The Ten-Day Baby Takeover
Karen Booth
A billionaire's baby deal!One look into his infant son's trusting blue gaze and Aiden Langford knows his wild, carefree days are over. If only he can get Sarah Daltrey, his son's temporary guardian, to give him daddy lessons… Certainly the soft-hearted entrepreneur will agree to his ten-day proposal to stay as the nanny. Aiden just needs to keep his mind on parenting and off Sarah's seductive curves…Being in the handsome tycoon's arms puts up Sarah's emotional defences even as her body begs her to let go. But being a babysitter with benefits isn't on her agenda—especially for a father and son who might steal her heart…
A billionaire’s baby deal!
One look into his infant son’s trusting blue gaze and Aiden Langford knows his wild, carefree days are over. If only he can get Sarah Daltrey, his son’s temporary guardian, to give him daddy lessons... Certainly the soft-hearted entrepreneur will agree to his ten-day proposal to stay as the nanny. Aiden just needs to keep his mind on parenting and off Sarah’s seductive curves...
Being in the handsome tycoon’s arms puts up Sarah’s emotional defenses even as her body begs her to let go. But being a babysitter with benefits isn’t on her agenda—especially for a father and son who might steal her heart...
Stay with me.
Sarah wasn’t sure she’d heard Aiden’s words correctly. They were surprising. They were scary—driving her to a place where she surrendered to her deep longing for him.
He granted the smallest fragment of a smile, looking at her with his heartbreaking blue eyes. He tenderly tucked her hair behind her ear, drawing his finger along her jaw to her chin. “I don’t know what force in the universe brought you to me, Sarah. I only know that right now I need you. I want you. And I’d like to think that you want me, too.”
The air stood still, but Sarah swayed, light-headed from Aiden’s words. Their one night together had been electric, filling her head with memories she’d never surrender, but judging by the deep timbre of Aiden’s voice, they might shatter what happened in Miami. “I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” And no-strings-attached only breaks my heart.
“Is that why you shut things down after Miami?”
“Yes.” It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was enough. As much as sleeping with Aiden might be a mistake, she didn’t want to deprive herself of him. Would one more time really hurt? “And I’ve spent the last two nights regretting it.”
“Then I say we have no more regrets.”
Before she knew what was happening, he scooped her up into his arms.
* * *
Ten-Day Baby Takeover is part of Mills & Boon Desire’s No. 1 bestselling series, Billionaires and Babies: Powerful men wrapped around their babies little fingers.
The Ten-Day Baby Takeover
Karen Booth
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
KAREN BOOTH is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on eighties music, Judy Blume and the films of John Hughes. She writes sexy big-city love stories. When she takes a break from the art of romance, she’s teaching her kids about good music, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails. Find out more about Karen at www.karenbooth.net (http://www.karenbooth.net).
For my dear friend in the writing world and the real world, Margaret Ethridge. I will always want to stay up way past my bedtime, talking and giggling in the dark with you.
Contents
Cover (#u3f729b1a-0ed8-5020-b2b9-4f24f35954d8)
Back Cover Text (#ub2a265da-0924-5b00-9708-572f7027f864)
Introduction (#ub83da113-9863-58f6-9a50-993c218f6544)
Title Page (#u5e351ffe-a11e-5c27-8407-037ba661eee4)
About the Author (#u1f6fd3d5-3b74-5a9f-aa52-9b4e7e3f9fc8)
Dedication (#u319093d8-e819-526a-9cff-fadb7340eb89)
Chapter One (#u8b9ed40b-9074-5612-a209-8f636d8f916e)
Chapter Two (#u38bc89d2-6c2e-552f-bce6-d03e7d33a624)
Chapter Three (#ueaab8294-3d22-506f-a362-0b2be75d17fd)
Chapter Four (#u1d4e49fe-7cae-562d-a7d9-110a49820eab)
Chapter Five (#uda99f895-cd6c-53d9-9d80-9cb29912995d)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#u37e3244e-df07-5452-b6bd-a0d4f592b31f)
The lobby of LangTel’s Manhattan headquarters was practically a shrine to order and quiet restraint. It was not the place to bring a fussy baby. Sarah Daltrey had done precisely that. Marble floors, towering ceilings and huge expanses of windows facing the street made any sound, especially baby Oliver’s errant cries, echo and reverberate like crazy.
Sarah kissed his forehead, bouncing him on her hip as she paced in the postage stamp waiting area. For such a massive building, taking up nearly an entire city block, LangTel had been distinctly stingy with the amenities for the uninvited. Two chairs and a ten-by-ten rug sat opposite a closely guarded bank of elevators. It was clear that no one occupying this space should stay for long.
Oliver whimpered and buried his head in her neck. Poor little guy—none of this was his fault. Oliver hadn’t asked to take a four-hour train ride that morning. He certainly hadn’t asked to come to an ice-cold office building in the middle of his nap time. More than anything, Oliver hadn’t asked to lose his mother three weeks ago, nor had he asked to have a father who refused to acknowledge his existence.
Sarah took her cell phone and dialed the number she’d memorized but wasn’t about to add to her contacts. As soon as she got Oliver’s dad to accept his paternal responsibility, she’d force herself to forget the string of digits that led to an office somewhere in this building, most likely the top floor. There would be no maintaining ties with Aiden Langford. Their connection was temporary, albeit of paramount importance. She had his son and he was going to take custody, even if it killed her.
“Yes. Hello. It’s Sarah Daltrey. I’m calling for Aiden Langford. Again.”
One of the two security guards manning the lobby gave her the side-eye. Meanwhile, the woman on the other end of the phone line expressed equal disdain with her snippy tone. “Mr. Langford has told me a dozen times. He does not know you. Please stop calling.”
“I can’t stop calling until he finally talks to me.”
“Perhaps I can help you.”
“No. You can’t. This is a personal matter and Mr. Langford should appreciate that I’m not sharing the details of this situation with his assistant. I outlined it all in the email I sent to him.” More like seven emails, but who’s counting? “If I can just have five minutes of his time, I can explain everything.” Five minutes was a lie. She’d need at least an hour to walk Mr. Langford through Oliver’s schedule, his likes and dislikes, and to make sure he was off to as good a start as possible.
“Mr. Langford is very busy. I can’t put through the call of every person who claims to need his time.”
“Look. I just spent four hours on a train from Boston to New York and I’m downstairs in the lobby, caring for a ten-month-old sorely in need of a nap. I’m not leaving until I speak to him. I’ll sleep here if I have to.”
“I can have security escort you from the building, Ms. Daltrey. Surely you don’t want that.”
“Does LangTel want the embarrassment of their security removing a kicking and screaming woman with a baby from their lobby?”
Mr. Langford’s assistant said everything with her momentary silence. “Can you hold, please? I’ll see if there’s anything I can do.”
Sarah had very little hope for this, but what other options did she have? “Sure. I’ll hold.”
Just then, a statuesque woman with glossy brown hair dressed in a tailored gray dress and black pumps came through the revolving door. Sarah might not have noticed her, but she had a baby bump that was impossible to miss. The security guard beelined to her, taking the stack of papers in her arms. “Good afternoon, Ms. Langford. I’ll get the elevator.”
Anna Langford. Sarah recognized her now, from the research she’d done on the Langford family while trying to find a way to get to Aiden. Anna was one of two LangTel CEOs, along with her brother Adam. She was also Aiden Langford’s younger sister.
Oliver dropped his favorite toy, a stuffed turtle, and unleashed a piercing wail. Sarah cringed, crouching down, scooting across the carpet in her wedge sandals, scrambling for Oliver’s toy while cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder. Anna came to a dead stop and turned her head, zeroing in on Sarah and Oliver.
Great. Now we really are going to get kicked out of the lobby.
Anna frowned and strode closer, but when she removed her sunglasses, there was only empathy in her eyes. “Oh no. Somebody’s unhappy.”
Certain that she’d been banished to the land of horrible hold music, Sarah ended her call and tucked her phone into the diaper bag. “Sorry about that. It’s nap time. He’s tired.” When she straightened to face Anna, she felt as if she needed a step stool. Anna was tall and in heels, while Sarah was height challenged even in her strappy sandals.
