Читать книгу The Boss's Baby Arrangement - Catherine Mann - Страница 10

Two

Maureen listened for the familiar click-click of her key in her beach cabana door. The double click meant that the teal-colored cabana was, indeed, actually locked. One click meant a well-targeted gust of wind would knock the door in. She would miss these sorts of quirks when she moved out of the brightly painted cabana and tropical Key Largo.

But that wasn’t happening yet. Shoving the thought aside, Maureen adjusted her satchel filled with notebooks and began her commute to work. A leisurely five-minute walk.

And today, with the sunshine warming her fair skin, she was content to take in her surroundings as she made her way to the Lourdeses’ home residence, built on property they’d bought at the edge of the refuge. Sauntering to the main house—a white beach mansion that always reminded her of the crest of a wave in a storm—she let her mind wander.

Absently, she watched volunteers from town and from farther away gather and disperse on the dock on-site. Even from here, she could hear the bustle of their excitement as the crowd moved toward the fenced and screened areas beneath the white beach mansion on signature Florida Keys stilts.

Eyeing more volunteers who were gathering by the screened areas where recovering animals were kept, she scanned the zone for Easton. Not a trace of him.

Or Xander. After last night, her thoughts tilted back to the dance. To his warm touch, the way he looked after his daughter. The kind of person he was. And those damn blue eyes that cut her to the quick, pierced right through her.

She’d spent most of the night attempting to navigate her sudden attraction to Xander. Not that it really mattered. Instead of admitting that the dance echoed in her dreams last night, she attempted to turn her attention to more practical matters like the school group that was due at the refuge shortly.

Though located on Key Largo, the refuge’s secluded location meant tourists didn’t wander in haphazardly. The public could access the refuge only through a prearranged guided tour. This policy was one Maureen loved. It made the wildlife refuge into her own kind of sanctuary, one that often felt independent of the tourist traps and straw-hat community of the main part of town. The limited public interaction allowed her to enjoy the mingled scent of salt and animals. There was truly a wildness here that called to some latent part of Maureen’s soul.

Surveying her watch, she noted the time. The school children would be here soon. That meant she had to find Easton quickly.

And if she happened to see Xander...well, that’d be just fine by her.

Though, if she were being honest, the thought of accidently on purpose running into him made her giddy. Flashes of last night’s dance pulsed in her mind’s eye again.

What would she do if she actually ran into him anyway? Running a hand through her ringlet hair, Maureen stifled a sigh as Xander came into view.

Well, she certainly was committed now. At least, committed to some harmless small talk with a man who had pushed her sense of wild abandon into the realm worthy of Irish bards.

Biting the inside of her lip, she dropped her hands to her sides. Xander’s smooth walk was uninterrupted as he pulled on his suit coat.

He’d built an office extension onto the refuge when Terri, his wife, had started to volunteer. Terri had fallen in love with Key Largo and her volunteer work. Three years ago, when Maureen had just started with the refuge, Xander had commuted back and forth to Miami for work, using the office at the refuge as a satellite. After Terri passed away, he’d moved here full-time.

Maureen’s thoughts lingered for a moment on her memories of Terri. She had been a quiet, gentle woman. It hadn’t taken Maureen very long to figure out Terri’s heart was bigger than most, and that her kindness and empathy were genuine. Wounded creatures were comforted by Terri’s presence. When Terri had become pregnant, she’d begrudgingly performed office work, though Maureen could tell she’d rather have been among the animals.

After she’d passed away, Xander had poured himself into the refuge. In the beginning, Maureen felt like Xander was trying to find some other piece of Terri here.

Now she felt like the refuge had woven its charm for him, too.

Shrugging his suit coat into place, Xander jogged down the long wooden stairway leading from the home on stilts. “Maureen?”

He said it as if he didn’t recognize her. But, um, well, maybe she had taken more time with her appearance today. Jeans with a loose-fitting T-shirt was her go-to outfit. Minimal makeup—maybe a wave of a mascara wand over her lashes, a pale lip gloss, her wavy hair confined in a high ponytail. But today she looked considerably...nicer. Her fitted shirt revealed curves, and she’d deepened her lip color, daring a deeper nude that made her seem a bit more put-together, a bit more...well, sultry.

