that had his whole face lighting up. Christina couldn't take her eyes off him. The man was contagious and she seemed to have caught the disease.
And that didn't settle well with her. She clearly didn't belong in this world and Nathan would never fit into the world she lived in. They were mismatched before they even started - if they ever started.
But that didn't stop her from involuntarily wanting.
"Easy." Leo took the chair beside her and handed her a glass of water. "You're looking like you've swallowed a prune."
Christina grunted and took a sip. She had brought a coloring book for Jack to the party and they had found an empty table. Jack had been good the two hours they had been there, sitting at the table scribbling away. Apart from the couple of times when she took him to the bathroom and then to the buffet table, he had sat at the table, intent on his drawing. Christina couldn't remember a better behaved boy.
She kept her voice low so Jack wouldn't hear. The boy's hearing was very sharp.
"Who does he think he is? Saying I didn't look like a nanny." She tugged at the sleeve of her dress. "Making me wear this."
"You look great. And he didn't choose that for you, did he?"
"It's the only thing I have that wasn't my pyjamas or a suit." Christina scowled at Nathan, whose group had been joined by Jane. She smiled and bid them greetings before pulling Nathan away towards the buffet table, talking in a low voice. "Look at him. Swanning around like he owns the place."
"He very nearly does." Leo sipped at his whiskey. "He spent his child
hood struggling. As an adult he's making the most of it."
Christina didn't like that observation. It made Nathan sound like a spoiled brat. True, he hadn't been born with a silver spoon in his mouth but he gave that impression. It felt too fake for her.
He hadn't even come over to Jack to say hello. Jack didn't seem to mind but Christina did. He claimed to love his son but she had yet to see any indications of it outside of his home.
She wondered what the real Nathan Gilmore was like. Under the facade there had to be something of the original person left.
Leo leaned over and nudged her arm gently.
"Don't judge him too harshly, Chris. Nathan may be a bit hard to swallow at times but he's a good man."
Christina snorted.
"I'll believe it when I see it."
If she had been looking the other way she wouldn't have noticed it. She saw a waiter hanging around the buffet table. He went behind the table, ducked out of sight and then reappeared a moment later, looking around to check he hadn't been seen.
"What is it?"
Leo had noticed Christina had seen something. Christina nodded at the waiter, who was moving away from the table.
"That waiter. Does he look out of place to you?"
"No, not that I can see. Why?"
Christina watched the man make his way through the crowds to the side of the house. He turned back and took something out of his pocket. Christina saw a cell phone and a smirk on the waiter's face.
Her stomach clenched. Something wasn't right. She followed his line of sight and saw it focused firmly on Nathan and Jane, who were still talking, Nathan now with his back to the buffet table.
"Christina?"
Christina stood up, her heart pounding.
"Take Jack."
"What?"
But Christina was already moving. She rushed into the crowd, pushing people out the way and receiving many angry shouts after her. But she ignored them, dodging her way through until she got to Nathan. Nathan and Jane turned, Jane looking furious and Nathan surprised. He opened his mouth but then Christina tackled him around the waist.