He stood up as well and leaned towards her over the desk, glaring at her. “Then why did you then? Were you just determined to lose your virginity that night, and any man would do?”
She flushed bright red, her gaze faltering a little and he realized that he had hit a target with his words, immediately pouncing on her. “I’m right, aren’t I? You did plan on losing your virginity that night! Any dick would do!”
“No! Well, yes, but—” she said, trying to explain but Gabriel interrupted her curtly, saying, “Please, spare me your justifications. Let’s get on with this interview now, shall we?”
He glanced down at her CV again, and Maria bit her lip, perilously close to tears. Her passionate, tender lover was gone completely, replaced by this brutal, cold-eyed stranger who acted like he hated her.
He suddenly stilled, staring at the piece of paper in front of him as if it were a striking cobra before his head shot up, and the shock and horror in his gaze caused her stomach to plummet. “Christ Almighty, you’re a nun!?”
She flinched, both at his blasphemy and at his reaction. She’d nearly forgotten that information was on her CV. “Ex-novice, actually. I left the novitiate last year before I took my final vows.”
He stared at her in utter disbelief. This vibrant and sensual creature had nearly chosen a life devoted to God? Everything in him revolted at the thought—he’d never met someone less suited to a cloistered life. His eyes narrowed as something else occurred to him. “What the fuck was a virgin ex-novice doing picking up strange men in bars? And taking birth control pills on top of that!”
Maria’s entire body vibrated with hurt fury as her control finally broke. “An ex-novice who’d been prescribed them by her doctor to regulate her period, you jerk! And an ex-novice who wanted to experience something that other girls her age take for granted, and who knew she would have as much opportunity to meet someone as a live-in nanny as if she’d stayed a nun! And an ex-novice who didn’t just choose any dick, she waited for the right dick, a man who’s being an absolute prick to her!”
Gabriel opened his mouth but she held up her hand to stop him, having had enough of his insulting behavior. “Mr. Trentham, this interview is at an end. It’s safe to say that that it would take an act of God for me to work for you!”
With that she whirled away and stalked to the door, opening and slamming it shut as she walked quickly down the hallway to the entrance hall. She passed Matt who had poked his head out of his office and opened his mouth, but she brushed past him, not wanting him to see the indignant tears on her face.
She rushed to the front door, barely waiting for the startled butler to open the door for her before she barreled through the swirling snow to her car. It was snowing much harder now, and the temperature had dropped precipitously. She knew she was taking a foolhardy chance driving through a blizzard, but she would just go to the nearest town ten miles down the road—surely there had to be a place for her to stay until the blizzard had passed and she could figure out her options.
She angrily dashed the tears away from her cheeks before they had a chance to freeze on her face. She refused to wonder why she felt so devastated—this time, there would be no regrets at leaving him. She’d make sure of it.
“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED IN here? I could hear you both yelling at each other from my not-so-soundproofed office!” Matt exclaimed, rushing into the office.
Gabriel stood frozen behind his desk, the furious hurt on Maria’s face burned into his retinas. He’d been an utter bastard to Maria and his only excuse was that he’d been battling his own rage at her for running from him that morning and finding her again now, after he’d finally given up on ever seeing her again and deciding to marry Olivia.
He closed his eyes and mentally groaned at the thought of Olivia, who would be coming at the end of the week for a short stay to make the arrangements for their upcoming Christmas engagement party.
“I don’t know what you said to her to make her run out of here like a bat outta hell, but I really don’t think it’s a good idea for her to be driving in this weather,” Matt said anxiously.
His head snapped up at Matt’s words. “What do you mean—she left here and drove away?”
Matt nodded. “I saw Williams open the front door for her and she didn’t even hesitate before going out into the snow.”
Shit! “Matt, make sure no one opens the gate for her. Anyone who does so will be fired on the spot, do you understand me?”
Matt gulped and reached for the phone. “Yes, sir! What are you going to do?”
“Bring her back, whether she wants to or not!” Gabriel said grimly, already leaving the office and heading to the garage.
MARIA THUMPED HER HAND AGAINST the steering wheel in frustration. She couldn’t figure out how to open the gate, and no one would pick up the house phone when she called to ask. She’d even tried to get on the security camera to ask for the gate to be opened, but nothing.
She’d spent several minutes looking for a manual override—there had to be one, right?—but hadn’t been able to find it yet, and had been forced back to the car by the force of the snow and the wind. She managed to get snow stuck in her hair and it was melting slowly, making her both wet and cold.
She leaned her forehead down on the steering wheel, feeling both physically and emotionally exhausted. Just great. Could this day get any worse?
As if in answer, a silver Range Rover appeared behind her little compact. Hope rose that it was someone who would open the gate for her; it quickly plummeted when she recognized the tall, broad-shouldered figure clad in a navy pinstriped suit descending from the vehicle.
She stared stonily ahead when he came to her window and tapped lightly on it, refusing to even look at him when he called her name.
“Ria, please, we need to talk.”
No we don’t, she thought furiously. We’ve said everything we need to, and thanks for turning one of my most cherished memories into something ugly and hurtful.
