From Nanny To Wife (16 page)

Chapter 1
7

Hope was in the kitchen fixing her a cup of tea when the doorbell rang. She set the canister of teabags on the counter and went to answer the door. She came upon Bob in the foyer and gave his head a gentle pat as she passed by. Hope unlocked the door and opened it. Standing there was Pam. She held a garment bag in one hand and an open umbrella in the other. Without uttering a word, she held out the bag.

Hope took it from her and draped it over her arm. "Please, come in."

Pam closed the umbrella, propped it against the outside of the house, and stepped across the thresh hold. "I hope you don't mind me dropping by without calling first."

"You're always welcome here," Hope said. "I was making a cup of tea. Would you like one?"

"That sounds lovely." Pam shut the door behind her and followed Hope to the kitchen. "Where is everyone?"

"William is visiting his son, Gordon is at the movies, and Maggie is visiting her daughter and grandchildren. She took Zoe with her. Ryan had some errands to run." Hope laid the garment bag on the back of a chair and moved toward the counter. "What's in the bag?"

"A dress," Pam answered. "The other day I overheard Mr. Kendall telling Harvey that you're flying to Vegas to get married. The dress is my wedding present to you. I thought you could wear it when you are exchanging your vows. You don't have a dress all ready, do you?"

"No," Hope said.

"Take a look at it," Pam said. "I'll make the tea."

Hope picked up the garment bag and unzipped it. She removed an ivory colored dress and held it out in front of her. It was off the shoulders, had a fitted bodice and a skirt that ended below the knees. "Oh, Pam. It's beautiful, but I can't take it."

"Yes you can," Pam said. "It will make up for the things I said to you that day at Kendall Industries. I've been doing some thinking and if he makes you happy that's good enough for me."

Hope smiled at her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Pam said. "It should fit. I called Maggie and had her sneak into your closet and check your dress size."

Hope and Pam sat down at the table a few minutes later with cups of tea and a plate of cookies.

"What made you two decide to fly to Vegas and get married? Why not wait awhile and plan a big wedding?"

Hope stirred honey into her tea. "Ryan and I had the big weddings with our first marriages. We want something small and intimate this time."

"Hello, ladies," Ryan said, strolling into the kitchen.

"Hi," Hope said.

"Hello, Mr. Kendall."

"When we're not at the office you can call me Ryan, Pam," he said. "What are you two talking about?"

"The wedding," Hope told him.

"I have a suggestion," Ryan said. He reached over Hope's shoulder and grabbed a cookie from the plate. "Why don't I fly everyone out to Vegas for the wedding? Afterward they fly home and you and I stay behind for a few days."

Hope leaned her head back and glanced up at Ryan. "I'd like that."

"When you say everyone does that include me too?" Pam asked Ryan.

"Of course it does," Ryan said. "We leave Friday morning at seven."

"Mind if I bring someone with me?" Pam inquired.

"No," Ryan said. He checked his watch. "I have some phone calls to make. Please excuse me." He dropped a kiss on Hope's temple and then walked out of the kitchen.

"It was nice of him to invite everyone to the wedding," Pam said.

"I'm glad he did." Hope took a sip of tea and set the cup back in the saucer. "I want the people I care about to be with me when I marry him." She raised a brow. "Who are you bringing to the wedding?"

Pam smirked. "I'm not saying. You're going to have to wait to find out."

"That's not nice," Hope said. "Will you give me a hint?"

"Uh-no."

Pam didn't stay long. After she left Hope went in search of Ryan and found him in his office. He was standing at the window looking out. Wondering what was going through his head, Hope leaned against the doorframe and gazed at him. Unbidden, an image of an angry Ryan grabbing her and kissing her roughly sprang to mind and she shoved the memory deep down inside. She was determined not to dwell on unhappy thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Laura," Ryan said without turning around. "I wonder if she's afraid of going up against me in court."

"She should be," Hope muttered. "I know I would be frightened." She joined Ryan at the window. "Where did you two meet?"

"It was at a bar." Ryan turned toward Hope. "I was there to meet a client for drinks: she was there with friends. We bumped into each other and started talking. Before we parted ways, she gave me her number. Six months later, we were married. Zoe came along the following year. By the time she turned one our marriage was over."

"Tell me why you and Laura couldn't make your marriage work," Hope said quietly.

