Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Flora
The feeling of embarrassment was subsiding as a larger dose of idiocy took over.
I could have simply said that I didn’t have a boyfriend.
I don’t have a boyfriend. Five words were all I needed to utter, but instead I had rambled.
If I really thought about it, I was certain that by five words in, I was no closer to addressing my non-existent boyfriend than a stammered don’t.
Mr Walker, Maurice, made me nervous. Nervous like a man never had before, but why?
Yes, he was going to be my boss and part of that package made him my landlord too, but still.
And okay, I had eyes in my head, he was attractive, very, and I did fancy him in a look don’t touch kind of way.
The way he’d looked at me a couple of times had made me think it wasn’t a one-sided attraction.
Did the unknown make me nervous? I wasn’t sure what he’d do at any given second, would he act on that look?
However, I should try to remain calm around him and not make myself look any more stupid than I already had.
I needed to focus on my work, on the children and make this a long and successful career move as well as fulfilling the children’s needs.
I followed behind as I was shown around my rooms; an open plan kitchen and lounge with a few doors off the main room that housed the bathroom, cupboards, the boiler and heating controls.
Maurice stopped at the final door and flung it open before disappearing through it.
I again followed until he turned to face me in.
The bedroom. “If there is anything else you need or would like, please say and I will ensure it is here for you.”
“Thank you.” I offered him a genuinely warm smile. His offer was beyond generous as the accommodation was not only furnished but furnished to a very high standard. “But everything I could possibly want or need is here.”
A sudden rise in temperature, or maybe a charge in the air moved through the room. He stepped closer and his gaze dropped to my lips. He licked his own, but his eyes never left mine as he spoke. “I’m pleased. I want you to be happy here.”
“I’m sure I will be.” I was uncertain of anything at that moment, and that probably included my own name, but what I did know was that I desperately wanted to be happy here.
“Good. That makes me happy too.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
He grinned and I vowed to stop speaking. I closed my eyes to gather my thoughts and was startled to find him much closer upon opening my eyes again. Shit! He was going to kiss me and I knew I’d be unable to stop him. I wouldn’t want to.
“Let’s finalise the last couple of details. In my office.” He looked startled, as if he had no recollection of apparently preparing to kiss me.
He turned, and once more, I dutifully followed him all the way back to his office.
Sitting opposite him, I answered all of his questions relating to my bank details, tax information and associated benefits with my role and then he stunned me by explaining that my credit card would be delivered once I started work.
“I don’t need a credit card.” The words came out with a slight stammer. I had no clue what the hell was going on here. Why was he getting me a credit card and what was I expected to give up in return?
“I beg to differ.”
For the first time, I got a glimmer of the barrister he was stern, forthright, and not used to being argued with.
“I don’t want your credit card.” This time my tone was firmer, and the words were better strung together.
His eyes lifted until they held mine, their journey only halted momentarily to stare at my lips again. “Flora, you need the credit card.”
My mouth opened to object once more, but he continued to speak.
“If the children need something or there is an unexpected expense for the house, food even, it makes sense for me to pay direct rather than you paying and me reimbursing.”
I nodded. That made perfect sense, plus, I might not have the funds to cover the costs in the first place.
“Also, if you were unable to pay at the time, you would need to contact me and if I am with a client or in court, I may not be available.”
“Of course. Thank you.” I still wasn’t happy about this, but what could I say?
I refuse to have your credit card Mr Walker, or maybe I could just stick it in a drawer somewhere.
He’d never know, would he? The little voice in my head that asked how I would explain myself in the event that one of the situations he’d described occurred and I had no means of payment, made a fair point. Looked like I was having a credit card.
He smiled and either I was imagining things, or he was watching my lips again.
I licked across the dryness of them and watched, slightly amused, when he leapt to his feet and hurried for the door.
“Right then, Flora, let’s get you back to Bea and the children and then I can drop you back at the station in time for your train. ”
I’d been back home for two days, and I was struggling to talk about anything that didn’t involve my new job. Maddie listened to me rave about the kids and Bea, and of course, Maurice.
“So, what’s Daddy like?” she asked with a suggestive wiggle of her perfect shaped brows.
I shook my head at her, mainly at her calling my new boss, Daddy. “Never call him that again.”
She shrugged and I saw the intention in her blue eyes. Maddie never gave up that easily. Hence her repeated question. “So, what’s he like?”
“He’s nice. Seems a really good dad and Bea says he is. She gets on with him really well which gives me hope that I will too.”
“Hmmm,” my sister muttered.
“What’s, ‘hmmm’?”
“Him and Bea, do you suppose there was more? Maybe that’s why he and his wife split…”
I had wondered that when I’d first seen the easy banter between them, but then she’d spoke about her boyfriend, and it was clear she was head over heels for him. “She’s got a boyfriend and they seem very happy. They’re having a baby, so, I think not.”
“He’s available then?”
I laughed at Maddie’s deadpan expression and air of optimism. “He is off limits.”
She shrugged. “He’s not my boss, maybe you could introduce us.”
My mouth dropped open, horror spreading across my face.
“Oh my God!” Maddie moved closer until she was sat on the edge of the coffee table, putting us eye to eye as I shifted my arse on the sofa. “You like him, like, you know, like-like him.”
I could feel the heat radiating from my face as I struggled for words, and as much as I wanted to offer my sister a denial of her accusation, I couldn’t.
