by Jill Downey
“It’ll be our secret. I’ll bet they have dog bowls here,” he said jumping up and down excitedly.
“Finn, no. When the time comes, we’ll go to a pet store, they’ll have more to choose from. Okay?” She hated to see his little face wrinkle in disappointment. “We can buy a basket that you can put that ball in though. You can keep adding to the collection and by the time you get your pup, he’ll have lots of toys. A tennis ball is a tennis ball, but you’ll want to get quality toys that are safe for your buddy. You’ll find those at pet stores. Do you have a name picked out?”
“I’ve been thinking. I like the name Charlie if it’s a boy and Lucy for a girl.”
“Those are great names, now we just have to work on your dad.”
Finn was bouncing the plastic ball against the floor his face scrunched up in concentration, “Does this mean you’ll help me talk dad into it?”
“I don’t want to get your hopes up any higher, but I’ll work on him.”
“Cool! Thanks Ella,” he dropped the ball and threw his arms around her waist hugging her tight.
She ruffled his hair and squeezed back. “Let’s pay for our booty and get home. Your dad will be wondering where we’ve gone.”
A man approached holding the bright orange ball Finn had been playing with, “Lose something kiddo?”
Ella looked on as Finn nodded his head yes reaching his arms out for the ball. The stranger gave Ella the creeps, his smile didn’t quite reach his cold eyes. And there was something about him that niggled the back of her mind, like she should know him or had seen him somewhere before. He squatted down to be at eye level with Finn. “I heard you say you were getting a dog.”
Finn’s whole face lit up, bashfulness evaporating as he enthusiastically replied, “Yes, if me and Ella can talk my dad into it.”
“Ella, beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” he said looking up at her. Nervously, Ella said, “Okay Finn let’s go, we’re running late.”
“Late for what?” Finn asked innocently.
Ella’s cheeks turned pink, “We’ve got another errand to run and I’m sure you’re getting hungry.” She grabbed his hand as she pushed the cart toward the checkout line, trying to hustle Finn away from the stranger.
“Bye Ella and Finn.”
“Bye Mister,” Finn replied.
Ella didn’t respond, completely creeped out that he had used their names with such familiarity. As they were checking out, she glanced back, and saw that he was still watching them. He quickly turned away when he realized she had caught him. She couldn’t get out of there fast enough. After loading their packages in the jeep, she shook off her paranoia and told herself she was being ridiculous. What is wrong with me? Maybe this is what parenting is like. Overprotective mama bear moments like these. Get a grip!
Ella and Finn arrived home loaded down with packages. She had made a last minute, impulsive decision to take a detour to the pet store. Big mistake! Now she had really created a monster. Kyle was going to kill her. Reaching beyond her scope of employment she had purchased two goldfish for Finn. He was over the moon and had already named them Miley and Cyrus.
He ran ahead tearing into Kyle’s office full speed yelling “D-A-D! LOOK WHAT I GOT!”
Well then, here goes nothing. She plastered a confident smile on her face and followed behind Finn, sizing up the temperature of the room. Kyle was bent down peering into the clear plastic bags at the newest editions to the family. “Miley and Cyrus huh?” he said.
“Yep, account a she is my favorite.”
“Aren’t you a little young to be knowing about Miley Cyrus?”
“Natalie listened to her all the time,” he said, giving his former nanny full credit.
“I see. Well we’ll have to get them set up in their new home, won’t we?”
“You’re going to help?” he asked in disbelief.
“If that’s all right with you and Ella.”
“Yes,” he said pumping his little fist in the air as he pivoted and raced out of the room heading for the stairs.
“Hey, give me the fish! They’ll think they’re in a hurricane,” Ella said laughing as she took the fish from him.
Kyle’s warm smile felt like a caress and made her toes curl. Sweeping his arm wide he said, “After you, mademoiselle.”
“Merci,” she responded, smiling back. He grabbed a package and his cane and headed for the elevator.
“You’re not upset about the fish?”
