Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
NATALIE
“How did yesterday go?” Cathy asked, her voice booming through the Subaru’s speakers.
“Great,” I lied. “She’s a sweetie.”
Violet was a tutu-toting terrorist, but there was no way in hell a seven-year-old girl was going to best me.
That little brat.
Violet and I had ended yesterday in war.
I was still a bit mystified at the kid’s strength. She’d picked up that full vase, water and all, and had accidentally dumped it on me. It was a miracle I hadn’t gotten a thorn in my eye.
She’d bested me yesterday. I’d give her the point. But today, I was coming prepared. That was... if I’d be allowed to watch her again. Maddox might banish me from his parents’ home, and though I’d hate not seeing him again, I wouldn’t be heartbroken. I’d find another way to pay for Magdalena’s repairs.
After the red roses incident yesterday, he’d stared at me like he’d seen the Ghost of Christmas Past. Immediately after I’d wrung my turtleneck out over Violet’s head, she’d stomped upstairs in a furious flurry. I’d managed to force a polite smile for Maddox, all too aware that my white camisole had left little to the imagination, then had followed his daughter, soggy sweater in hand.
When five o’clock had rolled around, he’d found us both at the small table in Violet’s room. She’d been coloring in a Santa book, holding the crayons so fiercely she’d broken the entire collection of reds.
Maddox had offered to walk me to the door, but I’d told him I could find my own way out. Then with a saccharine-sweet farewell to Violet, I’d escaped to the safety of my own home where I’d had to watch Home Alone twice to improve my mood. If I did get fired today, I’d already queued up The Polar Express and a pint of ice cream.
“Did you hear anything from Mr. Holiday?” I asked. Like how I’d lost my temper and drenched his daughter in rose-stem water.
“Uh, no. Should I expect to?”
“Nope,” I said, too brightly. “It’s all good.”
“Thanks again for doing this. I’m off tomorrow and Saturday for Christmas but you have my cell if you need anything.”
“Will do. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.”
I ended the call, continuing down the road and turning onto the Holidays’ private lane. The house was as impressive today as it had been yesterday, and when I parked in the front loop, I took a moment to appreciate the details I’d missed yesterday. The copper gutters. The carved gables. The driveway—heated, judging by the lack of snow and wisps of steam rising from the black surface.
What would it be like to have that kind of money? I doubted I’d ever know and that was all right by me. I’d grown up in a normal, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home full of love and laughter. That was a currency of its own, and in that regard, I was a wealthy woman.
Not that the Holiday house wasn’t full of love. Yesterday, I’d bumped into both Heath and Tobias. With Bozeman growing like it was and our social circles running in opposite directions, I hadn’t seen either of them in years.
The twins, like Maddox, had grown from the lanky boys I’d remembered in high school to incredibly handsome men, though not quite as good-looking as their older brother.
I climbed out of Dad’s car, instantly missing the heated seats. Barney or Barley was growing on me with his modern comforts. I still love you, Magdalena. Always.
My breath billowed in a cloud as I opened the back door and retrieved my tote bag. The zipper bulged at the seam. This morning, I’d loaded every trick in my arsenal.
Bring it, Violet.
Squaring my shoulders, I headed for the porch, about to ring the bell when the heavy walnut door flung open and there he was.
Hello, Maddox Holiday.
Damn, but he was gorgeous.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning. Are you going to fire me?”
He laughed and that dazzling white smile with the dimple appeared. The flock of Christmas carolers who took up residence in a corner of my mind this time of year chorused, “Hal-le-lu-jah.”
“Honestly, I’m in a bit of shock.” He held the door for me as I stepped inside.
“So the jury’s still out on me being fired?” I set my tote down to strip off my coat and hang it on a hook.
“No, shocked that you came back. Each one of your predecessors would have bailed. ”
“I’m not the bailing type. And today, I came prepared.” I hefted up my bag and smacked its side.
“My parents are here today.” Maddox led us to the living room. “I suspect my brothers will be around whenever their stomachs drive them here for sustenance. I’ll be in the office most of the day but am available if you need anything.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Where is Violet?” Come out, come out, little one. It’s time to play.
Like she heard my silent summons, Violet trudged into the room. No tutu today. Instead she was wearing a pair of jeans and a fuzzy red sweater.
Red was most definitely her color, and not because there was a real possibility that she was Lucifer’s spawn. It brought out the milk-chocolate strands in her long, brown hair. Her blue eyes popped, just like her father’s. She’d be the most beautiful child in the world if not for that epic scowl.
