Chapter 9 A Whole Month
A WHOLE MONTH
Isla
“I think my ovaries are about to explode.” Sally, the sales attendant behind the cash register, smiled at me.
She’d obviously noticed I had been ogling my boss and his chubby baby from the other side of Bella Baby, a swanky baby shop in Manhattan that catered to new parents with way too much money to spare.
I was here as Declan’s resident expert in all things baby.
Truly, my only credentials were babysitting all my kid cousins on Mom’s side of the family, but that was good enough for him.
The original plan had been for me to go shopping on my own, but Declan came home for lunch and announced we were going shopping.
He was the boss; I couldn’t say no.
“They make a good pair.” I nodded, trying not to dwell on what it meant that even though the saleswoman had seen us come in together, she didn’t assume Declan and Joey were mine.
Declan was at a completely different level than me—a different dimension really.
He was the incredibly hot billionaire who ran a successful consulting firm and was adored by the UK tabloids.
I was Isla from Bensonhurst, New York, with the loud Italian family, no job, no apartment, no prospects of any kind.
“What is it about single dads? They’re so freaking sexy.”
“No idea.”
She was getting on my nerves. Mom was a single parent for years and no one ever praised her for it. I knew this because Mom mentioned it every chance she got as a reason why I should find a husband sooner rather than later.
“Isla, what do you think?” Declan joined us, holding a cute little hat that fit Joey perfectly.
Sally gave me a look that said, watch out for your ovaries. I chuckled and caught Joey as he lunged for me. In the two days I had spent with him, we had really bonded. “It’s so…um…British.”
“It starts early.” A sexy half-smile pulled at his lips. “We’ll make a proper Englishman out of this one.”
When he met my gaze, my heart rate picked up the pace. I was getting used to this constant rush of adrenaline I got when he looked at me like that. I tuned into the tiny voice inside my head telling me how much I had to lose.
“Here’s your scanner.” Sally walked around the counter to give Declan the device. “Just point and click. We’ll take care of the rest.”
On her way to the back of the store, she squeezed his shoulder as she leaned in to whisper in his ear.
Both his eyebrows shot up in surprise. I could only imagine what she said to him or offered him.
Though, admittedly, I couldn’t get too high and mighty about it since I had done exactly the same just a few nights ago—twice.
Declan was some sort of magnetic field designed to trap anyone who crossed his path.
“We’re in your capable hands. Shop away.” He handed me the scanner. “Should we start with a crib or a carrier? I’m certain my nephews have those. How about one of those bouncy things, too?”
“Yeah, we’ll need all that. Crib first,” I said in my business tone. After all, I was here as the baby expert. “I was thinking something like this one, clean lines to match your condo.” I stopped in front of a cute crib in a deep mahogany color that felt so Declan.
“I like it. Would it fit in the room?”
“Yeah, we’ll have to move my bed against the wall, but I think we can make it work.”
“Sold.” He beamed at me. “That was easy. What else do we need?”
His blue eyes bored into mine as if the words about to come out of my mouth were the most important thing in the world. Declan’s full attention was almost unbearable.
“A carrier.” I cleared my throat and held Joey a little tighter. “And then we’ll check out the clothes. He’s down to his last onesie.”
The diaper bag that had come with the baby stroller only had enough supplies for three days, which made me wonder if maybe Harper only meant to be away for a few days. “What do you think happened?”
“What do you mean?” He picked up a carrier and did a few curl-ups.
“Harper leaving your baby at your door, no note, with only a few changes of clothes. Seems odd. Who does that?” I wanted to ask if Harper suffered post-partum depression, but how would he know if the last time he saw her was when they had their one-night stand.
“I’ve been asking myself the same thing. All I know for certain is that I have a son that needs a home.” He raked a hand through his hair.
“And a nanny.” I pointed at myself. “For the next thirty days, anyway.”
“Right.” His gaze shifted between Joey and me.
“Oh, crap. Hide me.” I pulled on his arm. When he didn’t budge, I stepped in behind him. His wide back was the perfect thing to block me from Louisa’s line of sight.
“What is happening?” He furrowed his brows then turned toward the entrance. “Oh, fuck me. Yeah, let’s hide.”
“What do you care if she sees you?” I followed close behind him as he made a beeline toward the playpens where his frame wouldn’t stand out like a sore thumb.
“I don’t want to have to explain stuff to Nicolas.
He’s got enough on his plate with the board breathing down his neck.
” He craned his neck toward the door, bracing his hand around my waist as if he were protecting me from a wild animal.
After a few beats, he glanced down at me.
“What about you? Why are you hiding? Isn’t she your sister? ”
“Half-sister. But she hates me.”
“How did you figure that?” He cocked his head to look me in the eyes.
“Long story.” I waved my hand in dismissal.
“Hmm.” He studied me for a while then shook his head. “If something is going on here, I need to know. As your boss, of course.”
“Okay. It’s nothing bad. I don’t think. It’s just awkward because our dad sort of moved in with my mom when he was still married to Louisa’s mom.
And, well, even now after twenty-five years, people still talk about how Louisa and I are the same age.
” I adjusted Joey on my hip and fixed his hat.
Anything to keep from having to meet Declan’s inquisitive look.
“I see. I think I remember now.” He scratched the stubble on his jaw. “You were hoping that at some point during your tenure at Windsor Holdings you’d run into her and become BFFs.”
Of course, it sounded like a ridiculous idea when he said it like that. “Yeah, that had been my plan until you decided to fire me.”
“I hired you back.”
“As your nanny.”
“Hmmm.” He chuckled.
The raspy sound implied something kinky. Or maybe that was just me and my overactive imagination when it came to Declan.
“Well, she’s here shopping for baby clothes. Why don’t you join her?”
“I can’t.”
