Читать книгу The Summer Of Sunshine And Margot - Susan Mallery, Susan Mallery - Страница 14
ОглавлениеChapter Six
Declan expected clients to be difficult. But his current clients were doing their best to give him a heart attack. Even if that wasn’t their stated goal, they were doing a great job of pushing him closer and closer to the edge.
He left his office early and drove home, arriving a little before four. When he opened the door leading from the garage to the house, he was hit by a blast of music and the smell of chocolate and berries and all things delicious.
He walked into the kitchen only to come to a complete stop as he took in the view. Two pies sat on cooling racks. A tray of brownies was on the kitchen table and frosting dripped off obviously still-warm cinnamon rolls. But what really caught his attention was Sunshine.
Connor’s nanny had pinned up her hair, leaving her neck bare. The sweet curve led to nearly bare shoulders. She had on some kind of tank dress that came to her knees. It was shapeless, but she was not, especially not when she was dancing and singing along to “Fixer Upper” from the Frozen soundtrack.
Her hips gyrated, her breasts moved and as shameful as it was to admit, he stood there taking it all in like a lusty sixteen-year-old. He was as hard as one, too, he thought, shifting uncomfortably, grateful his suit jacket would cover his inappropriate response to her.
It was the lack of sex thing, he told himself. He wasn’t disgusting enough to lust after the woman who took care of his son. It was women in general and his not getting laid that had him wanting to set her on the counter and—
Sunshine saw him and screamed. She pressed a flour-covered hand to her chest. “You scared me! Don’t do that.”
“Sorry.” He set down his briefcase while making sure he stayed safely behind the counter where she wouldn’t catch a glimpse of his inappropriately hard dick. “Opening a bakery?”
“What?” She dropped her arms to her side, leaving a white handprint on her dress, then reached for her phone and silenced the music. She smiled at him. “It was kind of loud, huh? Sorry. Connor’s fine with the volume as long as he gets to pick what I’m playing. He’s in his room reading.”
“I didn’t know he still liked Frozen.”
She smiled. “Everyone likes Frozen although last week it was the soundtrack from Hamilton. One of our favorites.”
She’d been working for him for less than a month and already she and Connor had favorites. That was a good sign, he thought, letting a little of the ever-present worry about his son fade. As far as he could tell, Sunshine was an excellent nanny—even if she did have surprising hobbies.
“What’s with all this?” he asked.
“Oh.” Her smile faded and her expression turned guilty. “Yes, well, I stress bake.” Her chin came up. “I stopped at the grocery store after class and I paid for the supplies myself.”
“Sunshine, I’m not worried you’re overbuying flour and baking soda. I was wondering what brought it on. And what we’re going to do with it all.”
Her smile returned. “Most of it freezes. There’s a bake sale coming up at Connor’s school so some of it can go there. Maybe you’d like to take cookies to work.”
“Mostly I’d like to quit and go live on an island.”
“Bad day?”
“The worst. Tell you what. Let me go say hi to Connor and get changed, then we’ll compare notes on our day.”
A timer dinged. Sunshine reached for hot pads.
“That’s the banana bread.”
“Of course it is. I’ll be right back.”
He grabbed his briefcase and positioned it strategically. Things had mostly calmed down but with her bending over the oven, well, he was a disgusting human being. That was for sure.
He went into his bedroom and changed into jeans and a T-shirt, all the while thinking about how many billions of people didn’t have access to safe drinking water. A few minutes later, he was back to normal, so to speak. He went in to check on Connor.
When his son saw him, Connor jumped to his feet and raced toward him. “Dad! Sunshine is baking everything. I think we should have pie for dessert. It’s mixed berry and I got to taste the filling and it’s delicious.”
“Then pie it is.”
He swept Connor up in his arms and hugged him. Thin boy arms tightened around his neck. This was right, he thought fiercely. These moments with his child. As long as Connor was happy and healthy, then the rest of it didn’t matter all that much. Work would figure itself out.
“What are you reading?” he asked as he set Connor on the floor.
“Another book on ants. It’s really good. I can’t wait for the farm to get here.”
“Me, too. I’m going to go back to the kitchen and talk to Sunshine. Want to come hang out with us?”