Anna shook her head. “Please don’t apologize. This is the highlight of my day. He’s adorable.” She reached for Oliver’s pudgy hand and smiled. He responded by gripping her finger, his head resting on Sarah’s shoulder. “I’m Anna Langford, by the way.”
“I’m Sarah. Daltrey. This is Oliver.” Sarah watched as Oliver smiled shyly at Anna. He was such a sweet and trusting boy. Saying goodbye to him was going to be heartbreaking, especially after three weeks of caring for him all on her own, but that was her charge and there was nothing to be done about that. She was done with being a nanny, and caring for a child that wasn’t her own, regardless of the circumstances, felt far too much like her old life.
Anna’s eyes didn’t stray from Oliver. “Nice to meet you both. I’m due to have my own little one in about six weeks. Middle of June. I have baby fever right now, big time.” She studied the baby’s face. “Your son’s eyes are incredible. Such a brilliant shade of blue.”
And exactly like your brother’s.
Sarah cleared her throat. “He’s not mine, technically. I’m his legal guardian. I’m in the process of connecting him with his father. That’s why I’m here.”
Confusion crossed Anna’s face. “At LangTel. The father works here?”
Sarah had committed herself to discretion for the sake of everyone, especially Oliver, but this might be her one real chance to get to Aiden. She was getting nowhere with his assistant. “I came to see Aiden Langford. He’s your brother, right? I need to speak to him about Oliver, but he won’t take my phone calls.”
“Oh.” A flicker of surprise crossed Anna’s face as her eyes darted between Oliver and Sarah. “Oh. Wow.” She kneaded her temple with the tips of her fingers. “The lobby doesn’t seem like a good place to talk about this. Maybe you should come upstairs with me.”
* * *
Aiden’s assistant buzzed his extension. “Mr. Langford? Your sister is here to see you. She’s brought a visitor.”
Visitor? “Sure. Send them in.” Aiden set aside the LangTel global marketing report he’d been skimming, easily the driest thing he’d ever read, which was saying a lot. With more than a dozen years in business under his belt, he’d digested his fair share of dull financial projections and legal briefs. He preferred to rely on his gut when making decisions. Billions later, the strategy had served him well.
In walked Anna with a blonde woman he didn’t know. To say the stranger was eye catching would’ve been dismissive. With full pink lips and big blue eyes, wearing a black sundress, she was natural femininity embodied. Their gazes connected and he noticed the faintest of freckles dotting her cheeks. His tastes in women were wide and varied, but this woman ticked off more of his “yes” boxes than he cared to admit. Unfortunately, one thing about her made her absolutely not his type—the baby asleep in her arms. As a skilled avoider of emotional entanglements, moms were not on his list of women suitable for dating.
“Aiden, I want you to meet Sarah Daltrey,” Anna said softly.
That name ended all thought of sexy sundresses and freckles. “You’re the woman who keeps calling. You just called from the lobby. How in the world did you get to my sister?”
Anna shushed him. “The baby. He’s sleeping.”
The baby. His brain whirred into overdrive. He’d read Sarah’s email. Well, one of them at least. That was enough to help him decide he shouldn’t speak to her. He’d had false paternity accusations thrown at him before. When you have a vast fortune and come from a family well-known for success, you might as well have a target on your back. “This isn’t right.” His gut told him this was all wrong. “I don’t know what Ms. Daltrey is after, but I’m calling security.” He reached for the phone, but Anna clapped her hand over his.
“Aiden. Don’t. Just listen. Please. It’s important.”
“I don’t know what she’s told you, but it’s all lies.” His pulse throbbed in his ears.
“Five minutes is all I ask, Mr. Langford.” Sarah’s voice suggested nothing less than calm professionalism. Not exactly the approach of someone unbalanced. But a baby? Oh, no. “If you don’t believe me and what I came to tell you, you won’t need to call security. I’ll leave on my own.”
Anna eyed her brother, asking his opinion with an arch of her eyebrows.
With pleas from two women who were obviously not going to give up, what choice did he have? “If it will put an end to this, then fine. Five minutes.”
“I’ll leave you two to it.” Anna stopped at the door, turning to Sarah. “Stop by my office when you’re done. I’d love to get the title of that book you mentioned about getting a baby to sleep through the night.”
Sarah nodded and smiled as if she and Anna were best friends. What was he in for? “Yes, of course. Thanks so much for your help.” The door clicked shut when Anna left, leaving behind a suffocating silence. Sarah cleared her throat and stepped closer, the baby’s head still resting on her shoulder. “It would be great if I could sit. He’s really heavy.”
“Oh, sorry. Of course.” Aiden offered a seat opposite his desk. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do with himself—stand, sit, cross his arms. Nothing felt right, so he settled on his chair.
“I know this is strange,” she started. “So I’ll just get right to it. Oliver’s mom was my best friend from high school. Her name was Gail Thompson. Does that ring a bell? She told me she met you at the Crowne Lotus Hotel in Bangkok.”
Aiden’s shoulders tightened. These tidbits of information hadn’t been in Sarah’s email. She’d only mentioned that she was guardian of his baby. To his knowledge, nobody knew about his brief affair with Gail. They’d met in the hotel bar and spent three days together before she went back to the US. That was the last he’d ever heard from her. “I do remember the name. Yes. But that doesn’t mean anything.” He shifted in his seat. He knew exactly where this was going. And that made his stomach lurch.
“Nine months after you and Gail had your little tryst in Thailand—” she fluttered her hand at him “—Oliver came along. Eight months after that, Gail called me and told me she had late stage cancer. I was the only person she could sign over guardianship to. She had no siblings—her parents died in a car accident when she was in college. She knew that I used to be a nanny and it just made sense. She said she tried to call you, but had even less luck than I did. It’s hard to be persistent when you’re dying.”
Aiden swallowed hard. Sarah’s email had mentioned that the baby’s mom had fallen ill. He’d assumed that she was still alive and that this was a scam for money to pay medical bills. “She passed away?” An inexplicable tug came from the center of his chest as his vision drifted to the child. All alone in the world. He’d known that feeling well when he was young, and he despised the idea of any child growing up that way.
“Yes.” Sarah pressed her lips together and nodded. She cupped the back of Oliver’s head and kissed him softly on the cheek. “That left Oliver with no mom. I was left in charge of finding you so I can sign over guardianship. I think it’d be best for everyone if we kept this as simple as possible and try to wrap it up today.”
Today? Did she say what I think she said? No. That was not happening. “You expect to waltz into my office, hand me a baby I’ve never seen in my life, and then what? You go back to wherever you came from and I’m expected to raise this child? I don’t think so, Ms. Daltrey. You aren’t going anywhere until I know for certain that the baby is mine. We need lawyers. Paternity tests. I’m not convinced this isn’t a big fat hoax.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she otherwise seemed unfazed by his reaction. “First off, it’s Sarah and his name is Oliver. And I understand you’re shocked, but that’s not my fault. If you’d taken my phone call, you could’ve been prepared for this.”
“I seriously doubt I would’ve felt prepared. It’s the middle of the workday. I’m a single man and an incredibly busy one at that. I am not prepared to care for a baby I didn’t know about five minutes ago.” Anger bubbled up inside him, but it was more than this inconceivable situation. He disliked his own dismissive tone. Considering the way his father had treated him, he didn’t want to reject the little boy. No child deserved that. Especially one who didn’t know who his father was.
“I understand you’ll want a paternity test, but I think that the minute you see him awake, you’ll realize he’s yours. He looks just like you. Especially his eyes. Plus, he has the same birthmark you have on your upper thigh.” A flush of pink colored her cheeks. She cast her eyes at her lap, seeming embarrassed. Despite the nature of their conversation, Aiden found it extremely charming. Sarah seemed to be the sort of person who wore her heart on her sleeve, a quality that made her incredibly sexy, too. “I mean, Gail told me you have one. And that’s where Oliver gets it.”