She thought he would go back to his vehicle and leave her alone when she refused to respond. Obviously, she underestimated him—instead, he walked around to the passenger side of her car and opened the door, quickly sliding into the seat before she could think to lock it.
“Get out! I never want to speak to you again.”
Gabriel’s heart ached at the misery plain on her face and in her tear-swollen eyes. He never wanted to make her cry, and he felt like the jerk she’d called him. He needed to convince her to stay, to give him another chance.
“Maria, please, I apologize. You’re right—I’ve been a complete and utter asshole to you, and you’ve deserved none of it. My only excuse is that I did hope that our one night would lead to more, and I looked for you for months afterwards. I didn’t realize how angry I was at your disappearing act until you showed up literally on my doorstep.” He smiled wryly and added, “And my ego took a beating when I realized that you were perfectly happy leaving me behind. I’d been hoping you’d want the same—not just one night.”
Maria took a long, trembling breath. She desperately wanted to believe him, but she didn’t want to give him the power to hurt her so badly again. But he gave her the truth, and he deserved no less.
“I did intend it just to be a one-night stand, but I did regret leaving you like that, and wonder what could have happened if I didn’t run out. I owe you an apology too—you gave me such an incredible night, and I cheapened it when I left without saying goodbye.”
He smiled slightly at her words, hope rising in him that they could get past this. “Will you come back to the house with me? You shouldn’t be driving in this—it’s much too dangerous.”
She hesitated and Gabriel held his breath, waiting for her decision. Finally, she nodded slowly.
“I’ll come back, but only until the blizzard is over.”
Gabriel thought quickly. “I don’t think anyone is going anywhere for a while—I was supposed to fly out to Chicago tonight but I’m sure my flight has
been cancelled. If we get the two feet of snow forecasted, I think school will be cancelled tomorrow and likely longer, and I still need a nanny—will you at least consider taking the job? We could use this week as a trial run—I promise to keep things strictly professional between us.” He fervently hoped that her nose for lies wouldn’t detect his—he really didn’t know if he would be able to keep his hands off of her.
She stared at him with those vibrant blue eyes, still absolutely captivating even red-rimmed. Indecision was all over her face—he watched that emotion as well as doubt, hope, anxiety and fear all flit across her expressive face. She worried her bottom lip and he had the nearly irresistible urge to free her lip so that he could nip it instead. Her lip popped free when she opened her mouth and Gabriel waited, barely breathing.
“Okay,” she said and he nearly shuddered with relief. “Let’s try it for a week since I’m going to be stuck here anyway and I don’t want your children to go without a nanny while they wait out the storm. Although,” she suddenly grinned, and his breath caught at the breathtaking beauty of her smile—it was like the sun coming out after a cloudy day, “I’m sure they would rather have a week’s vacation with their father than have a new nanny around.”
Gabriel grimaced. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
She would soon realize that he didn’t have the closest relationship with his children, and it was one of his biggest regrets and failings as a father. He’d retreated into his grief after Elle’s death and pushed them away. Ironically, it was his night with Maria that had allowed him to get past his self-imposed emotional exile and really see his children again. Once he’d realized what had happened he simply didn’t know how to bridge the gulf between them, it had existed for too long.
It was the reason he’d proposed to Olivia—he’d thought that a new mother would be in his children’s best interests. He’d been disappointed when they hadn’t seemed all that enthusiastic at his engagement, although they’d all known Olivia for years.
Dear lord, what was he going do about Olivia? He’d proposed for the sake of his children—should he marry for their sake too, even if his heart wasn’t in it?
He wasn’t sure if he was even ready to admit to himself what he felt for Maria—all he could think of right now was that she’d agreed to stay. Just for one week right now, but he couldn’t look ahead—he’d just take it day by day. At least for now.
MARIA FOLLOWED HIM BACK TO the house, driving carefully on the slippery road. Instead of stopping in front of the house, he drove to the side to the very large modern garage. There were nearly a dozen cars parked in it. He pulled into a space and she parked next to him.
She opened her trunk to retrieve her suitcases, and he gently but firmly took them from her, ignoring her protests that she could carry her own bags. She was at least able to hold onto her laptop and handbag.
“Are these all your cars?” she asked, waving at the garage.
“Not at all—most belong to the staff here. Matt has a car, as does Williams, the butler, and Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, who you’ll meet. Also Mrs. Phillips, the cook. Some of the staff also carpool together. Only five of the vehicles belong to me.”
“Oh, only five,” she said, amused. When he arched a brow at her she just grinned cheekily at him, and a crooked half-smile broke across his face, delighting her. He was even more incredibly good-looking when he smiled, she thought wistfully and then mentally shook her head. Only one week, she reminded herself sternly.
“So not all your staff lives here then?” she asked, wanting to distract herself, but truly curious about how such a large household ran.
“No, most of them live in town or nearby, but they also keep rooms here for situations like this with the blizzard. I don’t want anyone going out and risking their lives unnecessarily,” he said grimly, and Maria remembered that his wife had died in a car accident. She wondered if it had been in weather like this.
