by Allen, Jewel
She turned to Michael. “Are you going to swim with us?”
It was an innocent question, but why did Michael hesitate? “Of course.”
Chapter 8
A mere hour later, and Lara’s skin was pink. She had obviously not applied enough sunscreen, and she was sure her nose would peel in a day or two. But the children were relentless in their activity in the pool, so after they played shark, they had Lara jumping in and out of the deep end with them.
Michael played with the kids too. Lara wasn’t sure who was having more fun, the small kids or the grown one.
After a while, he asked Lara if she could keep an eye on the kids while he lapped the pool. With guilty pleasure, she watched his arms slice into the water effortlessly, with hardly a splash, powerful and strong.
Lara stopped staring and stretched. Her muscles ached a bit, but in a good way. She’d just as soon work out swimming then hitting the gym. As she got out of the pool with the children, Michael was getting out too. He had a tall, lean body, with the spare physique of a natural athlete. Golden brown chest hairs glistened wet, and his torso gleamed in the sun. She glanced away as a tug of attraction needled at her.
A female server attended to them as they soaked up the sun and dried off. She brought cheeses and fruit, with grapes so succulent Lara was biting into them crisp. And the cheeses had such exotic names that Lara couldn’t remember them all, but suffice it to say, they were delicious.
“Mmm,” Mick said. “These are the best grapes ever!”
Lara lay out in the sun and smiled. This was the life. She felt Michael’s eyes on her and flicked a glance at him, startling at the intensity of his gaze. Her breath caught in her throat, but by then, he was looking away.
“Would you and your wife like some champagne, sir?” the server said.
Michael’s glance darted apologetically to Lara. “Thanks, but she’s actually the children’s nanny.”
“Oh, a thousand pardons,” the server said.
“It’s no problem.” Michael shook his head. “I won’t have any, but, Lara?”
“No, thanks.”
The server left, leaving them in awkward silence. Lara played with the fringe of her sarong, turning her face up to the sun. October was considered spring here, and though the temperatures gave Lara goosebumps, it was pleasant. The children didn’t seem bothered by the slight chill, especially with the nicely warmed pool and sun.
Lara closed her eyes for a moment to steady herself after that surprising hungry look in Michael’s eyes. To be mistaken for his wife...she supposed it made sense. They must look like a cute little family out on holiday.
A family. One thing she had failed in. First as a scrawny little kid when her parents divorced, and then later as a grown-up, still unmarried after all these years. Her parents’ divorce pushed her and her siblings in different corners of the boxing ring. All those rifts, still unmended. Thankfully, Lara had surrogate parents growing up, but it was never the same as your own flesh and blood.
She opened her eyes and took in the scene of the children happily eating while Michael watched them with an indulgent smile. Who said a “family” had to be your very own children?
Whatever this family was shaping up as, here on the continent of Africa, Lara would take it.
Chapter 9
Having children around while thinking of pursuing a lovely woman made flirting almost impossible. Which was just as well.
After their swim, Michael changed into a blue polo shirt and slacks, not bothering with a tie. If they sent him back from the restaurant to wear one, he would, but after an afternoon in the sun, he felt like a bona fide tourist. The knots in his shoulders had loosened after his nice warm shower. He needed this vacation more than he thought he did.
With a decade of burnout, going from one thing to another without any plan, without something to anchor him, even his faith had suffered. He hadn’t been to church in so long. He hadn’t been part of a worship community, and he missed that. It used to be that Sunday recharged him, but now it was just another day of the week.
Could his change in attitude have something to do with the beautiful woman who’d be living with him and the children the next two weeks?
He brushed through his cropped hair and noted his bright eyes and skin, pink from the sun. He came out of the bathroom to Mick darting past with his Harry, Lizzie and Doggie chasing after him. Lara followed close behind, her dark-blonde hair flying. She wore a long gray jersey dress that looked both casual and elegant, flattering her figure. She stopped short and stared at him, her grin softening to a rueful smile.
Their glances met and held. He would have complimented her had she been a date.
“Hi,” she said. “Should I get the kids ready?”
“Sure,” he said, embarrassed that his voice sounded husky.
He cleared his throat and walked across the room to get to his phone to check for messages. On second thought, as he picked it up, he decided messages could wait. Forget work for now.
He stepped out to the balcony to take in the view of the grounds. The pressures of his daily schedule were on pause. Someday, he would look upon this trip as the catalyst for his transformation. Being successful no longer satisfied him. He acknowledged reluctantly that he wanted a companion to share his life with.
A woman with blonde hair and brown eyes appeared in his mind. He shook the thought. What were the chances that Lara would choose him over the work she took pride in?
The children, having had their bath, ran to get him. They smelled of soap and the fruity scent of shampoo. His chest swelled with love for Jim’s kids. He glimpsed their parents in their faces, and he missed them all over again.
Michael took Lizzie’s hand while Lara took Mick’s as they went down the glass elevator to the hotel restaurant. An usher in a black suit held open the door for them, while another seated them at the outside terrace next to the pool.
