Falling for the Nanny by Jacqueline Diamond Page B

Tatum!” Fiona appeared on the verge of a tantrum.
    The nanny intervened smoothly. “Why don’t you get ready, and then I’ll read to you.”
    â€œYou’re off duty,” Alec pointed out.
    â€œI don’t mind.” Tatum gave him a wistful smile. “I haven’t had anyone to talk to all day except salesclerks. I’d enjoy the company.” Taking the little girl’s hand, she grabbed the bags with the other and off they went.
    He remembered what Patty had said about swapping bedrooms. Well, tomorrow was soon enough. “I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
    â€œOkay, Daddy,” Fiona called back.
    Darlene sat on a padded chair and rubbed her ankle. “That was fun, but exhausting.”
    â€œYou want me to walk you to your place?” He’d never worried about his mother’s safety on the stairs or the elevator, until he’d seen the place through Patty’s eyes.
    â€œI want you to explain why you had a police officer in a tuxedo giving you tips on security—or was that an excuse for inviting her over?”
    â€œShe isn’t a police officer anymore. She’s a private detective.” Alec saw no point in beating around the bush. “I was hoping to hire her but I scared her off.”
    â€œYou did, or me?” Darlene asked.
    â€œMe. She was about to leave when you got here.” He clamped his jaw shut, unwilling to explain further.
    Darlene didn’t pry. “I used to consider her a questionable influence, but I liked her, all the same. And compared to Sabrina, she’s an angel. Private detective, huh?”
    â€œI know you don’t like the idea of a guard….”
    â€œShe’s perfect. Hire her, at least for the birthday party.” His mother flexed the ankle and winced. “It would be just like Sabrina to show up and make a scene.”
    He should have mentioned the upcoming party to Patty. “I suspect I didn’t make things sound urgent enough. If she realized there could be a threat next weekend…”
    â€œWhat kind of threat?”
    He hadn’t heard Tatum come in. Now the nanny stood regarding him with a pronounced pucker between her eyebrows. The sound of running water from the bathroom indicated Fiona’s whereabouts.
    â€œMy ex-wife demanded an unsupervised visit with our daughter, and when I refused, she threatened to take her to Argentina.” Much as he hated to alarm the nanny, she had a right to know the whole story. “I’m looking into hiring a security guard.”
    Tatum stared at him in alarm. “Do you know anything about that man she’s dating?”
    â€œI believe his family owns a manufacturing company.” All the same, he supposed he ought to research Eduardo Patron, since the man might someday become Fiona’s stepfather.
    The nanny’s chest rose and fell rapidly, as if she were on the verge of hyperventilating. “I didn’t sign up to get in the middle of a kidnapping.”
    â€œPlease don’t make too much of this. It’s probably an idle threat,” Alec assured her.
    â€œBesides, he’s hiring a former policewoman to protect Fiona,” Darlene interjected, ignoring the fact that Patty had turned down the job. “I know her personally. She’ll be great.”
    Tatum glanced toward the hallway. The water had stopped running. “If you say so.” She headed back to her charge.
    â€œI’m afraid it won’t take much to send that girl scurrying home to Boston,” Darlene murmured.
    Alec feared the same thing. Losing Tatum would be more than a mere inconvenience. Continuity of care was important to a child.
    He had to change Patty’s mind. He had logic on his side, since she’d already surveyed the premises and sketched the layout. Surely she wouldn’t want to waste all that work.
    He decided to make her a proposition: guard duty for a few days, and putting together a