We’d work on fixing that today.
“Hi, Violet.” I smiled.
She glared.
I had to give this kid props. She was a formidable opponent, but I was not your typical nanny. I liked to think that Dad had raised me tougher than your average caretaker.
“Violet, Natalie said hello,” Maddox said, a warning in his tone.
She crossed her arms over her chest and gave a harrumph.
Maddox’s gaze, full of remorse, met mine.
“Don’t worry.” I winked. “We’ll be fine.”
“I can get my mom?—”
“Nope.” I cut him off when I saw a glint of hope in Violet’s gaze. This was exactly what she wanted. “All good here. I’m here”—I locked eyes with Violet—“for the whole day. All. Day. Long.”
Maddox looked between the two of us. “Um... ”
“Should we head up to your room, Violet? I brought some things with me.”
She glared at my bag. “What things?”
I didn’t bother answering. I simply turned and walked to the staircase, my chin held high. When I heard the smack of her shoes on the wooden stairs behind me, I knew I’d won.
Maddox stared at us from the living room, his hands on his hips and a look of befuddlement on his handsome face.
Poor guy. His kid was walking all over him with those glitter slippers.
Yesterday, Violet had informed me that they were moving to Montana. She hadn’t seemed happy about it. Maybe that was the reason for this attitude. Maybe it was Maddox’s work schedule. Or maybe she was just used to getting her way.
Well, not with me. Not this week.
We reached the top of the stairs and headed down the hallway toward Violet’s bedroom when a woman emerged from another room. I recognized Hannah Holiday immediately, not only from the plethora of real estate signs around town but from the woman I remembered cheering for her sons at high school football and basketball games.
She’d never once forgotten to bring an air horn.
“Oh, hello.” She smiled. “You must be Natalie.”
“I am.” I smiled back. “We never formally met, but I graduated with Heath and Tobias.”
“Yes, of course.” Hannah nodded. “They told me last night. We had to get out the yearbooks.”
“Ooof. Please tell me you didn’t see evidence of the bang-pocalypse my sophomore year.” And please tell me Maddox wasn’t there too.
“That’s an awkward age for everyone, dear.”
I laughed as Violet stepped up to us, staring back and forth as we spoke .
Hannah touched her granddaughter’s shoulder. “Baby, why don’t you go get out something to play with while I visit with Natalie for a minute.”
“But, Nana?—”
“Off you go.”
Violet frowned but obeyed.
When she disappeared into her bedroom, Hannah blew out a long breath. “That girl.”
“She’s got spirit.”
“Ha!” Hannah laughed. “You’re so polite.”
“Who’s polite?” Keith came striding our way from behind Hannah. He saluted me with his coffee cup. “Morning. You must be Natalie.”
“Guilty.”
“Good for you yesterday,” he said. “I wish I would have been here to see it. Violet can be a little shi?—”
“Keith.” Hannah’s elbow jabbed her husband’s side.
“Hey.” He frowned at his wife. “Sorry. What I meant to say was that Violet needs someone who will give her a dose of her own, er... sass.”
“I might have gotten a little carried away.”
He chuckled. “Nah.”
“Okay.” Hannah checked her watch, then looked to Keith. “We’d better get going. Our meeting is at nine and I want to swing by the office first.”
“Every year I swear it’s our last Christmas party and every year she convinces me to do it again.” Keith sighed. “Good luck today, Natalie.”
“Same to you.” I smiled, then headed to Violet’s room. No surprise, I caught her sprinting away from the doorway where she’d been eavesdropping. “I brought something for you.”
“I don’t want it.” She plopped down at her desk and plucked a red marker from the pile. Then she began drawing .
On. The. Table.
Those markers were washable and it wouldn’t take more than a wet cloth to clean the surface, but when her blue eyes flickered my way, I shrugged, feigning indifference as I went to the bed, sat down and unzipped my bag.
The contents were irresistible, even to the most difficult of children.
“Fine by me.” I dug through the tote, shoving aside the jigsaw puzzle, the Lego set and the teacups. I went straight for my favorite treasure at the bottom.
Violet spotted it as I tugged it free. She gasped.
Victory. Sweet, sweet victory.
“Hello? Anyone in here?” Maddox called as his knuckles rapped on the doorway to Violet’s room.
