A Beautiful Stranger (A Family Forever Series, Book 1)

by Donna Fasano

  Sean’s gaze flew to Nicki. “There,” he said. “That’s it. What does she want?”

  Nicki smiled. “She’s asking for songs. She wants you to sing to her. Whoever put her to bed at the orphanage must have sung the children to sleep.”

  “Sing?” A crease marred his forehead. “I can’t sing.”

  “Sure you can,” Nicki encouraged him. “You must remember some simple songs from your childhood.”

  Sean shook his head, his frown deepening.

  “How about the alphabet song?” she suggested. “Everyone knows that. Surely that’s how you learned your letters.”

  He looked skeptical, but he began to sing the alphabet, his voice tentative, low, but velvety rich. Sona quieted down, sniffed back a hiccup or two and then cuddled up against his chest, plunking her thumb into her mouth.

  The sight of this tall, muscular man cradling his tiny little girl in his arms, singing to her softly, made a lump of emotion swell in Nicki’s throat. It was beautiful. Loving. Serene.

  She hadn’t expected to see Sean ever again. What contact she’d anticipated would have been over the phone or through e-mail once he’d returned to America. But here he was. In all his broad-shouldered, gorgeous glory. It was enough to make Nicki’s heart flutter hard in her chest.

  Before he’d finished a second repeated verse of the song, his daughter had fallen into a deep sleep. Sean finished the words, obviously unable to tear his gaze from Sona’s peaceful face. Finally, he sighed. The immense relief expelled in that huge exhalation was clearly evident to Nicki. They sat for several moments in silence, both of them listening to Sona’s steady, even breathing.

  His deep-brown eyes were as intent and fixed on Nicki as they had been earlier that afternoon just before she’d told him goodbye. Nicki suppressed the shudder that coursed involuntarily up her spine.

  Finally, Sean whispered, “Thank you. Again.”

  Gratitude clearly overwhelmed him. She was frantic to somehow lighten the mood.

  With that idea at the forefront of her thoughts, she cocked up one corner of her mouth into a lopsided grin. “Anytime,” she quipped.

  The seriousness in his expression didn’t soften one iota. “Don’t make light of this. If you hadn’t been here to help me, to tell me what it was she needed, to figure out she was used to being sung to sleep—” he shook his head “—I don’t know what I’d have done.”

  Softly, she tapped her fingers against his forearm. “It was nothing—”

  “Don’t.”

  Sona stirred, and both Sean and Nicki grew stone-still. His eyes never left Nicki’s, and in the end she became discomfited enough that she was forced to break their visual contact by turning her head away.

  Finally, she lifted her face to his, surrendering to his solemn mood. “Okay. You’re very welcome.”

  He didn’t respond, simply continued to study her.

  She felt the urge to squirm, but she didn’t. Instead, she said, “You would have been fine, you know. You’d have figured it out. In time.”

  His thoughts were churning; she could see it in his expression. Her words seemed to spark an idea in him.

  “In time,” he murmured. Then he fell silent.

  He pondered something, and she couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in his head.

  “Yes,” she said. “You’ll—’”

  “I will,” he interrupted her. “I’m sure I’ll get it right. In time.”

  She smiled. She liked his confidence. Found it… very enticing.

  The observation stopped Nicki mid-thought. Her smile faded. She had to stop this. Granted, he was handsome, he was giving and kind, he was doing something exceptionally worthy; he was the closest thing she’d ever met to the proverbial knight in shining armor. But that didn’t give her a license to go all doe-eyed every time he opened his mouth. The best thing to do, she swiftly decided, was to simply ignore the silly attraction she felt for this man.

  “Good,” she told him, hoping that her tone didn’t reveal the allure she was determined to suppress. “I’m glad you’re seeing things my way.”

  “But,” he continued, “until that time comes, I’m going to need your help.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I want you to come to work for me. I want you to fly home with me and Sona tomorrow. I want you to be there to help me understand Sona. I want you to teach her to understand me. Teach her to understand English, I mean.”

