FROM LOSS TO LOVE BOX SET
A Single Dad & Nanny Romance
GABRIELLE SNOW
Copyright © 2020 by Gabrielle Snow
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination and used in a fictitious manner.
Any similarity to actual people, living or dead, places, or events is entirely coincidental or fictionalized.
Table Of Contents
DESCRIPTION
ENTICINGLY HIS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
AMBIGUOUSLY HERS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
INDUBITABLY YOURS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
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SECRET SERIES
MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS SERIES
DESCRIPTION
BOOK ONE : ENTICINGLY His
I was in desperate need of a nanny.
After all, being a single dad who is also the tech world’s most influential player, is no easy task.
Becoming a pioneer and a trendsetter in business has been my main focus, especially after my wife died three years ago.
There’s no time for hobbies or recreation, and I have no interest in dating. There’s much more important things in life to focus on.
But when Madeleine Wright walks through my door and my eyes fix on those damned dimples, I know I am in trouble.
Even though I know she’s off-limits: she’s younger AND the nanny. Talk about a cliché.
And Hank Lorum doesn’t do clichés.
But somehow she’s challenging that.
Being around her is sweet torture. I find myself feeling things I haven’t felt before, craving her...
But I have to keep my feelings to myself. I can’t fall for the nanny.
Can I get a grip on myself before I get in too deep?
Book Two: Ambiguously Hers
A week ago Hank followed me into my bedroom.
It has also been seven days since he’s looked me in the eye.
Ever since he’s been avoiding me like a deadly virus that he doesn’t want to contract.
Something has definitely changed between us...
And I’m not sure giving into my feelings was the best choice.
Hank lives in a world filled with designer brands and expensive perfumes I can’t even pronounce.
And then there’s of course the loss of his wife...
Is he even ready for something serious?
Still, I can’t forget the way his touch felt on my skin..
No matter how hard I try.
I feel like giving in to him again...should I?
Book Three: Indubitably Yours
As much as I’ve tried to fight it, I can’t deny my feelings for Madeleine anymore.
She’s the missing puzzle piece that I hadn’t even realized we needed in our lives.
But being with her wasn’t supposed to be complicated.
The deal was simple: we keep seeing each other in secret and when the time is right, we tell Gerry together.
But things are never that simple.
All this sneaking around is making me feel like what we’re doing is criminal..like we’re breaking some explicit rule.
And I can’t help but wonder if I’m doing right by my late-wife...
And if I’m too stuck in my workaholic ways.
Can I let go of my past and move on with Madeleine?
Is there happiness for us as a family in the future?
ENTICINGLY HIS
Chapter 1
Madeleine.
Madeleine Wright sat fidgeting in a massive armchair at the Lorum Villa foyer. Wringing her hands, she looked down and noticed that her knuckles were ashy. As her eyes widened in a panic, she hastily pulled the zipper of her purse open, fished out a tube of shea butter hand cream, and quickly rubbed a bit of the moisturizer on her dry skin.
Get your shit together, Maddy! It’s Hank fucking Lorum!
As the smell of shea filled her nose, she looked around at the lavish setting. Before that moment, she had only seen the billionaire tech mogul’s house from the outside, or in high profile magazines as part of in-depth feature interviews with the genius. The international acclaim was well placed, since Hank had inherited his father’s Fortune 500 company and led it to become the civilized world’s leading tech firm.
While she was busy trying to calm her nerves, the approaching footsteps coming down the spiral staircase prompted her to hold her breath. Her eyes were fixed on the shiny marble stairs, as she first saw the unmistakable Amedeo Testoni Oxfords in antique black leather.
Did he polish them with the blood of virgins?
The shoes cost north of a thousand dollars, and were followed by the view of the smooth Brioni Vanquish II suit in dark grey.
Bond. James Bond.
She struggled to stop a silly smile from curling up her lips. Damn them nerves!
Barely keeping a straight face, her eyes were finally graced with the full picture as Hank stood in front of her in all his glory.
Fuck, he’s gorgeous!
She stood up slowly.
“Miss Wright,” he extended his arm for a handshake.
“Y—Yes,” she said, shaking his hand, willing to bet her arm that he could read her mind with those piercing jade green eyes. “Uhm, nice to meet you.” Her voice shook.
“At ease, soldier!” he smirked, pointing at the chair for her to sit back down.
She tittered nervously and sat on the edge of the cushion.
Comfortably settling at the chair across from her, he elegantly adjusted the knees of his pants up, gracefully crossing his legs like a model in a Hugo Boss commercial.
“So,” he said, scrolling on his phone through what she could only guess was her resume. “You have three years of work experience with children aged three to six.”
“That’s right.” Nodding, she couldn’t take her eyes off his perfect fingernails.