I glanced up from the book we were reading as Maddox flipped open the flap of our tent and bent to look inside.
“Hey, Daddy.” Violet smiled. “We built a tent.”
“Hey, beautiful. It looks great.”
“We’d better get started cleaning it up.” I closed the book and set it aside. Then nudged Violet. “Ready?”
She nodded and crawled out first.
I collected the other books we’d been reading, or having Violet read to me for practice, then joined her and Maddox outside the tent.
“Are you done working?” Violet asked him.
He nodded, his gaze skeptical as he looked between the two of us. “Uh... yeah. I’m done.”
“Can we do something fun?”
“Sure.” He kept looking between us, the crease between his eyebrows deepening. Even I was a little shocked at how quickly Violet’s attitude had changed.
I’d won our war using the oldest trick in the book.
Good, old-fashioned bribery.
“Let’s clean up first,” I told Violet. “Then I’ll get out of here.”
“Okay.” She immediately went to work, dismantling the blankets we’d hauled out of the closet.
Hannah had come in mid-construction and given us extra sheets. That had been after a delightful lunch of grilled cheese and tomato bisque made by the chef.
As Violet and I had sat at the dining room table, eating in comfortable silence, both Hannah and Keith had joined us. Not long after, Heath and Tobias had arrived for a meal. The only Holiday missing had been Maddox.
The looks of sheer amazement at Violet’s behavior had been a balm to my soul.
Had I worked a Holiday miracle? Yes. Yes, I had.
The satisfaction of taming Violet was nearly worth as much as I was being paid for this job.
Maddox joined to help tear apart the tent, folding a blanket beside me. He leaned in close to whisper, “There are no missing limbs. And no blood. I was expecting blood.”
I grinned and picked up one of the pillows we’d been using as our tent floor. “Not today.”
Assembling the tent had taken an hour. Dismantling less than ten minutes.
When it was done, Maddox bent to kiss his daughter’s hair. “How was your day?”
“Fun.” She looked up to me, and I gave her a wink. “Can we go in the hot tub?”
“Yes, but not until after dinner.”
Violet frowned. “But?— ”
I cleared my throat and that frown disappeared.
She shot me a look, then muttered, “Okay.”
Maddox’s mouth fell open.
“Thanks for a fun day, Violet. I’ll see you after Christmas.”
“With your bag.”
I nodded. “With my bag.”
“Okay, good. Daddy, can I have some screen time?”
“Go ahead. Your iPad is in the theater room.”
Violet raced away without a backward glance.
“What did you do with my real daughter and can we keep the imposter for the night?”
I laughed and walked to the bed to pick up my bag. With it slung over my shoulder, I patted its side. “Bribery works nine out of ten times.”
“What’s in there?”
“I’ll never tell.” I zipped my lips shut, then headed for the door.
“You’re really not going to tell me?” Maddox asked, catching up to me in the hallway.
“Nope.” I smirked. “That’s between Violet and me.”
“Today seemed to go better.”
“Second days usually do. She’s a good kid. The feisty ones are always the most fun.”
Maddox stopped, his jaw slackened.
“What?” I slowed.
He swallowed hard. “You’re the first nanny to ever tell me she was a good kid.”
“Seriously?” My heart squeezed. That was, well... awful.
“Seriously.” He pressed a hand to his heart and the smile he gave me was blinding.
“Oh.” A blush crept into my cheeks. “Well, she is. But can I give you some unsolicited advice? You can say no.”
“Please. ”
I didn’t want to overstep, but today had been surprisingly easy. Wrangling Violet hadn’t been the challenge I’d expected. Yes, I’d bribed her all morning, but along with each reward had come some firm and unwavering rules. She’d followed them without fail. Not only was she spirited, but that girl was incredibly smart.
“She has so much potential. She’s funny and witty and thoughtful. She notices more than most kids her age. And she has these sweet moments when she just melts your heart.”
Maddox beamed under his daughter’s praise.
“But . . .”
Off went the light.
“She wants attention. She needs boundaries. And she’s maybe a little... spoiled.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “That’s my fault. I don’t spend enough time with her, and so during the time we do have, I can’t seem to tell her no.”
“I get it. I’ve worked for a lot of parents with demanding careers.”
“What did they do?”
“Hired me, of course,” I teased. “I don’t have the answer. One of the moms I worked for would cook dinner with her kids every Friday night. Another family had game night on Tuesdays. It doesn’t have to be all day, every day. Just something special that you stick to. Find out what works for you and Violet.”
