Her Very Own Family

by Gina Wilkins

  “Because it’s easier than learning to cook for yourself, I suppose.”

  “Esattamente. Exactly,” he translated when Brynn looked at him with a lifted eyebrow.

  Back at his car, Joe opened the passenger door for Brynn. “Watch your dress,” he warned as he prepared to close the door after she’d gotten in.

  She lifted the length of red fabric out of the doorway and then fastened her seat belt as Joe closed her door, walked around the front of the vehicle and slid behind the wheel. She watched while Joe snapped his own belt and started the engine. “You and Tony are very close, aren’t you?”

  He shrugged, guiding the car out of the driveway. “I suppose. I don’t stop to analyze our relationship very often.”

  Brynn hoped he didn’t take his family for granted. He was so lucky to have them. “You speak Italian a lot with your family.”

  “Habit. It was important to our grandparents that we learn the language, so we used it quite a bit in our home.”

  “It’s a beautiful language. I always wanted to learn Italian. Maybe I’ll take a class someday.”

  “It’s not so hard to learn. The pronunciation rules actually make more sense than English.”

  “Most languages do, I think,” Brynn replied with a smile. “Kelly’s mother was from Germany, and Kelly speaks a little German. I took the required two years of Spanish in high school, but I remember just enough to order eggs for breakfast—badly.”

  “Tony’s teaching his kids Italian. Maybe they’ll share what they know with you. You are going to take the nanny job, aren’t you?”

  He’d slid the question so smoothly into the conversation that Brynn had to smile at his skill at prying without seeming to. He was much better at it than his father, she reflected.

  “Maybe. I’ve asked Tony to check the references I gave him, just so we’ll all know proper procedures were followed. I’ve given them a copy of my résumé. He and Michelle explained very thoroughly what the job would entail.”

  “Sounds like you’re being totally professional about it.”

  The slight hint of amusement in Joe’s comment put Brynn on the defensive. “Being responsible for children is an important job. I want Michelle and Tony to be fully confident they’ve hired the right person.”

  The crease in Joe’s right cheek deepened. “I’m only teasing a bit about there being any doubt you’re perfect for the job. You have experience, training and impressive credentials. The kids like you. Tony and Michelle like you. Mom and Dad like you. I like you. Why wouldn’t you be the right person?”

  For some reason, Brynn’s heart fluttered when Joe said he liked her. Feeling sheepishly like a smitten adolescent, she cleared her throat and tried to concentrate on the real conversation. “I’ll still feel better about their offer after they’ve verified my qualifications.”

  “And when they’ve done that and renewed their job offer—as I’m sure they will—will you accept?”

  Brynn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Probably.”

  It sounded like too good an offer to refuse. She would have time to spend with Kelly during her recuperation, evenings free to take classes once Kelly was back on her feet and in school, and even a place to live. Michelle and Tony had repeated their offer of the guest house and their reassurances that Kelly was welcome to live there, too.

  “They’re being unbelievably generous, especially considering the fact that I’m basically a stranger to them.”

  Joe slanted her a smile that made her heart jerk again. “You aren’t a stranger anymore, Brynn. You’re a friend. I think we all feel that way.”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t know what to say. Everything has happened so quickly. Everyone in your family has just opened their arms to me.”

  “You’re forgetting we’re a family that grew very quickly within a short time. In less than two years, Michelle went from a single woman raised as an only child to a married woman with five siblings, dozens of in-laws and a whole litter of nieces and nephews. Relationships develop quickly within the Walker and D’Alessandro clans.”

  Brynn laced her fingers in her lap and moistened her lips. “I, on the other hand, have been on my own—except for Kelly—for a long time. It takes me a bit longer to adjust to sweeping changes. I was just getting accustomed to the idea of living in a new city and finding a new job. Now I have all these other circumstances and opportunities to deal with. Frankly, my head is spinning.”

  Joe’s smile turned sympathetic. He reached across the console to cover her hands with his, and gave a friendly squeeze. “When you put it that way, I can understand how you must be feeling. Don’t let any of us rush you into making decisions, Brynn. You take all the time you need.”