Connor’s gaze slid toward his book. “I’ll wait until dinner.”
Declan grinned. “No interest in talking with the old people?”
“Sunshine’s not old.”
Declan clutched his chest. “Hey, I’m not old, either.”
Connor giggled. “You’re my dad.”
As if that explained everything. Declan supposed it did.
He returned to the kitchen. Sunshine had changed the music to a classical station. She’d also cleared off a spot at the island where he could pull up a stool, and set out all the fixings for a martini.
“You read my mind,” he said. “Thanks, but I can make it.”
“I’ll do it. I need the practice.”
“Not a martini drinker?”
“I’m more of a wine with dinner girl.”
“Then feel free to pick out a bottle.”
“That bad a day?”
He reached for a cooling cookie and took a bite. “My business partner and I have a contract with a new hotel on the north end of Malibu. They’ve started construction so now we’re talking about the grounds. They’re extensive, both in the front and back, with several acres heading up into the hills.”
She measured vodka and vermouth, then added ice. “Sounds like a challenge.”
“It is. We’re going to build a walking path through the hills, which is easy enough. It’s the rest of it that’s the problem.”
Sunshine poured the drink into a martini glass, then added three olives on a plastic toothpick and handed him the drink.
He took a sip. “Perfect. Thank you.”
“Pie and martinis. I am a miracle. So what about the rest of the grounds?”
“They won’t make a decision. No, I take that back. We can’t get to the point where they have to make a decision. They want something different. Something special, but so far they hate everything we’ve suggested. I’m to the point of offering dolphins and elephants.”
“I’m not sure they’d get along although they are both intelligent species. They might figure it out.”
She poured herself a glass of ice water, then sat across from him at the island.
“They’re leaning toward breaking up the space into different gardens. They might want a maze of some kind and that’s all we’ve got. At some point they’re going to have to pick a direction or kill us. I’m used to clients needing time and hand-holding but nothing like this.”
“The Huntington gardens are all different. I wonder if that would inspire them or make it worse.”
“I don’t think I could get through a field trip,” he admitted. “Not without bloodshed.”
“Yours or theirs?”
“I have no idea.”
She laughed. “So you connect different gardens with a thing, right? The material used to construct it or the same planters or a type of plant?”
“Exactly. Feel free to suggest something. I’m running out of ideas. Last week they wanted all organic. This week they’re wondering about sand because we’re close to the beach. I could work with sand. Sand is great. Until I got an email this afternoon saying sand was too obvious.”
“Yikes. That’s not easy.”
“We’ll get there. Like I said, I’m used to hand-holding, but sometimes it’s wearing. Now tell me about your day. Why are you stress baking?”
Her shoulders slumped and she sighed heavily. “It’s dumb.”
“No, it’s not. It’s important. Talk.”
“I started my math class today.”
“And?”
“And it was awful. Professor Rejefski is seriously intimidating. The students are all younger than me and I couldn’t follow the lesson.”
“Not any of it?”
“Some. But then it got confusing. I haven’t had to study since high school. I never went to college. I signed up but then I met some guy and I took off. I was always an indifferent student at best and I figured when I applied myself, it would be easy or at least doable. But what if it isn’t? What if I was a C student because I’m just not smart enough? What if this is the best I can ever be?”
He leaned toward her. “Sunshine, it was one day.”
“I know, but—”
“One day. Give yourself a break.”
“I’m afraid I’ve peaked.”
He held in a smile. “Tell me about making pie.”
“What?”
“I’ve heard making the crust is the hard part. Why can’t you just add the ingredients and have piecrust?”
She frowned. “Weird question but sure. It’s not just about ingredients. You have to feel your way. It’s a texture thing and it takes practice.” Her mouth twisted. “Are you using a pie analogy to make me feel better? Pie?”
“Technically piecrust and yes. Look, no one is good at everything the first time. Riding a bike, singing, learning to read, going back to college.”
Sex. The thought came unbidden and he pushed it away. He was enjoying his conversation with Sunshine and he wasn’t going to screw it up by being a guy.
“It’s been one day,” he repeated. “Give yourself a break and some time. How was the professor intimidating?”
