Nanny Behaving Badly (12 page)

‘What are you doing?’ he demanded, approaching like a battle scene extra from Braveheart. His speed caused shock to rock Maddie backwards.

What was with him? What now?

Maddie quickly screwed the top back on the bottle and stared dumbfounded. ‘Um … I wanted a spa bath. I figured you wouldn’t mind. You said I could use the pool or gym whenever I liked.’

‘I don’t mind,’ he answered roughly, his expression still far from placated. At her feet the spa bath gurgled and vibrated. ‘What I mind is the fact you’re going to cause a foam eruption. Bubble bath’s a no-no. Haven’t you used one of these things before?’

Maddie was tempted to throw the bottle right over him. ‘No, as it happens. Play centre wages don’t run to fancy spa fees. We can’t all be privileged.’

Lyle’s eyes were dark and accusing when he pushed past her and tried but failed to stop the tub’s jets. Then he pulled out the stereo plug instead.

‘Who are you? The anti-fun squad,’ she added.

‘I should’ve shown you how it works. Especially what not to do, which includes artificial additives. It bubbles all on its own. Look!’

Lyle looked down at the pool and already the tub had a thick mound of meringue topping, conjured by the whirlpool’s blowers. Like fragrant snow it grew and spilled over the tub rim.

Maddie gulped but didn’t meet Lyle’s gaze. ‘I see what you mean. I’d no idea. Couldn’t you have put up a warning poster?’

‘In retrospect that might have been an idea. Or maybe I should have put you in handcuffs.’

Without thinking, Maddie waded into the tub amid the bubbles and tried to flatten them with her arms. In the end, she was waving wildly, swatting at clumps. The gesture just caused more suds to escape and blow around her.

She sighed, standing in the tub. ‘I’m sorry, I’d no idea. I’ve been desperate to try it. Will your pool be wrecked now? I’ll pay for damages, of course.’ She palmed her temple and only succeeded in covering herself with more puffy foam.

Lyle strode to the edge of the tub and helped her back out. When he pulled her to his side she was ludicrously covered in white foam and they were inches apart. In stark comparison he was still dry. And so was her mouth when she looked up at the vision of all man poster-perfect body, his well-muscled arms, chest and athletic legs in full view.

Maddie cursed her own impulses when she realised her robe was soaked, hanging open and dripping around her feet. There were suds balls in her hair.

‘You might have warned me you’re into foam parties,’ he said wryly. ‘There are people out there who’d pay good money to watch you.’

‘Shall I call 999?’ she asked meekly.

Lyle laughed and it proved instantly infectious, causing her to giggle along as she stood dripping and covered in slippery foam.

Nice way to impress the boss, Adams!

‘I’m sorry, Lyle,’ she said, knowing the laughter still didn’t detract from the crimson blush at her own crazy behaviour. ‘I’ve done it again, haven’t I? Like I did in the café. What is it with me and acting in haste?’

Lyle untied her robe for her. ‘You’d better take that off for starters.’ Him slipping the wet fabric from her shoulders made her gulp and shiver. She watched as he threw the sopping garment away. Became ultra aware of herself standing before him in a swimsuit like an unruly street urchin.

‘Is saying sorry enough for you to overlook this incident?’ she asked.

‘No. I want to take the moral high-ground for a bit longer. Make you squirm.’ He scooped up a large foamy wad and split it in two, then put it on her shoulders. The hairs on her body reacted to the slight contact. She wanted more. And that would be a very bad move.

Maddie removed some foam from her hair and blew it back at him. ‘Wise guy, huh?’

Lyle’s mouth curved with the slightest grin. ‘Just figuring it matches your bubbly personality.’

‘Josh’s daddy versus his nanny in a foam fight. Now that’s what I call while the kid’s away the grown-ups will play.’

His eyes stared down, his body was close. His breath was hot against her, his lips were parted. Her breathing caught fast in her chest like thistledown in a hedgerow. It would be so, so easy to push her hands around his neck and kiss him again, and this time would be richter scale intensity given their circumstances. His eyes told her he knew that too. And just like the night in the den she felt his bewitching spell. She wanted this, badly, so badly it ached and fired her within.

All alone with a foamy tub in a big empty house hung potent. They might be stuck in here for days, writhing around in slippery bubbles totally undisturbed.

Maddie glanced downwards, then noticed his swim shorts hinted at similarly rampant thoughts and the sight took her breath away. This man was big, in lots of ways that mattered.