Apart from anything else, she would see through me because she could read me like a book.
“He is off limits,” I repeated. “Please drop it.” There was no way I was entertaining the idea of anything actually happening with Maurice, certainly not with Maddie who’d never let this go if I gave her even a whiff of encouragement.
“Flora, I get why you might choose not to pursue things with him, but I am just excited to see you showing an interest . . . it’s been too long. So, if you choose to friend-zone him . . .”
I frowned at her choice of words. He wasn’t my friend and although he and Bea seemed to have a friendly banter, I didn’t really think they were friends either.
I didn’t believe he was the sort of man to become the cliché of the rich, single dad who ended up shagging the nanny.
No. He would keep things professional I was sure.
“Whatever.” My sister waved off my unspoken objection. “You’ve boss-zoned him, better?”
I was beyond relieved when my phone rang giving me the get out I needed.
We’d managed to avoid the ‘Maurice’ discussion for another week until I was packing up my old and trusty car for the journey to my new home and workplace.
My emotions were all over the place as I turned to face Maddie.
I was naturally nervous, but there was excitement there too, bubbling in my belly while a knot of sadness sat in my chest at the idea of moving away from my sister.
“Just be careful.”
“I will. I’ll keep to the speed limit and take it steady,” I promised as I found myself pulled in for a hug.
“Good, but that’s not what I meant. I was thinking when you get there. With the boss.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I don’t need to be careful with the boss because there is not and will never be anything more than employer and employee, regardless of how hot he is.”
“Tell me how hot he is again,” she demanded with her almost customary wiggle of brows.
I laughed, glad that she wasn’t going to make this a big or uncomfortable thing. “Really hot, scorching, but I have to go, so use your imagination and it still might not be hot enough.”
“Damn! I need photos, send me all the photos.”
With a final hug and another giggle, I got into my car and sending a prayer to the heavens that it would make the journey in one piece, I set off for my new job, home and life.
When I finally arrived at my destination, several hours later than planned, I was a little embarrassed.
My desire for my car to arrive in one piece hadn’t quite panned out.
The fact that I was climbing down from the cab of a breakdown truck confirmed that whilst my car was in one piece, it wasn’t actually working.
With the recovery driver already out and preparing to unload my car, I turned to find the children looking out of the largest window to the front of the house, their faces full of excitement and wonder while their father was striding towards me.
“Flora,” he called, a frown creasing his brow.
“Sorry,” I began, sensing some kind of annoyance or at least an objection to my heap of a car being deposited on his pristine drive where his own immaculate and perfectly working car sat in front of his beautiful house.
“Are you okay? What happened?” Already walking around my car, he examined it. “Well, it doesn’t look like a collision.”
“I broke down.” I couldn’t help but smile back at my boss who seemed genuinely relieved that I was safe, despite the eyesore of a car that was about to take up residence on his driveway. “I’ll look into finding a garage as soon as I can—”
The recovery driver cut me off with a chuckle, gaining mine and Maurice’s attention. “Sorry, but it might cost more to put right than to replace it.”
“Shit!” I muttered, wondering just how long it would take me to be able to get a replacement. “Sorry,” I quickly added, thinking cursing and profanity might not be appropriate while my boss was within ear shot, especially as my role was to care for his young children.
He waved off my curse. “I’d be inclined to agree.” Taking the keys from the driver, he turned to me. “Leave it with me, Flora. I’ll have someone collect it tomorrow unless you know someone yourself?”
I smiled across at him as the recovery driver climbed back into his truck with a wave and a cheerio. “No, I have no clue of anyone locally. Thank you.”
He extended his arm with a warm and welcoming smile that seemed to be directing me to head into the house.
“After such an eventful trip down, let’s get you a drink.” He glanced down at his watch. “Tea maybe, it’s a little early for anything stronger.”
As much as I could have gone for a glass of wine after my morning, he had a point. “Oh, my luggage,” I stammered, heading back towards my car that was packed to the rafters with my belongings.
Maurice shook his head and wore an expression that suggested there was no room for debate. “After tea.”
I demonstrated my acquiescence by walking towards the house where the children were still in the window, waving and smiling, their expressions contagious judging by the returning wave and smile I offered them.
Nursing a cup of tea that Maurice had made for me, saw me sitting opposite the children who watch on in horror as I dunked a jammie biscuit into my cup.
“I don’t think you should do that,” Rosie told me.
Slightly distracted, it took a second to realise she was referring to my biscuit that at that precise second broke, dropping back into the hot liquid, splashing over the side slightly.
Maurice laughed before taking my cup from me and offering me a towel to dry my hand and the damp patch on my top.
Rosie stared at me and if she didn’t do a complete role reversal so I felt as though I was the three-year-old.
“What happened to your car, Flora?” Craig hadn’t spoken until that point.
“It broke.” It was the truth and I didn’t think the little boy would want the life history of my knackered car.
“Did you break it, or crash it?” He didn’t wait for a response. “Is it because you’re a woman driver? Uncle Nico says–”
Maurice cut him off. “I don’t know that we need to hear the gospel according to Uncle Nico, but Flora’s car broke because it is old and a little bit tired.”
“That’s what Uncle Nico said about Nonna,” Rosie told us, a frown creasing her brow until her father laughed followed by me and Craig.
“Again, I don’t think we need my brother’s words of wisdom.”
Any nerves I’d had dissipated in the moments I had shared with this family I thought I could become very fond of.