  She’d thought her head was spinning before. Now, with Joe’s hand holding hers, she felt positively dizzy. She was glad she was sitting.

  “Will you—” She stopped to clear her throat. “Will you be checking on Kelly again this evening?”

  He put his hand back on the steering wheel. “I will if you’d like me to. In fact, why don’t we both check on her. We can stop by the hospital for a few minutes before I take you home.”

  She told herself she was glad he’d pulled his hand away, even though her own suddenly felt cold. “Yes, I’d like that.”

  Joe nodded and signaled for a turn. They spent the rest of the short drive to the hospital talking about Kelly again. Doctor to friend of patient.

  Brynn found that much more comfortable than the more intimate friendship Joe had described moments earlier.

  After a short visit with Kelly, Joe drove Brynn to his parents’ home and walked her to the door. “I’m not coming in,” he said. “I have an early surgery in the morning.”

  “Thank you for driving me this evening. It was very thoughtful of you.”

  A chuckle escaped him as he reached out to brush a hair from her cheek. “Always so prim. Has anyone ever nicknamed you Mary Poppins?”

  Brynn frowned. She wasn’t sure if Joe was complimenting her or gently insulting her.

  His chuckle turned to a low laugh. “Want your first Italian lesson? Repeat after me... Via al diavolo.”

  “Via al diavolo,” she repeated obediently. “What did I say?”

  “You told me to go to hell,” he replied cheerfully.

  “Joe!”

  “Hey, if you want to learn the language, you might as well learn something more useful than how to order eggs for breakfast.”

  She put her hand on the doorknob. “Good night, Joe.”

  “Buona notte, Brynn.”

  She had the odd feeling that he lingered a moment outside the door after she closed herself inside. Just as she stood there in the entryway for a while, looking at that door and picturing him on the other side.

  It was only when she heard the sound of his car starting that she was able to turn and walk toward her temporary bedroom.

  Chapter Six

  Three days later, on Thursday, Brynn moved into the guest house to begin her new career as nanny to the four young D’Alessandro children.

  She had plenty of assistance for her move. Tony and young Jason, Jared and Shane cheerfully loaded boxes into the back of Jared’s pickup while Vinnie barked orders and frequently got in the way.

  The guest house was beautifully furnished. Even though it hadn’t been occupied in several years, it had been well maintained, and Michelle and Tony had arranged for it to be cleaned and aired before Brynn moved in. Fresh flowers in glass vases had been placed in nearly every room. Brynn, who loved flowers but rarely splurged to buy any for herself, found that the most touching gesture of all.

  Brynn’s eager helpers even insisted on helping her unpack the linens, small kitchen utensils, books and knickknacks that were the sum of Brynn’s and Kelly’s belongings, outside of their clothes. There wasn’t a lot of unpacking to do, since both Brynn and Kelly had gotten rid of everything unnecessary to facilitate the move. They had brought only what had fit into the roomy trun
k of Brynn’s little car, and piled to the top in the back seat.

  Jared’s wife, Cassie, and ten-year-old daughter, Molly, both vivacious and talkative redheads, joined them for a late lunch. After the past few days, Brynn was no longer surprised when members of this family greeted her like a long-lost pal. Cassie was no exception. By the time they’d finished lunch, Brynn had heard the story of how Cassie and Jared had met when Cassie, then an operative of Tony’s investigation firm, had tracked Jared down and cajoled him into being reunited with his siblings. Only months after finding Jared, Cassie had married him.

  “Finder’s keepers,” she boasted, patting her husband’s tanned, firm cheek.

  “Everyone knows you married him so you could have me for a stepson,” Shane taunted, taking advantage of a lull when Cassie stopped talking.

  “And me for a daughter,” Molly piped in, not to be left out.

  “And me for a brother-in-law, rather than a boss,” Tony remarked with a half grin.

  “What am I?” Katie asked, frowning.

  “My niece,” Cassie replied.