Sarah carefully hitched up the baby’s pant leg. The child must’ve been incredibly tired—he hardly stirred when she revealed the mark. Aiden’s breath caught in his throat. He rounded the desk, dropping down on one knee before them. He had to see it up close. He had to know this was real. The shape and size of the birthmark were indeed the same as his—an oval about the height of a dime, tilting to one side. The dark brown color was a match. Is this possible?
He reached out to touch the mark, but stopped himself. “I’m sorry. I’m a little taken aback.”
“It’s okay. He’s your son.” Sarah’s voice was sweet and even. Given the impression he had of her from that first email, she was not at all the woman he’d envisioned.
The boy’s skin was powdery soft and warm. Aiden gently tugged his pant leg back down, then studied his face. His eyelids were closed in complete relaxation, lined with dark lashes. His light brown hair had streaks of blond, admittedly much like Aiden’s, although Oliver had baby-fine curls and Aiden’s hair was straight and thick. Still, he knew from his own baby pictures that his hair had once been like Oliver’s. Was this possible? Was this really happening? And what was he supposed to do about it? He had no idea how to care for a baby. This would change his entire life. Just when he was getting settled back in New York and trying to find a place for himself in his own family.
Oliver shifted in Sarah’s arms, and for an instant, he opened his eyes and looked right at Aiden. The familiar flash of blue was a shot straight to Aiden’s heart. It was like staring into a mirror. Oh my God. He’s mine.
Two (#u37e3244e-df07-5452-b6bd-a0d4f592b31f)
Things weren’t going terribly. Awkward, yes. Terrible, no.
It was really only awkward on Sarah’s side of things. Aiden was still on bended knee watching Oliver sleep, and it was impossible not to stare at him. She tried to look elsewhere, to feign interest in the framed black-and-white photographs of exotic locales on his walls, or the view out his office window overlooking the Manhattan skyline, but she could only sustain it for a few moments. His blue eyes would draw her back in, so vivid and piercing she was sure he could hypnotize her if their gazes connected for more than a few heartbeats. They were topped by dark brows that suited his hard-nosed demeanor, accentuated by just a few tiny crinkles at the corners. The scruff on his face was a warm cinnamon brown, neatly tended, but gave him an edge that made her wonder what he was like when he wasn’t so guarded. And there was something about the way he carried himself—more than self-assured, he came across as superhuman. Bulletproof. Sarah was certain Aiden Langford did precisely what he wanted to do, when and how he wanted to do it. He was not the sort of man who cared to be told what to do.
Too bad she had to do exactly that. The thought made her pulse race like an overcaffeinated jackrabbit. There was no telling how he would react, but judging by the look on his face, there was a chance it might go okay. However much of a handsome jerk he’d been when she walked in the door, his demeanor had softened in the last few minutes, ever since he’d taken a good look at Oliver. Surely he realized now, that even in the absence of hard evidence like the results of a paternity test, the baby was his.
“So,” Sarah started, recalling the speech she’d practiced many times, words she dreaded saying because they would signal the end of her time with Oliver. “I was thinking that I’ll leave Oliver with you now and I’ll check into a hotel while we get this straightened out. A paternity test is a quick thing. We’ll get your name on Oliver’s birth certificate. I’ll sign over the power of attorney and guardianship. All we need is a lawyer and a few days and then I can be out of your hair.”
A crease formed in the center of Aiden’s forehead as he stared at her. “Out of my hair?” It was just as tough to look into his eyes as she’d guessed it would be—they really were the spitting image of Oliver’s. She’d fallen in love with that shade of blue over the last three weeks. “I already told you that you are not handing me a baby and walking away.” He stood and straightened his charcoal suit jacket, which showed off his wide shoulders and broad frame. The way he loomed over her only accentuated his stature. There must’ve been something in the water in the Langford household—the two she’d met were ridiculously tall. “It seems to me that the more sensible course is for you to keep Oliver until this gets straightened out. You said it yourself—you used to be a nanny. You’re used to caring for a child. I have zero experience in this area.”
Of course, most single men, especially those who notoriously played the field, weren’t in a position to drop everything and care for a baby. But Aiden Langford wasn’t most men. Didn’t he have a pile of money to throw at the problem? “I used to be a nanny. Past tense. That’s no longer my vocation.” She stopped short of admitting that she didn’t have the stomach for it anymore. “You’ll need to hire someone. I wrote down the number for the top nanny agency in the city for you. One phone call and they’ll send someone over to help you.”
“So I’m not only supposed to work with a complete stranger to take care of a baby, but the baby is supposed to accept that, too?”
He’d gone for the jugular with that one, although he seemed to be doing nothing more than making his case. The thought of anyone aside from his own father caring for Oliver made Sarah’s chest, especially everything in the vicinity of her heart, seize up. “I’m a businesswoman, Mr. Langford. I need to return to Boston and my work.”
“Business? What sort of business?” Although he was following the logical course of their conversation, Sarah couldn’t help but bristle at his dismissive tone.
“I run a women’s apparel company. It’s really taking off. We can’t even keep up with demand.”
“Good problem to have. Until your vendors get tired of waiting and move on to something else.”
Wasn’t that the truth. Half of her day was spent reassuring boutique owners that their orders would be there soon. “That’s exactly why I need to be back in Boston. And don’t forget that I have been caring for your child full-time for nearly a month. It’s time I go back to my life and let Oliver start his new one. With you.” That last part had been particularly difficult to say, but the fact that her voice hadn’t cracked only bolstered her confidence. She hadn’t even shed a tear. It was a miracle.
Aiden sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms. His suit jacket sleeves drew taut across his muscles. How was she supposed to hold her own in an argument when he was distracting her with his physique? “So, I’ll pay you for your time.”
Ah, so he did know how to throw money at a problem. He was just lobbing it in the wrong direction. A breathy punch of a laugh left her lips. “I’m not for hire.”
“I’ll pay you double whatever your going rate used to be.”
She huffed.
“Fine. Triple.”
“You’re a terrible negotiator.”
He shrugged. “I do what’s necessary to get what I want.”
“That would make me the most expensive nanny in the history of child care. I was paid very well for my services. I was very good at my job.”
“You’re only making my argument for me. Money is no object, Ms. Daltrey. If Oliver really is my son, he deserves the best. Sounds to me like that’s you.”
She shook her head. “No way. Absolutely not.” This was not the way this was supposed to go. She needed to put an end to Aiden Langford and his money-throwing, muscle-bulging ways.
Oliver fussed and rubbed his eyes, moving his head fitfully as he woke.
Sarah had spoken too loudly. Nap time was apparently now over. She stood and attempted to hand the baby to Aiden. “Here. Take your son. At least for a minute.”
Oliver refused, clinging to Sarah.
“See? He clearly wants to be with you. I’m a stranger to him. Would you really leave a baby with a stranger?”
She pursed her lips, calculating her best response. Of course she wouldn’t do that. But after the extensive research she’d done on Aiden, he didn’t really seem like a stranger. That, however, was not information she cared to share. Which meant she was back at nothing.
“Even worse,” he continued. “A stranger who doesn’t know how to change a diaper, or what to feed him, or what to do if he starts to cry.”
“No idea? I know you have two younger siblings. You never babysat?”
Aiden threaded his fingers through his hair, tousling it in the process. “No.”
Well, shoot. She couldn’t hand over Oliver to a man he didn’t know, especially not one who might not be able to care for him, even if that had been her plan. Her horribly simple plan. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to take Oliver to a hotel, either. He needs to get used to being with you. And you’re apparently going to need to learn how to take care of him.”
“Excuse me if I haven’t thought it out quite that far yet. This is still a new concept for me.” He blew out a breath, seeming deep in thought. “I guess the thing that makes the most sense is for you both to stay with me. Until we get things straightened out. And I can hire a nanny. I guess I have to buy a crib, too? I mean, really, this is a lot to pile on a person in one day.”
He wasn’t wrong. Maybe it would be in Oliver’s best interest if she stayed for a couple of days, even if it would make it exponentially more difficult to say goodbye to him. As for the to-do list to get Aiden up and running with the baby, it was a long one if she was going to be thorough. They would need time. With the bad hand Oliver had been dealt in life, she owed it to him to spend a few days in New York so he could be off to the best possible start with Aiden. That was exactly what she’d promised Gail. “Okay. We’ll stay at your place.”
