Page 7 of Architect's Christmas Nanny

It was a good idea to do something special for Jillian. He could think of a million little things that would make her smile, but this time they needed to knock it out of the park.

The sound of the back door opening interrupted his thoughts.

“Where’s my niece?” his brother’s unmistakable voice boomed.

“Uncle Logan,” Josie squealed flying out of her seat. “Aunt Caroline.”

He watched her rocket toward the back door, but his mom looked over at him.

“Give some real thought to Jillian’s gift,” she said firmly. “You need to make sure she understands what she means to you.”

Brad blinked back at her, trying to figure out what his mom was trying to say. It suddenly felt like she was speaking on two levels, and he was starting to feel a little worried.

Are my inappropriate feelings written all over my face?

3

JILLIAN

Jillian dragged her suitcase toward the airport exit as her phone buzzed in her pocket.

She wanted to pick it up, but she didn’t have enough hands and she was pretty sure it was Brad. Again.

He’d been acting really weird when he called this morning to check on her flight. Just the fact that he called instead of texting was out of character. And he wasn’t speaking to her in thearchitect-bosstone he took on when he was working, or the friendly one he used at home, or even the light, teasing tone she loved but only heard once in a while, like when he came in late to find her reading in her chair while Josie slept.

This morning his voice had been deep and almost troubled.

Did he not want me to come here?

That idea was so painful she couldn’t dwell on it. And besides, she hadfourmessages from him when she got off the plane, including one offering to go through securityso he could come and help with her bags, which was the oddest of all. Who actually came inside anymore at the airport?

She’d texted back a simple message to let him know she was fine, but then the phone started ringing. She had decided it was best to just push through and get herself outside. She could talk to him then.

Finally, she reached the big glass doors and stepped out to find Brad standing by his SUV, frowning at his phone.

“Hi,” she gasped, breathless from rushing, but glad she had made it out before he tried to come in.

His dark eyes flashed to hers and she saw his shoulders lower slightly in relief before he strode toward her, swinging her suitcase out of her hands with a wild energy she wasn’t used to in her normally laid-back boss.

“Jillian,” Josie cried as she hopped out of the car. “What did the one little girl say to the other little girl who just fell on her own shoelace?”

“Um, I don’t know,” Jillian said. “What?”

“Did you have a good trip?” Josie asked, then melted into giggles.

Jillian laughed with her. She always enjoyed Josie’s forays into comedy.

“I did have a good trip,” she said, wrapping an arm around her tiny best friend. “Did you have any fun in Trinity Falls yet?”

Josie launched into an enthusiastic description, including every tiny detail of all the things she had eaten in the day since they had last seen each other. She wasmaking it all sound so good that Jillian was feeling hungry just listening to her.

When they reached the car, Josie hopped into the back seat without taking a breath from her rundown. Brad opened the passenger side door for Jillian, a chivalrous gesture that always made her fight not to blush, though she knew he would offer any woman the same courtesy. She took her seat, and he closed the door for her, moving quickly to the driver’s side and getting in.

The spicy scent of his aftershave followed, and Jillian found it somehow comforting, even after just one day apart. As she reached for her seatbelt, she stole a glance up at Brad.

He was frowning at her, his eyes as intense as before.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

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