“Nope. Hopefully that will be the end of the puppy conversation.”
She cleared her throat, “Um about that, he already has puppy names picked out and full disclosure… I let him buy a tennis ball for Lucy/Charlie today at the dollar store.”
Kyle rolled his eyes, “Great.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“I must be softening in my old age.”
“I’d say.”
“Maybe it has something to do with the present company. You bring out the best in me. Come to think about it, you bring out the best in everyone. How do you do that?”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I’ve certainly seen your worst on many occasions.”
“It’s not healthy to hold grudges,” he said, winking at her.
Kyle was barefoot and had on an old pair of faded jeans with an untucked unbuttoned white oxford shirt. Oh God! Day old stubble, hair a tousled mess… the combination had her pulse picking up for this seductive clueless billionaire father.
They stepped out of the elevator and of course Finn had beaten them by a mile. “Can I hold them now? Please? I won’t run.”
“Let’s put them on your desk and you can look at them while Ella and I get the tank set up.”
“I’m going back to the car to get the rest of the stuff,” Ella said.
“I’m sure we can find someone to do that for you, I’ll page Richard.”
“No, you won’t. I’m perfectly capable of carrying in my own supplies from the car,” she said.
“We’ll be here, bonding with our belugas,” he said, watching her leave.
“Dad, you like her dontcha?”
“Yes, I do. She is a great nurse who also happens to be a nice person.”
“No I mean like-like her, you know, like marry her, like her,” Finn said. “I think she likes you too.”
“Son you think too much.”
“Well, do you?”
“I told you I like her just fine. We’re becoming friends.”
“I want her to stay forever.”
Kyle took his time before responding. “Finn, I know you like Ella a lot, and she really likes you, but she has a job to go back to. She won’t be here forever but that doesn’t mean she won’t be in your life.”
“But I know she likes you. And you like her too.”
“Hey guys, here we go, Miley and Cyrus’ new home. Voilà!”
Kyle followed Ella into the bathroom to grab some towels and whispered, “Finn is playing matchmaker.”
She raised her eyebrows in question.
“Me and you babe,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
“That kid is something. You’re going to have your hands full. He is an exact replica of you, a mini Kyle.”
“God no!” he looked heavenward. “I think he’s on to something though. He says you like me. Is that true?”
She sputtered, “Now you’re taking dating advice from a six-year-old?”
“Why not? He’s pretty astute for six.”
“Dad hurry up!”
“Coming,” he surprised her by planting a kiss on the tip of her nose. Her mouth hug open for a few seconds as she watched him return to the whale project. Her butterflies had butterflies. In some ways this was even harder to resist than the sexual advances. This felt threatening at a much deeper level. I’ll bet this is how he ensnares all of his women. I had better keep that in mind. He’s good. I’ll give him that.
Too bad it wasn’t that easy.
15
&nb
sp; Securing the belt of her apron, Ella asked, “Would you rather have pancakes or dippy eggs?”
“Pancakes,” Finn replied.
Eyebrows arched she turned to Kyle, “How about you?”
“Both. And bacon,” he said, patting his ripped stomach, “I have to put some weight back on, the doc said as much.”
Sitting side by side on bar stools facing Ella, Kyle nudged Finn, slyly winking as Finn chimed in, “Yeah, me too! I want both and bacon.”
“Well I can’t argue with doctor’s orders, or a growing kid, can I?”
Kyle and Finn exchanged smirks and watched as Ella pulled out a bowl for mixing up the pancake batter then began gathering the rest of her ingredients and lining them up on the huge granite countertop.
“I’d say your nanny is fairly proficient in the kitchen, what do ya think?”
“Yeah and I’m glad because I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving,” Kyle said.
Teasing Ella, Kyle continued his running commentary, “See how she expertly cracked those eggs? That is a real skill buddy. She handles that whisk like a master chef.”
Finn catching on said, “Yeah giving Chef Jacques a run for his money, right Dad?”
