Marrying the Virgin Nanny / The Nanny and Me: Marrying the Virgin Nanny / The Nanny and Me. Teresa Southwick
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Margaret tells me when that job is finished, there’s a plumbing crew waiting to make the necessary repairs and upgrades.”
“Excellent.”
“Yes, it is.” She draped the towel around her neck.
“And yet you look as if there’s something not right.”
“Do I? Everything feels fine.”
Not in his skin. But he wasn’t about to share that. His household was in place and rocking the boat would be an incredibly dumb thing to do.
He reached out and brushed a dark strand of hair from her forehead, much as he’d done with Brady just a few minutes ago. “Really?”
She nodded, then swallowed hard. “It was very nice of you to get bids and line up building contractors for Sister Margaret.”
Very nice. She thought his lawyer was nice. It wouldn’t surprise him if she could find redeeming qualities in Attila the Hun. As far as adjectives, he’d have much preferred studly. Athletic. Long lasting. And just like that his mind was right back in the sack.
He swallowed the need as best he could. “I know people. It wasn’t a problem.”
“Still, you’re a busy man. Taking the time to help was very gracious of you.”
Very gracious? More bland adjectives that made him feel sexless.
“The very least I could do to make sure no one took advantage.”
“Sister Margaret wanted me to be sure and thank you. It’s much appreciated. The kids and the nuns are incredibly grateful.”
“What about you, Maggie?”
“Me?” She looked surprised, confused, doubtful. And incredibly beautiful. The pulse at the base of her throat fluttered wildly.
“Yes, you. Do the renovations meet with your approval?”
“If it means that the home will stay open, I absolutely approve of everything.” Her chin lifted a notch as she met his gaze.
“I’m glad. Because truthfully, I’ve never met anyone at the home. When I made those phone calls to line up contractors, it was all about you.”
“Me?”
“It’s my way of thanking you for everything you’ve done.”
“You put a million dollars in trust for something I care deeply about. We both got what we wanted. I don’t understand why you went above and beyond to help.”
That made two of them. He wasn’t the only selfish bastard in the world, but definitely somewhere near the top. Having a child had shown him, for the first time in his life, what it was like to care about someone other than himself. And Maggie was important to his son. That’s all it was about. That’s all he’d let it be about. This was not a good time to have doubts about their business arrangement.
“Call it a bonus,” he said. “To put the smile back on your face.”
The corners of her mouth curved up and suddenly all the effort was worth it. “That wasn’t necessary. But thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She stared up at him, then blinked and moved toward the door. “I—I better go check on Brady. See if he needs me.”
Jason needed her. Just to talk. To laugh. To fill up the emptiness inside him. Just a little longer.
He curved his fingers around her arm to stop her. “Wait, Maggie—”
She looked up at him, her eyes wide pools of innocence that drowned his willpower. He drew her against him, cupping her cheek in his hand.
“Maggie,” he whispered again.
She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could he touched his mouth to hers. The soft sweetness of her lips was more intoxicating than the pricey liquor he kept in his office down the hall. Desire ground through him and knotted in his gut. He slid his hand beneath the bulky sweatshirt and settled it on her lower back, just above the curve of her butt, and pressed her more firmly against him.
Some vague instinct warned him to go slow and he fought the need to kiss her hard and possessively. He nibbled the corners of her mouth and felt her heart pounding against his own. Dropping small kisses on her cheek, then her chin and finally her neck, made her shiver and moan. When he stopped at a sensitive place just beneath her ear, she shuddered. Then he licked the responsive spot and blew softly until her groan echoed inside him. The sound sent arrows of need through him and his body tightened in response. Blood pounded in his veins and his chest felt like it would explode. The sound of Maggie’s ragged breathing turned him on like he’d never been turned on before. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. For God’s sake, she was his wife.
“I need you, Maggie,” he whispered, his breath stirring her hair. His voice was ragged with desire.
He was about to scoop her into his arms when she pulled her mouth from his and stared at him, breathing hard. Something dark pushed the innocence from her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t want to be a novelty.”
“Excuse me?” He was struggling to draw air into his lungs and that kiss blew his mind. There wasn’t much left to take in and decipher a remark from out of left field.
“Your father said I was a novelty. ‘Almost a nun’ was different for you.”
“Don’t pay any attention to my father—”
“You mean the part where he was proud of you for protecting yourself financially? The part where he was pleased that you were thinking with your head as well as—other parts of your body? You planned ahead for a plaything. Offered marriage so stock prices wouldn’t go down because of a scandal with the nanny.”
“You know that’s not how it was,” he said, anger burning as hot as desire had only moments before.
“It’s all about Brady, I know. But he’s asleep now. Technically I’m off duty, or at least on a break. But you just kissed me.”
“That’s not breaking news.” He couldn’t deny it. Her lips were still moist from the touch of his own. But when a Garrett was backed into a corner he came out fighting. “I started it. And you kissed me back.”
“It was a knee-jerk reaction.” She stared at him for several moments, still breathing hard. “I’m not asking for love.”
“You heard that, too?”
“Oh, yeah.” Her frown pushed out any hint of sunshine, and it was his fault. “Just so we’re clear, that’s the last thing I’m looking for. But I will not be disrespected.”
“That was never my intention,” he assured her.
When he’d kissed her, he’d been thinking with his hormones, which were in perfect working order. Before she could argue that point, a sound came from his back pocket where he’d put the monitor.
“It’s Brady. Break’s over,” she said. “I have to go to him.”
“Right.”
She hurried out of the room, and when she was gone, Jason felt her absence again. But this time it was all about the ache shooting through him.
He knew when it subsided he would be relieved that he hadn’t taken Maggie to his bed. But right now he couldn’t feel the blessing and struggled for logic.
Sleeping with her would have been a huge mistake. Sex was a complication that would destroy everything he’d so carefully put in place.
But he had to wonder what sin he’d committed. What transgression was so wicked that he was being punished by this gut-twisting desire for the one woman he didn’t dare