“Of course. Do I look that different?” Maureen’s tongue skimmed the back of her teeth, causing her to smile awkwardly, hands flying to a stray strand of her hair that fell in a gentle wave against her chest. So much for nonchalance.

His eyes flicked over her. Slowly—as if he was trying to work something out.

“From last night at the party? Yes.”

“We have a group of schoolchildren coming in for a tour this morning,” she explained quickly. “They’re due any minute and we’re shorthanded. Shouldn’t you be at work?”

Tilting her head to the side, she squinted at him. His top lip curled up, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. Raising his eyebrows, he took a step closer, winking at her, more lighthearted than she could remember him being in the past. “Shouldn’t you, Maureen?”

The smell of pine drifted into the space between them. Xander’s lip was still playfully curled up and she felt a thrill run down her spine as she stared back at him, noticing the way his hair was still damp from a recent shower. Her thoughts stopped there. It felt like ages before she responded.

“I’m looking for your brother.” How did Xander manage to keep from perspiring out here in a suit when she already felt like she was melting in a sauna?

Or melting from a different kind of heat.

“Easton’s running late. We were both up late last night with Rose.”

“You two took care of her?”

“Why is that a surprise?”

“I just assumed someone of your means would lean more on the nanny or call her grandparents.”

“My father has passed away and my mother, uh, travels a lot. As for my former in-laws, they can be rather...overpowering. And Elenora needs her rest to be on the top of her game watching Rose while I’m at work. I’m her father. And my brother worried, as well. He also pitched in early this morning when I needed to snag a shower for work. He should be down soon.” Xander gestured toward the pathway leading to the offices. “Shall we go?”

She stepped forward, aware of him in step beside her, his shoulder almost brushing hers on the narrow, sandy path. “That’s admirable of both of you to take care of Rose. How is she doing?”

“Ear infection, according to the emergency room doctor. I’ll be taking her to her pediatrician to follow up today.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Maureen’s thoughts drifted to Rose—the kind of child that adults fawned over. She was sweet, affectionate and filled with life. Maureen had seen testament to that sprinkled all over his office in the form of finger paintings and photographs. A shrine to childhood and a dedicated father.

Maureen’s own interaction with Rose always left a smile on her face. With tiny fingers, Rose would reach up to play with Maureen’s leather bracelet, touching it carefully as if it was a magical totem. Out of habit, Maureen’s own hand flew to her leather bracelet. Feeling the worn leather, she felt assured. This bracelet had been everywhere with her. A certifying stamp of endurance. “Thanks. But I think we’ve got it covered. Although I have to admit, it’s ironic that it took me and my brother to do one woman’s job.”

“And somewhere women are sighing.”

He laughed.

In the pit of her stomach her nerves became bramble-twisted, much like the palm fronds blowing and tangled by the wind. Those damn blue eyes—they disarmed her senses, unsettling her more than any sounds from wild creatures chattering. Especially today as his gaze darted from her eyes to her lips.

A faint tautness pulled at his cheeks.

Warmth crept up her neck, threatening to flood her cheeks with a schoolgirl blush. Get it together, her inner voice scolded. Taking the cue from her sensibility, she drew in a deep breath and straightened her blouse.

“You’re needed here to take care of animals.” Dropping his gaze, he nodded his head. The momentary flicker of attraction melted off his expression. Xander’s tone and eyes returned to their normal bulldog, businessman-slate stare.

“Of course. She’s your child and doesn’t really know me well.” She held up her hands. “I’ve overstepped and I apologize.”

He sighed. “I apologize. You’re being helpful and I’m being an ass. I have a reputation for that.”

She stayed silent.

“Not going to deny it?” His lip twitched upward.

“I wouldn’t dare call the big boss anything so insulting.”

He laughed. Hard. “You are surprising me left and right. Not at all how I’ve perceived you in the past.”

“You thought about me?” Words tumbled out of her mouth before she thought better of them.

“As your employer.”

“That makes things tricky. And you’ve had...a difficult year.”

“Fourteen months. It’s been fourteen months and three days.” His voice lost an octave, felt like a whisper on a breeze.

“I’m so very sorry for your loss.” An ache of deep empathy pushed hard against her chest. She’d seen the love Xander and Terri had for each other, a love she’d hoped to have in her own marriage.

