balance, and she was desperate. As desperate as Tight Tush staring at her with his deep blue eyes.
“You really think we can pull this off for two weeks?”
“I’ll help you, teach you everything you need to know. It won’t be easy, but you can do it.”
You can do it . For those few moments as he stared at her, she actually did feel like she could. Funny how blind faith could pump up your ego and make you contemplate the impossible.
She shook her head. “I know you’re in a tough situation, but I can’t lose two weeks of work.”
“I’ll pay you,” he said. “Another thousand. That makes two thousand dollars for two weeks of your time.”
She shook her head. “I’m already getting a thousand for last night, so technically it would only be one thousand dollars for two weeks of my time. I want two thousand for two weeks, plus last night’s money.”
“ Three thousand dollars? For pretending to be my nanny? I could get a real one for less than that.”
“Yes, but I’m already here, and you’re asking a lot. You want me to risk my life way out here for peanuts? No way.”
“Risk your life?”
“Your father nearly shot me yesterday.”
“I took his gun away, so there’s no risk. Two thousand,” he insisted. “Total. That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
“You must not be a morning person, either.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re not thinking clearly, otherwise, you would realize what a terrible mistake you’re making. Helen already thinks I’m the governess, and you would have a lot of explaining to do if I up and left and you had to call the agency again.”
He sighed. “Now I do feel like throwing up.”
She smiled. “Agree to my terms and the urge will pass.”
“Three thousand dollars.” He ran a hand over his tired face. “I must be out of my mind.”
“Three thousand, plus the eighty-dollar cab fare your nanny stiffed me for. And you promise to get rid of any and all firearms in the house.”
He nodded. “All right, three thousand and eighty dollars, and the guns are history.” His gaze zeroed in on her again. “But remember. You do everything I say, when I say it, and overall, do your best to avoid Helen. Got it?”
“I’ll try.” Doubt crept in and took a few bites out of Lucky’s ego. “Do you really think I can pull this off?”
“You have to. Now stay in your room while I shower and change. I’ll meet you back here in half an hour, after I have a sit-down with Bennie and tell her your post is going to take a little longer to fill, so you’ll be staying for a few weeks.”
“She’s really great,” Lucky said.
For a split second, his harsh expression eased and a smile tugged at his lips. “I know, that’s why I can’t let this little setback mess everything up. Bennie is the one thing I’ve done right in my life.”
“Oh, I’d be willing to bet you’ve done more than just one, Tyler Grant.” That kiss, for instance. Ooo , boy.
She turned and left, her heart pounding double time. Mabel must have put something in the orange juice because Lucky was usually comatose until 8:00 a.m.
WHAT THE HELL was he doing?
The thought flashed in his mind as he watched her leave the room, her hips molded beneath the clinging black slacks.
Control, he told himself. She was his employee, he was her employer, and despite the sparks between them, she wasn’t his type. When, if he ever settled down again, it would have to be with someone like Nan. Someone sophisticated, wealthy, refined. Helen’s idea of an appropriate wife.
Lucky was completely off limits. He would coach her and pass her off as the best nanny this side of the Rio Grande. Nothing more. Period.
“Lucky’s staying?” Bennie said when Tyler told her the news. Where he’d expected his daughter to turn sulky, accusing eyes on him, she actually smiled.
“It’s Miss Myers to you, and it’s only for two weeks,” Tyler told her. “Until the agency can send a capable
“You really think we can pull this off for two weeks?”
“I’ll help you, teach you everything you need to know. It won’t be easy, but you can do it.”
You can do it . For those few moments as he stared at her, she actually did feel like she could. Funny how blind faith could pump up your ego and make you contemplate the impossible.
She shook her head. “I know you’re in a tough situation, but I can’t lose two weeks of work.”
“I’ll pay you,” he said. “Another thousand. That makes two thousand dollars for two weeks of your time.”
She shook her head. “I’m already getting a thousand for last night, so technically it would only be one thousand dollars for two weeks of my time. I want two thousand for two weeks, plus last night’s money.”
“ Three thousand dollars? For pretending to be my nanny? I could get a real one for less than that.”
“Yes, but I’m already here, and you’re asking a lot. You want me to risk my life way out here for peanuts? No way.”
“Risk your life?”
“Your father nearly shot me yesterday.”
“I took his gun away, so there’s no risk. Two thousand,” he insisted. “Total. That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
“You must not be a morning person, either.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re not thinking clearly, otherwise, you would realize what a terrible mistake you’re making. Helen already thinks I’m the governess, and you would have a lot of explaining to do if I up and left and you had to call the agency again.”
He sighed. “Now I do feel like throwing up.”
She smiled. “Agree to my terms and the urge will pass.”
“Three thousand dollars.” He ran a hand over his tired face. “I must be out of my mind.”
“Three thousand, plus the eighty-dollar cab fare your nanny stiffed me for. And you promise to get rid of any and all firearms in the house.”
He nodded. “All right, three thousand and eighty dollars, and the guns are history.” His gaze zeroed in on her again. “But remember. You do everything I say, when I say it, and overall, do your best to avoid Helen. Got it?”
“I’ll try.” Doubt crept in and took a few bites out of Lucky’s ego. “Do you really think I can pull this off?”
“You have to. Now stay in your room while I shower and change. I’ll meet you back here in half an hour, after I have a sit-down with Bennie and tell her your post is going to take a little longer to fill, so you’ll be staying for a few weeks.”
“She’s really great,” Lucky said.
For a split second, his harsh expression eased and a smile tugged at his lips. “I know, that’s why I can’t let this little setback mess everything up. Bennie is the one thing I’ve done right in my life.”
“Oh, I’d be willing to bet you’ve done more than just one, Tyler Grant.” That kiss, for instance. Ooo , boy.
She turned and left, her heart pounding double time. Mabel must have put something in the orange juice because Lucky was usually comatose until 8:00 a.m.
WHAT THE HELL was he doing?
The thought flashed in his mind as he watched her leave the room, her hips molded beneath the clinging black slacks.
Control, he told himself. She was his employee, he was her employer, and despite the sparks between them, she wasn’t his type. When, if he ever settled down again, it would have to be with someone like Nan. Someone sophisticated, wealthy, refined. Helen’s idea of an appropriate wife.
Lucky was completely off limits. He would coach her and pass her off as the best nanny this side of the Rio Grande. Nothing more. Period.
“Lucky’s staying?” Bennie said when Tyler told her the news. Where he’d expected his daughter to turn sulky, accusing eyes on him, she actually smiled.
“It’s Miss Myers to you, and it’s only for two weeks,” Tyler told her. “Until the agency can send a capable
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