“Ha ha a kitchen full of comedians, just wait’ til you taste them. Pancakes are my specialty.”
Kyle couldn’t get enough of this show, Ella barefoot, wearing a pair of short cut-off jeans and a skimpy cropped tank top. She had her hair piled on top of her head, her skin was golden from the days by the pool and she looked radiant and fresh. It had been a long time since he had felt this alive or for that matter this attracted to someone. Even more endearing was the flour streaked across her cheek.
“Ella, can I help?” Finn asked.
“I think I can put you to work. I’ll pull the step stool up to the sink and you can wash the berries for me.”
Kyle had a moment of melancholy watching the two of them together, but it was quickly eclipsed by Finn’s delight. It was contagious and before long he was grabbing the bacon from the fridge to add to a skillet.
Ella’s lips twitched, “The billionaire knows how to cook?”
“Hey, I had great nannies, what can I say,” the corners of his eyes crinkled in that way she found irresistible.
With Finn busy at the sink and the bacon cooking, Kyle edged close to Ella and pressed his body against her back pinning her to the counter. He was naked from the waist up and wore sweatpants that hung loosely from his hips. He could feel the heat of her body through her thin cotton tank top. He peered over her shoulder as she whipped the cream with a blender and whispered in her ear, “If there’s any left-over whipped cream, I have a couple of ideas for it I’d like to share with you.” Kyle inhaled her intoxicating scent and wanted more.
She finished the cream and turned off the mixer. Her voice slightly breathless, she said, “Don’t burn the bacon.”
“Under control chef.”
Ella slid out from between Kyle and the counter to see how the fruit was holding up. “How ya doing over here sport?”
“I’m almost done.” Ella hid a smile looking at the mushed berries.
“It’s about time for me to cook the eggs. Do you want to be in charge of the toast?”
“Yes please,” Finn said.
She handed him several slices of bread and moved his step stool to the toaster. “When the toast pops up here is the knife and butter, maybe your dad and you can do that together?”
“Sure.”
The intimacy was suddenly pierced by a sultry voice, “Well well well. Domestic bliss with the domestic help, charming.”
“Hey Charlene, what brings you out and about?”
Pursing her lips in a pout she complained, “Well since you never called me back yesterday, I thought I should come see for myself how you’re really doing.”
“How’s my favorite little rug-rat?” she said. Finn ignored her.
“Finn, say hello to Charlene,” Kyle directed.
Keeping his head down he gave a mumbled hi, clearly upset that she had intruded.
“The nurse, right? What’s your name again?” Charlene asked.
Scrubbing her palms on her apron before reaching out her hand in greeting she said, “Hello. Yes, we met briefly at the hospital.”
Kyle made the introduction, “Ella meet Charlene, an old family friend.”
“Not so old but we do go way back. Our nannies took turns watching us while our parents held lavish soirées. When we got old enough, we were shipped off to boarding school together along with his sister and brother. I’m sure you’ve met them?”
“The sister Faye yes, but not Griffin,” Ella said.
“He’s always off jet-setting around the world. He inherited all of the charm in the family… of the males anyway. Faye has her share of charisma.”
“Our families are in business together,” Kyle said.
“Yes, and apparently after amassing their fortunes, a lifetime of working together wasn’t enough so Daddy and Mother packed up and followed Kyle’s parents to Palm Springs.”
“Wow, that’s some history. Lifelong friends.”
Charlene smiled slyly, “With benefits.”
Wrinkling his brow Finn asked, “What are benefits?”
Charlene laughed as Kyle steered the conversation to safer territory. “Buddy let’s take our seat so we can eat.”
“Have you eaten? We have plenty.” Ella asked Charlene.
“No thanks. Just came by to check on this naughty man. He never seems to return my phone calls these days.” Eyes narrowed she sized Ella up. “I didn’t know cooking fell under the auspices of nursing,” she said sounding annoyed.
Exasperated with her tone Kyle said, “Charlene did you come here just to bust our balls or is there something else?”