“You’ll have to tell me what you want to be paid. I have no earthly idea how much money a nanny makes. Or even what a nanny does, other than everything a parent would do if they were around.”
She’d first said no to Aiden’s money on principle, but if she was going to help him with Oliver, she could get something from him that was far more valuable than a paycheck. She knew from her online snooping that he was a whiz when it came to growing companies. It was in his blood—the Langfords were one of the most successful entrepreneurial families in US history. Maybe he could help her solve the countless problems she was facing with trying to take her business to the next level.
“I don’t want your money. I want your expertise.”
“I’m listening.” He cocked an eyebrow at her, threatening to make her throat close up.
“Business expertise. I want you to help me with my company. Help me find investors. Help me figure out my manufacturing issues and widen my distribution.”
He nodded, clearly calculating. “That’s a tall order. Between that and me going through baby school, this is going to take more than a few days. We’ll need at least a week. At least.”
How long could she do this? Every minute with Oliver only made her love him more. She clutched him, kissed his head, taking in his sweet baby smell. We don’t have to say goodbye today, buddy. I guess that much is good. “Today is Friday. I’ll give you ten days. I teach you how to care for Oliver. You help me with my company.”
“I think I’d be a fool to say no. You have me in a corner here.”
“I mean it, though. Ten days and I’m out of here.”
“Like I said. In a corner.”
“Okay, then. I want to have a say in the nanny you hire, too. And I want to help outfit the nursery.”
Aiden then did the last thing she ever expected. He smiled. Not a lot, just enough to create the tiniest crack in his facade. Sarah felt as if she’d had the wind knocked out of her. His face lit up, especially his eyes. “Anything else?”
“That’s all for now.”
“Just so you know, fashion is outside my realm of expertise. Women’s clothing isn’t really my world.”
Ah, but he hadn’t let her finish. Given Aiden Langford’s reputation for being a ladies’ man, she had no doubt that he was well-versed in her specialty. “Actually, it’s women’s sleepwear and lingerie. Something tells me you know at least a little something about that.”
Three (#u37e3244e-df07-5452-b6bd-a0d4f592b31f)
Oliver in her arms, Sarah climbed out of Aiden’s black SUV, squinting behind sunglasses at the apartment building before them. About a dozen stories high, it had an antique brick facade blanketed in tidy sections of ivy and dotted with tall leaded glass windows. This was not what she’d envisioned for Aiden Langford’s abode. She’d assumed a high-rise overlooking Central Park. Wasn’t that his birthright? Ritzy address and an equally swanky apartment? Instead, he resided on Fifth Avenue at Twenty-sixth Street, in the Flatiron District with a view of Madison Square Park. She had a sneaking suspicion that Aiden was full of surprises. And that this was the first of many.
“Is that one yours?” She pointed at the highest floor. “The one on top with the biggest terrace?”
Aiden wheeled Sarah’s suitcase from the car, lugging the teddy bear that was easily twice Oliver’s size, while Aiden’s driver John unloaded the remaining bags of toys and baby clothes. “The top four floors are my apartment.”
Sarah gulped, surveying the manicured spaces—a formal balcony with stone columns and wrought iron on the lowest level all the way up to one that looked like a park in its own right, each spanning the building. He’d still gone for swanky, merely in a different corner of the city. “That’s a lot of room for a single guy.”
“My third floor is empty. And the fourth floor is all outdoors. I need my space.”
“I’m surprised you don’t live up by Anna and her husband. She was telling me she lives only a few minutes from your mom.”
Aiden cast his sights down at her, his sunglasses revealing nothing but her own reflection. The crinkles in his forehead and the way his brows drew together were enough indication that he didn’t like the question. The driver slammed the car tailgate. Sarah jumped.
“Like I said, I need my space.” Aiden’s voice was stern, like a father telling his wayward teenage daughter that she’d better be home before eleven.
Okay, then. Dropping the subject.
Together, they entered the beautifully appointed lobby. Black-and-white-checkerboard marble floors and a chandelier dripping with crystals hinted at both wealth and good taste. Sarah pushed Oliver in the stroller while she tried to remember to take deep breaths. Everything about this made her heart beat an uneven rhythm—entering into an agreement with a man she hardly knew, staying in his home, handing over the little boy she’d already grown to love more than she’d thought possible. She did everything she could to ignore the feeling in the pit of her stomach, the one saying that each passing minute was another step away from what she was supposed to be doing—leaving nannying behind, once and for all.
Stop being negative. This is good for Oliver. She had to believe that. Really, it was the best scenario for him—a transition period where his new dad could become acquainted with parenting. They’d find a nanny, set up the nursery. In ten days, this sweet little boy would be given the best possible start at a new life. And she’d get back to hers in Boston, a simple and solitary existence with its own rewards, the most notable of which was the chance to pursue a career that didn’t leave her so open to heartbreak.
They stepped onto the elevator and Sarah closed her eyes to ward off her claustrophobia. Plus, every time she looked at Aiden, he got to her with his all-knowing gaze. No wonder the man had such a reputation with the ladies. Most women were probably too mesmerized by his penetrating stare to entertain a single lucid thought beyond, Of course, Aiden. Whatever you want, Aiden.
The elevator dinged, and John, loaded down with the bulk of the baby supplies, held the door for Sarah as she wheeled Oliver off the elevator. They entered a stunning foyer with glossy wood floors, an exotic carved console table and several colorful abstract paintings. Aiden followed with his laptop bag, Sarah’s suitcase and the teddy bear, which was a nice counterpoint to his tailored gray suit and midnight-blue tie.
“Where would you like these, Mr. Langford?” John asked.
“Just leave them here. I’m not entirely sure where everything is going yet.”
John did as instructed, neatly placing the bags on the table.
“Thank you so much for the help. I really appreciate it,” Sarah said to John.
He turned and looked at her as if she had a unicorn horn sprouting from her forehead. “It’s my job, ma’am.”
“Well, we came with a lot of stuff. I’m sure Mr. Langford doesn’t normally make you lug stuffed animals and diaper bags.”
“I’m happy to do it. But thank you. For saying thank you.” He smiled warmly.
Aiden watched the back and forth. “That’s it for now, John. I’ll let you know if I need anything else.”
“I’ll be downstairs, Mr. Langford.” John stepped onto the elevator and the doors slid closed.
“He’s really nice,” Sarah said. “We talked quite a bit while we were figuring how to get the car seat into the SUV. He told me all about his wife and kids. Good guy.”
“Of course. A very good guy.” Everything in Aiden’s voice said that he didn’t know the first thing about his driver, and that it quite possibly had never occurred to him to ask.
“Now what?” Sarah wanted Aiden to take the lead. His house. His baby.
“Tell me why a baby needs a stuffed animal this large.”
Sarah shrugged, unsubtly peeking ahead at what she could see of the apartment, which seemed to stretch on for days. “Kids love to have things to snuggle with. And eventually, Oliver will be bigger than the bear.”
“Ah. I see.”
“You’ll learn.”
“I have a feeling I won’t have a choice.” Aiden leaned her small suitcase against the wall and propped the bear up on top of it. “And how did you get all of this onto a train, then off a train and into the city, all by yourself?”
“Let’s just say that I relied on the kindness of strangers. And I’m a very good tipper. I managed.”
“You’re resourceful. I’ll give you that much.”
Sarah went to get Oliver out of his stroller, but decided it was time to start the learning process. “Aiden. Here. You unbuckle him and get him out.”
“You sure? I don’t have the first clue what I’m doing.”
“You have to start somewhere.”
Aiden crouched down and Oliver messed with his hair while Aiden tried to decipher the maze of straps and buckles. Sarah watched, not wanting to interfere. Oliver was doing enough on his own, tugging on Aiden’s jacket and kicking him in the chest.
Aiden sat back on his haunches, raking his hair from his face. “Is he always like this? So full of energy and into everything?”
“Unless he’s asleep, yes. Now pick him up.”
