by Peggy Webb
“You are anxious to go, I suppose, anxious to get on with your life.”
“Oh, no.” She almost came out of her chair. He looked startled, and she sat back down and crossed her legs at the ankles like a lady. She had her pride. “Of course, I have my own life to live and all, but one of the best times I’ve ever had has been staying in this house these past few days, taking care of your children. They’re wonderful. And so is Quincy. We’ve had us a ball while you’ve been gone.”
“So I gathered.”
They held each other in silent regard for a long time. A soft twilight began to gather outside the windows, and summer breezes sprang to life in the trees.
Reeve’s checkbook was only four inches from his hand, but he felt a strange reluctance to reach for it.
What was happening to him? Business had always been the easiest part of his life. Why was he hesitating about taking care of business with Belinda Diamond?
He looked down at his hands, still tightly entwined in a steeple. A little while longer, he said to himself. He would indulge his foolish need to keep her in his office a little while longer.
“It’s almost dark outside,” he said.
“I know.”
“I believe our original bargain was that I would drive you to Main Street and leave you.”
“That’s what we said.”
“Naturally I can’t leave you on Main Street in the dark.”
“You can take me to a motel.”
Was she that eager to leave him? Was he such a bear that she couldn’t wait to be out of his sight? She had said the past few days were one of the best times of her life, but that had nothing to do with him. She had specifically mentioned his house and his children.
Had he been fantasizing out in San Francisco? Had he imagined the magic that happened every time he called home and heard her voice? Men under pressure had done worse things.
His hand shot out and grabbed his checkbook. There was no need to prolong this parting. He wrote her check with a sure firm hand and slid it to her across the desk.
“I hope this proves satisfactory.”
She read the amount, then quietly folded it and tucked it into her skirt pocket.
“Quite. Thank you,” she said, then stood up.
She was ending their meeting. Reeve had to admire her style. He pushed back his chair and came around the desk. It was one of the few times in his life he was at a loss for words.
Belinda gazed steadily at him, her dark eyes luminous. “I’ll get my suitcase.” She moved toward the door.
“Wait.”
She turned slowly around and stood watching him. He shoved his hands into pockets.
“There’s no need for you to leave tonight.”
“You’ve paid me. My work here is finished.”
“Would you allow me a small gesture of thanks? Will you spend one more night under my roof?”
Belinda didn’t believe in long goodbyes. They hurt too much. Best to pack up and get out while the going was good, so to speak. But there was something in him that seemed to be crying out to her. She knew, though, that she didn’t need to start off her new life by mixing herself up with somebody who needed as much fixing as Reeve Lawrence.
Still, he was giving her a chance to dream just a little while longer. Oh, she did love his house so!
“Yes. Thank you,” she finally said. “But if you don’t mind, I’m a little tired. I think I’ll spend the evening in my room. I’ll say goodbye to Betsy and Mark, then grab a bite in the kitchen before I go upstairs.”
“As you wish.”
She left the room, and Reeve stood a long time watching the closed door. He didn’t know what he was expecting. Perhaps that Belinda would come back into the room, laughing and talking about life being grand, running her hands over the back of his chair and sending his pulse racing. She had claimed to be tired. How could that be? Once she had told him life was too exciting to get tired and miss any of it.
The minutes ticked by and still the door to his office stayed closed. In his soundproof house, there was not even the murmur of voices to tell him he was not alone. He might have been the only person on the planet.
Suddenly he turned and slammed his palm down on his desk. The quick jolt of pain brought him back to his senses.
“Don’t be a fool,” he muttered, then strode from his office to spend some time with his children.
o0o
Belinda sat in the middle of Reeve’s fancy guest bed, the only light in the room coming from the glow of the screen on her laptop.
From: Belinda
To: Catherine, Molly, Joanna, Clemmie, Janet, Bea
Re: My job
I didn’t tell you this job was only temporary. Pride, I guess. But now I’m back where I started. Well, almost. Now I’ve got two little children wrapped around my heart, and their daddy, besides.
Janet, I know you cautioned me about not going gaga over Reeve, but I reckon the heart doesn’t pay the least bit of attention to reason.
The good thing is that I now have enough money to last till I can find a really great job. I’m staying here, though. I like it in Tupelo.
Xoxox
Belinda
From: Molly
To: Belinda, Janet, Clemmie, Joanna, Bea, Catherine
Re: McDreamy
OMG, I’m crying! I need to get home and give you a big hug. Those poor little children, and poor you! Call Daddy. He has friends all over town. He’ll help you find a job.
Hugs,
Molly
From: Catherine
To: Belinda, Clemmie, Janet, Joanna, Bea, Molly
Re: New Situation
Hang in there, sweetie, and take Molly’s advice. First, though, why don’t you come down to New Orleans? My little apartment off campus is just a street car ride from Bourbon Street. We can have a few beers, listen to great jazz, and chill.
Xoxo
Catherine
From: Janet
To: Belinda, Clemmie, Catherine, Bea, Molly, Joanna
Re: New Orleans
New Orleans is a great idea, Belinda. Tulane is a gorgeous campus! You might like it so much, you decide to stay. You can make lots more money with a college degree. Love you a bunch, kiddo.
