Twelfth Night Proposal. Karen Smith Rose
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you come out and put on your pj’s, I’ll read you a story.”
“That’s bribery,” Leo murmured very close to her ear, his breath warm on her cheek. Verity shivered.
“Would you rather kneel here and cajole for the next half hour?” she asked him, half joking, half serious.
“I’m too big to fit under the bed, and cajoling isn’t my style.”
“That leaves bribery,” she decided, unable to suppress a grin.
His face was so very close to hers as they focused on Heather. When he turned his head to her, mere inches separated their lips. Leo’s scent was pure male, and his light-brown hair fell over his brow in a rakish way. But it was the gleam of raw hunger in his eyes that kept her immobilized.
Suddenly he cleared his throat, bent lower, and extended his arm under the bed. “Come on, you little hooligan. Verity will read you a story. But don’t think this is going to happen again. Next time I won’t let you out of the bathroom until you have your pj’s on.”
Quickly recovering from whatever had overcome her when she’d been so close to Leo, Verity teased, “You really shouldn’t tell her your strategy.”
“Good advice,” he admitted as Heather started wriggling toward them from under the bed.
“I’ll go get her pajamas. Try to keep her from hiding anyplace else until I get back.”
Verity laughed. “She likes me to brush her hair. I’ll do that.”
Less than five minutes later, Leo had returned with Heather’s pajamas and Verity had helped him get her into them. She watched him as he fastened two small buttons at the three-year-old’s neck, and his fingers fumbled with them. He was such a big man, but he was gentle with his daughter.
“Okay.” He scooped her up into his arms. “To your room.” In the middle of Verity’s sitting area, he stopped. “I just realized you don’t even have a TV in here. The last nanny who stayed here had her own.”
“I don’t need a television. I don’t watch it very much.”
He looked surprised.” You don’t watch reality shows?”
She shook her head.
“Or the Discovery Channel?”
Again she shook her head and gave him a little smile. “I can always find so many things I’d rather do. Listening to music, especially.” She pointed to the CD player on her night stand. “Now that I can’t do without.”
“You can use the stereo system in the great room anytime you want.”
“I noticed you have an extensive collection of Beatles music.”
“Sure do. Play it anytime.”
“That’s kind of you, Mr. Montgomery. I just might.”
“It’s Leo,” he said gruffly.
They’d never really addressed that issue. Jolene had introduced her to her employer as Verity the first time they’d met, but she’d always thought of him as Mr. Montgomery…on purpose. Today, however, everything seemed to have changed.
“Leo,” she repeated softly.
“Vewitee wead me a stowy now?” Heather asked, laying her head on her dad’s shoulder.
“One story coming right up,” Verity assured her.
A short time later Leo stood beside the rocking chair as Verity sat with Heather, rocked and read her a favorite Dr. Seuss book. Heather’s eyes were almost closed as they finished, and Leo lifted her from Verity’s lap and placed her in her crib.
Then he leaned down to her, kissed her forehead and said, “Good night, baby.”
The huskiness in his voice tightened Verity’s throat and she didn’t know why. Maybe because Sean was gone. Maybe because her relationship with her father was strained. Maybe because she suddenly felt so alone.
Standing, she took a deep breath and said, “Nighty-night, Heather. I’ll see you in the morning,” and went to the door.
Leo joined her in the hall.
For a few moments they just stared at each other and a hum of attraction seemed to grow louder and stronger between them. They were standing very close, the toes of Leo’s boots almost touching the toes of her sneakers. He towered a good six inches above her. When she looked up into his blue eyes, her tummy fluttered and her pulse raced. In fact, she almost felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath. Leo didn’t touch her, and she so wished he would. He looked as if he wanted to. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her.
With a shake of his head, he blew out a breath. “Do you feel safe here in this house with me?” he asked.
“Yes!”
“I didn’t realize until tonight how this could look. Your staying here, I mean.”
“I’m your nanny and housekeeper. Nannies often live in the residence where they take care of the children.”
“That’s true, but usually there’s a wife. I don’t want to compromise your reputation.”
“I know who I am. I know why I’m here. What other people think really doesn’t matter to me. Does it matter to you?”
“No, what other people think has never bothered me.”
“Then we’re fine,” she said brightly. “There’s nothing to be concerned about.”
But the expression on his face as well as the wild beating of her heart told her that wasn’t true. Besides that, if he knew how terrifically attracted she was to him, he might fire her. She liked this job, and she was beginning to like Avon Lake.
Tomorrow was Saturday, and to steer toward a safer subject, she asked, “Will you be going to the boatyard tomorrow?” He had worked the last three Saturdays she’d been here.
“For a few hours. I realized today I haven’t been spending enough time with my daughter. That’s going to have to change.”
“I usually have breakfast for Heather around eight-thirty. Do you want to join us?”
After a pause he said, “Yes. I’ll go to the boatyard afterward.” There was an intensity in his gaze when he looked at her that excited her more than she wanted to admit. That excitement was as scary as the loneliness she’d felt as she’d watched Leo put his daughter to bed.
“I’ll see you in the morning, then,” she murmured.
When she turned to go, he finally touched her. His hand clasped her arm, and the feel of his hot skin on hers sent tingles through her whole body.
“Thank you for taking care of Heather so well today.”
“It’s my job.”
Releasing her, he nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Then she was walking down the hall into the great room, bypassing the kitchen and heading to her suite. Today Leo Montgomery had become more than her employer. She wasn’t sure how their relationship had changed, but she knew she had to be careful or she’d get hurt all over again.
Chapter Two
Verity was selecting clothes from her closet when she heard Heather on the baby monitor chattering to her stuffed animals. Smiling, she pulled on indigo jeans and zipped them, then grabbed a T-shirt that had seen many washings. The soft, blue cotton fell practically to her thighs. Comfort had always come first with her, certainly before fashion or trends or what anyone thought a girl should wear. Climbing trees, riding bikes and playing baseball with Sean had always led her to choose practical clothes.
Heather’s babblings were getting louder now, and Verity left her room and