Aiden threaded his massive hands under the baby’s tiny arms, lifting him as if he might break him if he went too fast, then holding Oliver awkwardly against his torso.
“Bend your arm and let him sit in the crook of your elbow.” Sarah shifted Oliver into position. She straightened Aiden’s suit coat while she was at it. She stood back and admired the change. The strong, strapping man holding her favorite baby on the planet was awfully sexy. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”
Oliver leaned toward Sarah, holding out his arms for her.
“I think he wants to be with you.”
Sarah had to be firm. “He’ll be fine. He needs to be with you. Let’s start the tour so we can start planning the nursery. He’ll stay in your arms if we’re busy and there are things to look at.”
Aiden blew out a breath and they strolled into the modern, open apartment. The space had very high ceilings and was decorated almost exclusively in white, black and gray. Everything was meticulous and neat, just like Aiden’s office at LangTel. He was in for a big wake-up call when Oliver took over and there were toys everywhere. Best not to mention that, though. He’d learn.
To her right was a massive gourmet kitchen with an eight-burner stove and seating for six at the center island. Beyond the kitchen, she could see a hint of a dining room tucked away, then a staircase, and beyond that a room with a sofa and the beautiful windows she’d noticed on the front of the building. As a nanny, Sarah had seen grand displays of money, but nothing that hinted at this level of affluence. Although she was no real estate agent, the house had to be at least five thousand square feet if the other floors were the same size. By comparison, her Boston apartment probably could’ve fit inside the kitchen. When Aiden had said he needed his space, he wasn’t kidding.
“The living room is at the front of the building, overlooking the park.”
“Beautiful. Absolutely stunning.” Sarah followed as Aiden led them in the opposite direction.
“This is the library.” He nodded to his right, where black, open-back bookcases delineated the room. The shelves were packed with books. “The room with the French doors at the back of the building is my home office.”
Aiden did a one-eighty and Sarah trailed behind him, past the dining room and stairs, to the living room. It was a grand and comfortable space with charcoal-gray sectional couches, a flat-screen TV above a stacked stone fireplace and a massive glass coffee table. “Another beautiful room.”
“Thank you.” He shifted Oliver in his arms, seeming ever-so-slightly more comfortable with holding him.
“Unfortunately, we’re going to need to babyproof in here like nobody’s business.”
“Why? What’s wrong with it?”
Sarah didn’t know where to start. “There are outlets everywhere. The coffee table is a disaster waiting to happen. I can just see Oliver bonking his head. You’ll probably have to put up a gate to keep him away from the fireplace. As for the rest of the house, that’s going to need an overhaul, too. Those stairs will need a gate, too.”
“Isn’t that how children learn? By making mistakes?” There was no misconstruing the annoyance in his voice.
“Not on my watch, they don’t. At least not the kind of mistakes that put a child in the emergency room.”
A low grumble left his throat. “Talk about turning my entire life upside down.” He shook his head and took what seemed like his hundredth deep breath. “I’ll need you to make a list. We’ll tackle it that way.”
“Not a normal nanny responsibility, but okay.”
“I thought you weren’t a nanny anymore.”
“I’m not.”
“Well then. This is part of our business arrangement. You need my expertise. I need yours.”
“Fine.” Sarah walked over to a long, dark wood console table against the wall, plopping her handbag down to dig out a piece of paper. A handful of framed photographs were directly above—one taken from the viewpoint of someone skydiving, one looking straight down the side of a cliff with a waterfall and jungle in the periphery, and another of a group of men and donkeys on a narrow path carved into a mountainside. Each looked like something out of a movie. “Nice pictures. Are these from National Geographic?”
“Remembrances of my adventures.”
“Wait. What? These are yours?”
Aiden nodded, fighting a smile. He joined her, Oliver in tow. Aiden was doing well with the baby, and she was happy to see him master his first few moments of dad duty. “I enjoy pushing the limits,” he said.
Goose bumps cropped up on Sarah’s arms. A man with a dangerous side held mysterious appeal, probably because it was the opposite of her personality. She’d fallen for a few guys who liked to live on the edge over the years. None of them was good at flexing their bravado in the realm of relationships.
“You’re going to have to set aside your daredevil escapades for a little while. Skydiving is not an approved activity for a toddler.”
He scowled. “I’m not enjoying this part, in case you’re wondering. The part where you tell me how I have to construct my life around someone else’s needs.”
She patted him on the shoulder. “Welcome to parenthood. It’s good for you. It’ll remind you that the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“Jumping out of an airplane reminds me that I’m still alive,” Aiden countered. “And that I’d better find a way to enjoy my time on this planet.”
There was a somber hint to that last string of words, but she was still piecing together who and what Aiden Langford truly was. It struck her as sad that he lived all alone in this big house, however much it was a showplace. Despite his protestations, Sarah couldn’t imagine Oliver as anything less than a blessing in Aiden’s life, quite possibly his salvation.
Oliver reached for the pictures, pointing to the skydiving snapshot. Aiden stepped close enough for him to touch it.
“Pretty cool, huh? I took that picture. I jumped out of an airplane. Maybe you and I can do that someday. Someday when Sarah isn’t around to tell us what to do.”
Oliver turned to Aiden, concentrating hard on his face. He flattened his palm against Aiden’s cheek. Aiden reached up and covered Oliver’s hand with his, a fascinated smile crossing his face. A sweet and tender moment, it left Sarah on the verge of tears. For the first time since she’d gotten off the train that afternoon, she was less worried about Aiden accepting fatherhood. They weren’t out of the woods, but he was already showing signs of folding Oliver into his life. Which meant one step closer to Sarah being out of it.
Oliver needs his father. His new family. “For now, I still get to tell you what to do, at least when it comes to Oliver. I say it’s time to find him a bedroom in this massive house of yours.”
* * *
Aiden walked Sarah and Oliver up to the second floor, holding the little boy. He was slowly growing comfortable with this tiny human clutching the lapel of his suit coat, keeping him warm and reacting to the world Aiden walked through every day without giving it a second thought. It all was new to Oliver—sights and sounds, people and places. He didn’t play the role of stranger though; he played explorer, full of curiosity. Aiden had to admire that disposition. He was cut from the same cloth.
They reached the top of the stairs and the hall where all four bedrooms were. At the far end was his master suite. There was only one other room furnished, for guests. The other two remained unused and unoccupied. With most of his family in the city, visitors weren’t common, nor would they likely ever be. His friends, small in number and much like him in that they preferred to roam the globe, were not prone to planning a visit. No, the apartment with arguably too much space for a confirmed bachelor had been purchased with one thing in mind—breathing room.
He fought the sense that Sarah and Oliver were encroaching on his refuge. He made accommodations for no one and doing so put him on edge, but it was about more than covering electrical outlets and putting up gates. He hadn’t come close to wrapping his head around his newfound fatherhood, even if he did accept that with the arrival of Sarah Daltrey, everything had changed.
He was counting on the results of the paternity test to help it all sink in. He’d already made the call to his lawyer. It would mean a lot to know that Oliver was truly his. Aiden had lived much of his own life convinced that Roger and Evelyn Langford—the people he called his parents—had lied to him about who Aiden’s father was. Roger Langford’s death nearly a year ago had made the uncertainty even more painful and the truth that much more elusive. He wasn’t about to badger his mother, a grieving widow, over his suspicions. But he would confront her, eventually. He couldn’t mend fences with his family until that much was known, and there was a lot of mending to be done. Aiden had made his own mistakes, too. Big, vengeful mistakes.
“I was thinking we could put Oliver in here.” Aiden showed one of the spare rooms to Sarah. “It’s the biggest. I mean, he is going to get bigger, isn’t he?” Talk about things he hadn’t considered...life beyond today, when Oliver would be older...preschool, grade school and beyond. No matter what, Aiden didn’t need to think about where Oliver would go to school. He would be wherever Aiden was. There would be no shipping him off as his parents had done to him.
“Is it the closest room to yours?” Sarah asked.
“No. The smallest is the closest.”
“That’s probably a better choice for now.” Without invitation, she ventured farther down the hall. “In here?” Sarah strolled in and turned in the small, but bright space—not much more than four walls and a closet. “This is better. It’ll make it easier on you. He still gets up in the middle of the night.”