“Me, too.” His eyes met hers as a gust of island breeze carried the scent of flowers and the sound of distant motors. “Rose means everything to me. She’s all I have left of Terri. I would do anything for my daughter but sometimes—” he thrust a hand through his tousled hair, his head tipping back as he looked up toward the sky “—I just feel like I’m short-changing her.”

She touched his arm lightly. “You’re tired, like any parent. And you’re an amazing father, here for her, along with your brother. And Rose truly has a wonderful nanny. Elenora genuinely cares about her.”

“Of course she does. I can see the affection they share.” Was this the kind of thing she was supposed to say to a man baring his heart and acknowledging his pain? Maureen found the familiar spot in her bottom lip and chewed, wishing she could say something—anything—to take the hurt out of his voice.

“I spend time with her every day.”

“I know that, too.” She hadn’t realized how much she’d noticed about his routine before. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. It’s clear you love her.”

“I do. She’s everything to me.”

“She’s a lucky little girl.”

The space between them thinned and now, shoulder to shoulder, she noticed how the pine soap pushed against a symphony of coffee beans and mint.

Turning to face her, his blue eyes sparked. He took half a step toward her, his own lips parted slightly as he searched her expression.

She stopped chewing her lip and tilted her head to the side to stare back at him, stomach fluttering the longer his gaze held hers.

“Thank you for your help last night organizing the gala.”

“Thank you for the dance last night.”

They stayed like that for a few moments until the buses were pulling up and pulling them back into reality. Away from whatever had electrified the air between them.

* * *

A full day in the office left Xander desperate for some salt air and sunshine. He’d worked, taken Rose to the pediatrician and had just settled her down for a nap. He’d read her a story before she drifted off to sleep. With the nanny on-call, he’d decided to take his brother up on his invitation to check the water samples from the nearby swamp.

He tried to convince himself he was only going out on the boat to become better acquainted with the procedures so he’d be of more use at the next fund-raiser. The fact that Maureen also was on the boat was pure coincidence. Xander tried to tell himself that was an accurate representation of reality.

His attempt to delude himself, however, was a hard sell, it turned out. He couldn’t deny he wanted to be there. He’d looked forward to seeing Maureen and finding out if this attraction to her was just an anomaly.

Easton, his assistant, Portia, Maureen and Xander were all in swimsuits as the low-slung boat putted its way through the water. He tried not to notice Maureen’s toned legs and the way her lavender one-piece swimsuit hugged her curves. Even her messy wind-whipped ponytail was sexy as hell.

Maureen was also a stark contrast to Portia Soto, his brother’s assistant. Portia was also in a one-piece bathing suit, but a long patterned sarong swaddled her body. Portia embodied prim and proper. No detail was too minute to escape her notice. Portia adjusted her oversize hat and sunglasses, though she looked anxious.

So far, Xander couldn’t understand why Portia had taken the job as his brother’s assistant. She was efficient and talented. Of that, there was no doubt. But she seemed to be timid the majority of the time, not necessarily the sort that came immediately to mind when thinking of staff for a wild animal refuge.

Easton sat beside his assistant, who’d plastered herself in the seat with her back pressed against it, her fingers gripping the edge. Poor thing. She looked absolutely miserable and terrified. And while Xander’s first instinct was to talk to the trembling woman, he couldn’t help how his eyes seemed to always find their way back to Maureen.

“Would you like to return to the shore? You don’t have to come with us every time,” Maureen said gently, touching Portia’s arm.

“The doctor relies on my notes.” She nodded to the bag in her hand, though Portia’s eyes darted nervously to the brackish water and swamp animals outside. Clearly this job pushed her limits and yet here she was, anyway.

“They are helpful,” he said absently while leaning over the edge. Wind tore through the boat, pressing Easton’s blue swim trunks and white T-shirt hard against his body.

Maureen clucked her tongue. “A gator’s going to bite your arm off one day.”

Portia turned green.

Maureen’s brogue lilted like the waves. “I’m only teasing.”

Portia looked down and eased one hand free to pull her recorder from her waterproof bag. She began mumbling notes into the mike.

Maureen angled down to Easton. “I think she’s plotting your demise.”

“Possibly. But we have an understanding. We both need each other.”

