Triplets found, p.42
Triplets Found, page 42
“Could it be—and I’m musing to myself, now—that you’re simply looking for reasons to be dissatisfied with Erin because she’s gotten under your skin a little bit?”
“Mia,” Sam warned. His matchmaking secretary had been sniffing the romance trail since the moment he’d called and told her he hired a twenty-three-year-old, single, Irish beauty to care for Jess instead of the elderly woman he’d envisioned. “Don’t even go—”
“Just food for thought, and the question was rhetorical anyway. I have my theories, you have your denials.” She flicked her hand as though shooing away a fly. “Bottom line, though, is that Erin has a job to do and you shouldn’t stand in her way.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“Then answer her questions.”
Sam threw his arms up in the air. “Fine, fine. I’ll try and be more…forthcoming if she corners me again.”
“Corners you. Probably not the most effective way to frame the whole thing in your mind, but I’ve done all I can for one day.” Mia flipped her feet off the file drawer and swiveled her legs under her desk. “Now, with that, kindly remove yourself from my office. I’ve got work to do, as do you, so put on a hard hat and get out there, will you? This place isn’t going to run itself.”
Sam shook his head and hid a half-admiring, halfexasperated smile as he donned his yellow hard hat and gathered his supplies for the workday. Fine, he’d talk to Erin a little bit. Clearly Mia saw it as a positive step toward helping Jessica, and he was all about Jessica. Plus, he trusted Mia’s advice. She wouldn’t lead him astray.
It wasn’t until he was out on the site, contemplating Mia’s words, Erin’s questions, and his uncharacteristic capitulation in one big jumble, that he realized he’d been railroaded by females twice already that day, and it wasn’t even 7:00 a.m.
After Sam had left, Erin took a quick shower and dressed in comfortable, staying-at-home clothes. Jessica was still sleeping, so Erin took the opportunity to walk through the house and acquaint herself with her surroundings.
The house was good sized and decorated in a comfortable, warm style neither too feminine or too masculine. The upholstered pieces sported a lovely plush, plum fabric and appeared big enough to sink into. The wood pieces were in a clean, Shaker style and stained a light cherry. From the lemon and pine scents, it was clear to Erin that everything had been freshly cleaned.
It should’ve seemed like a very inviting house.
But, something was missing.
Erin stopped in the doorway to the living room and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She took in the oval shaped rag rug, the corner toy box. Studied the furniture and smiled at the angled sunbeams reaching through the south-facing windows.
Plants.
She peered around and spotted a healthy spider plant in one corner and a potted fern by the sofa. He didn’t have a lot of plants, but he did have those two, and they didn’t look beleaguered like so many plants in households without women. So, that wasn’t the missing puzzle piece.
Erin moved further into the room and focused on the electronic equipment. A decent sized television, along with all the accompanying black boxes of modern entertainment, held court with a large stack of colorful children’s videos in a sleek entertainment center. All very homey, very normal. So, what was it? What felt…off?
Turning her attention to the walls, it struck her like a blow. Sam had no family photos displayed. In her parents’ house as well as each of her brothers’ homes, framed family photos brought life to the walls and chronicled the passing years, the joy of family life. She was used to seeing that kind of thing, but in Sam’s house…nothing.
Four framed photographs adorned the mantel, but they were all of Jessica. None of him, none of his late wife, and not a single photo of any cousins or uncles, grandparents, or other extended family. It struck Erin as rather sad.
Then again, not everyone liked to decorate with personal photographs, at least not in common areas. Surely Sam would have his study more personalized. Lucky for Erin, she had carte blanche to enter his private space and use the computer, and while she was there, if she happened to peek around for pictures, well, it wasn’t really snooping. She was merely trying to get a handle on this very confusing, intriguing man.
She quickly refilled her coffee mug, then took the stairs two at a time. No staggered photos in the stairwell, she noted in passing. The upstairs hallway was similarly bare. She peered into Jessica’s room, pleased to find the baby sleeping soundly, then moved on to the study.