  “And what’s Brynn?”

  Everyone at the table smiled at Brynn.

  “A friend.” Jared spoke up for the first time.

  Brynn’s smile felt a bit tremulous when she smiled at him across the table. “Thank you.”

  Jared shrugged, typically uncomfortable with sentiment. “What’s for dessert?” he asked his sister rather abruptly.

  Michelle stood. “Your favorite. Fresh strawberry cake. And now I’m glad I made it for you,” she added, leaning over to kiss his check as she passed him toward the kitchen.

  Cassie jumped to her feet. “I’ll help you serve.”

  “So will I,” Brynn said, rising to start gathering dishes.

  She was becoming more convinced by the hour that she’d made the right decision when she’d accepted the position as nanny to the D’Alessandro children.

  Knowing Brynn had moved into the guest house that day, Joe thought it would be a nice gesture to surprise her with a housewarming gift on his way home from work Thursday. But he was the one surprised when he entered the open front door of the guest house to find Brynn sitting on Shane Walker’s broad shoulders, both of them laughing and looking perfectly comfortable in their unusual position.

  Shane stood in the middle of the guest-house living room, directly beneath the nine-foot peak of the cathedral ceiling. Balanced on his shoulders, steadied by Shane’s hands on her blue-jeaned thighs, Brynn was changing a bulb in the ceiling-fan light fixture above her head.

  Joe was reluctantly aware that they made a nice-looking couple. They were both young, fit and undeniably attractive. Both unattached. Joe could think of no good reason they shouldn’t flirt and enjoy each other’s company.

  Which didn’t mean he had to like it.

  Shane spotted Joe first. Seeming to find it a common occurrence to be found with a woman on his shoulders, Shane nodded affably. “Hey, Doc. How’s it going?”

  Brynn gasped and swayed, causing Shane to have to tighten his grip on her legs.

  “Careful up there,” he warned.

  “Have you ever heard of using a stepladder?” Joe asked, sounding more cross than he’d intended.

  “Couldn’t find one,” Shane replied flippantly.

  Joe lifted an eyebrow. “Did you look?”

  Shane’s mischievous chuckle was his only answer.

  “I’m, um, finished up here,” Brynn said, giving the bulb a final twist.

  It bothered Joe that Brynn had stopped laughing when he came in. He set the wrapped gift he’d carried in on a table and reached up to steady her with a hand at either side of her waist while Shane knelt carefully to allow Brynn to disembark.

  Joe was reluctant to release her even when Brynn was steady on her feet again. She felt too darned good between his hands.

  She settled the issue by stepping quickly out of his reach. “I wasn’t expecting you this evening.”

  “I thought I’d stop by and see if you needed any help with anything.” He looked around the room, which was as neat as a pin. “I see you’ve got everything under control.”

  “Yes. I’ve had a lot of assistance today. Michelle and Tony even stocked the pantry and refrigerator for me. Would you like a soda?”

  “No, thank you.”

  Shane nodded toward the coffee table. “Looks like you brought a present. I don’t suppose it’s for me.”

  Joe gave the younger man a look. “It’s for Brynn. A housewarming gift.”

  Brynn looked from Joe to the package and back again. “That was very nice of you.”

  “Aren’t you going to open it?” Shane prodded when she made no move toward the gift.

  “Yes, of course.” Somewhat tentatively, Brynn lifted the package. “It’s heavy.”

  Increasingly self-conscious, Joe watched as she peeled away the cheerful, buttercup-yellow paper a helpful salesclerk had selected for him. He wondered now if he’d made the right choice of gift. It was something he’d seen in the window of a gift shop near his office. No designer name on it, or anything like that, but it was a pretty little bauble and he’d thought she might like it—but maybe he’d been wrong.

  He felt himself begin to relax when Brynn opened the box and gasped in obvious pleasure.

  “A crystal clock! Joe, this is lovely. Thank you.”

  He smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  “Hey, that is nice,” Shane commented, studying the intricately cut crystal as Brynn set the clock carefully on a shelf of a sparsely filled bookcase built into one wall of the living room.

