Shotgun Nanny (18 page)

It was the opening she needed. Taking a quick, delicious sip of the pale gold wine, letting it crackle and fizz on her tongue, she swallowed. Then took a couple more deep sips, hoping to drown those darned butterflies.

He was still watching her, and there was definitely amusement in his eyes…mixed with something she didn’t even want to think about. She forgot the speech she’d prepared and skipped to the chase. “I want my job back.”

He refilled her glass. She couldn’t believe it had been emptied so fast. He must use really small champagne flutes. “You can’t have it.”

She’d been prepared to have to argue her case, but somehow the bald refusal stunned her. She sipped more champagne while she dredged her mind for the reasons she’d prepared in case he was doubtful.

“I know you think Bea’s better qualified in the self-defense department—and I grant you she is. But I really think I’m good for Em.”

“You are. That’s not the reason.”

“Oh. Um, if it’s my cooking—”

“Your cooking’s fine. A little more fat, a few more grams of cholesterol once in a while might be nice…but overall, no complaints.”

“You probably think a clown isn’t a very good role model for an impressionable child. However, studies show—”

“I think you’re terrific with Em. I already told you that.”

“If it’s about our personal relationship—”

“Now you’re getting warmer,” he said approvingly, adding more wine to her glass. He sank down beside her on the leather couch, addling her brains.

“It’s just that—I was scared.”

“I know.” His voice rumbled deep and rich in her ear, sending little shivers chasing each other down her spine.

“My trip. I, well, I figured out a week ago I didn’t even want to go. I mean, I’d love to see the Orient. Traveling is very educational and culturally enriching. And fun. But I was using my trip as an excuse to run away. To avoid responsibilities.”

He seemed so calm and quiet beside her, totally relaxed, while she couldn’t seem to stop babbling.

“I’ve loved the time I’ve spent with Emily. I’d really like to stay.”

“How about me?”

“Huh?”

“How do you feel about the time you’ve spent with me?”

A warm flush stole its way up her body from her toes to her ears. “I, um, enjoyed that, too.”

In the same reasonable, conversational tone that made her want to slap him, he continued. “How about making love with me. Did you enjoy that?”

A little whimper quivered through her lips. Unable to form an actual word, she nodded vigorously.

His lips tilted in the semidarkness, and she longed to lean over and kiss them. “I hope you can begin to see why you’re completely unsuitable to be Emily’s nanny.”

That was just so unfair. “But you had sex with me, too. And you’re her guardian.”

“I’m planning to change that.”

Her heart sank. Surely he wasn’t even thinking—he couldn’t be planning to send Em to someone else. She couldn’t let that happen. It would break the little girl’s heart.

“I want to adopt Emily legally.”

“What are you—”

“I don’t think she needs a nanny and a guardian. I think she needs a mother and father again.”

“What are you saying?”

He picked up her hand and began toying with her fingers. “I’m saying I love you.”

Ooh.

“And Emily loves you. She was trying to figure out ways to stop you from leaving. But there’s only one thing that will stop you. And that’s if you love us enough to settle down. Enough to make a commitment.”

“Oh, Mark. I do love you. I do.”

He half grinned. “I kind of thought you did when the travel agent phoned and left a message. Something about canceling your ticket.”

“She phoned? But I was saving that for my surprise!”

“The thing is, I know you’re terrified of commitments, and marriage probably terrifies you more than anything. If it was just me, I wouldn’t care. But Emily needs someone who’ll be there permanently.”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Yes.”

She waited for the fear to grip her and choke the life out of her. But it didn’t come. She played a game with herself, waiting for it to happen. She tried to put all her scary words out there at once. “So, I’d be your wife. You’d be my husband. We’d wear rings and have anniversaries and life insurance policies and, ah, retirement plans.”

He nodded gravely.

She gulped. “Mutual funds, a dental plan, his and hers towels?”

“I might have to draw the line at the towels. But I do have full medical coverage.”

“More

children?”

“It’s a definite possibility,” he agreed.

“So I’d be, like, a mother?”

Little gleams of blue fire burned in his eyes. “You’re the most likely candidate.”

It was a miracle! She didn’t feel even a twinge of fear, only a strange kind of elation. She could imagine it all. Children, grocery lists, dentist appointments. Golfing in her golden years with this man and actually having a pretty good time. Of course, she’d have to buy him outlandish golf shirts, just to keep things balanced.

“You won’t mind being married to a clown?”

“Not if she’s you.”

She chuckled. “Life is going to be pretty interesting.”

“And a whole lot of fun, my love. A whole lot of fun.”

He leaned forward and kissed her, then reached into his pocket to withdraw a jeweler’s box.

She eased open the box, and the unmistakable dazzle of diamond sparkled at her.

“An engagement ring?”

He grinned and shook his head.

She took a closer look and started to laugh. “I thought you hated my navel ring.”

“Are you kidding? I’m crazy about it. And I think it’s time you had a real diamond in your navel.”

“Sometimes you’re not such a stuffed shirt, after all.”

“By the way, that ticket’s not canceled. It’s postponed. For your honeymoon. Japan, Thailand, Europe—anywhere in the world, you just pick your favorite place.”

“How about right here,” she murmured, pulling him down on top of her.

Shotgun

Nanny

Copyright © 2002 by Nancy Warren

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