“Kyle darling, I’ve missed you. I know you’re recovering but is there any reason why we couldn’t take the boat out? After all, you do have a captain you could call on.”
“I haven’t even thought about taking the boat out. My limited energy is being used very strategically.”
Charlene walked over to Kyle and planted a kiss right on his lips. Kyle neither encouraged nor discouraged the display, duly noted by Ella. She was grateful for the reminder.
“Gross!” Finn said.
Ella snickered. Her sentiments exactly. “How many eggs does everyone want?” She had already piled the stack of pancakes onto a platter and had set them on the kitchen island. The toast was buttered, the whipped cream and berries waiting to complement the flapjacks, and the pitcher of juice ready to be poured.
“Two for me, one for Finn,” Kyle said.
“Charlene are you sure?” Ella asked politely.
“None for me, I’ll just eat a few berries with the cream.”
“Help yourself.”
Ella cracked the eggs onto the griddle, “Sunnyside or over-easy?”
“Over easy but very dippy,” Kyle said.
“Me too,” Finn echoed.
As Ella carefully flipped the eggs she said, “Charlene, the coffee is freshly brewed help yourself, cream’s in the fridge.”
“I’ll get it for you, cream or sugar?” Kyle asked.
“You don’t remember?”
Rolling his eyes, he said, “Well?”
“Black.”
Kyle held on to Ella’s shoulder for balance as he reached over her head to grab a coffee mug from the shelf. He intentionally rubbed against her and sniffed her hair appreciatively murmuring “Why do you have to smell so damn good?”
Charlene’s nose wrinkled in distaste, “You both look awfully chummy.”
Kyle carefully walked over and handed Charlene her mug of coffee, his mouth twisting sardonically he replied, “Yes I’d say we’re quite chummy.”
Finn had become quiet and withdrawn, an obvious reversal from the lighthearted child he had been minutes before. Noticing, Ella became determined that she wasn’t going to let Charlene spoil this morning.
“Here’s your egg, over easy, extra dippy, just the way you like it,” she said, setting the plate in front of Finn. She bent down to give him a quick hug, ruffling his hair then went to grab Kyle’s eggs. “Bon appétit.”
“Where are yours?” Kyle asked.
“I’m down for the pancakes,” she smiled, as she piled on the whipped cream and berries.
Charlene rather than taking a seat chose to stand next to Kyle her hip resting against his stool, shoulders touching. She reached down and placed her palm on his thigh, fingers splayed, almost touching his package, and squeezed.
Without making a scene, he removed her hand and scowled. Kyle wasn’t sure how to save this morning from the wrecking ball of Charlene.
Eyes narrowed, Charlene asked, “How much longer are you going to need a full-time nurse, or is she Finn’s new nanny?”
His eyes flashed with irritation, “Thanks for your concern Charlene but mind your own business.”
“Just curious. This must be a terrible inconvenience for Ella. I can’t imagine disrupting my entire life for a complete stranger. But I should take into account who that stranger is. No doubt, a handsome rich bachelor must have sweetened the pot.”
Ella stood abruptly and left the room without a word. She didn’t need this shit. She was fuming.
Finn said, “Can I be scused?”
“Yes, don’t worry about your plate I’ll clean up.”
Without a word he ran after Ella like a bat out of hell.
“Really Charlene?”
“What?” Charlene asked innocently.
“You know what. Why do you always push people away? I know you’d like Ella if you gave her a chance.”
“Doubtful.”
“Only because you’re unreasonable.”
“Well I’m glad we can be alone for a few minutes. I never get to see you anymore. I’ve missed you.”
“Charlene you act so proprietary over me and it has to stop. You’re my friend but let me be perfectly clear, there is no we as in couple. We banged a couple of times, got our carnal needs satisfied. We were both aware of what it was and what it wasn’t.”
“How can you be so cold?”
“I’m being honest. We’ve talked about this. Before and after. We were on the same page, now suddenly you’re trying to make us into something we aren’t.”