“It just seems strange she would take a job that scares her silly.”

“I pay well. Not many enjoy this. I trust her and that counts for a helluva lot. Besides, I’m convinced she has an adventurous spirit buried underneath all that starch.” His grin was wicked as he turned to face Maureen. That was his brother all right—always pushing people’s comfort levels and making them laugh.

“If she doesn’t have a heart attack first.”

Portia chimed in, hands once again finding the edge of the seat cushions for stability. “Or die from some flesh-eating bacteria.”

Easton laughed, his chuckles echoing over the water before he returned to his work again.

Xander caught his brother’s eye before Easton turned to face Maureen. Something sly passed over Easton’s expression and he quickly raised his brow to Xander before fully focusing on Maureen. “I’m damn sorry you’re going to be leaving us.”

“Me, too. This is a dream job.” Her lithe arm extended out to the impossible shade of green water that surrounded them. Her attention seemed fixed on an imaginary spot on the horizon and Xander followed her gaze, trying to imagine what she was thinking about. Did she want to go home? It certainly didn’t seem so from her crestfallen face, and she had asked him to look into extending the visa to complete her work here. He hadn’t heard back, but then, that news would have gone to her and apparently the answer hadn’t been positive.

Still, her face showed such distress, Xander couldn’t help but wonder if it was about more than work.

Easton let out a low whistle. “And you’re sure there’s no way to extend the work visa?”

“It’s been denied. Your brother even had the company lawyers review my paperwork to help, but with things tightening down regarding immigration, my request has been denied...” Maureen glanced back at Xander, her eyes as green as the crystal waters.

Did she know he could hear them?

He did his best to seem disinterested and aloof, channeling years of cutthroat business meetings to school his features into a mask of neutrality.

Easton’s eyes momentarily flicked back to Xander. For a brief moment he swore Easton’s head nodded slightly. Was that a sign to pay attention? What did his brother have planned?

“Xander has a lot of his time and energy—and heart—invested in this place.”

“That, he does. I was surprised to see him dance last night.”

“Who would have thought he could dance a jig?” Easton winked over his shoulder at his brother, making it clear he knew full well his brother could hear every word. “Who would have thought he would dance at all? That has certainly been in question since Terri died.”

“She was a lovely lady.” Maureen’s voice meshed into the sounds of the nearby birds.

Xander tried not to look desperate as he strained to hear the rest of the conversation.

“She was. We all miss her. Her parents do, too, obviously. We always will. But I can’t help hoping my brother will find a way to move on.” Easton’s lips had thinned into a smile and he stuck her with a knowing glance.

Maureen shook her head and tendrils of red hair fell out of her loose ponytail. “You’re reading too much into a dance.”

“I didn’t say a thing. You did.” A taunting, brotherly tone entered Easton’s voice. He lifted up his hands to her, palms out in an exaggeration of placation.

“I’m definitely not making a move on your brother.” The words were jagged on her tongue. Even from his seat, Xander could see pain jutting into Maureen’s normally fair, bubbly features.

“Again, I didn’t say that. You did.”

“I’m divorced.”

“I know.”

Shrugging her shoulder, she leaned against the rail of the boat. “It was ugly.”

“So very sorry to hear that.”

“The past is past. I’m focused on my present and my job.”

“Is that the reason you’re so determined to stay here? Because your ex is back home?” Easton’s eyes flicked back to Xander who pretended not to notice. But the truth was that his heart pulsated in his chest as he continued to listen to their conversation. A bad divorce? He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened.

“Staying here is certainly easier. Fresh starts often are.”

“It’s not over yet.”

“I appreciate your optimism.”

“Um, hello?” Portia’s voice rang out, urgency coloring every syllable. “Um, Doctor?”

“Yes, Ms. Soto?” Easton turned to face her.

“I’m getting seasick.” And with that, Portia pulled herself up to the railing, turned a particularly sunset shade of scarlet and hurled the contents of her stomach overboard.

Xander reacted, setting their course back to the dock. Portia needed land, and fast.

They weren’t too far away. Within minutes the dock was in sight.

And so were Xander’s in-laws. It was never a good sign when they showed up from Miami unannounced. A pit knotted in his stomach and he felt his jaw tighten and clench.