  Nicki frowned. “Sean you don’t need me for that. Sona is just a baby. Toddlers are like little sponges. She’ll soak up English in no time.” Her insides began to quake at his startling request. “No time at all.”

  “You don’t have a job,” he continued to argue his point. “Let me provide you with one. You can be Sona’s nanny. Her governess. Her teacher. My teacher. Call yourself anything you want. But come to work for me. We need you.”

  Her heart lurched against her ribs and her mouth went dry.

  No, Nicki, a tiny voice said. Don’t even consider this.

  There was nothing for her in the United States.

  Nothing at all. That’s why she’d spent all her time in Europe since graduating from college.

  “You don’t even know me,” she pointed out.

  “I know enough,” he said. “I know you’re the kind of woman who put her whole life aside for two days in order to make a total stranger’s dreams come true. You’re a good person. Honest. True to your word. That’s enough for me at the moment.”

  “B-but—”

  “Nicki…”

  The quiet desperation in his voice as he spoke her name sliced through the very words she was about to utter.

  “…I need you.”

  Chapter Four

  His plea was like a physical caress, and Nicki went utterly still as she waited for his words to brush warmly against her cheek. She knew very well that it was a juvenile thought. But still she remained motionless, waiting. Just waiting.

  And while she was in that expectant and placid place her thoughts turned to chaos.

  There is nothing for you in America . Nothing. That’s why—

  But Sean will be there. And Sona. And they need you.

  You cannot get involved in this. You can’t afford to travel to the States. You can’t afford it monetarily. Or emotionally.

  Frowning, Nicki didn’t fully understand the implications of the unexpected, dark and whispery notion, but before she could indulge in further examination, other ideas pushed the shadowy concept aside.

  But look at him, her brain whirled on. He loves this child. He wants this little girl to accept him. Wants the two of them to become a family. How can you not help him?

  Easily, another more cynical thought crowded in. Just say no. Do not allow yourself to become embroiled—

  But they need you.

  At that moment, Sona stirred. And Nicki watched with rapt attention as Sean automatically lifted his big, strong hand, smoothed his flattened palm ever so gently, ever so lovingly down his little girl’s back, comforting her, lulling her into feeling safe and secure.

  Never in Nicki’s life had she met a man who showed more tenderness, more unconditional love. Never had there been a man more worthy of having his most desired wish come true… that of becoming a daddy.

  Like the wings of a tiny hummingbird, Nicki’s heart beat frantically. She was stunned to realize that the attraction she’d felt for Sean—the fascination she’d thought she’d successfully repressed—once again reared up out of hiding like a hungry cobra, threatening to swallow her whole. And on the heels of the mesmerizing magnetism came that same vague fear she’d experienced before, too. A sort of dread that was both obscure and confusing. She swallowed, shoving the puzzling emotions from her.

  No. No, she determined with silent force. This wasn’t attraction she was feeling. This weak-in-the-knees emotion had to do with the connection she felt to Sona. The common bond they shared.

  It was a flimsy lie, at best. But Nicki was i
n the perfect mind-set to grasp a tight hold on the thin half truth.

  Sona had the chance of a lifetime here, the silent voice in Nicki’s head continued to argue stubbornly. This little girl could have a family. A father who wanted her. Who loved her. Cared for her.

  And Nicki could, once again, have a hand in making that happen.

  For Sona, the two small words echoed across her mind. Then, nodding, Nicki looked Sean in the eye and said, “Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll go back to America with you.”

  ***

  The Philadelphia airport was crowded as Sean, Sona and Nicki made their way to luggage pickup. The three of them had ended up staying in Kyrcznovia for another day because there hadn’t been a seat available for Nicki on the plane. She had suggested that Sean and Sona fly out as scheduled and she would meet them as soon as she could book a flight. But Sean had refused to leave without her. He’d given up his seats to an elderly couple who were on stand-by, and he’d somehow found a flight for all three of them today. Nicki couldn’t begin to guess what the last-minute tickets had cost him.

