8. Alistair
ALISTAIR
Ididn’t think it was my nature to be an eavesdropper, but something about Madison seemed to bring it out in me, because here I was again, standing in the hallway outside the kitchen, waiting to hear Madison’s answer.
My heart thudded at the base of my throat for some inexplicable reason. What did I care about what she chose? Did I need a nanny? Yes. Was Madison interested in being my nanny? All signs pointed to no. Including the fact that she’d literally told me no.
And yet I was holding my breath, basking in the anticipation of Madison’s next word. Why wasn’t she saying anything, damn it? I resisted the urge to peek around the corner. To take in her expression and try to dissect what those fluttering eyelashes meant.
“Daddy?” Kenna said suddenly, sounding louder than she’d ever been in her life. “Why are we standing here? I want to finish my food.”
I gave her a flat look as she grinned up at me. Really, oh darling daughter of mine?
I might as well have handed her a megaphone.
She squirmed in my arms, and I fought the flash of embarrassment that itched at the back of my neck as I surged through the doorway with Kenna in my arms.
“Cranberry crisis averted?” Locke asked.
“Good as new,” I said, plopping Kenna down on her stool.
I glanced over to find Madison giving me a look. The fact that I was already getting to know her looks should probably have concerned me. This one screamed, You were listening to my private conversations again!
I lifted my shoulder. Was it my fault she was constantly having private conversations in places where it was so very easy for me to listen in? Her words from last night came to mind: He’s simultaneously the grumpiest and the hottest man I’ve ever met in my life.
I swallowed hard, trying not to let my gaze run down her body. That didn’t matter, because this wasn’t about attraction. I wanted to know what the woman was going to say in answer to Locke’s offer.
I wanted to know if she was staying!
But she didn’t respond to that.
She simply tore her eyes away from mine, cheeks pinking. “This ham is amazing,” she said to Locke, changing the subject.
I ground my teeth in frustration, replacing the food on Kenna’s plate, moving the cranberries out of the way as she dove for the container.
“I’ll pass your compliments on to Agnes,” Locke said. “But if you think that’s good, wait until you try dessert. Christmas pudding with brandy butter. You’ll never be the same.”
“That alone sounds like it’s worth staying,” she murmured.
I perked up at her words, but her expression was difficult to read. Was it just a throwaway comment? Was she messing with me? Why was I so bothered about this trespasser potentially leaving here with Locke?
I scowled down at my own plate of food, and we said nothing else on the matter for the rest of dinner.
Instead, Locke regaled us with tales of Christmas morning shenanigans at Weston’s estate.
By the time we wrapped up, ferrying plates to the dishwasher and leftovers to the fridge, I’d stewed so much about her answer that my face was set in a permanent frown.
Locke caught Madison’s arm as she passed behind him.
“I’m going to head out,” he murmured. “Do you need a lift into town?”
There was a pause. My heart pounded. “No,” she finally said. “I’m fine here for now.”
“Daddy, can I play with Princess in the morning?” Kenna asked.
I set the storybook on the nightstand and pulled the purple comforter up, tucking her in the way she liked—burrito style. “Maybe,” I said. “We’ll have to ask Madison.”
Kenna hummed. “I like Madison.”
I stroked a few loose hairs back from her face. She yawned, her little nose wrinkling in that way that made my heart ache for how adorable it was. “Do you?”
“She’s nice,” Kenna said sleepily. “She plays princesses with me.”
And that’s really all she needed in the world. A sharp ache stabbed somewhere deep as I thought of Jessica, wondering how much Kenna really remembered of her mother who’d been gone now for well over a year. Would she one day ask me questions about the woman who’d abandoned her?
Stealing from my company, ruining my life…I hated Jessica for those things.
But I hated her far more for leaving Kenna. For dumping her daughter and running.
It boiled my blood just thinking of it, and I fought through the surge of anger. Kenna didn’t deserve to see that, so I stuffed the feelings away, leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, sweetheart. Have a good sleep.”
“Can you put on my nightlight?”
“Of course.” I stood, turning her white noise machine on low and making sure her nightlight was plugged in. By the time I reached the door, she was yawning again.
“Night, Daddy.”
