Nanny Behaving Badly (3 page)

‘Hard for me to corroborate your experience though.’

‘Call Andrea at Junior Play Space Station. She’ll vouch for my work. I was a U.S. Kids’ Camp counsellor in the States too. It may sound like child’s play but believe me, marshalling thirty hyper kids a day takes stamina and commitment. Sometimes earplugs too. I think I can handle a coffee bar without it causing me a nervous breakdown.’

‘So you’re telling me you’ll conform. You won’t push me out again like the earlier stunt.’

Things about this man pushed lots of instant reaction buttons inside her all at once. His manner, his brusque bravado and his tingle-causing all-man looks. The lurking inner bad boy that she kept seeing glints of in his eyes. Those hands that had such long fingers it almost felt sensual noticing them. Hands that caused her to imagine them touching her skin.

Maddie shrugged in fake surrender. ‘You won’t regret giving me a second chance and that’s a promise.’

He shook his head, unimpressed. But she noticed that he chanced a sidelong look at her. ‘Well, so long as you’re clear. Any more crazy stuff and you’ll be gone without further warning. I don’t have time for employees going loco.’

Something inside her – she wasn’t sure what – clicked and she just had to answer back in the face of his accusations. Perhaps it was the assumptions, the fact he didn’t know her at all and was damning her with stereotypes. The immovable negative standpoint just jarred and cut deep. Something made her bite.

‘When I next decide to scale Edinburgh castle’s ramparts naked, I’ll be sure you’re out of the country. Or not looking. Since I’m such a shock-seeker.’

Lyle stared at her. His sharp grey eyes glittered and his brows even rose a touch. Maddie didn’t actually know where the retort had come from. She’d derailed herself. Now he just thought she was the crazy American woman who couldn’t be trusted. Even to keep her mouth zipped. It was one thing winning an argument and fighting your cause, another thing discussing nude monument ascent like she did it as a weekend hobby.

But something made her spar with Lyle Sutherland – perhaps the way her heart had been revving since he’d touched her mouth? Or the way he’d judged and trampled all her efforts.

‘Maybe I’d prefer to stick around for that spectacle.’

Maddie laid her hands flat on the table. Tried to keep them steady, her tone even. ‘Look, I’m not work-shy and I’m not here on a free pass. All I want is a fair chance.’

Lyle rose and fixed her with those eyes. ‘See you back at the café in twenty minutes – punctual, ready to serve. Keen to keep the boss on side even if it means resisting the urge to rock climb.’

‘Sure, boss.’ She let out a deep breath in relief. ‘Thanks for the second chance.’

Maddie sat back; she still had a job, that was the main thing. But why did she feel like she still needed to protest?

‘Better make me glad I gave it, Maddie.’ She watched him vacate the table and walk away, adding over his shoulder, ‘Thanks for the Brewster thing but steer clear of the castle. Publicity’s important – but I draw the line at my baristas stripping to get it.’

Lyle pushed the newspaper headline in front of Maddie. ‘Great review. Almost makes me glad you captured me through trickery and locked me in a dark windowless room by force to get it.’

He watched as shock momentarily froze her features.

‘We got a good review?’ she asked, taking the newspaper and scanning it intently.

‘Though don’t go getting a big head about it.’ He smiled. ‘And I quote, “the enthusiastic and attentive waitress made it a joy to be served here. American hospitality abounds. Book your seat at Edinburgh’s open air festive Ice Café soon. You won’t be disappointed. Lyle Sutherland took the rally world by storm and now he’s set to achieve the same with his coffee chain of Ice Cafés.” ’

‘All in a day’s work,’ she answered, then gave him a hint of grin. ‘I didn’t know you were a rally driver?’

‘Hidden depths. Or speed-freak guilty past. Not sure which.’

Lyle mused that it made a nice change to see Maddie’s impish qualities return – he’d never thought he’d say it but she’d almost won him over since their disastrous meeting.

‘Just don’t ever go bossing me around again. I only make exceptions once. But you’re right, I probably wasn’t showing myself at my best when he dropped by.’