  Joe shrugged. “Just something I saw in a window.” He changed the subject abruptly. “What do you think of this place, Brynn? Think you’ll be comfortable here?”

  “How could I not be? It’s such a nice little house.”

  It had been a long time since Joe had been in the guest house—since right after Betty and Arthur, the former inhabitants, had moved out six or seven years ago. He glanced around, remembering that the place consisted of this nice-sized living room, an eat-in kitchen, two bedrooms and a shared bath. Small, but practical.

  “When do you start your nanny duties?”

  “Michelle and I are going to meet tomorrow morning to work out a schedule. Beginning next Monday, she wants to spend a couple of hours a week concentrating on her work, which she says she can do in her home office while the baby sleeps. I’ll take care of the other three children to give her time to concentrate.”

  Joe nodded, not at all surprised that Michelle was already eager to get back to her duties as charity administrator for the large, wealthy corporation founded by her late adoptive father. Michelle took those responsibilities very seriously, and had done an admirable job of juggling work and family during the past ten or eleven years. Having been raised by a working mother, Joe knew what a delicate balancing act that could be.

  Of course, it didn’t hurt that Michelle could afford to hire the best help, he thought, glancing at Brynn. He was well aware that many working mothers didn’t have that option.

  Shane looked at his watch, drawing Joe’s attention to him. Joe supposed he should leave. After all, he’d delivered the gift and reassured himself that Brynn had everything under control. There was no reason for him to stay any longer. Brynn and Shane probably had plans for the evening. He should leave them alone.

  Why was he so damned reluctant to do so?

  But it was Shane who said, “I’d better be going. I have some paperwork to catch up on this evening. Is there anything else I can do before I leave, Brynn?”

  “No, I can’t think of anything else. Thank you so much for all you’ve done today, Shane.”

  He ruffled her already disheveled hair, the gesture as casual and affectionate as if they’d known each other for years. “You’ve got my number if you need anything else.”

  She smiled and nodded, while smoothing her hair with one hand.

  “See ya, Doc.” Shane sketched a salute
as he passed Joe on the way to the door.

  “Yeah. Later, Shane.” Should he leave, too? Even if he didn’t want to quite yet?

  No, he decided as the front door closed behind Shane, leaving Joe alone with Brynn. Maybe he’d stay a little while longer.

  Brynn smoothed her hands down the sides of her jeans and cleared her throat, suddenly nervous now that she and Joe were alone. After a day of moving and unpacking, she had to look a mess. Her hair had been rumpled even before Shane had made it worse, her jeans and T-shirt were wrinkled and smudged and what little makeup she’d applied that morning had long since worn away.

  Eyeing Joe’s perfectly tailored gray jacket, crisp pale-blue shirt, sharply pleated charcoal slacks and neatly knotted silk tie, she wondered how he could look so fresh after a long day at work. Not that Joe could look bad, no matter what the condition of his clothing, she thought wryly.

  She glanced again at the pretty little crystal clock on the bookshelf. She was incredibly touched that Joe had thought to bring it...too much so, perhaps. She had to be careful not to read too much into the gesture. The gift meant no more than all the assistance Shane had given her during the day, and she had read no more into that than an offer of friendship.

  What more could there be between her and Dr. Joe D’Alessandro?

  She slid her fingertips into her jeans pockets. “Are you sure I can’t get you something to drink? Cola, tea, coffee?”

  He looked at his watch. “It’s getting close to dinnertime. I don’t suppose you’ve eaten.”

  She shook her head. “I was just going to make some soup or something quick tonight. Michelle invited me to join them, but I don’t want her to think I expect them to include me in all the family meals. I have a very nice kitchen here, and I’m quite capable of feeding myself.”

  “I’m sure you are. However, I’m starving, and I’m a lousy cook. How about going out for a bite to eat with me?”

  “I, er...out?” she repeated stupidly.

  He smiled. “Out. As in restaurant? And then we could stop by the hospital for a little while, if you’d like.”