Page 3 of Tempted

“Madeline Meade.” Once again it was Chelsea who supplied the information, much to her brother’s apparent annoyance.

Jasminepunched the number she’d been supplied into her phone. She was getting low on her prepaid minutes but this emergency warranted using them.

“Meade residence, how may I direct your call?” a cultured male voice greeted.

“Is Mrs. Meade available?”

“I’m afraid she’s indisposed at the moment. May I take a message?”

Jasmine figured indisposed meant she wouldn’t come to the phone. “My name is Jasmine Brooks, she doesn’t know me, but I need to speak to her if she’s there. It’s about Tyler and Chelsea.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Hold on a moment, Miss. Let me see if I can find her.”

That’s what she thought. “Thank you. I’d really appreciate it.”

While Jasmine waited on hold she looked over her shoulder to see if the children were still there. Thankfully they were.

“Hello? Miss Brooks?” came a panicked voice on the other end of the line. “What about my grandchildren?”

“Is this Mrs. Meade?”

“Yes. Please tell me what the matter is.”

“First, let me assure you, your grandchildren are okay. I met them in the park by the monument a few minutes ago, and their nanny is…uh, incapacitated. Someone needs to escort them home.”

“Oh, my goodness. Is that woman drunk, again?” If someone knew the nanny was a lush then why in the world did they place her in charge of the children?

Jasmine sighed. “I’m afraid so. If you can arrange for someone to pick the children up, I’ll stay here with them.”

“Give me your exact location and I’ll be there. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your doing this.”

“It’s not a big deal. I’m sure anyone else would have done the same.” Jasmine gave Mrs. Meade directions and clicked off before disconnecting the call.

“Your Nana is on the way,” she let the children know.

Chelsea jumped up and down clapping her hands together. “Oh, goody. She’ll take us out for ice cream.”

Tyler rolled his eyes. “Well, now that Nana is coming you can go away.” The boy could have been a king the way he dismissed her in that haughty tone.

Jasmine crossed her arms over her chest. “Excuse me? I must have misheard you, because you weren’t talking to me like that.”

Tyler mutinously poked his bottom lip out and glared at her. “You’re a nobody. I don’t have to listen to you.”

Jasmine stared Tyler down until he turned a bright shade of red and looked away. Exactly what she thought; the kid was all talk. With a sigh, she touched his shoulder. “I’m not your enemy. I’m just concerned that you and your sister are virtually alone. I have a daughter of my own, and if she were in this position, I’d want someone to look out for her. For my peace of mine, would you put up with my company long enough for your grandmother to come get you and your sister?”

Tyler looked uncertain, torn between giving in and remaining stubborn.

“Please, Tyler. You’d be doing me a huge favor by helping me keep your sister safe like a good big brother is supposed to do. I wish I had a cool big brother like you when I was growing up.”

He seemed to go into deep thought before answering. “Well, I…I guess you can stick around.”

Jasmine nodded solemnly, biting back the giggle. It would be an interesting afternoon.

* * *

Later when the kids were waiting in their grandmother’s Mercedes,Jasmine and Madeline Meade had a long talk which took a surprise direction.

“Jasmine, I appreciate your honesty about your past. While I can’t pretend to understand everything about your circumstances, we all make mistakes, and you’ve paid far more dearly than I think you should have. You’re in need of a job, and the kids need a nanny. Won’t you reconsider taking the position?”

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