Everything—the woven placemats, the rattan chairs, and even the carvings on the table top—hinted subtly at their African setting. A rope railing marked the edge of the terrace, hardly enough to keep a rambunctious child out of the water if he or she were determined to breach it.
This was going to be an interesting test of the children’s manners. Michael had rarely taken them anywhere but fast food places, and this one didn’t have a play area.
It could have been the sun or the exertion, but the children were subdued, looking up from their big-people chairs with wonder at their surroundings. Drowsy, with their cheeks scrubbed pink. Trees filtered the day’s remaining sunlight onto their table.
Their server arrived, a man of mature years with a graying beard, who introduced himself as Valiant.
Michael and Lara exchanged amused glances.
“Nice name,” Michael said.
“Thank you.” Valiant bowed. “You might notice, it is an African custom to name your children after good values.”
Michael nodded. “Fantastic idea.”
“We have a children’s menu,” Valiant said, “but may I tell you first about our chef’s specials?”
“Yes, please,” Michael said.
“For starters, I highly recommend the lobster, corn, and champagne.” Valiant pointed at a page. “My personal favorite is the ox tongue, pork, and smoked chicken. For the main dish, if you like seafood, I recommend the salmon, mussels, and pickles. Or the springbok is excellent too.”
“No contest there,” Michael said, shutting his menu. “The springbok for me.”
One corner of Lara’s mouth turned down. “I wanted to get that too.”
Michael smiled. “Pick something else. We can share.” Too late, he realized how much that made them sound like a couple.
Neither did it escape Lara. She blushed and closed her menu. “All right, Valiant. How about the salmon?”
“Of course, miss.”
The plates arrived, and, as expected, the portions were beautiful but minuscule.
“It’s great for
a diet,” Lara offered, sounding hopeful. She took a bite of her salmon, her expression turning blissful. “Oh my. That is the best salmon I’ve ever had.” She held up a forkful to him. “As promised, I’m sharing.”
He took the bite and, yes, she wasn’t lying.
The children got very expensive peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but they were happy. They munched on the sandwiches, smearing jelly on their cherubic faces.
Mick’s cheek bulged. “When—”
“Uh-uh,” Lara said, stopping Mick in mid-sentence with an upheld hand. “Chew first, please.”
Mick chewed in an exaggerated way and downed a gulp of milk. “When will we see hippos?”
“I’m sure we will while we are at the wildlife park,” Michael said.
“Like the zoo?” Lizzie asked.
Lara brushed a curl out of her little charge’s eye. “Yes, missy. So eat your PB&J so you can see all the animals, okay?” She tapped the little girl’s nose and then caught Michael’s gaze. Her cheeks turned even pinker.
Had he been staring? He really should be more careful to act like an uninterested boss.
Just as Michael raised his knife to cut into the springbok, Mick declared, “I’m done.”
“Me too,” Lizzie piped up.
“I can take them to the atrium,” Lara said.
Michael glanced at her unfinished salmon. “I’m sure they can wait.”
“I can see them getting restless and falling in the pool,” she whispered.
“I will take them, sir.” A cheerful woman in a hotel uniform approached and motioned to the kids. “Want to see the fish pond?”
Michael was grateful but a bit skeptical. “That’s kind of you. What is your name?”
“Uma, sir. We will be right there.” She pointed at the main building. There is a little fish pond. I will bring them back in a few minutes. So you and the miss can eat.”
“Thank you, Uma.”
Without the children, the dinner carried on somewhat awkwardly. It felt like a blind date.
“Want to try my springbok?” Michael offered.
She lifted her eyes to his and nodded, wiping her lips on a napkin.
He speared a bite with his fork and raised it to her mouth.
Her lips closed over it, her eyes fluttering shut. “Mmm, that is so tender.”
His hand, holding the empty fork, dangled between them.
“Isn’t it?” he asked, setting his fork down in a hurry and taking a sip of water to drench his parched throat.
Just taste-testing each other’s food, like newlyweds feeding each other cake. Soon they would smoosh their bites on their faces. Michael smiled to himself.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“You and me, feeding each other like...” He caught himself. “Like friends.”
“I know.” She crinkled her nose. “I don’t usually feed my bosses.”
“I can’t see you feeding your senior partners at the law firm.”
“Ugh.” She shuddered. “Already as a woman, I was treated poorly. How much more if I tried to spoon-feed them?” Her expression changed. Became more guarded. “Don’t get me wrong. I held my own with those guys.” A heightened color suffused her cheeks.
“I bet you were one of those attack dogs during litigation.”
“Sometimes. If I have to be.” She gazed into his eyes. “Especially if it involved innocent children.”
“Sounds like what you want to do someday.” He took another bite of his exquisite springbok.
“The difference is, I wouldn’t be working for a large law firm. Maybe I’ll even hang up my own shingle. At the firm, the hours were long, and there was no end in sight. I just couldn’t do it anymore. One day I woke up thinking I was having a heart attack. My heart was racing, my body tingling. I was short of breath. I called in sick and saw the doctor. He said it was from work stress.” She looked out over the pool. “It was the wake-up call I needed.” She smiled. “And here I am now.”
