From Nanny To Wife (9 page)

Hope gritted her teeth and fought back a wave of irritation. She lowered herself to the bed and set the tray on the bedside table. "All right, you don't have to, but I want you to drink your juice."

Zoe grasped the sippy cup with both hands and took a drink. "Bob," she said once she swallowed.

"Bob is fine," Hope said. "I took him some breakfast. He misses you."

"Want Bob," Zoe croaked.

"I know you do, sweetheart." Hope brushed Zoe's hair back from her face. "But you can't go outside. You're sick."

"Bob inside," Zoe muttered.

"Oh, sweetheart," Hope said. "You know Bob can't come inside."

"Want-" Zoe coughed. "Want Bob."

Hope framed Zoe's face between her hands. "I'll go ask your Daddy if Bob can come inside. You watch your cartoons." She got up and reluctantly went down the hall to Ryan's office. In the hallway, she took a deep breath and before she lost her nerve knocked on the door.

"Enter!" Ryan called out.

Hope opened the door and crossed the thresh hold. "Do you have a few minutes? I promised Zoe I would ask you something."

Ryan dropped his pen and sat back, giving her his undivided attention. "I'm listening."

Hope tried not to fidget as she stood there under his gaze. Nervous she clasped her hands in front of her. "Zoe wants to bring Bob into the house."

"I thought we had an understanding about that mutt," Ryan said.

"And I thought I told you that I don't like it when you call him a mutt," Hope snapped her eyes flashing.

Ryan arched a brow. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to?"

"No, I know exactly who I'm talking to," Hope said. "I'm talking to a-" She broke off before she said something she would regret. "I'm sorry. I know we agreed the dog would stay outside. It's just that-"

"Zoe is sick and you haven't the heart to tell her no," Ryan said. "Am I right?"

"Yes," Hope sighed. "Am I-"

"Excuse me." Maggie hesitated in the doorway. "Ms. Hilton is here to see Zoe."

"Damn," Ryan said. "I forgot to call and tell her not to come."

"Zoe is sick," Hope said. "I don't want Laura disturbing her rest."

"I'll handle it," Ryan declared, standing. "Hope, go back to Zoe. Maggie, go out back and get that mu - Bob. Bring him up to Zoe's room."

Hope smiled at Ryan. "Thank you."

Ryan nodded. "After I deal with Laura, you and I need to talk." For the second time that morning, he walked away from Hope.

Hope did as Ryan ordered and went back to Zoe. "Good news, sweetheart," she said, shutting off the television. "Your Daddy said Bob can come inside."

"Bob inside," Zoe whispered.

"That's right," Hope said. "When Bob gets here I want you and him to take a nap." She checked her watch and saw it was time for Zoe to take her pills. Moving across the room, she picked up the child proof bottle of Ibuprofen from the dresser, opened it, and shook two pills into her palm. She retraced her steps and held her hand out. "Take these."

Zoe put the pills in her mouth and drank them down with the water Hope gave her.

Just then, Maggie appeared in the doorway with the dog in her arms. "I believe this little fellow needs a friend."

"Bob," Zoe said weakly.

"Thank you, Maggie." Hope took the dog from the housekeeper and put him on the bed. He began licking Zoe's face. "Bob, lie down."

"Down, Bob," Zoe rasped. The dog walked around in a circle for a moment and then flopped down.

"Good boy." Hope gave his head a pat. "I want you both to sleep. I'll be here if you need me."

Zoe closed her eyes. "Zoe love Hope."

"I love you, too, Zoe." Hope wandered over to the window seat on the other side of the room and plopped down onto it. She parted the curtains and glanced out.

"She's gone," Ryan said quietly as he settled on the window seat.

Hope dropped the curtains back into place and turned her head to look at Ryan. "Was she angry? Wait. Don't answer that. This is Laura we're talking about. Of course she was angry."

"She pretended to care that Zoe was sick." Ryan gazed at Zoe and the dog. "I saw through her act. I told her I would call her and let her know when she can come back."

"Take your time getting back to her," Hope said.

"I plan on it." Ryan rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. "Hope, we need to talk about what happened between us."

Hope lowered her head and glanced at the carpet. "I know we do."

"It was a nice kiss, okay it was better than nice, but it can't happen again."

"I agree," Hope uttered. She raised her head and looked at Ryan. "It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been vulnerable. Let's forget about it and move forward."

"It's a deal."

Hope knew she could move forward, she just hoped she could forget.

Chapter 1
0

"It's Halloween," Hope announced at the breakfast table two days later. "What did Zoe do last year?"

"She went trick or treating," Maggie answered.

