Nanny and the Beast. Donna Clayton
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doing…even though he damn well didn’t.
“That’s exactly what I intend to do,” he told her. “You’re not the only nanny placement service in Wilmington.”
“Actually, I am. That’s why I started my business here. There are several in Philadelphia. But I seriously doubt they’ll send their nannies this far south.”
Refusing to allow this information to daunt him, he quickly regrouped. “I’ll start with temp agencies, then. Surely, they can supply someone to watch Hailey.”
There was warning written all over her face. “I doubt that temp agencies do background checks on their employees.”
“I’ll check the newspaper, then.” She made him feel as if he were standing on shaky ground. “Someone has to be in need of a job.”
“Yes, but who is that someone?” Sophia asked. “I doubt you want just anyone caring for Hailey. If you contact someone through an ad in the paper, I strongly suggest you do a thorough investigation. You’ll need to give the person a letter stating you’re offering them a job that requires a background search, and send them to the state police. Troop two in New Castle County is the only place you can get it done in northern Delaware. The police will fingerprint the person, take the necessary information and then you’ll be sent a report.”
Sophia was offering him some excellent information, suggesting things he hadn’t even thought of. In fact, he wished he’d had a pen and paper on hand to jot down notes. Why was he feeling so damn irritated with her when all she was doing was continuing to be helpful?
“Of course,” she added, “you’ll have to wait ten to fourteen business days to receive the all-clear from the police.”
There it was again. That glimmer in her gaze. She seemed to enjoy delivering news that put a damper on his plans. Obviously, she realized there was no way he could wait two weeks before hiring someone to care for Hailey.
He rejoiced when an idea popped into his head. “I can send her to a day care temporarily until I’m able to find someone and get the background check completed.”
Sophia shook her head. “I doubt you’ll find a day care that’s willing to take a baby under six months old, and even if you do, infant spots are always on reserve. You’ll have to wait six, eight—” she shrugged “—ten weeks, maybe.”
He frowned. “You have an awful lot of doubts.”
“I’m only trying to help,” she told him.
“For some reason,” he murmured, “I have grave doubts about that.”
She chuckled, and the clear buoyancy he heard in it sent a strange tremor through his gut.
Confusion forced him to ask, “What’s funny?”
Her expression straightened. “Your joke. You just complained that I had lots of doubts. Then you said you have doubts.” She lifted her shoulders. “It was a cute joke.”
“It wasn’t a joke.”
She blinked. “Oh.”
She stood there, smiling. Then her smile slowly grew to a wide grin.
Michael had never thought of himself as dense. Quite the contrary. To achieve success in the cutthroat investment business, a person had to have intelligence, a quick wit and nerves of steel. However, he was left feeling quite lacking, indeed, when realization slowly dawned.
“Okay, I’ve figured it out.” His jaw tensed as he released a frustrated sigh.
Now he knew why her tone had reflected such self-confidence, even when he’d been in the midst of firing her. Now he knew why humor had sparkled in her eyes, and why she stood there grinning.
“No other nanny placement services in the city.” He began ticking off the list on his fingers. “No proper temp agency employees available. No newspaper ads to help. No background checks for two weeks. No day care that will agree to take my newborn daughter.”
He’d wanted to get rid of her. Not because he didn’t think she could care for Hailey. Oh, no. Not at all. His reasons for wanting her out of his home were far more personal in nature.
He leaned his hip against the cabinet. “You’ve known all along that I’m stuck with you? At least for the time being.”
Mischief skittered across her gaze and tugged at the corners of her luscious mouth. “Well, I’ll admit that I haven’t known all along.” She grinned openly. “But I feel I do have the right to feel pretty smug simply because I figured it out before you.”
Chapter Three
Just as Sophia slipped on her jacket, Michael entered the living room.
“You’re leaving?” He actually looked startled.
“Well, yes,” she told him. “It’s Saturday. I’m off today and tomorrow. I was going to come find you before I left. Tell you that Hailey was only up a couple of times through the night. She should awaken early this morning.” She picked up her purse. “I’m off to check on my cat. Pick up my mail. Check with my assistant that everything’s okay at the office. I have laundry to do, a few errands to run and—”
“Of course. Of course. Everyone deserves time off.”
The trepidation edging his words was unmistakable.
“Michael, you’re not afraid to be alone with Hailey, are you?” Instantly, she realized she’d made a poor choice of words. A dynamic man like Michael didn’t appreciate the inference that he might be fearful—of anything. Some quick rephrasing was certainly in order. “What I meant to say was that you have no reason to be uncomfortable with your daughter.” A tiny furrow bit into her forehead as she pointed out, “The other nannies you’ve employed had weekends off. I’m sure they did.”
He nodded. “And every weekend has been two days of hell.”
Sophia smiled. “Surely you’re exaggerating.”
But he didn’t return her smile. “I honestly believe Hailey and I make each other nervous. She gets cranky. I get edgy.”
“Oh, come on. Hailey’s a good baby. She’s been calm and easygoing for me since I moved in on Thursday. And she’s been great for you in the evenings, too.” Meaning only to inject a little humor, she added, “I could tell you some stories about children who were suspected of being true devil-spawn.” She chuckled, and he did have the grace to smile, albeit fleetingly.
“Besides the fact that your daughter’s so laid-back,” she continued, “you’ve done great with her over the past couple of days. You’ve made great strides. You’ve learned to feed her properly. You’ve bathed her.” She grinned. “And I haven’t had a single diaper fall off her little butt since I showed you how to fit them more snugly.”
Again he nodded. “I know. And you’re right. I’ll be fine. I’m sure.”
He didn’t sound sure.
Just then Hailey’s cry came from down the hall.
“Sounds like Her Majesty is awake,” Sophia quipped.
“I’d better get in there.” He glanced behind him, distracted by the baby. “You have a great weekend.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.”
Hailey’s cries swiftly elevated to wails, and Michael’s gaze collided with Sophia’s. In an instant, he seemed to be standing on the threshold of panic.
Calmly, she remarked, “Sounds to me like a ‘my-diaper’s-wet-and-I-don’t-like-it’ cry and a ‘feed-me-now’ cry all rolled into one.” She set her purse down. “You change her diaper and I’ll get her bottle ready.”
At first, she thought