“She had a lot of rules. And there was something with blue books I didn’t understand.”
“Rules are good. You know where you stand and what’s expected. You’ll buy blue books at the student store and take your tests in them. She probably said she would collect blank ones from you before the tests, then give you back ones she brought.”
“Why?”
“To prevent cheating. Otherwise people write notes and formulas in the books.”
Sunshine looked shocked. “They do that?” She shook her head. “Of course they do that. I’m so out of touch. Some guy invited me back to his place for a pool party. He’s like eighteen. Why?”
Declan took another drink of his martini. “You’re asking me why an eighteen-year-old guy wants to go out with you? Is that a serious question?”
“I meant I’m not looking for that kind of thing.”
“You’ve sworn off men?” Knowing that would be a big help, he thought. Or at least he hoped it would be.
“Not exactly. I just don’t want to be all boo—Ah, I don’t want to be dating guys who are just in it for sex and a fling. I want someone who wants a real relationship. Someone smart and kind and funny who sees me as a person.”
There was a lot of information there—information he would have to think about later. “Seems reasonable.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Right now I want to do my job and figure out college.”
“I was a pretty decent student,” he told her. “Here’s what I can tell you. Keep up with the material. Try to read ahead so you can ask questions during the lecture. Go to the TA sessions.”
“That’s what Professor Rejefski said. I wrote down the dates, but what is it?”
“TAs are teacher’s assistants. Usually grad students. They have help sessions where they go over the material. You can get more personal attention. There’s probably a math lab on campus. Check that out. Sit up front so the professor gets to know you. Be engaged. Show interest in the class.”
“Why?”
He smiled. “Because she’ll see you’re trying. At the end of the semester, if you’re on the cusp of getting a higher grade, being engaged can push you over the top.”
Sunshine’s eyes widened. “They do that?”
“They’re human, so yes.”
“I’m shocked.”
He chuckled. “Get over it.”
“There’s a whole secret world out there.”
“The cliché is true—success is about showing up.” He pushed himself away from the counter. “You can do this. It will take a while to get into the rhythm of studying and taking tests, but I have every faith in you.”
She smiled. “That’s about the nicest thing you could have said. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
They looked at each other. Declan wanted to tell himself there was a bit of tension sizzling between them but he had a feeling that was the martini talking. He slid off the stool.
“I’m going to check on Connor, then come back and help you pack up the baked goods.”
“You don’t have to. I’ll take care of it. Dinner at six?”
“Sure. See you then.”
And with that, order was restored to exactly what it should be.
Three days into Bianca’s training, Alec had to admit Margot was less of a disruption than he would have expected. She was quiet, unobtrusive and, except for when she was in the dining room to collect her breakfast, he rarely saw her.
From what his mother had told him, they were mostly working in the greenhouse until the temperatures warmed enough for them to be outside. Bianca seemed happy, his house was quiet and that was all Alec required of the situation. He still had his doubts about his mother’s ability to adapt to Wesley’s lifestyle, but that was not his problem.
He returned to the house and saw Margot standing in the cloisters, a cell phone in her hand.
“You piece of shit. Leave me alone.”
He was reasonably confident she wasn’t addressing him, so rather than respond, he paused and cleared his throat.
Margot spun to face him, her face flushing with color.
“Sorry,” she said, tucking her phone into a pocket. “I’m having a moment.”
She wore a sleeveless red dress that fit to her waist before flaring out to just above her knee. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail. She had on flat shoes, no jewelry save a watch, and minimal makeup. She appeared competent and capable and yet he found himself keenly cognizant of the fact that she was both a woman and incredibly beautiful. A combination that seemed to, as his mother would phrase it, rattle his cage.
He shook off his awareness. “Do you need assistance?”
“Thank you, but no. I’m fine.” She hesitated. “An old boyfriend is trying to get in touch with me. I’ve changed cell numbers and moved, all without telling him. One of my friends thinks I should give him a second chance. Which would technically be a fourteenth chance. I said no. She thought I was wrong.”
Before he could decide how to respond, she continued.
“It’s not him, it’s me. I’m a relatively smart person. I know what I want in my life and I make it happen. But when I’m around him, I make absurd choices. I completely accept my responsibility in everything that has gone wrong. It’s really me. So the best thing is to avoid him. Which is getting easier. I just don’t want to see him.”