“I will.” He nodded. “Thanks. For today and for the advice.”
We walked down the hallway toward the staircase. As soon as we reached the balcony, the scent of fresh pine from the Christmas tree filled my nose. Mixed with Maddox’s spicy cologne, the combination was intoxicating. My fingers glided over the smooth handrail, and for just a moment, I let myself pretend that he remembered me.
“I was hoping to ask you for a favor,” Maddox said as he escorted me to the door.
“What favor?” I plucked my coat from a hook and pulled it on. Unless he asked me to give up sugar in December, whatever favor he asked for—sexual or not—would likely be met with a resounding yes.
“Tomorrow night is my family’s annual Christmas party downtown. Mom and Dad invite a ton of their friends. They normally host it the week before Christmas, but the place was booked for a wedding, so the timing worked out that this year it falls on Christmas Eve. I guess enough of their friends didn’t mind so they went ahead and scheduled it. I haven’t been home for the party in years, but it means a lot to them. And I’d really like it to go off without a hitch.”
“You need someone to watch Violet.”
“Please.” Oh, God, he was giving me the save-me-Natalie eyes. How was I supposed to say no to that look?
“I know you’re under no obligation to help, but I don’t know anyone else. There will be a lot of people who want my attention at the party, and I heard you a few minutes ago. Violet needs my attention too. But this party... I’ll be swarmed. Everyone will want to know about why I’m moving home and what I’ll be doing with my business. I don’t want Violet to have to hang by my side, bored to tears the whole time. She’s never been to this party either and I’d like her to have a good time. And, uh... there was an incident.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Full disclosure. Last year, I took Violet to a New Year’s Eve party in LA. It was the same situation. I was bombarded and she snuck away to the kitchen. She pulled over an entire rack filled with three hundred crème br?lées.”
“Eek. ”
“Ask me if we were invited back this year.”
I giggled. “Your kid has style, I’ll give her that.”
“Just a few hours.”
Christmas Eve was my least favorite non-holiday, holiday. Usually I’d spend time with my family, but Christmas Eve typically involved a last-minute trip to the mall and I’d spend hours being bumped into by husbands who’d forgotten to buy their wives gifts.
So many people loved the anticipation that came with Christmas Eve. Me? Not so much.
I was patient in many ways, but when it came to gifts and orgasms, I preferred instant gratification.
As tempting as Dad’s famous Cheez Whiz charcuterie board was not, a fancy downtown soiree might make Christmas Eve bearable. I’d heard about the Holiday Christmas party for years but had never been invited. And this year, Maddox Holiday himself was asking me to attend.
Yeah, it was as the hired help but fourteen-year-old me didn’t give a crap about that detail.
For her, this would practically be a prom date.
“Do I get to wear a fancy dress?”
“If that makes you happy, then yes. If that makes you lean toward a no, then wear pajamas and slippers.”
“I like fancy dresses.” It wasn’t uncommon for clients to ask me to attend special events. I happened to have a few dresses that I’d bought for those rare occasions and each was collecting dust in my closet.
The corner of his mouth turned up. “Seven o’clock. The Baxter.”
“I’ll see you there.” I reached for the doorknob, but Maddox beat me to it, brushing my knuckles with his fingertips. Sparks flew beneath my skin. The air crackled between us.
He stilled, his eyes finding mine. Then they dropped, tracing the line of my nose before landing on my mouth. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
We stood there, too close for a moment too long, until he cleared his throat, and I pulled my hand away, ducking my chin to hide my smile.
Maddox Holiday had just stared at my lips, and unless my radar was broken—it might be—he’d felt the sparks too.
Teenage Natalie did a fist pump.
Adult Natalie smacked teenage Natalie’s hand.
You’re his employee . Sort-of employee. There were boundaries I wouldn’t cross. Not again.
The cool air from outside was welcome on my overheated cheeks as he opened the door. I expected him to wave from the porch, but instead he fell into step beside me as we walked to my car. He even opened the back door for me to stow my bag.
“See you tomorrow, Nat. Everyone used to call you Nat, right?”
“They did. Your mom said you guys went through old yearbooks last night. Did your brothers tell you that?”
“No.” He tapped his temple and smiled that sexy smile. His dimple appeared and my heart did a cartwheel in the snow. “Tomorrow.”
Tomorrow .
One word and I was already starting to like this Christmas Eve.