“This is synchronicity at its best.”
“What?”
“You know when you ask the universe for something and then the universe delivers.”
“I know what it means. I’m just surprised you know.”
“You’re only shocked because you don’t know me.” His features softened, and then, he smiled.
Jeez.
I swore the temperature in the room went up several degrees. Sweat beads gathered in the back of my neck. I shook my head to clear my thoughts before the usual images flooded my mind.
“We should go.” I pulled at his sleeve.
“You wanted time with your half-sister. It’s here. Take it.” He gestured toward Louisa and the bouncy baby in her arms. “Babies are an excellent topic of conversation.”
“I’m not ready. I honestly wasn’t expecting for the universe to deliver so fast.” I stepped toward the end of the aisle to find Louisa at the same time Declan shuffled toward me. If it weren’t for Joey, I would’ve landed in his arms.
“We can stay back here until she leaves, if you’d like.”
“Thank you.” I shifted my body away from him. “We do need a playpen, too.” I busied myself reading the small pamphlet attached to the display.
“She’s coming this way. Let’s go check the clearance rack.” He grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me toward him.
I had to practically run to keep up with him while still holding Joey in my arms. “Shhh.” I kissed Joey’s head to get him to quiet down. He found the entire thing incredibly amusing and exciting.
Declan was right. I didn’t know him at all because I never would’ve guessed that my broody boss could also be fun.
“Try this on.” He grabbed a beach hat that was way too small for me and rammed it on top of my head so it covered my face.
He toyed with the strings while he kept his gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder.
“There’s no way she hasn’t seen us.” I chuckled, swatting the ties away from my eyes.
Playing hide and seek in a baby store wasn’t how I thought my first week with Declan would go.
“Maybe she’s feeling scared.” He smirked at me. “Same as you.”
“What? To talk to me? You think she’s ignoring me?
” We’d gotten very good at that when we were in school.
It was better to pretend we didn’t exist. I glanced over at Louisa.
She seemed so happy and completely unaware of her surroundings.
No way she was afraid to face me. I simply didn’t exist for her.
And why would I? She was living her best life.
“Just in case, let’s go check out the diaper pails. ”
“Yes, we definitely need two of those.”
For the next fifteen minutes, Declan spent his time keeping watch while I scanned items for Joey. When Louisa finally left the store with a few packages, we returned to the front of the store to check out.
Sally bagged the smaller items for us to take home right away, and then took down Declan’s address so she could deliver the crib and the bigger stuff later today. By the time, we came home, Joey was in a fussy mood and ready for his nap.
“Why don’t you take care of Joey? He looks sleepy.” Mrs. Ross swung the door open for us. “I’ll take care of the shopping. I’m sure all this needs to be washed anyway.”
“Thank you.” Declan dropped all the bags on the couch. “I need to head back to the office. Don’t wait up.”
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he ambled over to me, placed his warm hand on my arm, and kissed the top of Joey’s head. Like Sally had said, my ovaries felt like they were about to burst.
He’s so your boss. He’s your boss. You need this job. Don’t mess it up.
I repeated the mantra in my head until the desire to stand on my tippy toes and kiss him subsided. Thank God he had plans to spend the rest of the afternoon in his office.
Mrs. Ross left around seven at night after she had washed all the new clothes, helped me put it all away, and made dinner for Declan and me. I was so glad she had stayed to help. Even though I had experience with babies, getting everything set up was a ton of work.
When Joey finally went down for the night, I was beat. My back hurt and my eyes felt like someone had sprayed them with sand. Like a zombie with my pajamas in hand, I stumbled into the hallway bathroom and ran the hot water.
I stood under the warm spray and slowly began to relax.
To think there was a time when I wanted children so bad.
Badly enough to put up with someone like Steve for a whole year.
Badly enough to make an appointment with an obstetrician to research my options.
I had a whole plan laid out. Until bit by bit it all fell apart.
Tears stung my eyes, and I had to cover my mouth to stifle a cry.
At least now I was on a solid path to get my job back.
So much for synchronicity.
Declan had said that word to me at the baby shop. Of course, now every time I thought of it, his voice was in my head, with his sexy British accent—synchronicity. Before I knew it, my hand had slipped from my belly down to my pussy.
Oh, shit. I couldn’t do that in his bathroom. What the hell was wrong with me? I shut off the water and grabbed a towel off the rack. I chalked up my mood swing—sad to horny—to the long day I had taking care of a baby. And dealing with Declan’s indelible charm.
I donned my pajama shorts and tank top, quickly ran my fingers through my wet hair, and brushed my teeth. Staring at my reflection, I mumbled the same words over and over.
He’s your boss. Don’t think of him that way. You’re only here for thirty days, and then you’ll be scot-free.
I was still thinking of my new mantra, and when I opened the door I didn’t see Declan until his bare chest was pressed up against my somewhat wet boobs. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were home.”
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in the bathroom. I assumed you were sleeping.” He talked so fast, I wasn’t sure I caught all the words.
He inhaled, and his body heat fell over me like warm summer rain, lapping at my skin and my aching nipples. I stood there frozen waiting for him to retreat and go back to his suite.
“Right then. Good night.” He dipped his head once, the way I’d seen suit-clad gentlemen do in period movies.
“Good night.”
When he stepped back, I got a good look at his defined pecs. The man was built like a demigod. Not my words—that was the caption that came with one of the most recent pictures of him on a UK tabloid Twitter feed. I blinked to focus on the real thing in front of me.
Maybe it was my own imagination, but I felt his hand slide down my back and around my waist before he turned around and headed for his door.
A whole month in Declan’s home, a whole month of bare-chested run-ins in the middle of the hallway, a whole month with the kind of family that could never be mine.
This was going to be the longest thirty days of my life.