From Nanny To Wife (4 page)

Ryan pushed back the sleeve of his suit coat and looked at his watch. "I have to go. Zoe, you be a good girl for Hope." He kissed her on her upturned face. "I love you."

"I love you," Zoe repeated.

Ryan turned toward Hope. "Walk with me to the door."

"All right."

They left the living room and crossed the large foyer. Ryan's briefcase and keys were on a small table near the front door. As he picked them up, he said, "I should be home by seven. That's Zoe's bedtime and I like to be home to say goodnight. One more thing before I go. Don't take Zoe outside. The gardener is going to be coming by soon to spray the flowerbeds. I don't want Zoe pestering him with questions like she did the last time."

"Don't take her outside, got it," Hope said. "Is there anything else I should know?"

Ryan thought for a moment and then shook his head. "Just take care of my little girl."

"Your daughter is in good hands," Hope declared. "Trust me."

Ryan gazed into her eyes. "I don't trust easily, Ms. Landry."

Hope stared back, seeing conflicting emotions in his eyes. Her heart in her throat she uttered, "You were hurt badly, weren't you?"

"That is none of your business. You're here to see to my daughter, not to analyze me."

His voice was like cool steel. Knowing she had crossed a line she shouldn't have, Hope took a step back and lowered her eyes. "I am sorry. Some times I speak before thinking."

"If you want to work for me then I suggest you correct that quickly." Ryan jerked open the door. "Have a nice day, Ms. Landry." He walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Hope looked at the closed door. "You will learn to trust, Ryan Kendall. You just don't know it yet."

As promised, Hope watched
Beauty and the Beast
with Zoe. They settled on the couch in the family room not long after Ryan left for work and didn't budge until the credits rolled. Hope was impressed with Zoe's ability to sit through a movie. Most children her age had a short attention span and could not sit still for a long period of time.

"Are you ladies hungry?" Gordon asked from the doorway. "I was just thinking about starting lunch."

"Zoe, are you hungry?" Hope asked as she removed the DVD from the player.

"Yeah," Zoe replied.

"Then lunch would nice," Hope said to Gordon.

"I will let you know when it's ready."

Ten minutes later Hope, Zoe, Maggie, William and Gordon sat down to eat lunch.

Chapter 4

Hope glanced around the table at everyone. Questions about Ryan raced through her mind, but she did not dare ask them. She knew whatever she said or did would get back to Ryan and the last thing she wanted was to give him a reason not to hire her. Shoving the questions to the back of her mind, Hope inserted a forkful of peas into her mouth and chewed slowly. Swallowing, she reached for the glass of water in front of her and took a drink. Just then, a pea suddenly shot across her field of vision.

"Zoe!" Maggie gasped.

Hope heard the little girl giggle. Her lips twitching she set her glass down and looked at Zoe who sat on her left. "Food is for eating, sweetheart, not for throwing. Don't do that again. Little girls-"

The doorbell rang at that moment.

"Please, excuse me," William said, putting his fork down.

"No, stay," Hope said, pushing back her chair. "You finish eating. I'm done, so I'll get the door."

"Thank you," William said.

"You're welcome." Hope left the kitchen, made her way through the living room, and across the foyer. Opening the door, she found a stunningly beautiful woman standing there. She had shoulder length black hair, moss green eyes, high cheekbones and full lips. The dress she wore fit her body as if it had been made for her. Hope felt dowdy in comparison. "Yes?"

"I want to see my daughter," the woman demanded, shoving past Hope.

So this is the ex,
Hope said to herself as she shut the door.

"Who are you?" the woman asked.

"My name is Hope Landry, and your name is?"

"Laura Hilton." She looked Hope over from head to foot. "Are you Ryan's girlfriend?"

"No," Hope answered. "I'm taking care of Zoe for the day."

"Where is she?" Laura asked. "I want to see her."

"She's in the kitchen having lunch," Hope told her.

"Well go get her," Laura snapped. "I haven't got all day."

Anger sprang to life inside Hope. How dare this woman order her around like a servant? She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. "Please, have a seat in the living room." She hurried to the kitchen.

"Who was at the door?" Maggie asked once Hope entered the room.

"Laura Hilton. She wants to see the little one."

Maggie groaned. "She knows she has to give Mr. Kendall notice before she comes."

Hope stepped to the cordless phone on the counter and punched in the number for Kendall Industries. "I'm going to call him."

"Kendall Industries, Pam speaking."

"Pam, its Hope. Is it possible for me to talk to Mr. Kendall?"

"Hold on a second," Pam said. "I'll put you through."

"Thank you."