"I took her," Ryan said from behind his newspaper. "If I remember correctly she went as a ladybug."

Maggie smiled. "She was the cutest little ladybug I ever saw."

"Well she can't go this year." Hope carried her cup to the coffee pot and refilled it. "She hasn't gotten over the flu yet."

"I have an idea," Gordon said. "I need to pick up a few things from the grocery store. Why don't I get a pumpkin and we can carve it for her?"

"As long as you don't ask me to do it," Ryan said. "I almost lost a finger carving last years."

"I'll carve it," Hope said. "Does anyone need more coffee?"

"I do," Ryan said, holding out his cup.

Hope took it from him. Her hand brushed against his and a tingling sensation ran up her arm. She quickly turned away and set the cup on the counter before she dropped it. Closing her eyes, she willed her hand to stop trembling. When she felt it was safe, she picked up the cup, filled it with coffee, and put it on the table in front of Ryan. "Here you are."

"Thank you," Ryan said.

"You're welcome," Hope whispered.

Ryan glanced up at her. "Are you all right?"

Hope forced a smile. "Of course."

Zoe shuffled into the kitchen at that moment, Bob trotting along beside her.

"Zoe Marie Kendall," Hope said. "What are you doing out of bed, young lady?"

"Come here, baby girl," Ryan said, putting his newspaper down. He pushed back his chair and reached for Zoe, lifting her up to sit on his lap. "You know you're not supposed to be getting out of bed."

Zoe laid her head against Ryan's chest. "No bed, Daddy. Outside."

Ryan kissed her temple. "I know you're tired of being stuck indoors, but you're sick, baby girl. You can't go outside."

"Come with me, sweetheart," Maggie said. "You can lie on the couch and watch
SpongeBob."

"Go on." Ryan set Zoe on her feet.

"Come, Bob," Zoe said to the dog.

"Let me take Bob outside so he can go potty," Hope said. "I'll bring him to you after he's done." She bent down and scooped the dog up in her arms.

"Let me get the door for you." Gordon opened the back door and moved aside.

"Thank you, Gordon." Hope stepped outside and crossed the patio. She lowered the dog to the ground and gave his back a gentle pat. "Get to it, Bob. It's cold out here."

"Which is why you should have put a jacket on."

Her heart skipping a beat Hope turned around to find Ryan holding her jacket in his hand. "Thank you," she said, taking the garment from him. She slipped it on and stuck her hands in her pockets to warm them. "So, you're going back to work."

"It's time," Ryan said. "Zoe is doing better."

Hope scanned the yard looking for the dog and spotted him sniffing around the flowerbeds. "You didn't have to stay home. Zoe's in good hands."

"I know she is," Ryan said. "I just get overprotective when she's unwell. When she was a baby, she caught an infection and had to be hospitalized. She came close to dying. Now whenever she's not well I worry."

"It's understandable," Hope said softly.

"I do feel better knowing that you're looking after her." Ryan cleared his throat. "You're great with her."

"She's a special little girl," Hope said. "I'll always be grateful to Pam for bringing us together." She watched as Bob chased after a stray cat. His small legs were working hard to catch up, but he just wasn't fast enough. "It's hard to believe that tomorrow will be two months since you hired me. Time is flying by so quickly."

Ryan checked his watch. "Yes it is. I have to go. Call me if you need me."

"I'll do that," Hope said.

Ryan's day was a busy one. Being away from the office for four days had put him behind. He spent the morning meeting with clients. By the time, the last one left it was after twelve. Instead of going out for lunch, he had it brought to him and ate while doing paperwork at his desk. After lunch, he called home to check on Zoe and learned from Maggie that she was watching Hope carve the pumpkin in the kitchen. Thoughts of Hope filled his head and he tried his hardest to shove them to the back of his mind. For his peace of mind, he couldn't think about her.

The intercom on Ryan's desk buzzed. "Mr. Kendall, Ms. Hilton is here to see you."

Ryan pushed the button. "Send her in."

"Yes, sir," Pam said.

The door opened and Laura sauntered into the office. "Hello, Ryan. Thank you for agreeing to see me."

"I don't have a choice," Ryan stated as he attempted to put some semblance of order to his desktop. "You would have barged in if I had told you to go away. Make it quick, Laura. I don't have time for this."

Laura sat down and crossed one shapely leg over the other. "I'm getting married on Saturday."

"I feel sorry for the poor bastard," Ryan muttered. "Is he loaded? What am I saying? Of course, he's loaded. You're not about to marry some poor sucker."

"He is well off," Laura said, "but that's not important. I'm in love."