A desk and credenza. Two bookshelves. Filing cabinets and a nice computer system.
No family photographs.
Intrigued, Erin sat in Sam’s office chair and smoothed her palms over the hunter green leather desk blotter. One thing she could give Sam, the man was neat. But, some instinct deep inside her said there were more layers to Sam Lowery than met the eye. He might be a successful construction foreman with a strong work ethic, he was certainly a devoted father. But the Sam deep inside held secrets Erin couldn’t begin to imagine.
She sat back, rocking in the office chair with her hands folded over her torso. He was a puzzle, and she was going to enjoy every moment of piecing him together. Another instinct, however, told her she’d be unwise to let him know he was as much her personal project as caring for Jessica was her job. Sam and Jessica had suffered a tragedy, losing Jenny, but Erin felt pretty sure that Sam had suffered loss long before the fire. What type, she didn’t know, but she aimed to find out. Nonchalantly, of course. She didn’t think the very private Sam Lowery would appreciate his nanny’s scrutiny of his life, but hey, with five brothers, Erin was nothing if not stealthy. Sam Lowery would never know what hit him. And someday, if things went well, he might even thank her.
With a smile on her face, Erin booted up Sam’s computer, hoping to knock out Jessica’s schedule before the baby awoke and they started the day. She was going to prove her worth to Sam no matter what it took.
Sam arrived home that evening fully prepared to buck up and replay the conversation with Erin, this time answering at least the questions that didn’t make him feel sick to his stomach. He figured he could start there; Jessica was worth it. He entered through the mud room, like usual, removing his steel toed work boots and shrugging out of his jacket. He paused, remembering suddenly that he’d forgotten to call Erin about dinner, and a little knife of regret stabbed him. He pressed his lips together and checked his watch. It was past six anyway, but he could smell dinner wafting on the air, and his mouth watered. It would’ve been nice to share a meal with Jessica.
And with Erin.
The door into the kitchen was almost closed, and the dryer tumbled and emitted the smell of fabric softener, which, combined with the enticing kitchen smells, made coming home feel pleasurable for the first time in a long time. He reached for the doorknob and stopped short.
What was that sound?
He eased the door open slowly, cocked his head, and listened. Laughter. Jessica’s laughter mingling with Erin’s, and in the background, one of those teeny-bopper singers playing on the stereo. Was it Britney Spears? He smirked, shaking his head. Even that music was preferable to entering a silent, dark house night after night.
He walked on stocking feet through the kitchen and into the dining room. From there, he could see into the living room, where Erin and his sweet baby girl danced with wild abandon to the music. Both of their faces shone with happiness, and Jessica’s cheeks were pink and chipmunk-chubby with her grin. A wild curl of poignant happiness twisted his middle. He didn’t want the moment to end, and on the other hand he desperately wished he were a part of it. He crossed his arms and leaned one shoulder against the door jamb, hoping to watch them longer, but the hardwood floor beneath him creaked. Both Erin and Jessica spun toward the sound. Erin had a palm against her chest, eyes wide with alarm.
“Oh, you scared me.”
“Daddy!” Jessica toddled toward him with her arms raised.
“Hi, honeypot.” He bent and lifted her, planting big kisses on her face. He glanced up at Erin, twisting his lips to the side. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Me dance.” She pointed toward Erin.
“Yes, I saw you. It looked like fun. Was it fun?”
Jessica nodded, then nestled her head on his shoulder. She smelled of baby powder, shampoo, and healthy exertion. His gaze lifted and locked with Erin’s, and something raw and real clutched his insides. God, she was beautiful and vibrant and…so off limits. He swallowed hard. “Hi.”
She ran her long, slim fingers through her hair and laughed a bit self-consciously. “Hi. I didn’t even know you were there. How embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. You looked…free.”
“Like someone who might drive a car named Daisy Mae?” She winked, then set about straightening the living room. There were toys, coloring books, puzzles, stuffed animals, and again, Jenny’s framed photograph strewn everywhere.