  “I’m a born traveler,” she’d told Sean. “As a kid, I never stayed in one place for very long. And my teaching has taken me all over Europe.”

  Bogging herself down with lots of possessions just wasn’t practical with her constantly-on-the-move lifestyle. The few bulky items she couldn’t pack, she gave to her neighbor, Antonetta, who’d been happy to have them.

  “I’m amazed that you’ve stowed your whole life into two canvas duffel bags,” he’d observed.

  She’d pointed out, “And a backpack.”

  He had chuckled, shaken his head and murmured something about never having met anyone quite like her. Well, that was okay, Nicki remembered thinking at the time, because she had never met anyone quite like Sean, either.

  He’d entertained Sona through their long flight. He’d played patty-cake, peek-a-boo, and about a dozen other games he’d made up on the spur of the moment. When Sona had finally grown tired, Sean had sung to her softly, mostly nonsensical tunes that had neighboring passengers casting him odd glances, but the songs had only made Nicki smile endearingly.

  There seemed to be a new boldness in Sean since Nicki had agreed to return to the States with him. Almost as if he’d had the intent and determination to be a good father to Sona, but with Nicki by his side to help him smooth over the rough patches of his initial journey into parenthood, he now had the confidence he needed to really and truly reach his desired destination.

  The realization that she had helped to instill some faith in him made her feel really good. Kind of warm inside. Encouraging people, making them feel capable was part of her job as a teacher. She’d found that motivating her students with positive feedback and doing what she could to bolster their self-confidence only made them more excited about learning. Encouraging Sean had been easy. It was so obvious that he loved Sona and wanted to be the best daddy he could be.

  However, Nicki didn’t want Sean to become too dependent on her. So she had been very clear that she couldn’t remain in America for very long. A month or so, two at the very most.

  “Four to eight weeks,” Sean had mused. “I think Miss Sona and I can get comfortable with one another between now and then.”

  At luggage pickup, Sean handed Nicki his sleeping daughter so he could gather together their bags. And soon they were in a hired limo, headed for his home in the suburbs.

  “You work in Philadelphia?” she asked him, realizing that she knew very little about the man she’d married.

  “Actually, I work from home, not too far outside the city.”

  The westernmost portion of the sky had turned a dozen different shades of vermilion as the hazy sun set low on the horizon.

  “I design custom computer systems for small businesses,” he added. “Technology is changing every day. Keeping up with those changes keeps me in high demand. I’ve created and updated systems for companies all over the United States. I hope to break into the foreign market soon.”

  “Sounds like you’re off traveling a lot,” she commented.

  “Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “With the internet, email, and my cell phone, I don’t usually have to leave my office. I have an app that let’s me attend meetings virtually. Of course, once in a while emergencies pop up and I’m forced to travel. But those are rare occasions.”

  “I see.”

  “Working from home isn’t a big deal these days,” he said, “I have the perfect setup to be a work-from-home dad.”

  He smiled, his white teeth glinting in the fading twilight, and his handsome face made Nicki’s breath catch. A funny sort of heat began to curl inside her, low down, deep at her very core.

  She glanced out the window at the passing scenery, taking a moment to quell the tendrils of awareness that had sprouted to life.

  Tossing him a grin, she quipped, “Stay-at-home dad. Sounds like the perfect arrangement for you and Sona.”

  Sean chuckled, and the rich, happy sound vibrated in the quiet confines of the luxurious limousine. Nicki loved that sound, she decided, and an immediate sense of self-consciousness pervaded her. Thankfully, Sona chose that moment to awaken.

  The toddler opened her big, beautiful eyes, blinked awake, and sighed. She pushed and shifted, struggling to a sitting position on Sean’s lap.

  “Well, look who’s up.” Sean gently moved aside Sona’s bangs from her face. “Your nap was so long, sweetie, I’m afraid you won’t sleep a wink tonight.”

  Nicki was grateful that his attention was focused on Sona. She desperately needed a moment or two to toss some cold water on the chaos plaguing her.