“And I’ll need to get up with him.” He stated it rather than framing it as a question. He was prepared to do anything to feel less out of his element, as if any of this were logical to him, which it wasn’t.
Oliver fussed and kicked, wanting to get down.
“Let’s let him crawl around,” Sarah said.
Aiden gently placed the little boy on the floor. He took off like a bolt of lightning, scrambling all over the room on his hands and knees.
Sarah pulled a few toys out of her bag and offered them to Oliver. “Yes. You’ll need to get up with him and comfort him, especially when he’s teething like he is now.”
Aiden leaned against the door frame, acting as a barrier in case Oliver decided to escape. “Is that why he drools so much?”
Sarah smiled and sat on the floor with Oliver, tucking her legs beneath her, her dress flounced around her. “My mother used to say that’s not drool. It’s the sugar melting.”
Aiden wasn’t prone to smiling, let alone laughing, at things that were quaint and homey. But he couldn’t have stopped if he’d wanted to. He drank in the vision of Sarah. She was so different from every woman he’d ever known. She was beautiful, but not made up. Eloquent, but not pretentious. There was no hidden agenda, nor did she seem concerned with impressing him. She just came right out with it, but didn’t mow people over with her ideas. She simply stated what she found to be best, in a manner that made it seem as if it were the only logical choice.
Sarah again looked around the room. “We should probably order a crib online and see how quickly we can have it delivered, along with some other necessities. He’ll need a dresser, a changing table. You should probably invest in a rocking chair for this room.” She began counting on her fingers. “Then there’s clothes, diapers, formula, bottles, toys, bath supplies, baby laundry detergent.”
“Special laundry detergent?”
Pressing her lips together, she nodded. “When he’s crying in the middle of the night, you don’t want to be wondering if it’s because his skin is irritated. One less thing to worry about.”
Just when he thought he was getting a handle on things, a new spate of information came down the pike. “Like I said before, it’d be great if you could make some lists. You can use the computer in my home office and get a lot of that ordered.”
“We need to call the nanny agency, too. They probably don’t take calls after five on a Friday. Sounds like we have a busy night ahead of us. Oliver’s going to need a bath, too.” Oliver crawled over to Sarah with a stuffed toy in his hand and showed it to her.
Aiden’s cell phone rang with a call from his sister Anna. “Excuse me for a minute. I need to make sure this isn’t anything important.”
“Sure thing. I’ll call the nanny agency and Oliver can play. Avoiding outlets, of course.”
“Right. The outlets.” Gotta deal with that, ASAP. He accepted the call and stepped out into the hall. “Anna, hi. Everything okay?”
“I was calling to ask you the same thing. Is everything going well with Sarah and Oliver? I can’t believe it, Aiden. A baby. It’s so amazing. Are you just bursting at the seams?”
Aiden wandered into his room and sat on the leather bench at the foot of the bed. “More like my brain is about to implode. I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel. At least you’ve had time to get used to the idea of becoming a parent. It’s only been a few hours for me.”
“I’m sure it will take some time, but I’m so excited for you. You know, the minute I looked into Oliver’s eyes, I knew he was yours. He looks just like you. It’s going to blow Mom’s mind when she sees him.”
Oh no. The one thing he hadn’t yet taken into account. “Please tell me you haven’t said anything to Mom. Or Adam for that matter, but especially not Mom. I need to figure out how best to deal with this.”
“I haven’t said a peep.”
He exhaled a little too loudly, if only to make the weight of dealing with his mother subside. “Good.” His mind often raced at the mere mention of his mom, thoughts quickly mired in bad memories and sad stories. He couldn’t fathom the moment when she’d meet the son he hadn’t known he had. Would he feel better about his suspicions, a misgiving he’d shared with no one other than Anna? Or would he feel worse? Either way, his mother’s reaction to Oliver would be telling. If she accepted him unconditionally, he’d always wonder why she hadn’t treated him the same way. If she rejected him, he’d have a hard time not blowing up at her.
“When are you going to tell her?” Anna asked.
“Tomorrow. Or maybe Sunday. I need time to get us settled.” He rested his elbows on his knees. “Sarah’s calling the nanny agency, we have an entire nursery of furniture to order and I’m apparently in Daddy School after that. I have to learn how to change a diaper and give him a bath.”
Anna tittered.
“What’s so funny?”
“I like the image of you bathing a baby. It’s sweet. And unlike anything I ever imagined you doing.”
“You and me both. I never thought I’d have kids.” Not after everything with Dad.
“Sometimes life gives us unexpected gifts. I felt like that when I got pregnant.”
Anna was carrying a miracle baby. Her doctor had told her it would be nearly impossible to conceive and even more difficult to carry a pregnancy to term, but she was doing great. “I hear you. I’m still getting used to it.”
“Well, promise me you won’t keep Oliver to yourself. I want to see him, too. I could even come over and take care of him if you need help. I could bring Jacob. It would be great practice for us.”
Anna always managed to take the edge off his greatest concerns. Even if he’d come back to New York and everything had been a total disaster with the rest of his family, he still would’ve forged a better relationship with Anna. “Thanks. I’ll definitely need your help after Sarah leaves.”
“She’s staying for ten whole days? How’d you convince her to do that? She seemed hell-bent on only being in town through the weekend when we first talked.”
“We made a deal. She gives me ten days and I help her with her business.” Aiden then realized that his sister might be able to help. Before she’d taken a job at LangTel, she’d been CFO for a company that manufactured women’s workout clothes. “Did Sarah happen to tell you what she does?”
“She did. And the idea of you helping her with it is almost as amusing as the image of you giving Oliver a bath.”
“I’m glad you find my life changes so entertaining right now. Do you think you could help me out with some contacts in the garment industry? I haven’t talked to Sarah about it that much, but I know she needs manufacturing and warehousing and distribution. Maybe you know someone I could call.”
“Oh, absolutely. Let me think about it and I’ll email you a list.”
“Perfect.” One thing he could check off his to-do list. “God only knows how I’ll get any work done on Monday when I’m back at the office. I doubt I’ll get much rest this weekend.”
“Don’t worry about that. Work can wait. You’re a dad now. That’s the most important thing.”
Four (#u37e3244e-df07-5452-b6bd-a0d4f592b31f)
Sitting on the floor in Oliver’s room, Sarah ended her call with the nanny agency. She leaned down and kissed the baby’s head. He’d been playing quietly in her lap for a few minutes. “Guess what? Your daddy’s going to hire someone very nice to take care of you. Won’t that be great?”
Oliver gnawed on a plastic teething ring, not interested in much else.
Sarah swept his soft curls to the side. “She’ll play with you and take you for walks in the park and sing songs to you. Just like I do.” Her voice wobbled as Oliver peeked up at her with wide eyes. She wrinkled her nose and forced herself to smile, if only to stop tears from gathering. The thought of leaving Oliver was as unhappy as it was inevitable. Getting attached to children who weren’t her own was no longer part of her self-destructive pattern. Nor was getting wrapped up in the life of a single dad. The sooner she left Oliver with Aiden, the better.
“It really is too bad that you can’t just stay and be his nanny,” Aiden said.
Sarah nearly fainted. First out of surprise at his voice, then from the view as she slanted her sights to him. Leaning against the door frame, he stood there like he could hold up the whole world that way. He’d changed clothes. In a long-sleeved black T-shirt and a pair of jeans with a dark wash, he was now at a level of casual she hadn’t pondered, although he had to take off the suit at some point. That thought sent her brain skipping ahead, especially now that she could better see the contours of his shoulders and how well-defined his chest was. No doubt about it—Aiden Langford logged his fair share of time in the gym.
Cut it out. The things cycling through her mind were not good—thoughts of peeling away his T-shirt and smoothing her hands over his chest, kissing him. Her curiosity was getting the best of her, and his presence was making it worse. Unfortunately, his expression was just as irresistible as the rest of the package—a look that said he didn’t care what anyone else thought about, well, anything. Sarah could hardly keep her jaw in a place that suggested some measure of decorum. Forget ladylike—right now she was going for not ogling him like a sex-starved loon.