Covering his discomfort seamlessly Lyle moved away, then handed her a towel. She was wired at what she’d just observed as well as upended.

‘In a way, I’m glad you did this. Shades of the old you,’ Lyle commented. ‘The crazy, impulsive Maddie that drove me crazy – I miss it. I almost miss the mayhem.’

‘It’s a carefully developed technique. I use it to make people feel cleverer than they actually are.’ She bit her lip to stop her giggling again because Lyle had foam clinging to the tip of his chin now and some in his hair. He narrowed his eyes at her laughter, then put foam on hers to match. Even in the aftermath of a foam fiasco the man was still suave and sexily cool.

‘White suits you. So unfair, you’ll age beautifully,’ she commented without even thinking.

‘Will I? Maybe I should dress like this to impress you more often?’

On impulse, and a tiny devil inside urged her on, Maddie found herself tempted to push him into the tub. The old Maddie would’ve done it in a blink. She would have now, if she’d been confident she wouldn’t drown him. If their prior kiss hadn’t happened.

Instead she merely made a threat in jest. ‘I should push you in and wipe that smile of your face.’

‘When all I’ve done is save you from drowning to
The Weather Girls
?’ Lyle stood showcasing that gladiator-styled body. He towelled himself off and she almost groaned watching as glossy skin and hard sinew competed for attention. Potency buzzed live between them as he wiped away that vanilla and rose fragranced foam and his grey searching eyes met hers.

Lyle walked past her to discard his towel but turned so swiftly it made her gasp aloud. She lost balance when he gripped her shoulders, and she realised she was captive in his arms.

‘No mercy, Maddie Adams. This time
I’m
throwing you in.’

Lyle watched Maddie pull a robe over her swimsuit. He could still feel the wet warmth of her skin tingling on his fingers.

He hadn’t pushed her into the spa; he wasn’t that cruel. He’d simply grasped her wrists at the last minute to make her gasp and scream. And he’d been millimetres from kissing her again thanks to his own impulsiveness. Holding her in his arms, in nothing but that clinging fabric, had been sweet sensational torture. When she’d slipped from his grasp to shower off her slippery layer of foam he’d been fired beyond reason and had clung like a desperate man to good sense.

Now water pearls glistened like crystal on her bronzed skin. His brain jumped to images of him tasting each droplet.

Commanding inner control he diverted from thoughts of swimsuits and forced his mind away from images of them both writhing in that soft, bubbly mass. He strode to the cupboard and pulled out a fresh robe for her which she accepted.

Lyle shook his head. ‘I’m glad we’re talking properly again. I felt like I should send out a search party for my old in-your-face nanny. The one who was feisty and fightable.’

Teasing and honesty were better than strained awkwardness. He coaxed her with a cajoling look and she half-smiled back.

‘You like to tease, Lyle.’

‘I’m teasing with the truth. Plus you like to bait me plenty. It’s not like you can’t take it or dish it out.’

Lyle stretched, flexed his body, then caught her gaze rise from his legs and up his body as a tiny gulp betrayed her. Her courage to stare spun away when she reached his chest.

He seized advantage. ‘I wanted to tell you how you’ve influenced me at work. I almost locked a supply company rep in the storeroom last week. He overdid the gingerbread Christmas trees – more than Santa Claus could handle – then tried to shirk blame. Bad move. Maybe he needs Maddie’s boot camp punishment? Shall I book him in for bubble wars?’

A smile tugged her lips as she tied her robe belt tight. ‘How long did you leave him in the gulag?’

‘No force employed, subtle persuasion only,’ Lyle stated softly. ‘I can be very convincing when I’m in the right. We came to an amicable agreement with a healthy discount from our next order.’ The look he threw her was loaded. Her eyes darting away then back registered a direct hit in his persuasion comment.

‘And if your head gets bigger you’ll float right across the pool.’ She faked derision.

‘Do you mind if I test out the floating theory with a swim?’ Lyle diverted his attention to the water.

‘It’s your pool. I’m going now. I’ve caused enough damage for one day.’

His heart kicked at the departure threat. ‘Don’t leave on my account. I figure you should stay here and make sure every bubble’s popped before you go. By the way, I’m kidding – in case you take me seriously and try to clean up.’

Lyle walked closer and pointed down to toes that were alternately painted in varied vivid shades of pink, from flamingo to hot candy. ‘Cute.’