Xander leaped off the boat as soon as it stabilized and helped Portia out. She’d gone ghost-pale and her hands were clammy—clearly she was much more seasick than she’d let on. Once Portia’s feet were on solid ground, she covered her mouth, nodded politely at Xander’s in-laws and dashed up to the house, probably stifling the urge to hurl the whole way.

His in-laws surveyed the landscape with eyes that revealed complete disgust. His mother-in-law’s gaze followed Portia up the slope to the house. Delilah’s brow arched, a silent conversation seemed to unfold between her and Jake, Xander’s father-in-law.

So the verdict was out on this place. They’d hated it and did little to try to disguise that.

Jake looked at Portia’s disappearing form and then back at Xander. Disapproval danced in his gaze.

Xander stifled the urge to grind his teeth. Did they actually think he was interested in Portia? And was that really any of their business to pass judgment on his dating life? Of course they all missed Terri, but she was gone, for over a year, and that was the tragic reality.

Besides, he wanted to tell them they had it all wrong, anyway. Portia wasn’t his type. Xander didn’t know why they’d assumed she’d be the kind of woman he was interested in, and he didn’t want them to believe he hadn’t loved their daughter with his whole soul. Xander certainly didn’t want them to think she’d been so easily replaced.

The protest nearly formed against his tongue when reality jabbed him. Portia was polished, quiet, reserved... As far as types went, she shared a lot of Terri’s qualities.

But Portia had never crossed his mind. Not once. Not in passing. There was no draw to her. Not like there was to the fiery Maureen. Xander’s eyes flicked quickly to Maureen. She was helping Easton dock the boat.

Turning his attention back to his in-laws, he surveyed them, trying to anticipate the reason for this unannounced visit.

Jake and Delilah Goodwin were good people, if intrusive. They were what the news media deemed helicopter parents.

Xander had always imagined their hovering had everything to do with the circumstances of Terri’s birth. For years Delilah and Jake had tried to conceive but never could. The doctors had told them it was practically impossible for them to become pregnant. But somehow Delilah had been able to conceive and carry Terri to full term. The miracle child. Their only child.

Terri had been pampered and sheltered her whole life. They’d treated Terri like spun glass, like a fragile thing that needed protection from everything and everyone. Now having a daughter of his own, he understood the motivation and desire, but Jake and Delilah had taken hovering to its extreme.

Xander watched as Jake gave Delilah’s hand a quick squeeze. His business instincts told him the gesture was one of support. He understood that. Terri’s death had changed everything.

Delilah straightened her heirloom pearls on her neck, the only piece of jewelry that spoke to their enormous wealth. They were kind people, but they were used to dictating orders. They weren’t the compromising type.

“We heard our grandchild is ill and you’re out here. Who’s watching her?” Jack said, his voice even but stern.

“She’s napping while Elenora watches over her. Rose has an ear infection. We went to the emergency room last night and the pediatrician today.”

Laying a manicured hand to her chest, Delilah stiffened. “She could have a relative watching her.”

“She does. Her father and her uncle.” Xander kept his tone neutral, doing his best to remember that they didn’t mean to be insulting or accusatory.

“Both of whom are out partying on a boat,” Delilah continued, her voice shrill and unforgiving.

The correction was gentle but necessary. He wished Terri was here to help him navigate this. “Working.”

“Okay, then. Working. She could have her grandmother all day.”

“I’m appreciative of your offer to help. Who told you about the ear infection?”

Delilah waved her hand dismissively. “Someone on the staff when I phoned to say hello.”

To check up, more likely. His in-laws made no secret of the fact that they wanted custody of Rose. He would feel a lot more comfortable welcoming them for visits if they weren’t taking notes and plotting the whole damn time.

He ground his teeth and tried to be as reasonable as possible. He didn’t want to upset his daughter’s world by having her taken from her own father. “Rose will be awake in about an hour. If you would like to stay for lunch, you can play with her when she wakes.”

He glanced over his shoulder, checking on his brother and Maureen. Easton was tying the boat off along the dock while Maureen gathered up the samples. But that wasn’t what caught Xander’s eye. A massive gator swam in the dock area and bumped into the boat. The low-slung boat was tipped off balance and his eyes darted to Maureen, who was leaning over the railing.