“I adore Oliver, but I told you I’m no longer a nanny.”
Aiden stepped into the room and once again, something about the way he moved left her pulse unsettled. He held up his hands in surrender. “Got it. No more nannying for you. But did you call the service?”
“I did. They’ll send candidates over on Monday morning. We can sit down before then and go over your priorities. And mine, of course.”
“We? You know, I’m more than capable of conducting an interview. And you aren’t going to have to put up with this person. I am.”
She narrowed her focus on him. “You asked for my help.” She stood and gathered Oliver in her arms, settling him on her hip. “Some of these nannies will embellish on their experience just to get the primo jobs. I’ll see past that.”
“This is one of those primo jobs?”
“With this house? Yes. And you’re going to need someone at your beck and call with your schedule. I told them you need live-in help.” Sarah didn’t like this idea, although she couldn’t arrive at a sensible reason why. She only knew that the myth of the nanny falling for the father of her charge was very real. It happened all the time. It had happened to her. If Aiden were to be judged on his looks alone, she could see most women falling for him. Add in the money, power and semiarrogant veneer? Forget it. It was only a matter of time.
“Wait a minute. I’m not just getting one new member of the household, I’m getting two? Can’t the nanny live at her house and come over when I go to work?”
“That might work if you had a backup, like a family member. Otherwise, I can’t imagine you waiting for the nanny to show up so you can go to work. What about your mom?”
Lightning fast, Aiden plucked Oliver from her arms. “My mother will not be taking care of him.”
Sarah grappled with his hyperprotective reaction. A few hours ago, he’d been ready to banish her and the baby from LangTel corporate headquarters forever. Now, there was something else to contend with, something that Sarah sensed went deep. “Why? Most people would do anything to have a grandparent around to care for their child.”
“Not me.”
“Technically, I’m Oliver’s legal guardian. I have a right to know why.” None of this added up. Aiden’s sister Anna had spoken warmly of her mother. Sarah had read about Evelyn Langford when she was researching Aiden. She sat on countless charity boards and was known for her generosity with children’s hospitals, cancer research and battered women’s shelters. By all reports, her benevolence had grown in the wake of her husband’s death.
“I’m not saying my mother would hurt him. Not that. It’s...” He closed his eyes for a moment and Sarah’s breath hitched in her throat. No air would go in, nor would it come out. She was too in awe of this glimpse of vulnerability. It was so incongruous with his personality. He was showing a different side of himself, a side Sarah wanted to know. A side Sarah wanted to comfort. “It’s complicated. Let’s just say that for now, it’s best if you know that my mother can’t be relied upon for anything.”
There was a finality to his tone that said Sarah should leave it alone. “Okay.”
“What’s the schedule for the rest of the night? I have some work I need to tend to.”
Sarah consulted her phone—nearly five o’clock. “Oliver eats at five thirty. Bath time at six o’clock, story time at six forty-five. Bedtime is at seven.”
“Is that Oliver’s schedule or yours?”
“It’s everybody’s schedule. That’s how things work with a baby. It makes him feel secure. He knows what happens and when.”
It was impossible to ignore Aiden’s attitude. Once again, he seemed put out. “I see. I guess I still have a lot to learn. We can order some takeout to come for us around eight. I trust that will work?”
She nodded. “Yes. That will give us the perfect time to talk about my business.” There had to be some payoff for allowing herself to get in deeper, when she’d told herself she’d never do that.
“I spoke to my sister Anna about it briefly. She may be able to help. I wasn’t kidding when I told you that I don’t have many connections in that business. I can’t promise you the world.”
But you can ask the world of me. She stopped before the words left her lips, but she was all too familiar with handsome, powerful men who expected everything for very little in return. “Well, if nothing else, I’m sure you can give me some good advice. That alone could end up being very helpful.”
“Come on. Let’s go down to my office and we’ll get the nursery furniture ordered.”
They headed downstairs and Aiden led them to the double French doors, into one of the coziest, most gorgeous rooms Sarah had ever seen. The office had a different feel to it than the rest of the house, warmer and more colorful. The walls were a deep navy, and an ornate Oriental carpet sat in the center of the room, topped with a pair of club chairs and a massive oak desk. Bookshelves lined two of the walls from floor to ceiling.
“More books? Even with the home library?”
Aiden shrugged and rounded to the chocolate-brown leather desk chair. “I like to read. It’s a nice escape.”
“Escape? From what?”
“Excuse me?”
“From where I sit, you have a pretty perfect life. You have this gorgeous home, a job that tons of people would kill for and you don’t seem to be hurting from the financial end of things. More than anything, you don’t seem to do anything you don’t want to do. At all. Ever.”
For a moment, he just glared, not saying a word. He wasn’t angry, nor was he pleased. “You say whatever you want to say, don’t you?”
“It’s not that bizarre a question. I’ve seen the pictures. Skydiving. Hiking the Andes. I’m just wondering what you need to escape from.”
“Stress,” he answered flatly, methodically spinning a pen on a pad of paper. She hadn’t noticed his hands much before now and she was kicking herself for not paying better attention. His fingers moved gracefully, demonstrating their ability to do things deftly, but they were manly, too—strong. Able.
“Stress.” Her stupid brain leaped ahead to methods of reducing stress and none of it had to do with reading. Again she was knee-deep in thoughts of what he looked like under that T-shirt.
“Yes.” He opened his laptop and placed his fingers on the keyboard, but stopped before typing. “I don’t even know where to start. Do I just search for baby crib?”
“Here. Let me do it.” She carried Oliver around behind Aiden’s desk and handed him the baby. Oliver settled in on Aiden’s lap, but reached for the pen.
“Can I let him have this?”
“No. He’ll put it in his mouth. You can run upstairs and grab a toy out of his room.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow as if she’d made the most ludicrous suggestion ever.
She shrugged and waved him off. “Gotta start being Daddy sometime. Now shoo. Let me see what I can find online.”
Aiden trekked out of the office with Oliver. Sarah rested her chin on her hand, watching as they made their way down the straight shot of the house, past the library and the kitchen, until they disappeared up the stairs. Aiden was so big, Oliver so tiny in his arms. She hoped to hell they would be okay on Sunday, after she left. She couldn’t bear the thought of anything else.
She pulled up a browser window and quickly found a furniture place offering next day delivery in Manhattan. That was the genius part of being in a big city. Virtually anything could be delivered at any time. Once she was done, a delivery truck would be set to arrive in front of Aiden’s building tomorrow morning. And she’d be one step closer to removing herself from Aiden’s and Oliver’s life.
Five (#u37e3244e-df07-5452-b6bd-a0d4f592b31f)
Aiden had learned one thing already—fatherhood was no walk in the park. He’d struggled through his first attempt at feeding Oliver his dinner. With no high chair, they’d had to improvise by wheeling Oliver’s stroller into the dining room. The baby rubbed his eyes and turned his head, refusing every spoonful Aiden offered. He had to hand it to Sarah, though—she only gave advice when asked. She’d otherwise sat by quietly and watched as a man capable of orchestrating billion-dollar deals and negotiating with cantankerous CEOs was unable to convince a fussy toddler to take a single bite of food. Frustrated, he’d finally asked her to do it. She took over, Oliver downing an entire jar of baby food with hardly a single complaint. Aiden walked away from the dinner table with a bruised ego. And baby food on his jeans.
He wasn’t sure what to make of bath time, either. But this time, Sarah took charge.
“This is the only tub you have in the house?”
Aiden failed to understand the question. The tub was perfect, in that it fit two people. For him, seduction was the only reason to get in a bathtub. “Yes. What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s huge.”
“Of course it is. It’s a two-person soaking tub.” He cleared his throat, waiting for her next comment.
“Well, you’re going to have to get in there with him. I refuse to bathe a child in the kitchen sink. It’s not sanitary.”
He turned and dropped his head until his chin was nearly flat against his chest. He was at least a foot taller than her, maybe more, and they were nearly toe-to-toe. She was still wearing the sundress from earlier in the day. Had that really been today? So much had happened, it was hard to wrap his brain around it. “So you’re going to see me naked before we’ve known each other for eight hours? You take things quickly.”