Xo
Janet
From: Clemmie
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Joanna, Molly, Bea
Re: Reeve and the children
I’m crying, too! Let me drive over there and get you. We can sit in the gazebo and talk and cry and laugh and maybe even come up with a wonderful plan. Say yes!
Hugs,
Clemmie
From: Joanna
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Molly, Bea, Clemmie
Re: Fight!
You fell in love with McDreamy and you’re LETTING HIM GO??? If I ever fell in love, I’d take somebody to the mat before I’d give up!!!!
Big Hugs!!!!
Joanna
From: Bea
To: Belinda, Janet, Clemmie, Molly, Catherine, Joanna
Re: Headache
McDreamy, my butt. Just thinking about going to the mat for a man gives me a headache. If a guy hasn’t got enough balls to fight for my scintillating self, he can take his toys and go somewhere else; I don’t care if they are gold-plated.
Dang, I got on my high horse and forgot the main purpose of this email. COME TO TEXAS. Everything’s big out here, including the job market. Besides finding you a job, we’ll kick up our heels and yell Yee Haw!!!
Hugs,
Bea
Belinda was smiling when she shut off the computer. Girl power. You couldn’t beat it.
She brushed her teeth then climbed into a bed. But who could sleep with Reeve in the next room?
o0o
That night Reeve’s dreams were haunted by a pair of bow-shaped lips and a sassy pair of legs. Belinda Diamond was running down the staircase to meet him, her arms outstretched. Then the staircase dissolved and she was in a flaming sports car, plunging
to the bottom of a ravine.
Reeve awoke in a sweat. He threw the covers back and walked to his bedroom window. There was a faint tinge of pink in the east. Soon it would be morning. He stood at his window until sunrise, and then he dressed quickly and went downstairs.
He didn’t see Belinda at first. She was sitting in a chair drawn close to the staircase, her face in shadow. His shoes clicked on the marble tile as he passed her.
“Good morning, Reeve.”
At the sound of her voice, he whirled around. She was sitting with her feet together and her hands folded on her lap. A spray of artificial flowers decorated her left shoulder, and her cardboard suitcase sat at her feet. Even from the short distance that separated them, she looked small and faraway, as if she had already left his house and was rapidly disappearing from sight.
“I see you’re packed and ready to go.”
“Yes.”
His footsteps sounded loud as he strode toward her. When he was even with her chair, he stopped.
“Belinda, I don’t want you to go,” he said simply.
She tipped her face up to him and gave him that steady head-on look he so admired.
“And what would I be doing if I stayed? My temporary job is over.” She rose with great dignity, standing tall in her red spike-heeled shoes. “I don’t plan to loll around this fancy house taking your charity.”
The beautiful simplicity of the plan that had come to him in the wee hours suddenly made Reeve laugh. She looked at him as if he had gone crazy, and he supposed he had. Or maybe he was just coming to his senses.
“Come with me,” he said, taking her arm and hauling her unceremoniously down the hall to his office. He left her cardboard suitcase sitting in the hall.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I don’t conduct business standing in the hallway.”
“Business?”
He looked down at her, smiling. Why he hadn’t seen the obvious sooner was beyond him. The thing he had been searching for was right under his nose. Forget a nanny well versed in the arts; what he needed was a reliable kindhearted nanny with common sense.
“Yes, business. Miss Belinda Diamond, we’re going to draw up your contract as my permanent nanny.”
He was so pleased with himself that he didn’t notice his slip of the tongue; but Belinda did. In amongst her visions of living in her dream house for the next ten years or so and having her very own room and lots of security and maybe a chance to put geraniums on the front porch, even if it wasn’t really her porch, came a vision of herself as Reeve’s nanny. Now there was a thought.
She turned her head sideways and grinned at him. “I accept the job.” In between caring for the children and helping Quincy, she would have plenty of time left over to work on Reeve Lawrence.
The first thing she thought she’d fix was his social life. All he ever did was work. It was high time the man started having a little fun.
Chapter Five
From: Belinda
To: Clemmie, Joanna, Molly, Janet, Catherine, Bea
Re: My Permanent Job
I’ve been Reeve’s nanny for two weeks, and you wouldn’t believe the changes I’ve made. There’s music all the time now. Reeve has a wonderful collection of CDs, and the kids and I have such fun deciding whether to play classical or jazz. Joanna, you’ll be glad to hear that I now know the difference between Bach and Beethoven. That fancy school in Madrid has nothing on Reeve’s house.
His library is fantastic! I can read anything I want, anytime and he never considers it slacking. “I love to see you spending time in the library with the children,” he says. See, Janet and Catherine, I don’t need to go to college to learn! And Molly, Reeve’s collection of art would have you swooning. Not to mention his looks. He’s a bit older, thirtyish, I’d guess, but he’s much more handsome than McDreamy!
Quincy’s a lot of fun, and Bea, you’d approve of the way she runs this house.
