Page 21 of The Cowboy Takes a Nanny
“Hang on just a minute, yeah? I’ll come on up with you. Give me a minute to bank this fire and kill the lights, you’re not looking too steady on your feet.”
“I am perfectly fine, thank you. Actually, in quite good condition for someone old enough to be your mother.” And, of course she tripped on a stray toy she’d missed in her weary cleanup earlier. Somehow, he was there before she hit the floor, his muscled arms arresting her fall, holding her against his chest, just like in her most regular fantasies. She permitted herself a moment to enjoy his warmth, his strength.
Her heart hammered, and not just from the fright of almost falling. There was a bit of that, but she didn’t fool herself that it was mostly due to being held in this man’s arms—even if it wasn’t quite the way her fantasies had played out. She sucked in air and tried to pull away.
He resisted and continued to hold her against him. “Just give yourself a moment.” His voice was, low, whispered, right near her ear, tickling the sensitive skin, sending tingles through her.
Despite her inward groan, she didn’t argue. It was easier. The quicker she regained her balance, the sooner this delicious torture would end.
“You want me to carry you?” He started to bend, to scoop up her legs and she stiffened.
“Only if you want a broken nose.”
He straightened, but damn it to hell, that put his mouth right near her ear again—and his low chuckle started the whole tingling thing over.
“That’s a no? Definite?”
Absolutely maybe. “Set in concrete.”
Forcing a smile and a muttered thank you, she finally managed to pull away, before Sir Lancelot here decided to go all he-man and ignore her decision. She was learning fast that Halligan men took their chivalrous duties very seriously. And she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to hold out against them, so without waiting, she headed up the stairs.
The staircase in Leo’s home was a work of art. Long and white, with a gentle curve, it was enclosed on each side, and seemed to free float from the floor above. But for once she didn’t wonder at its beauty, or marvel at the engineering. She simply—carefully—took one thickly carpeted tread at a time.
She hadn’t raced up, nor dallied, but somehow by the time she was at her bedroom door, Leo was beside her. Her intention was to first check on Mia, but Leo lightly caught her arm.
“Ella?” When she turned to him, all traces of teasing were gone, allowing her to truly note the weariness in his eyes; the shadows under them not quite disguised by his tanned complexion. The genuine warmth in his gaze was something else.
“I, ah, yeah, well, I hope I didn’t go too far down there? You know? With the mother wisecrack?”
Hands behind her back for support, she leaned against the door jamb and matched his tone. “Not for a minute. I know how to dish it out, and I know how to take it. I hope you know it would take more than that to offend me, Leo. Besides, your mum is a rockstar in my opinion, so it’s really a huge compliment.”
He grinned. “We agree on that, and she’d like that description. But I also just wanted to say thank you for caring for Mia the way you do. I know I’ve been a pain in the ass sometimes, but I see you with her and I know you really care and it means everything to me.”
“Thank you. She’s very easy to love. And Leo? That gratitude goes both ways. You’ve been very accommodating with Benny. Another child wasn’t what you bargained for when you were looking for a nanny.”
He leaned an arm on the wall beside her. “He’s kind of turned out to be a bonus. A playmate for Mia—and he’s a great kid. Not sure where a less-than-two-year-old gets that kind of patience, but he’s good with her.”
“He’s no saint, Leo. He has his moments and no doubt you’ll witness that before long.”
“I think I could handle that.” His grin sobered. “I, well, I guess I’m trying to say I like having you here, Ella.”
Her breath held and for a moment they both stilled, her tongue slipped out to moisten suddenly dry lips. His eyes tracked its journey.
Had he leaned her way? Her body swayed toward him … No. What was she doing? Blinking she pulled back, breaking the moment. And it had been another moment. “Leo, I—”
He seemed to break free of the madness, stepping back, before stumbling to add, “Both of you. I like having both of you here. It’s livened up this place, made it nice to come home to … That’s all. I just …”
Mouth dry, she nodded. Shook her head. Vaguely waved toward the door behind her. “I um, that’s great … I, er, I’d better check on the children. I—”
He straightened as well. Shoved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “Yeah, sure … Me too.” He turned away and then spun back. “I’ll check on Mia. You go see to Benny, and try to get some sleep.”
After that encounter? She doubted it. Closing the door firmly, Ella willed her heart rate down, praying that when the euphoria currently surging through her died away, her weariness would return. That would be her only hope of snatching any rest.
For long minutes, she sought calm by staring down at her beautiful boy; reminding herself why any relationship with Leo would be foolhardy, no matter what her body craved. Benny’s face was flushed but he wasn’t feverish she noted as she gently pushed back his feather-soft hair. Soon it would grow coarser like his father’s; hair that would hold any style with ease. Emile’s private stylist had called him a gift to work on, and Emile had lapped up all the praise, as always, confident of the looks that spoke more to his Italian mother than his French father.
She’d tolerated Emile’s conceit and vanity, laughed it off, but after they’d married it had become wearying. Benny would never be that way; hopefully he’d never need to seek the envy and admiration of others.
Feeling more centered, she straightened, breathing a sigh of relief that she’d banished the restlessness Leo had aroused in her. Or so she thought but a mere minute later, stripped of her jeans and sweater, she was standing only in tiny silk panties and a thin T-shirt when the tapping on her door brought it all back in a rush, completely dousing any flicker of hope that she could control her reactions to Leo Halligan.