Ryan sighed heavily. "Can I get a drink first?"

"No." Hope took his arm and led him over to the couch. "It's too early in the day for drinking."

"Not even married yet and you're all ready ordering me around," Ryan muttered as they sat down.

Hope snorted. "No one orders you around, Ryan…well maybe Zoe. Talk to me, please."

"Laura and I didn't love each other," Ryan said. "That's why we couldn't make it work. She married me for my money and the lifestyle it brought her. It's funny; she would complain that I didn't spend enough time with her because I was always working. I had to work. She was racking up big shopping bills. While I was making the money, she was out with her girl friends spending it. Zoe was left with a nanny most of the time. Laura rarely took care of her." He cleared his throat. "I came home early one day to the sound of Zoe screaming. I found her in her crib. She had a dirty diaper and was hungry."

"Where was the nanny?" Hope asked.

"She was passed out on the couch from drinking too much," Ryan said. "It was the last straw. I packed a bag for Zoe and me and we left. I filed for a divorce the next day. It was a nightmare. Laura wanted half of everything I owned. When I refused to give into her demands, she tried to drag Zoe into the mess. I wasn't having it. To end the marriage, I gave her the house with everything in it, a brand new car, and a check for twenty million. In return, she agreed to let me have full custody of Zoe. Her condition was that I let her have visitation every two weeks."

"If she gave you Zoe then why did she want visitation?" Hope asked.

"She told me she didn't want Zoe to forget her," Ryan said. "It was a lie. I believe she wanted visitation so she could keep an eye on me."

"Why does she want Zoe after all this time?" Hope mumbled. "I don't understand."

"She's tired of me calling all the shots," Ryan said his eyes as cold as ice. "She wants the upper hand. Laura would love to tell me I can't see Zoe."

Hope reached out and laid her hand on Ryan's shoulder. "That will never happen."

"You're damn right it won't," Ryan growled. "If I lose in court I will take Zoe and disappear."

"You mean we will take Zoe and disappear," Hope said. "We're in this together. Besides, you can't take Zoe from me. It would break my heart to be separated from her."

"I won't let you run away with us, Hope," Ryan stated. "I would be breaking the law by taking Zoe. I would be a fugitive. You're in too deep as it is. I will not let you throw your life away."

"You and Zoe are my life now," Hope whispered. "I would rather be on the run with you two then here worrying myself sick."

Before Ryan could respond, Zoe ran into the office with Bob on her heels. She climbed onto the couch and plopped down between Hope and Ryan.

"Hi, baby girl," Ryan said. "Did you have fun playing with the other kids?"

"Yeah," Zoe said. "Jenny made cookies."

"Jenny is Maggie's daughter," Ryan explained to Hope.

"Ah, I see," Hope said. She smiled down at Zoe. "Were the cookies good?"

"Yeah," Zoe murmured. She got off the couch and ran from the room.

Hope groaned. "She's hopped up on sugar. I had better go keep an eye on her. In her state who knows what she'll do?"

"She will crash eventually," Ryan said.

Hope rose from the couch. "Will you be all right?"

"Of course," Ryan said, getting to his feet. "Before you go, I have something for you." He moved toward his desk and opened the top drawer. Taking out a prescription bottle, he placed it in Hope's hand. "Take one an hour before the flight. It should relax you."

"Did you have any trouble getting these?" Hope asked.

"No," Ryan said.

"Thank you," Hope said. "I will put these where Zoe can't find them."

"Just don't forget where you put them," Ryan said.

Promising that she wouldn't, Hope turned and left the room.

Chapter 1
8

On Friday morning, Ryan awoke early. The first thought that entered his mind as he came awake was that it was his wedding day. The idea scared the hell out of him. He rolled over onto his side and his eyes landed on the picture of Zoe that sat on the bedside table. A feeling of calm quickly replaced the fear. He was doing the right thing by marrying Hope. An image of the beautiful blonde-haired woman filled his head and emotions he had no name for rose within him. He knew deep down inside that he could trust Hope. She was not Laura. She was everything his ex wife was not. She was unselfish, loving, gentle, beautiful…and yet he was afraid of her: afraid of getting hurt. He, Ryan Kendall, the man who could stare down the most intimidating of men and not blink an eye, was afraid of a woman. The thought did not set well with him.