Oh, and did I mention that Reeve is old fashioned, like me? He had this courtly way about him that reminds me of Prince Charming in the Disney movies. He’s kind and generous and thoughtful. My paycheck is so big I sometimes feel like a downright thief taking all that money.
Joanna, I might not be going to the mat for him – I’m not as feisty as you – but I’m making doggone sure he knows that Belinda Diamond is putting her stamp on this house.
Xoxoxo
Belinda
From: Catherine
To: Belinda, Janet, Bea, Molly, Joanna, Clemmie
Re: Diamond
OMG, sweetie! Did you say Diamond? How’s he going to report Social Security?
Catherine
From: Janet
To: Belinda, Catherine, Bea, Molly, Joanna, Clemmie
Re: Your Name
Cat’s right. Don’t you dare let this man get by without paying Social Security on you. What about health insurance? He ought to be paying that for you and Quincy both. Nobody can ever afford hospital care without it!
Janet
From: Clemmie
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Joanna, Molly, Bea
Re: Records
Oh, Belinda, do set the record straight. Reeve Lawrence sounds amazing and you don’t want the IRS breathing down his neck. Still, I really like the name Diamond. It sounds incredible, exactly like you!
Clemmie
From: Joanna
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Clemmie, Molly, Bea
Re: Reeve Lawrence
I can’t wait to get home and meet this man! He sounds as awesome as Kirk!!!! I don’t know why I’ve never heard of him.
Joanna
From: Molly
To: Joanna, Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Clemmie, Bea
Re: Fabulous news!
Daddy says Tupelo’s growing by leaps and bounds. That’s probably why you never heard of him, Joanna. Oh, Belinda, I don’t care what you call yourself! I’m so happy for you!!!
Molly
From: Bea
To: Joanna, Molly, Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Clemmie
Re: I’m gonna puke
Belinda, if I hear how wonderful this man is one more time I’m gonna puke! You barely know him! Straighten out that mess about your legal name, then just sit back and breathe. If this Lawrence character is all that wonderful, he’ll see what a treasure you are, and he won’t waste a minute heaping accolades on you!!! Remember what Mother said. Let a man chase you until you catch him. Of course, what do I know about men? With my track record, my Virginia is going to bald and gray before anybody ever gets near it!
Bea
o0o
Although Reeve hadn’t seen much of Belinda except at the dinner table, he had been keeping close tabs on her through Quincy and the children. He received daily glowing reports from both his housekeeper and his children about Belinda’s magical powers as a nanny.
Not that he’d been avoiding her, he told himself as he drifted toward the sound of the music. He’d been busy catching up with his work now that he didn’t have the constant worry of finding and keeping a good nanny for his children.
Light and music poured through the open doorway, and it seemed that his den had been transformed into a place of enchantment. When he reached the door, he saw Belinda, draped in scarlet chiffon and rhinestones, her arms lifted gracefully over her head, waltzing and twirling.
She came to a stop in front of him. “Hello.” Her smile was radiant. “Fancy meeting you like this.”
Before he could say anything, she drifted off in a whirl of chiffon skirts, dancing the music until she had made another circuit of the room. When she was even with him once more, she paused, arms still lifted over her head.
“Well, hello again.”
Reeve’s gaze lingered on her face, then moved to the soft blue-veined skin of her upper arms. He could see her pulse beating there, like tiny wings of a trapped butterfly. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off that vulnerable spot.
“Here it is, this lovely summer evening—�
�� her voice wove itself around his mind, drawing his attention back to her face and her wonderful vampish lips “—and the children are all tucked into bed. Quincy’s sound asleep, too. Don’t you think this is a grand time to dance?”
She waited for his response. It was a long time coming. He was trapped in the contemplation of her lips.
“I suppose...” he finally said, leaving the sentence adrift among the haunting strains of music.
Belinda took his hand and pulled him into the den. A warmth spread through him, and he reached back and quietly shut the door.
“What is that music you’re playing?”
“An old Hank Williams tune, ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart.’ It was the first CD I ever owned, and I was always a fool about it. Couldn’t bear to leave it behind, so when I left Augusta, I tucked it into my suitcase.”
He had a sudden vision of Belinda walking sideways under the weight of her possessions. He wondered if she’d put in her grocery-store china with the blue chickens around the border.
“Hmm,” he murmured. Whether he was agreeing with her decision to bring her music to Tupelo or just making a noise to let her know he was listening, he didn’t know. He glanced down at their entwined hands. Holding her hand felt good and right somehow, so he held on.
“Do you dance?” she asked.
“Not much.”
“That’s what I figured. Shoot, I’ll bet you haven’t danced in a month of Sundays.”
“Something like that.”
They had been moving slowly toward the center of the room as they talked. Her chiffon skirts whispered against his trousers and her fragrance drifted around him.
“You wait right here,” she said. “Now don’t you move.”
He wouldn’t have moved if an elephant suddenly charged into the room.
Belinda started the record again, and Hank Williams’ sad song of lost love filled the room. Belinda came toward him, singing along. She had a sweet clear voice that set his skin a-tingle.