‘Why limit yourself to just one bottle,’ she answered, regarding her own toes. ‘I guess that only applies to nail paint and not bathing products.’

‘But limits do stifle opportunity.’

Inwardly he congratulated himself on direct hit number two. Her narrowed eyes confirmed it.

‘I’m sensing a hidden point to these conversations. We’re on the same wavelength, remember? We’re being sensible.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ He licked his lips. Her gaze stayed there. Then her tongue flicked to moisten her own lips.

‘Are you making a point here?’

‘Nope. Didn’t realise your toenails were off limits.’

They were close, toe to toe. Near enough to touch, to taste. To feel her heat and taste her sweet minty-fresh mouthwash. To reach out and grasp and claim as they had in his den. Now Lyle sorely wished he’d waited so he could seize advantage now. This time in swimsuits.

But he wouldn’t touch her unless she wanted it. He’d promised. He aimed to keep it. He wanted her to want him back just as hard. Next time she’d have no doubts.

She hesitated and turned to go.

‘Maddie, please don’t leave. Stay, shoot the breeze.’

‘I’m done.’ She shrugged but still lingered. ‘If I don’t get this hair combed out it turns wild and interesting. It’s too wilful for its own good. Just like you.’

Lyle grinned. ‘That’s what I want. Old Maddie and her rapier tongue putting me firmly in my place. Let your wild side back out; buttoned up doesn’t suit you so well. The swimsuit looks amazing by the way.’

Lyle walked to the shower reaffirming to himself he’d come in here to mend broken fences. Not to provoke her. Yet the more he strived for engagement the more it spurred him on. He wanted to make her fully aware that he’d keep his word, but he wouldn’t run or hide from the chemistry.

Sticking to boundaries with this woman in close proximity challenged everything. Especially his peace of mind, when she pushed away a sleek cord of dark, damp hair that tortured his testosterone to new limits.

Lyle saw that strand of hair cling to her neck and he longed to reach for it. Push his hands into those warm, wet strands. Kiss her and lower her onto the poolside lounger right now.

Lyle switched on the pool shower and let the sprays blast him. Wishing he could just pull her with him – vowing he’d only do so when she asked. Or her eyes told him she was willing.

Did she want this just as badly?

‘I best go and change. Then maybe you can brief me fully about the launch over coffee? I’ll make us some.’

‘Better than that, I’ll take you over there myself later. Sound okay?’

‘Sounds good.’

‘On one condition,’ Lyle warned. ‘You relax with me. We stay as we were, okay? No more awkward stuff.’

‘Okay, boss. Always nagging, never content to settle,’ she muttered.

‘Why settle? When demanding more makes sense?’

Lyle strode to the pool to dive and slice through its calm blue surface. He swam hard for three lengths and when he re-emerged Maddie had gone. In his mind he could still picture every pink toenail. Her skin covered in that crazy, snow-white foam. Every appealing inch of toned leg was etched in his mind. Best of all he could remember the longing he’d seen, despite her evasion.

He’d push inch by inch – until she seized courage. Until she realised resistance was plain crazy. Until she swam beyond her self-imposed ideals, and finally took that plunge.

Maddie stood outside the historic castle frontage of a very grand, old country house hotel and stared back at Lyle. His face gave nothing away, but she could see a hint of sparkle in those grey eyes that were usually so steely.

‘What are you up to, Lyle? Why are we here? I thought we were heading to the Grassmarket Café to work?’

Lyle pocketed his keys and linked his hand into hers. ‘C’mon. All in good time. First I’ve booked you an appointment. Consider it a reward.’

Maddie followed him over the crunchy gravel drive and tried to steady a heartbeat that was now waivering in uncertainty.

What was he up to?

‘What have I done to deserve a reward? It can’t be the Jacuzzi.’

Lyle laughed and when they reached it, he opened the hotel’s grand entrance door wide. ‘Oh ye of little faith. Come in out of the cold and stop thinking the worst.’

They walked into an ultra chic and plush reception and Lyle was greeted by the staff like an old friend. He was soon heading off up a sumptuously carpeted corridor, obviously well-acquainted with the place.

‘You jumped to my aid to look after my son. Plus you’ve agreed to help on the launch also. I figured, as Josh isn’t here, the least I could do was reward your hard work. You hinted at never having been pampered at a spa before. Well, now’s your chance. Three hours with Demelza and I guarantee you’ll be floating on air.’