“If they need to leave, and some do, they have their own family to get home to, I always let them leave as early as possible. So right now the house is only partially staffed. Don’t worry about the power going out—I have my own generator and a back-up generator in case that one goes out. So we’ll ride out the storm in relative comfort and security.”
Maria laughed softly. “Oh, I had no worries there. So when do I get to meet the children?”
“I thought you’d like to settle in first and unpack. How about in an hour? I’ll show you to your room and then come and get you when it’s time.”
“Oh you don’t have to go out of the way—just tell me where to meet you and I’ll go there,” Maria insisted.
“Maria, it’s no bother at all. Besides, I’m afraid you’ll get lost, the house and the grounds are quite extensive—I’ve sometimes felt that we should hand out maps to guests when they arrive,” he said dryly.
Maria giggled. “It is very grand, isn’t it? I thought it looked more like an English manor house than anything else!”
“I’m glad to hear that, since it actually is an English manor house.”
Maria gasped in surprise. “Really? Did you bring it over?”
“It was my great-grandfather—the house belonged to an earl who had lost his money after World War I. My great-grandfather fell in love with it and the earl’s daughter and he married her in England. As a wedding present for his bride, he bought the house and then dismantled it and reassembled it here, brick by brick. He did have the foresight to do some much needed modernizing, thankfully, and both my grandfather and my father also made additional renovations as have I, so it’s not nearly as expensive to maintain as the house in its original state would be.”
Maria was impressed despite herself. She was right—Gabriel was old money, but he obviously didn’t rest on his fortune, since he seemed to work a lot as well.
They entered the main house via the large gourmet kitchen, where Gabriel introduced her to Mrs. Phillips, the cook, who was excellent at her job if the delicious smells wafting through the kitchen were anything to go by.
Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, entered the kitchen a moment later, and Gabriel introduced her to Maria as well. She liked her immediately—Mrs. Smith had a warm, efficient air about her that reminded Maria of the nuns at the convent, especially the Mother Superior. Mrs. Smith offered to show Maria to her room instead of Gabriel but he declined, saying he wanted to show her around the house.
“Oh, and Mrs. Smith? I’ll be taking Maria to the Blue Room.” Gabriel could see confusion on Mrs. Smith’s face for a moment before she smiled and nodded, saying nothing. He soon led Maria back to the main hall, where Williams was stationed.
Proving that he indeed was the perfect butler, Williams didn’t even blink at the sight of Maria back in the house after leaving it in such dramatic fashion a short time earlier. And of course Gabriel made no mention of it as well.
“Williams, I’m showing Miss Berger to her room. Will you inform Matt that I will be down in my office shortly, and can he confirm that my flight has been cancelled? I’m not looking into rebooking right now—just have Matt call Chicago and let them know that I won’t be able to make my meetings due to the weather, and perhaps we can schedule a video conference instead.”
Williams nodded. “Of course, sir. How many shall I tell Cook for dinner tonight?”
“We just saw her in the kitchen so no need to tell her, but it’ll be seven tonight. Thank you, Williams.”
Gabriel led Maria to the second floor, to the east side of the house. “This is the family wing of the house. The nanny traditionally has a room near the children’s rooms, but I promise, the children are generally well-behaved and noise shouldn’t be an issue.”
The room he was giving to her was actually not the room the nanny usually had, although it was close by. It was a room typically reserved for family, and it was definitely more luxurious. Gabriel just wanted Maria to be as comfortable as possible and to give her every incentive to stay, not that he thoug
ht luxury was particularly important to her. It also had the added benefit of being closer to the master suite, although Gabriel firmly reminded himself that he couldn’t touch Maria—at least, not yet.
Maria laughed. “Don’t worry, nothing short of a nuclear blast can usually get me awake once I’m asleep. The nuns used to sigh because I was always running late in the mornings—another sign that I wasn’t meant for convent life.”
At that Gabriel arched a brow, a wicked gleam in his eye, and Maria blushed hotly—she remembered that he had actually woken her up in the middle of the night by sliding into her sleeping body and fucking her into a shuddering orgasm—the fourth and final time they’d made love that night, before exhaustion had claimed them both.
They arrived at her room and Maria gasped when she saw the sheer size and elegance of the room. It was a room fit for royalty, with the centerpiece being the large half-canopy bed, draped in royal blue velvet curtains. This was a far cry from the basement bedroom she had at the Scotts, which had been a major improvement over her spartan room at the convent and her cramped studio apartment. There was even an attached, decadent looking bathroom, which Maria glimpsed through the connecting door.
Gabriel placed her bags on the elegant, blue brocade bench by the queen-sized bed and said with another of his crooked smiles, “I hope you like your room. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to let Mrs. Smith know. I’ll let the children know that you’re here and that they’ll be meeting you before dinner in an hour. I should mention that we dress for dinner on Sundays—nothing too fancy, don’t worry, but it’s a tradition that their mother started and something that I’ve continued. I’ll see you in an hour, then?”
Maria nodded, glad she’d have some time to compose herself before meeting the children. “Yes, I’ll see you in an hour.” He turned to leave, pausing when Maria called out softly. “Gabriel?”
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