"What is it, Ms. Landry?" Ryan asked, coming on the line a minute later. "I'm busy."

"Ms. Hilton is here demanding to see the little one."

"Put her on the phone," Ryan growled.

"Very well, sir." Smirking, Hope returned to the living room with the phone in her hand. She held it out to Laura. "Mr. Kendall wishes to speak with you."

"You called him?" Laura asked coldly.

"I did." Hope placed the phone on the sofa next to Laura. "I wouldn't keep the man waiting. The longer you do the angrier he's going to get."

Laura snatched up the phone. "What do you want, Ryan?" She paused as she listened to him talk. "I have every right to see my daughter whenever I want." Another pause. "I don't give a damn what the judge said. I'm not leaving." She threw the phone at Hope. "I'm through talking to the man."

Hope raised the phone to her ear. "She's done talking."

"Don't let her leave the house with Zoe," Ryan said. "Keep an eye on her and call me when she leaves."

"All right," Hope promised.

"I have to go," Ryan said. "If she gives you any trouble call me."

"I'll do that." Hope ended the call and glanced at Laura. "I'll go get Zoe."

"Don't bother." Laura stood. "I will go and get her. You need not follow."

"I have to," Hope informed her.

"I suppose Ryan told you to," Laura said, leading the way to the kitchen. "He is so controlling. I don't know what I ever saw in that man."

I don't know what he saw in you,
Hope thought, glaring at the back of Laura's head.

"Zoe, darling," Laura said, moving toward the little girl. "Give Mommy a hug."

"No," Zoe muttered.

"Did Daddy teach you to say that ugly word?" Laura asked. She bent down to kiss Zoe's cheek and the girl turned her head.

It was obvious to everyone in the room that Zoe wasn't close to her mother. William and Gordon carried the plates to the counter, set them down, and then quietly left. Maggie sat there, her lips drawn in a thin line. Disapproval was written all over her face. Hope laid her hand on the older woman's shoulder and squeezed gently. Maggie looked up at her and smiled weakly.

"Mommy brought you a present," Laura told Zoe. "It's in the car. Do you want to come with me to get it?"

"I'm going to have to say no," Hope said. "You're not to leave the house with her."

Laura straightened up. "What does he think I'm going to do, kidnap her?"

"I don't know," Hope said. "You'll have to ask him yourself. I would be happy to keep Zoe company while you run outside to fetch the present."

Laura gave Hope a look of loathing. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Of course not," Hope said. The truth was she found the situation between Laura and Zoe sad.

Laura didn't stay long which pleased everyone. Having her in the house made them feel uneasy. Once she left, Hope called Ryan and then took Zoe upstairs to her bedroom. They put a puzzle together, played with play dough and colored in coloring books. Afterward Hope read to Zoe and put her down for a short nap. While Zoe slept, she straightened up the room. She was putting the crayons back in the box when Ryan strolled into the room. He walked to the bed and leaned down to kiss Zoe on the head.

"You're home early," Hope whispered.

"I couldn't concentrate," Ryan said softly. "My mind was here on Zoe."

"We should get out of here before we wake her," Hope murmured.

"My office," Ryan said. "We can talk in there."

They slipped from the room and moved down the hallway. In Ryan's office, they left the door opened so they could hear Zoe in case she called out to them and took a seat on the sofa.

"May I be frank with you?" Hope asked.

Ryan jerked his tie loose. "Go ahead."

Hope cleared her throat. "Your ex-wife is a bitch."

Ryan snorted. "Tell me something I don't all ready know. I'm sorry you had to deal with her on the first day. Before I came upstairs, I spoke with Maggie, William and Gordon. They told me you handled Laura well and that you kept your head."

Hope rubbed her forehead and sighed. "I did it for Zoe."

"I know and that is why I want you to be her nanny." Ryan sat back. "I need someone who will put Zoe's needs first. Do you still want the job?"

"Of course, I do," Hope said. "How often will I have to deal with Laura?"

Ryan scratched his jaw. "Every other week. She'll drop by with a present, spend ten minutes with Zoe and then leave. Its court ordered that she has to let me know in advance what day she will stop by."

"I see." Hope wanted to say more, but thought it would be wise to hold her tongue.

"I want you to get a cell phone. When you leave this house with Zoe, I want to be able to get in touch with you."

Hope nodded. "I will buy one tomorrow."

Ryan discussed wages with Hope and they settled on twenty dollars an hour with the understanding that room and board would be deducted from it. "You will have Sunday's off. No one works on Sunday around here. I spend the day with Zoe. You have Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day off. Do you have any questions?"