“Night, love.” I pulled the door most of the way closed, then headed down the hall in search of Madison. I popped my head into the library, but she wasn’t there. I continued on, doing the rounds and making sure the house was locked up as I looked for her.
I eventually found her back in the guest room, scrolling on her phone. She’d dragged one of the wingback chairs closer to the fireplace. Princess was asleep on the carpet by her feet.
I reached out and knocked on the open door. Her eyes flickered over to me, one eyebrow arching. Princess popped her head up, flashing me those teeth, but at least she didn’t start barking. “You’ve decided to stay,” I said.
“I’ve decided to stay,” she agreed, sitting up straighter. “And…I’ve also decided to take you up on your offer to be Kenna’s nanny. Temporarily.”
Thank Christ! I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe. “What made you change your mind?”
“Well, you weren’t wrong,” she muttered, setting her phone aside and rolling her eyes. “The van repair wasn’t a cost I’d planned for. Nor was having to bunk in at a hotel somewhere until it’s fixed.”
“So it was the salary that swayed you?”
“Partly. Kenna’s also pretty cool,” Madison admitted. “Which is impressive considering—” She waved vaguely in my direction.
I huffed. “Watch it, or you’ll be on thin ice before you even sign your contract.”
Madison’s lips puckered, amused. “I suppose there are worse things I could be doing for some spare cash. At least you have a fridge full of Christmas dinner leftovers and decent Wi-Fi. I think we can put up with each other for a few more days, then I’ll be on my way.”
Now that she’d agreed to the nanny position, the wheels in my head started turning.
Based on how poorly my hunt for a new nanny was going, it seemed very likely that I’d need Madison around for longer than a few days, especially with Weston and Lena away.
And I’d likely get better candidates if I wasn’t in so much of a rush.
After all, whoever I hired would need time to relocate.
I figured that could take several weeks.
“Counteroffer,” I said. “Give me a month.”
Madison’s eyebrows rose dramatically. “A month! Are you kidding me?”
“Nannies aren’t just falling out of the sky, especially way out here.
I need more than a couple days to find the right person to help me with Kenna.
By the time that whole process plays out, it’ll be weeks.
” She made a disgruntled groan. “For every week you stay,” I said before she could flat-out refuse. “I’ll pay you a bonus.”
“I can’t stay here for a month!”
“Why not?”
“I have places to go!”
This again? “You’re out here doing the tourist thing, right?”
“Not exactly, but go ahead.”
“So I’ll throw in perks on top of the salary.
I founded Voyages. That means I have a ton of connections.
I can get you VIP travel experiences all across the country.
You want a luxury train trip through the Highlands?
Or a stay in Glenapp Castle with private boat trips to see seals and dolphins?
Or a private charter around the Isle of Skye?
Just tell me where you’re going, and I’ll make it happen. ”
“It’s not just a tourist thing,” Madison huffed. She got to her feet, hands on her hips.
“Then what is it?” I asked. What was she really doing here, and how did I get her to stay longer?
She sighed heavily, the puff of air ruffling her blonde bangs.
“This isn’t some aimless trek around Scotland,” she said.
“This is personal for me.” She glanced at the crackling fire.
I could tell she was mulling something over.
Something she wasn’t necessarily sure she wanted to share.
She caught my eyes again and I knew she wasn’t going to say more.
Could I live with that? I thought about putting my trust in her with my daughter.
Under normal circumstances, I would run an extensive background check on her.
While I could and would still do that, I wanted to hear why she was here from her.
What drew her to Braeburn and sent her crawling through the doggy door besides the weather?
I rubbed the back of my head, different decisions warring in my mind. I needed to do right by my daughter, and Kenna and Madison already had a strong connection. And I would be here with them. A background check would rule out any known criminal activity. Mostly.
“Eventually, I’ll want to hear the actual story,” I warned, watching her face.
She gave me a curt nod. “Eventually,” she repeated.
Fuck it. “You agree to nanny for a month and, if I can, I will help with whatever it is you are doing here. Deal?”
“Deal,” she said in return, and I grinned, relieved that at least Kenna’s care was sorted.
“Welcome to Dunhope, Maddy Poppins.” At her grimace, I couldn’t resist chuckling. “Too much?”
“Way too much.”