“Definitely like that.” He kissed Jessica and set her down and gave her a playful smack on the rear. “Help Erin clean up, honeypot.” Jessie immediately squatted down and started picking up primary colored blocks. She was a good girl.
Erin glanced up from a stooped position. “There’s meat loaf and mashed potatoes on a plate in the fridge. Vegetables, too.” She crinkled her nose. “Are you a veggie eater?”
“I eat anything.”
“I wish we could say that about the little miss, here.”
“Yeah, vegetables are not her friends. She does like green beans, corn, and tomatoes.”
“Okay. Good.”
The living room was sufficiently neat, so Erin stood up and pressed two fists to her lower back. “Why don’t you eat while I give the wee one a bath.”
“Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d like to tend to her bath and get her ready for bed. I feel like I haven’t seen her for days.”
“Of course. I’ll just head off to my room, then, unless you want me to heat up your meal.”
“No, Erin. You don’t need to do that. Believe me, I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.” He scooped Jessica into his arms. “I’ll eat after this one is down for the night.”
“No!” Jessica protested, even though her little fists kept finding their way to her eyes to rub away the sleepiness.
“I’ve set bedtime for 7:45 p.m., if that’s okay. She’s a sleeper, this one.”
“That’s fine.” He hitched her higher in his arms. “Did everything go well today?”
Erin nodded. “I’ve completed a schedule. It’s posted on the fridge. We walked to the park, had a couple of naps, and got the laundry done.”
Sam shook his head slowly, his approval for the nanny growing exponentially the more he was around her. He didn’t want to feel these waves of affection and respect, but they just seemed to come without warning. “You’re a pretty amazing person, Erin O’Grady.”
Her face flamed immediately, and she cut her glance away. He could tell she was pleased by the compliment, though. “Thank you. It was easy. Jessica is a very amenable baby.”
“She’s my little honeypot.”
Erin met his gaze directly. “I really think we’re going to be able to work with her, Sam. It’ll take time, but—”
“I’d actually like to talk to you about that. You caught me off guard this morning, but—”
“I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s okay. I’d like to talk to you more about it. Do you mind sitting with me while I eat dinner, so we can pick up where we left off?”
Erin’s whole face lit up at this small concession, and darn if it didn’t make Sam’s heart lift. She had the knack of making a man feel like an absolute knight on a white horse. Danger.
“I’d love to. I’ll meet you in the kitchen in about forty-five minutes?”
“Deal. See you there.”
Erin was freshening up in her rooms when her private phone line rang. She checked the caller ID and smiled. It was Karla, from the agency. “Hello?”
“Erin! How are things going so far?”
She sank onto her bed and wrapped an arm around her torso. “Oh, I can’t even tell you. Jessica is a great baby. We have so much fun together, and I can tell she’s starved for female attention, poor doll.”
“And what about Sam?”
Erin flopped back on the bed. “He’s a tougher nut to crack, but I’m pretty determined.”
Karla laughed. “I knew you’d be right for this job.”
“Thank you for your faith in me.”
“It’s well-deserved, sweetie. Well, I just wanted to give you some moral support. I know it’s hard taking a new assignment. And if you have any trouble at all—”
“Believe me, I’ll call.”
“Goodnight, Erin.”
“Nighty-night.”
After she’d hung up, Erin studied the texture on the ceiling and thought about Sam. Was there anything sexier than a man who did hard physical work all day long and slipped into daddy mode so easily the moment he entered the house? His well-worn jeans and fitted T-shirt molded to a body honed to perfection by hard work, not gym visits. His beard had started to come in, and his hair bore the telltale hard hat dent. But he’d cradled his baby daughter like she was made of spun sugar, and Erin didn’t think anything in the world could be sexier.
How could she be crushing so hard on her boss this soon? She’d only just met the guy, but then again, she believed in love at first sight, kismet, soulmates—even faeries and sprites. She really was a hopeless, daydreaming romantic.