Alec felt a sudden and unexpected loathing toward a man he’d never met. How peculiar. “I’m sure everyone has someone in their past they wish to avoid.”
“Even you?”
“Even me.”
She flashed him a smile. “You’re very kind, but I suspect you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“On the contrary, I’m telling the truth. I was engaged a few years ago. She was also a scholar. That was how we met. We were well suited and I suppose we fell in love.”
He paused knowing he could go either way with the rest of the story. He could say what he always said, or he could tell the truth.
He briefly looked out in the garden. No, not the truth. It was too personal, and far too humiliating.
“She was well published, or so I thought. It turns out she had been plagiarizing someone else’s work. An obscure historian who had published in the 1940s. She was eventually caught.” He returned his attention to Margot. “It wasn’t the cheating so much as what it said of her character.”
“Of course. If she would lie about that, what else would she lie about?”
“Exactly.”
“People are sometimes confusing,” she said. “I apologize for my outburst.”
“No need. I’m sure he deserved every word.”
She laughed. “He did, but still. All right. Change of subject. Things are going well with your mother. I would like to plan a couple of social events.”
Alec instinctively stiffened. He didn’t enjoy social events. There were too many people he didn’t know and he found small talk tiresome. Why did he have to put in the effort to get to know someone he would never meet again? How was that enjoyable? He wanted to say as much but he had a feeling Margot had only mentioned what she did because she wanted him to be there.
“Such as?” he asked, hoping he sounded enthused rather than resigned.
“First I want to meet Wesley. Getting to know him will help me understand the dynamics of their relationship. I was thinking drinks somewhere.”
“Oh. Wesley is easy to talk to. Probably the result of his diplomatic training. Invite him here. My mother will be more relaxed and that should help you with your observations.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Alec. That’s very kind. I’ll get going on that right away. The second event is a dinner. I want a combination of people Bianca knows and those she doesn’t. The dinner would be fairly formal. Several courses, a lot of passing of plates and choosing the right fork. The purpose is to see how she does with the etiquette and with the stress of the people. I would appreciate if you could be there. I’ll ask Wesley, of course. I’m thinking of inviting my sister, if that’s all right.”
“You have a sister?”
“A fraternal twin. Sunshine.” Margot smiled. “She’s a nanny for an eight-year-old boy. I’d also like to invite her employer and his son. Children always shift the dynamics. I’ll find a restaurant with a private room so we’re not dealing with outside influences.”
While he would never choose a dinner like she described, he saw the purpose immediately. When working with people, observation was an important tool.
“Have the dinner here,” he said impulsively. “Edna will be thrilled to cook something more challenging than food for the freezer. She is forever hinting I should host a party.” Something that was never going to happen. He did not, as a rule, like strangers in his house. He didn’t like situations where he was not completely in control. But somehow this was different.
Margot touched his arm. “Thank you, Alec. I really appreciate your help in this. Let me check with Bianca and get back to you with dates. You’re all right with me inviting my sister and her employer and his son?”
“Of course.”
She’d rested her fingers on his forearm for barely a second, yet he felt the imprint as if she’d branded him. How peculiar.
She pointed at the gardens. “Sunshine’s boss is a landscape architect. He’s going to love what you’ve done here.”
Information clicked into place. The landscape architect, the eight-year-old boy, the nanny possibly hired because...
“Does she work for Declan Dubois?”
“How did you know?”
He nodded toward the gardens. “That’s his work. He’s been to the house dozens of times. I’d forgotten he lost his wife a few months ago. I know Declan, but my mother’s never met him.”
Her mouth curved up. “And people say LA is a big town.”
“It may be but Pasadena is not. As I said, my mother doesn’t know him. She didn’t come see the house until my remodels were finished. He and his son will be strangers to her.”
“Excellent. Then we have a plan. I’ll be in touch with the details. Thank you again, Alec. I appreciate the support.”
“Of course.”
She walked inside. He watched her go, telling himself that he simply wanted to help his mother. There was no other reason he had agreed. It certainly wasn’t to impress Margot. What a ridiculous thing to think.