”Was it all horrible?” he asked.
She shrugged. “There were some good years. Some exciting times. Winning court cases. Huge settlements. Representing celebrities. That kind of thing.” Her eyes drifted back to the water reflecting the blue of the sky. “But I can’t go back. What would I go back for? I don’t want to start over as the low woman on the totem pole.”
“Work for yourself, perhaps?”
She shrugged. “Maybe someday. Or,” she gave him a coy glance, “maybe I could be the children’s nanny forever.”
He was wrong about her eyes. They were actually a hazel color. Depending on the light, they were green or brown. Now they were more green. “The children will grow up someday.”
She stood. “Ah, that’s the hope.”
Chapter 10
Maybe I can be the children’s nanny forever.
Goodness, did Lara speak that aloud? Michael must have thought she was angling to be his wife.
A couple of hours had passed since dinner, and they were back in the suite. The children, thanks to a joint effort by Uma and Lara to entertain them, were all tuckered out, asleep in the master bedroom. Lara went to the kitchen to get a drink of water and passed Michael’s pullout bed in the sitting room on her way back. He was already stretched out, his arms tucked behind his head, biceps straining in his short sleeves. The room was in darkness, but Lara could see his eyes glimmering, watching her as she slowed to say...
What was she going to say? She couldn’t remember.
His glance fell to her legs, bare under her thigh-length jersey shirt. His gaze skittered back to her face, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.
“Good night,” he said.
“Good night.” Her face felt afire as she shut the master bedroom and dove, slightly hot and bothered, between the sheets.
The first day of this African trip, and she was attracted to her boss. As long as they didn’t do anything about it, she was fine.
It wouldn’t do for Lara to fall for him. Her plan wasn’t to be his nanny forever. She had a whole world of opportunities ahead. No need to settle just because of a hot single dad and his cute charges.
She thought back to the dinner, his feeding her while he looked on with hunger. Like a lion. Or a hyena.
Heavens. She’d better corral this crush, or she’d be in deep trouble.
Chapter 11
It seemed as though she’d just lowered her head on her pillow, and then it was sunup already. The children certainly didn’t let her sleep in. She woke to them playing with Mick’s zoo Legos.
She peered at the clock. It was almost seven.
Lara remembered those early mornings when she had to go to the firm so early, before the crack of dawn, for their court prep. At least these kids were cuter than caffeine-deprived lawyers.
Lara padded out of the bedroom to get a drink of water from the kitchen. The dryness of the air was hard on her throat.
Michael was already up, working on his laptop. He was sitting at the kitchen counter, his back turned to them, his lean body filling out his shirt and sweats nicely.
Remembering last night’s heated parting glance, Lara ran her fingers through her hair. She was sure she looked a mess. Not that she was dating him or anything. No need to impress her boss.
He turned, transforming her knees to jelly.
So, she hadn’t imagined that little zing of attraction last night. He was gazing at her as though he wished she were breakfast.
He diverted his glance to the kids. “Good morning,” he said.
Lara nodded and got a glass of water.
“Are you burning pancakes again?” Lizzie asked him.
Michael laughed, a deep booming sound that made her toes curl with pleasure, and Lara couldn’t help but join in.
“I hope not,” he said. “How about if we eat at the restaurant so we can get really good pancakes? And then it’ll be packing fast so we can get going on our adventure.”
“Let’s get dressed for the day,
” Lara urged her charges.
In twenty minutes, everyone was presentable. Lara even snuck a shower in. She didn’t bother to blow-dry her hair. It would probably just get mussed anyway as they went about.
Michael was staring at her hair. “Wow, is your hair naturally curly?”
She touched it self-consciously where she’d piled it up in a messy bun. Later, she could let it down and it would hopefully have a nice wave, not a frizzy one. “Yes.”
“It’s pretty.”
Blushing, she pretended to fuss over Lizzie’s collar. “Thanks.”
He looked handsome himself, with his olive shirt and khaki slacks. Neutral colors as the safari company suggested. To not scare off the animals.
The children happily ate their pancakes and had to be hurried along by the adults, and then Kalinga picked them up curbside.
“Ready?” Kalinga said, his bright smile lighting up his face.
Mick jumped up and down, waving Harry in the air. “Ready!”
Chapter 12
Michael surveyed the raw landscape that flew past. In many ways, he envied Africans. The land here hadn’t been developed yet. He could only imagine how hard it would be to bring water into the reddish dirt that had occasional trees and not much else. It was pretty in its simplicity, though. He marveled that there was somewhere on Earth where developers hadn’t turned tracts of land into subdivisions.
In one major way, he didn’t envy them. For one, there was nothing in the way of amenities. They discovered that fairly early on. Mick had drunk two glasses of chocolate milk, and not even an hour in, he already needed to use the bathroom.
“Can we stop at a gas station?” Michael asked Kalinga.
Kalinga scratched his head. “Oh, so sorry, sir, but there are no public lavatories here.”
“So what should we do?” Lara said, worry creeping in her voice.
“We go bushy-bushy,” Kalinga said, slowing down to park the Rover along the side of the road.