“Very funny. No, Oliver gets to get naked. You’re putting on swim trunks. If I had a bathing suit with me, I’d do it myself. But I don’t, and you need to bond with him.”
He raised an eyebrow. “This from the woman who swore I’d have no problem feeding him dinner.”
She shrugged. “Babies are unpredictable. The sooner you learn that, the better. I promise you that physical contact will help you and Oliver to bond. It’s a scientific fact. Now go change. I’ll get the water running.”
“I like it hot.”
“You’ll get lukewarm and like it.”
He grumbled, but made his way into his walk-in closet, closing the door behind him. He took off his clothes and plucked a pair of board shorts from the bottom drawer of his bureau, slipping into them and tying the white string at the waist. He opened the door. “Ready.”
Sarah turned, glancing at him over her shoulder. Every muscle in his body tightened from that single flash of her eyes and the immediate connection he felt. Good God she was gorgeous, all deep blue eyes and skin flushed with rosy pink. She shied away. “So I see.”
He liked getting that reaction. He liked it a lot. “What now?”
“Get in. I’ll hand him to you.” She tended to Oliver, who was pulling himself to standing at the edge of the bathtub. He bounced up and down on his toes while Sarah took off his pants and diaper.
“He seems excited.”
“Just you wait. He loves bath time. It’s a good thing you’re in your trunks. I’m going to get soaked.”
Aiden climbed into the tub, wrestling with the idea of Sarah, soaked, and the white-hot image it conjured. Sure, they only had ten days together, but that was plenty of time for him. In fact, it was his preference—a strict, short timetable. But was that a good idea? From a physical standpoint, sure. From every other standpoint, he didn’t know. There were repercussions and awkward conversations to worry about. Dammit.
Sarah handed him the baby and he let Oliver sit on his lap while he wrapped his hands around his waist. The baby wasted no time slapping the surface of the water and sending it flying.
Sarah laughed and dropped a few plastic toys into the bath. “Told you.”
Splash splash splash. Oliver looked at Sarah, who beamed at him as if she couldn’t be any more in love with someone if she tried. She rested her elbows on the edge of the tub and leaned closer, flicking at the water with the tips of her fingers. Oliver giggled, then mimicked her in a far less delicate way. Splash splash splash. He laughed so hard his entire body shook. It was impossible not to find the fun in their game, even with water being flung at his face and shoulders, not to mention all over the bathroom.
“Is bath time always this chaotic?”
“Basically. Anything you can do to get him clean. And it helps relax him.”
Splash splash splash. Another peal of Oliver’s sweet giggles rang out.
“It relaxes him?”
“Believe it or not, yes. He has a lot of energy. This helps to get it out.” Sarah pulled out a toiletry bag and poured a dollop of golden shampoo into her hand. “Get his hair wet. We don’t have a cup, so just use your hands.”
Aiden scooped water with one hand, curling his arm around wiggly Oliver. He started tentatively, unsure if the baby would like it, but quickly learned that he took no issue with water running down his face. Aiden had a little fish on his hands. How amazing it would be to teach him to swim, then snorkel and surf, another of Aiden’s favorite pastimes. Small waves at first. It’s dangerous. He was still getting used to these parental thoughts, but he was amazed how quickly they had kicked in. Especially when the topic of his mother had come up. He hadn’t meant to impulsively take Oliver out of Sarah’s arms. He only knew that was his gut talking—and reacting. Oliver would know nothing but unconditional love from his family. He wasn’t certain his mother could offer it, and until she’d demonstrated as much, she would be kept on a very short leash.
Sarah leaned over and shampooed Oliver’s head, his blond curls becoming matted and soapy. A soft fragrance filled the air.
“It smells nice,” he said.
“It smells like baby, and that’s the most wonderful smell in the world. Well, most of the time. There are times when it gets stinky, too.”
“I bet.” Like most things, there would be both good and bad to parenting. Aiden was optimistic about more good, mostly because he and Oliver had a clean slate. Aiden would not do to Oliver what his parents had done to him. Oliver would never wonder whether his father loved him. For that matter, he would never have to wonder who his father was. Once the paternity test was done, Aiden would have that sewn up for them both.
“Turn him around, facing you. So I can rinse out his hair.”
He carefully turned Oliver in his hands, but it wasn’t easy—it was like holding on to a greased-up watermelon with moving arms and legs. “I’m trying to figure out how I’m supposed to do this by myself.”
“I ordered a seat that goes in the tub. That will help immensely. And it won’t be long before he can sit up reliably in the bath on his own.”
Now that he and Oliver were facing each other, Aiden had a chance to really study him. Oliver returned the gaze, chewing on a rubbery red fish. His eyes were so sweet and innocent, full of wonder. Aiden saw only hope, remarkable considering what the little guy had been through. As Sarah rinsed his hair, Aiden was overcome with the most unusual feeling. It was stronger than his inclination to protect Oliver from big waves. It was a need to keep him from everything bad. He never wanted Oliver’s eyes to reflect anything but happiness. Had his own father ever looked at him like this? He didn’t enjoy the role of pessimist, but the idea was implausible.
Sarah rolled a small bar of soap in her delicate hands and washed Oliver’s back, shoulders and stomach, while Aiden held on tight. Every gentle caress showed someone who genuinely cared about her charge. He’d never really seen this side of any woman aside from on TV or in movies, and it was breathtaking to watch. If he were honest, he’d never done so many things with a woman that gave him a taste of what being a couple was like. Wining, dining and seduction were not the same. This was different.
Sarah swept her hair to one side, displaying the stretch of her graceful neck, the contours of her collarbone. Her skin was so touchable, and the urge to do exactly that was strong with her mere inches away. His hands were practically twitching at the idea. He had to set his mind on another course.
“So. Tell me more about you,” he said.
She smiled and sat back on her haunches. “Not much to tell. Born and raised in Ohio, oldest of five. Moved to Boston to study fashion design, stayed for the good nanny jobs.”
“Why not go right into design?”
She plucked a washcloth from the bathroom vanity and wiped her hands. “Nannying was a detour. I grew up helping out with my siblings, so it was a natural thing to care for children. And Boston is not cheap. Nannying pays well. It just worked.”
“If you liked it that much and it paid well, how does that stop working?”
She looked down at the floor, her golden hair falling down around her face. “I burned out. Badly. Let’s put it that way.”
That didn’t make sense. She didn’t seem at all burned out on caring for Oliver. If anything, she had superhuman stamina and patience when it came to it. “And the rest? Surely there’s a special guy in your life.”
“There is.” Her face lit up so brightly that it was as if someone had sucker punched him. So much for seduction. There was another man.
“His name is Oliver,” she continued. “He’s so sweet. He doesn’t talk much. Drools a fair amount. Still learning how to walk. Exactly like I like my men.”
He laughed and shook his head. She was ridiculously charming and clever, probably why he had such a strong reaction to the idea of her with a boyfriend.
She flipped her hair back and grinned at Oliver. “But seriously, the right guy hasn’t walked into my life and I’m not about to wait. I’m too busy trying to build my business to think about stuff like that. Romance is not on my radar right now.”
No wonder he’d been feeling as though he and Sarah might be kindred spirits, even though they came from different worlds. She wasn’t looking for love. And neither was he. And with only ten days together, that might be perfect.
* * *
Sarah was ready to claim victory over bath time—Oliver was clean and she hadn’t been caught staring at Aiden. It was a miracle since she’d been doing exactly that, sneaking peeks at his chest, broad and firm with the most perfect patch of dark hair in the center. Then there were his glorious shoulders and his sculpted biceps. She’d also spent a fair amount of time studying the tattoo on the inside of his forearm—a dark and intriguing pattern, impossible to decipher.
She bopped Oliver on the nose with the tip of her finger. “Hey, mister. It’s time for somebody to get out of the bath and get into pj’s.”
Aiden furrowed his brow. “Sarah’s no fun,” he said to Oliver. “I don’t know about you, but I’m good for at least another fifteen minutes.”
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