“Well, she comes, and she goes.” Tyler looked after where Devon had pulled the poor woman the moment she walked through the door. He looked over at Bram, who seemed to have nodded off again, and followed the two himself. He already had a dozen of toys around her, and she was laughing in that sweet way of hers. Tyler had noticed it right away the night before, but it was even sweeter now, with Devon being the center of her admiration.
“You have too many toys!” She laughed.
“I know.” He looked down at his hands, then around at his room. “My friends and I had fun before dad found me. But we never had anything to play with. Now I have all these, but no one to play with.” He frowned. Usually, he just pulled everything out. It was the only way he got anyone’s attention. They would at least pick it up and ask for his help.
“I’m sorry. Adults are dull, aren’t they?” He nodded sincerely. “I would love to play with you. And I hope we’ll get that chance.” She looked up at Tyler who was now standing in the door watching them with a straight face. She didn’t know what that meant. “Could… could we maybe have a few minutes to play? Or would his father like to see me now? I know he doesn’t feel well.”
Tyler’s mouth opened, but there was a low growl behind him. The former looked displeased with this outcome but stood aside regardless. A man appeared in the door frame, looking angry. “We have an appointment.” A large man, with a chest the size of a tank, and bare as naked babe roared. “Let’s just get this over with.” Her eyes widened, she’d seen men without their shirts on, but having him towering over her like that, looking the way he did, made her swallow hard. Heat rose up over her cheeks and she had to look away.
So, Izabella looked down at the boy, his lip quivered as he looked at the toys. But he didn’t argue. “I-I’m so s-sorry.” Izabella stammered. “I wasn’t trying to be discourteous. He was just so excited that—”
“Enough.” His father glared at her with a rage in his eyes that she could hardly fathom. “In the living room. Now.”
“Yes, sir.” She smiled down at the little boy, trying to show her his toys. “I hope we get to play again soon.” Touching his cheek, she stood, following the roaring man into the living room. Was this what she really needed to deal with? Was he not what she had thought he was? All her insecurities bubbled up, and she felt half ashamed. But what was someone supposed to do when the child wanted to play? She wasn’t one to ignore a child.
Following the man into the living room, she kept her head down, picking up her shoes as she went and tossing them toward the door. This wasn’t a good omen. Keeping her head down, she followed him into the living room, where he sat in a large black leather chair. “I’m sorry. Devon seemed to want to play, and I had a few minutes before our meeting. It probably went by quicker than I expected.”
The man before her grunted. “You were playing with my son, in his room, and you hadn’t even been given permission. Why were you in there?”
“Because he was excited? I don’t know. I just… wanted to get to know him. He’s a sweet boy, and the entire reason I’m here right now. I didn’t think—“
“You didn’t think. That about sums it up. Like all the other nannies I’ve had.” The man, his chest bare, only wearing black sweatpants laughed coldly as he lounged back.
Izabella wasn’t about to be chided for wanting to see what her charge had to offer. Clearly, there was a need here, and he didn’t even know what it was. “Your son wanted to play, and I wanted to get to know him. Is that so hard to understand? Is it so wrong?” The glare she received clearly anointed her as the local dummy, but she wasn’t about to play games with him. “Your son is so starved for proper attention that at the simple thought that someone would be here just for him feels like an anomaly. I did think it through, and he wanted some attention. Is it so hard to believe that I chose to give it to him? Isn’t he the reason I’m here in the first place?”
“I don’t believe you’re here just for him.” The man growled.
“Of course you don’t.” Izabella felt herself stand up taller. “All the nannies you had were more interested in you. But I promise, my goal here has nothing to do with you.”
“What is your goal then?” One of his massive hands pressed through his black hair.
“Your son is lonely.” She stated right out, afraid of what he might say or do. She even tried to prepare herself for it. “You’re exhausted. I want to help you both. I know I can.”
“He has me.” Was the stern reply.
“Does he though?” She croaked back, afraid to anger him too much.
He stopped short. “He has me.” The half-naked man insisted.
“Okay. When was the last time you went out with him or played with his toys?” Izabella wasn’t trying to be too much. Or trying to take his thunder. It was an honest question.
He halted, staring at her. “It’s…. been a long time.”
“I can tell.” She took a few steps closer to the chair he was sitting in. “But I do believe he would do better if he had someone to play with.” Her eyes noticed his empty cup, “Would you like me to get you another cup?”
Bram looked at her but didn’t say anything. He knew his son was sitting in the hall, just beyond the corner, listening. Knees pressed against his chest. Possibly tears in his eyes. Bram frowned. They hadn’t been to the park in a long time, and it wasn’t likely the last nanny had taken him. When was the last time he’d taken off work to just enjoy time with Devon? They rarely went to lunch, because they rarely agreed on where to go, and because he couldn’t do a lot of food. He was lost in thought as the woman grabbed his cup and went into the kitchen with it.
When his eyes caught her, with her back turned, he couldn’t help but appreciate her straight forwardness. Few people dared to talk to him like that. Women never did. Tyler was right. She was a damn fine-looking woman. Her strawberry hair was tied over her shoulder in a neat braid. She was tall, not as tall as him or Tyler, but taller than the other nannies he’d hired. She was slim. A lean, athletic build. Bram generally preferred a more curvy and better endowed woman, which, as Tyler had already mentioned, would be good for him. He didn’t need to go through another nanny, he needed the right one this time. Someone who would get down on the floor with him and play. Someone who would listen to him about his scary dreams, and someone who would hold him when Bram wasn’t around.
As the woman brought him another cup of tea, she set it down on the table beside him, right where she’d grabbed the cup from to begin with. He was shocked as she touched her wrist to his forehead. She smelled so damn good. He couldn’t help his reaction with her being so close. His face pinched and his eyes narrowed.
“Sorry,” she pulled away, looking shy, “you look pale. I think you’re running a fever. Maybe some ice water would be better than warm tea?” Bram almost laughed as her eyes were everywhere but on him. What an unusual girl she was. “Have you taken any medicine?” She asked, her gaze finally meeting his.
“No.” Bram didn’t miss Devon’s eyes peeking around the corner.
“Would you like me to get you something?” Her head cocked to the side, and Bram found himself already looking at the slim curve of her neck. Tyler was right. She smelled like flowers and purity alright. With her that close to him, it was driving him mad. He wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms and burry himself in her. She was dangerous to have around. What the hell was Tyler thinking? He could barely contain himself with the other nannies, he was supposed to with her? “You should take something to help lower the fever.”
“No.” Of course he was hotter than normal. He’d just fed last night and had new blood coursing through him. Not that he could say such a thing to her.
“But…”
“I’m fine. In the next few days, I’ll be right as rain.” As she frowned down at him, crossing her arms under her lovely pert little breasts, he felt himself stirring. What the hell? He’d just fed. He should not be reacting this way. “You need to leave.” The words just came out. He hadn’t expected it, but he knew it was true.
Standing up, he stormed out of the room silently, shocking everyone as he slammed his bedroom door behind him.