A light knock on the outer door to her wing startled her, and she shot up into a sitting position, heart lodged in her throat. “Yes?”
“Jess is out cold,” Sam said, through the still closed doorway. “I didn’t even get to read her a story. I know we said forty-five minutes, but if you’re ready to talk, I’m ready to eat.”
Erin fluffed her hair nervously. “I’ll be right there.” She waited until she heard him retreat, then stood, smoothing her moist palms along the legs of her jeans. Gosh, it felt like a freakin’ first date. She needed to shake these schoolgirl jitters if she was going to be effective as Jessica’s nanny—regardless of how sexy Jessica’s daddy was.
As she brushed her teeth and slicked her lips with gloss, she decided the questioning method wouldn’t work with Sam. Instead, she’d show him by example. She’d suffered a loss in her family, too, with little Bryce. If she opened up to Sam, maybe he’d reciprocate. Eventually.
Chapter Six
“This is really good,” Sam told Erin almost sheepishly, after swallowing his first bite of meat loaf.
“Thank you.” Erin flushed with pleasure at his words and fiddled with the cup of tea she hadn’t really wanted, but had made for herself, anyway, so he wouldn’t have to eat with an audience. She could see he was conflicted about “taking advantage” of her cooking skills. Clearly, Sam Lowery was a man unused to accepting help, and every step was going to be a struggle. She wondered if he knew how much information he telegraphed about himself just by being himself.
“No, thank you. You’ve managed to make a meal that Jessica and I can both enjoy. How’d you do that?”
“I told you, Sam, I have tons of nieces and nephews, and I’m the favorite sleepover aunt.” She shrugged. “I know my way around a child’s palate. They can be picky.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Erin laughed softly. “I’ve learned ways to trick everyone. With a big Irish Catholic family like mine, it’s almost inevitable that the adults and kids will eventually eat together, and the thought of making two separate meals is wholeheartedly unappealing, even to someone like me who likes to cook.”
He inclined his head. “Well, my compliments to the chef.”
Her pulse quickened, in part because Sam was so darn sexy without even trying. In part because she knew she had to bring up Jessica’s treatment again, and doing so could snap the little thread of companionship that stretched tenuously between them. Now was her chance, though, and she had to take it. If she was going to broach this difficult topic, she’d have to do so with a believable and logical conversational segue. Sam might be a man who worked with his hands, but he was sharp of mind and wiser than his twentyseven years might indicate. She wouldn’t be able to railroad him, and didn’t even want to. Games weren’t her style.
She cleared her throat and tossed her hair. In as breezy a tone as she could manage, she asked, “What about you? Do you have nieces and nephews?” Her stomach plunged when Sam went very still, his eyes focused down on his plate rather than across the table toward her. She thought she saw his forearm tighten and wondered if she’d blundered again.
Finally, he glanced up. “Only child. Remember?”
“That’s right. Well, bummer. I really enjoy my brothers’ kids. I can rattle their cages, get them really riled up and then hand them over to mom and dad. It’s awesome.” She winked. “I consider it paybacks for the hell my brothers put me through on a yearly basis.”
To her relief, Sam’s muscles seemed to relax.
“Being an aunt is really cool.” She was rambling and she knew it, but she needed to forge ahead into more dangerous territory before she lost his attention. Glancing across the kitchen toward Jessica’s schedule posted on the fridge, she swallowed, then said, “And, it was nice to have a huge support system when little Bryce died.” Her fingers tightened on the tea cup. “Does it bother you if I talk about it?” She ventured a peek at his face.
“Not at all,” Sam said, continuing to eat, but with his focus firmly on her.
She squeezed her eyes shut as the whole unspeakable tragedy came rushing back as if it had happened yesterday. “It was awful, Sam. Unbearable, really. There were some days when I could hardly drag myself out of bed, and it was a million times worse for Eamon and Susan.”
“Your brother and his wife? The parents?”
She nodded. “And the kids, too. But, Eamon is a typical first born, too. Know what I mean?”
