drive fronting his home. He killed the engine and shot a quick glance at the dashboard display. It was just past one. Tommy wouldn’t come charging out of school for another two hours. Plenty of time for Brian to close the deal.
He left the SUV and his suit coat in the drive and took the side walkway to the gatehouse. Dawn answered his knock and let him into the cozy breakfast nook. Her laptop sat open on the white-painted table, and the bay windows stood open to the autumn air that rustled the leaves in the backyard. The bank of showy dahlias so lovingly tended by his yard crew were fading fast, but the grass was still green and lush.
With some effort, Brian blanked the image of Dawn and Tommy doing joyous cartwheels across that carpet of green and turned to face a much less exuberant version of the woman. She was wearing the jeans and the slouchy knit sweater she’d had on at breakfast. A scrunchie still confined her hair in a loose ponytail, and her expression, Brian noted, wasn’t much friendlier than when he’d left her hours earlier.
Claiming one of the low stools at the counter, she crossed her arms and swung one foot. “All right,” she said coolly. “I appreciate you driving home in the middle of your busy day to let me know you’ve hired a new caregiver. Who is it and, more importantly, when does he or she start?”
“I didn’t hire anyone. And I canceled the rest of the interviews.”
Her foot stopped in midswing. “Why?”
Tugging at his tie, he loosened the knot and popped the top button of his shirt. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so choked during negotiations. When he could breathe a little easier, he laid his cards on the table.
“Here’s the thing. Tommy thinks you’re totally awesome. He wants you to stay. So do I.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Since when?”
“Since I had time to think about it this morning.”
“But...” She raised an arm, gestured to the laptop and let her hand drop. “Stay for how long?”
“Permanently. Or,” he amended, falling back on the escape clause his lawyers had hammered into his head before every high-powered negotiating session, “until such time as all parties involved mutually agree to terminate the contract.”
He knew he’d stepped on it when she blinked and reared back a little.
“Let me make sure I understand the terms of this contract,” she said slowly. “You’re asking me to give up my condo, my job, my life and take up permanent residency in your gatehouse until such time as we mutually decide to terminate the arrangement.”
Christ! He was blowing it. Big-time. Forcing a smile, he tried again. “Actually, I’m asking you to move into the main house. With Tommy and me.”
Neither the smile nor the offer produced the desired effect. If anything, they added fuel to the temper darkening her eyes. Pushing off the stool, she planted both hands on her hips and delivered a scorching broadside.
“You pompous, conceited ass. You think all you have to do is waltz in, invite me to be your live-in lover and expect me to—”
“Whoa! Back up a minute! I’m asking you to marry me!”
“What?”
Tossing every hard-learned negotiating strategy to the winds, Brian cut right to the bottom line. “We’re not kids, Dawn. Or horny teenagers like Addy. Although God knows,” he muttered, “you make me feel like one.”
“Ex- cuse me?”
Groaning, he backtracked. “Sorry. I’ve never been good at dressing things up in pretty ribbons. What I’m trying to say...”
“Yes?”
“Well...”
“C’mon, big guy,” she taunted, “spit it out.”
“Okay.” He laid it on the line. “I want you. You want me. That’s a helluva foundation to build on.”
Her expression went flat, giving Brian no clue as to what she was thinking. Cursing, he was fumbling for yet another way to make his case when she cut the ground right out from under him.
“Wanting is only half the equation. Don’t you think we should
He left the SUV and his suit coat in the drive and took the side walkway to the gatehouse. Dawn answered his knock and let him into the cozy breakfast nook. Her laptop sat open on the white-painted table, and the bay windows stood open to the autumn air that rustled the leaves in the backyard. The bank of showy dahlias so lovingly tended by his yard crew were fading fast, but the grass was still green and lush.
With some effort, Brian blanked the image of Dawn and Tommy doing joyous cartwheels across that carpet of green and turned to face a much less exuberant version of the woman. She was wearing the jeans and the slouchy knit sweater she’d had on at breakfast. A scrunchie still confined her hair in a loose ponytail, and her expression, Brian noted, wasn’t much friendlier than when he’d left her hours earlier.
Claiming one of the low stools at the counter, she crossed her arms and swung one foot. “All right,” she said coolly. “I appreciate you driving home in the middle of your busy day to let me know you’ve hired a new caregiver. Who is it and, more importantly, when does he or she start?”
“I didn’t hire anyone. And I canceled the rest of the interviews.”
Her foot stopped in midswing. “Why?”
Tugging at his tie, he loosened the knot and popped the top button of his shirt. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so choked during negotiations. When he could breathe a little easier, he laid his cards on the table.
“Here’s the thing. Tommy thinks you’re totally awesome. He wants you to stay. So do I.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Since when?”
“Since I had time to think about it this morning.”
“But...” She raised an arm, gestured to the laptop and let her hand drop. “Stay for how long?”
“Permanently. Or,” he amended, falling back on the escape clause his lawyers had hammered into his head before every high-powered negotiating session, “until such time as all parties involved mutually agree to terminate the contract.”
He knew he’d stepped on it when she blinked and reared back a little.
“Let me make sure I understand the terms of this contract,” she said slowly. “You’re asking me to give up my condo, my job, my life and take up permanent residency in your gatehouse until such time as we mutually decide to terminate the arrangement.”
Christ! He was blowing it. Big-time. Forcing a smile, he tried again. “Actually, I’m asking you to move into the main house. With Tommy and me.”
Neither the smile nor the offer produced the desired effect. If anything, they added fuel to the temper darkening her eyes. Pushing off the stool, she planted both hands on her hips and delivered a scorching broadside.
“You pompous, conceited ass. You think all you have to do is waltz in, invite me to be your live-in lover and expect me to—”
“Whoa! Back up a minute! I’m asking you to marry me!”
“What?”
Tossing every hard-learned negotiating strategy to the winds, Brian cut right to the bottom line. “We’re not kids, Dawn. Or horny teenagers like Addy. Although God knows,” he muttered, “you make me feel like one.”
“Ex- cuse me?”
Groaning, he backtracked. “Sorry. I’ve never been good at dressing things up in pretty ribbons. What I’m trying to say...”
“Yes?”
“Well...”
“C’mon, big guy,” she taunted, “spit it out.”
“Okay.” He laid it on the line. “I want you. You want me. That’s a helluva foundation to build on.”
Her expression went flat, giving Brian no clue as to what she was thinking. Cursing, he was fumbling for yet another way to make his case when she cut the ground right out from under him.
“Wanting is only half the equation. Don’t you think we should
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