Has he ever tended to a single plant in his vast garden? Of course not.
She found his beauty reminiscent of Greek gods. It was extremely distracting, and she decided to maintain proper eye contact, instead.
“Why did you leave your last employers?”
“I didn’t. They left the country for work relocation.”
“I see.” The phone rang in his hand. “I have to take this.”
He took the call without a twitch. The whole time his eyes remained on her, examining her from head to toe as he spoke into the phone. “Michael, yes. Ah, great. I’ll be there in thirty. Yeah, set it up. Bye.”
Going back to looking at her resume, he smacked his lips. “As you may have heard, Geraldine lost her mother three years ago when she was two years old. Have you dealt with a similar situation before?”
“Not as a nanny, no. But before I switched jobs, I worked at an orphanage—”
“You absolutely can not call Gerry an orphan.” His voice was stern.
“Oh, no! I didn’t—”
“Never mind, we’re short on time. So, you know how their little heads work.”
“Ah, yes.” She blinked slowly, mentally kicking herself.
His phone rang again, and this time he picked it up without saying anything. “Jenna, oh!” He chuckled loudly. “Of course, where else? Nine o’clock, I’ll pick you up. Ciao!”
Are all the rich and beautiful so smug? No, Maddy! You’re being so judgmental right now.
“So, tell me—” his phone rang a third time, “Goddammit!” he furrowed his eyebrows. “Hello, Mother. Of course. Yes, I’m doing it as we speak. No. Tomorrow. No, she’s not. Tuesday? Fantastic. Bye.”
What kind of interview is this? She took a deep breath. He must be testing my patience.
“Miss Wright, I really have to go. One final question,” he said as he graciously stood up, buttoning his blazer, giving her a full view of his polished fingertips. “Why a nanny?”
“A burnt child loves the fire?” She shrugged, standing up.
“Oscar Wilde, classic.” He shook her hand. “We usually keep a little list of what’s allowed and what’s not around the house. I’m sure you’ll find it helpful.”
As their hands broke contact, she wondered what the next steps were.
“Well, you’re hired.” He gestured with his hand in the air. “You start tomorrow at eight in the morning sharp.”
As he proceeded to walk towards the door, his phone started ringing in his hand again. Looking down at it, he pressed a side button to silence it and turned to look at her.
“Oh, and... this child has asthma. I hope they taught you how to deal with that at the orphanage.” The slight sarcasm in his voice was coated with a great deal of cynicism.
Where’s that coming from?
Taken aback, she immediately nodded. As he closed the door behind him, she looked around, thinking that she heard a noise coming from somewhere.
Asthma? How do they deal with that?
She lied. She had absolutely no idea what children with asthma needed. Shifting to pick up her purse, a man’s voice startled her.
“Are we all done here, Miss Wright?”
Ah, William the butler! She forgot all about him.
“Y—yes. We’re done.”
“Will we be fortunate enough to host you?”
Oh, please. Removeth the sticketh from thy arse, will you!
“Yes.” She tried to make her smile as cheerful as possible. “I’ll be here tomorrow at eight.”
“Wonderful. Would you like me to call you a cab?”
“I drove here. Thank you.”
He walked her to the door and waited at the top of the stairs to watch her get into the car.
She started the ignition, waving at him like a child at their favorite teacher. He returned her gesture with a regal wave, and she wondered where in England he was really from.
After crossing the gates of the Lorum estate, she took a right and parked at the side of the road. Picking up her phone, she texted her mother.
‘I didn’t wanna jinx it before, but I just got out of an interview with Hank Lorum!’ Madeleine barely had time to set the phone down before it buzzed.
‘Oh my God! The Hank Lorum?’
Her hands were shaking as she typed. ‘The man himself!’
‘How did it go?’
‘I got the job!’
‘Wow, just like that?’
‘Like what? I think the man has laser beams coming out of his eyes! It was nerve-racking!’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s so intimidating, and brutally good looking!’
‘We knew that already.’
‘In real life, it’s a whole other thing.’
‘You got this!’
‘I don’t know, Mom. After he told me I was hired, I found out that his kid has asthma! What should I do?’
‘It’s no big deal. I’ll send you a few resources.’
‘Yes, please!’
‘Congratulations, honey! You deserve this.’
‘Thanks, Mom.’
Arriving at her studio apartment downtown, she knew she had very little time. She still had to order takeout, pack her things, and, worst of all, study asthma like it was her own condition.
Looking at her bookcase that spanned an entire wall, she struggled with the idea that she couldn’t take all her books with her. She turned to look at her Kindle on the coffee table.
You’ll be my savior!
Deciding on Chinese for dinner, she made her order and grabbed the biggest suitcase she owned. Her clothes were of average cut and quality, with no big brand names or expensive tags.
