Page 16 of A Nanny for the Reclusive Billionaire

“Oliver seems to like you.”

And so do I. The words popped into his head uninvited, but once there they took hold. He did like her. Okay, so he’d barely taken the time to get to know her. But what he knew, he liked. And not just her body. He liked her ready smile. Her easygoing, playful nature with Oliver. The care and attention she lavished on everyone and everything from his son to the meals she prepared to the rest of the household staff.

Which was going to make staying the hell away from her that much harder.

Mallory swung one leg absently, unaware of battle raging inside him. “He’s a great kid. I’m sure he’ll get along fine with whoever you hire to replace me.”

“He’s had a hard time bonding with people since…” Rhys paused, never sure what to call the senseless act that robbed him of his wife and Oliver of a mother. He settled on the most benign word he could think of, not wanting to stir up any more sympathy than absolutely necessary. A useless emotion, if you asked him. No amount of tired platitudes and half-hearted condolences were going to bring Beth back. “Since the accident.”

And…there it was. Sympathy in spades. Mallory’s face morphed from polite interest to abject pity, complete with puppy-dog eyes and downturned lips. Rhys shifted in his seat and braced himself for the inevitable clichés.

I know what you’re going through.

Time heals all wounds.

She’s in a better place.

That last one always made him want to punch a wall. What did it even mean? What better place was there for a young mother than with her husband and son?

The puppy-dog eyes met his. “I’m sorry about your wife.”

Huh. Interesting. None of the usual bullshit. Still, the last thing he wanted to talk about with this unfortunately attractive, unavoidably single female in the intimacy of her bedroom was Beth. What they’d had together. What they’d lost. He was there for one reason and one reason only. Once that mission was accomplished, he was hauling ass to safer ground as fast as his Top-Siders would take him.

He cleared his throat and pressed on. “Yes, well, Oliver’s had a tough time connecting with women. We’ve gone through three nannies in the past six months. But he took to you right away.”

She shrugged. “I think we’re kindred spirits.”

“How so?” Rhys crossed an ankle over his knee.

“It sounds trite, but I really do know how he feels. I’ve lost people close to me. And I’ve worked with kids who dealt with death every day.”

He frowned, confused. Dealing with death every day? Who was this woman? “Your résumé says you’re an executive chef.”

“Is that why you fired me?” she shot back, uncrossing her legs and sitting straighter. “Because you didn’t think I had enough experience with children?”

“Partly,” he lied.

She was fully upright now, sitting ramrod straight and wagging a finger at him like some sexy schoolteacher. “I’m fully capable of handling a four-year-old. And you get the added benefit of my culinary skills. How many nannies can whip up a nutritious, kid-friendly, five-star meal without breaking a sweat?”

“You don’t have to convince me of the error of my ways.” This groveling thing was definitely not in his wheelhouse. He crossed his fingers he wasn’t fucking it up too badly. “I asked you to stay.”

“You did.” Mallory’s posture relaxed, and her expression softened. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m used to being on the defensive.”

He wondered briefly what a striking, smart, seemingly sane woman would need to defend herself against but brushed it aside and focused on his immediate goal. “Does that mean you’ll stay?”

She tilted her head and studied him thoughtfully. “On two conditions.”

“This should be interesting.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

“First.” She held up a finger. “You have to have dinner with Oliver at least three—no, four times a week.”

“Dinner?” Not quite what he’d expected. He thought she’d be angling for a raise. Extra days off. Matching contributions to her 401(k).

“Yes, you know. The meal that comes after lunch and before breakfast.”

“I’m familiar with the concept.”

“Are you familiar with the studies that show families who eat together feel less stressed, and children are more likely to try new foods, eat more fruits and vegetables, and have better grades?”