  “That’s okay, though,” he continued, talking to his daughter. “We’ll get into a routine soon enough.”

  The tenderness that tinged his voice as he spoke to Sona caused sudden tears to prickle Nicki’s eyelids. She quickly turned her head and stared out the window. What on earth was wrong with her? First, she was forced to tamp down her growing attraction, and now the mere sound of his voice was causing her to well up with emotion.

  She was exhausted from the long day of traveling. That’s all it was.

  The driver turned down a narrow, winding asphalt lane.

  “We’re here,” Sean said. “Look, Sona. We’re home.”

  Covertly dashing the heel of her hand against her moist eyes, Nicki etched a smile onto her mouth and took a slow, deep, steeling sigh. She was merely tired, she silently repeated the excuse, and the fatigue was getting the best of her.

  His home was a beautiful brick colonial set so far back from the road that she couldn’t see or hear the sparse traffic going by. In the ever-dimming twilight, she spied the outline of a building not too far away.

  “Neighbors?” she asked.

  He shifted Sona on his hip, directing the driver to leave the luggage on the porch by the door and then he gazed out to where she’d been looking. “No,” he told her. “That’s my barn. I keep two horses. My property butts up against a state park, so I can ride… if I get up early enough. I don’t like to bother the hikers.” With his eyes still trained on the barn, he said, “I have a cat around here someplace, too. Chunky doesn’t come around unless she’s hungry. I hire a man to take care of the animals, and the grounds. That way I’m free to work. Bob comes every day. If it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have been able to stay in Kyrcznovia all that time. I’m sure he took good care of things while I was gone.”

  Two horses, Nicki mused, silently realizing that the property must be substantial. And being adjoined to a park would only increase the value of Sean’s land. The limo he’d hired, with its soft leather seats and silent driver, had been the most opulent vehicle she’d ever ridden in. His business must be very successful in order for him to afford all this just thirty minutes outside a sizeable city, she thought, looking around her.

  Sean glanced over the front lawn as the car pulled away down the lane. ‘‘The grass looks good. I knew I could count on Bob to take care
of the place. I need to remember to thank him.” He reached for one of her duffel bags. ‘‘You want to carry Sona? Or some of the bags?” She smiled, even though she doubted he could see her in the dusky night. “I’ll take Sona and one bag. And please don’t make it the one I over packed.”

  He let them into the house and headed right up the stairs toward the bedrooms.

  “You’ll stay in the room at the end of the hallway,” he told her.

  “The important thing is,” she said, “which room is Sona’s?”

  “Ah…” Sean set down the bags he was lugging. “Right in here.” He pointed. “The room has been ready and waiting for weeks.”

  The bedroom was just as cute as it could be, decorated in Mother Goose characters. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall and Little Miss Muffet was there along with the happy-faced spider who hoped to share her curds and whey. Little Boy Blue was blowing his horn. And the Little Old Lady who lived in a shoe was tending her multitude of children.

  Plush blue carpeting covered the floor and the furniture was white. The window coverings were pink. A small toy chest sat in one corner. Sean had designed the perfect child’s room for his little girl, and Nicki was quick to tell him so.

  “I can’t take the credit,” he admitted, taking Sona from Nicki and setting her down. “I had a decorator come in and do most of the work. But I did pick out the toys. I had a blast in the toy department.”

  Sona made a beeline for the rocking chair, and with one touch she set it into gentle motion. She looked startled by the movement and turned her lovely doe-eyed expression first to Sean, then Nicki.

  Both of them smiled at her surprised expression, then they broke out with soft laughter when Sona tried to climb onto the seat of the chair, but the rockers and the simple laws of gravity had her plunking down onto her bottom on the soft carpet. An instant of fear clouded Sona’s eyes as she gazed at Sean.

  ‘‘You’re okay,” he told her. ‘‘Don’t you worry. You’ll learn soon enough how to climb up there.” Then he went and took her hand. ‘‘Let’s go show Nicki to her room.”