I am the nanny; he shouldn’t expect me to dress up.
As she started going over the items she needed, she remembered how busy her parents always were. Growing up as the only child of two nurses, her life had been filled with babysitters and part-time nannies who came and left. None of them were bad, but she never had the chance to get attached. Her only real guardians were the books she loved to read alone in bed and the thousand worlds she visited in her imagination.
Poor kid has no mom, and her dad’s constantly on a plane somewhere across the ocean.
Wondering what Geraldine was like, she thought it was very possible that she, too, liked reading. Gracefully jumping up from the floor, she took a few steps towards the bookshelf, examining her children’s section. The Velveteen Rabbit, The Cat in the Hat, and Little Women. She picked up some of her favorite childhood books, adamant to use them as a way to entertain and bond with the new girl.
Nothing’s better than some fun fiction for the fertile imagination of a five-year-old!
She reminisced about her last job. Bobby and Joey were absolute fiction buffs who loved their story time like no kids she’d ever met.
Chapter 2
Hank.
At exactly five minutes to eight on Saturday morning, Hank stood behind his bedroom window, looking out onto his vast lush garden. When he saw Madeleine’s banged-up Hyundai make its way into the parking area out front, a faint smile found its way onto his lips.
Punctual. One point.
As she pitifully attempted to lug her giant suitcase out of the trunk, her dark brown bun came undone, unleashing wavy tousles down her face. He saw William catch up with her, pulling the luggage up with one hand. His smile turned into a silent grin as he watched her hastily pull her hair back up in a messy bun using a flimsy hairband.
She tries. Two points.
He knew that William was going to take care of the rest. He headed towards the bathroom and turned the hot water on. As the steamy deluge washed over his body, he caught a glimpse of himself in the full-length mirror on the other wall. Turning his back on his own reflection, he closed his eyes and let his thoughts drown in the splashing sounds of the shower.
When he was done, he headed towards the dining room where he found Gerry sitting alone, playing a game on her iPad. “Morning, pumpkin. Ready for breakfast?”
“When William’s done with his girlfriend.” She spoke without taking her eyes off her game.
“Excuse me?” He tilted his head as he sat down across from her. “You will look at me when I speak to you.”
The strict tone in his voice prompted her to quickly lift her head and look at him with wide eyes. “What? We can’t eat yet! William said to wait.”
“You can’t call Madeleine his girlfriend. It’s rude.”
“Isn’t it rude of her to come so late? Doesn’t she know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?”
“I told her to come at eight. Besides, what’s ten minutes?”
“Then why can’t I just play my game in peace?”
“Because the rule is no iPad at the table.”
“Then why do you get to answer your phone at the table?”
“It’s for work. Work is important because it allows you to buy things. Does your little game allow you to buy things?”
“No?”
“Then no gam
es at the table.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Life’s not fair. Get used to it.”
“Mr. Hank, Miss Wright,” William spoke at the doorway, ushering Maddy into the dining area. “Miss Gerry.”
“Geraldine Lorum.” Gerry’s smile was clearly fake, and Hank grit his teeth. “You’re Maddy?”
“Well,” Madeleine extended her arm for a handshake. “Madeleine Wright.” She smiled spitefully, a smile only mean girls give each other. “Since we’re going on a full name basis.”
Hank watched gleefully as Geraldine’s face turned red. She rolled her eyes looking at him, while Madeleine sat down at the table.
“How do you like your room?” He ignored Geraldine as he proceeded to take some bread from the basket in front of him.
“I love it!” Her smile was now genuine. “The view of the garden is breath-taking. Thank you.”
Noticing that she had one dimple on her left cheek, he cleared his throat, trying not to stare.
Cute. Three points.
What? No! Focus, Hank!
“That’s great.”
“So, Geraldine, do you like books?”
“I’m not a nerd, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Oh.” The response took her by surprise. “That’s... really not my question.”
Taking a bite of his bread and jam before he placed the food on the plate, he rested his chin on both hands. He could feel his blood boil as he watched his daughter behave like an absolute brat, yet he wanted to see how Maddy was going to handle it.
“Books bore me. I like brainy games.”
“Ah, like on the phone?”
“iPad.”
“Sure,” she said with a smile, “I like those, too. But books tell stories—very interesting ones.”
It reads! Four points.
“I like movies.”
“So do I, but you know you can like all those things.”
Gerry shrugged, picking at her cereal with the spoon without really eating.
“Is it getting all mushy?” Maddy asked sweetly.
“Well,” she rolled her eyes, “it kinda waited a while.”
“That’s eno—” Hank was losing his temper as he shifted in his seat.
From Loss To Love Box Set Page 1