‘D’ya think?’ She stemmed a chuckle.

Maddie looked up into his eyes – the pure depths of those bold blue eyes bolted him to the spot. Purest azure fire and he couldn’t help just staring. The woman was a conundrum. But praise where praise was due – she deserved the credit. They’d scored the review he’d craved. Even if her methods were maverick in the extreme.

Over the past few days she’d towed the line; quieter, affable, diligent. She’d even made the changes he’d asked for without issue. Clearly there was an astute business brain behind the wild blue hair – her actions as regards the critic had thrown him. But impressed him too.

His customers rated her highly and seemed super keen to relay their regard. She had a real charm about her; clearly Jim had been right to hire her. Her friendly buzz drew people in.
She
drew people in and kept them coming back.

As much as he hated admitting it, he’d misjudged her. She possessed a rejuvenating, edgy something that was just what the place needed.

Maddie pulled the print closer to read it again. ‘I’m shocked because Brewster rarely goes into raptures. Clearly I caught him in generous mood.’ Her eyes glittered. ‘Not that Weasel Face Brewster deserves fawning – he’s ruined more good new restaurants through being catty and snide than anyone. My uncle holds a mean grudge for his past actions. Should’ve spiked his drink with rat poison.’

Something inside him responded to her sparks. He felt the sizzle, the zap of her irrepressible energy ensnare him. He wondered what other antics she might just get up to if the inclination took control?

Like mentioning nude rock climbing at a moment’s notice.

Lyle gulped at that mental image and the mixed feelings it caused to swirl inside him – big climbing boots and a
naked Maddie
emergency
-
flared his hormones into orbit. Lyle stuffed a hand through his hair and pivoted on his heels under the guise of fetching his order sheets. He wished his brain hadn’t just gone there again.

Would she be this feisty and enthusiastic in other more provocative settings? Like the bedroom?

Lyle made a stab at sensible-toned boss. ‘Our customers deserve nothing but the best. Let’s just leave it there okay?’

‘Sure, boss. I’ll cool the jets. I’m up to speed with your decorum policy now.’

He gave her ten out of ten for pluck. But there was an errant force in Maddie Adams that sometimes made him wonder if she might actually do the crazy things she threatened. He vowed he wouldn’t let her distract him. He had too much at stake right now – a string of new cafés in the wings – to let his mind stray anywhere but business.

He had to ensure the success of his café chain.

Lyle walked to the far side of the café courtyard. He swiftly recognised the shock of dark curls and the familiar tiny white and blue sneakers rushing towards him in a flurry of haste through the milling crowd. The tiny blinking lights in the soles of Josh’s boots gave him away.

‘Daddy! Take me to the swing park so I can go on the slide.’

Josh’s excited face filled him with so much affection, it served to short-circuit his brain, so it didn’t jump to obvious thoughts of why his son might be here in the first place.

‘Josh!’ He whirled his beloved son. ‘Great to see you, champ.’

Lyle held his four-year-old son in his arms and gently kissed his soft, sweet-smelling cheeks. Josh was now clamouring for more attention.

‘Mr Sutherland, I have an urgent problem to deal with,’ said a familiar voice right beside him. Brigitta Friedrich, Josh’s au pair, looked solemn. Her face told of strain, worry and pressing thoughts. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘About what?’

Pure adrenaline jolts of concern coursed through Lyle. What had happened? Was Josh hurt? He visually checked over the boy running his hand through his curls and Josh certainly wasn’t looking or behaving any worse for any bad experience that may have befallen him. ‘How’s he been?’

‘Fine,’ answered the au pair. ‘It’s my father, he’s in hospital back home in Austria and it’s very serious. I need to leave and go to him.’

Lyle stared, taking her words in and assimilating the implications. She was clearly in distress at her devastating news. He looked at Josh, who was clinging to him unfazed. Still smiling, chuckling, pulling on his dad’s hair and asking him to go to the play park. Compassion made him react, but concern for his own predicament kicked in too. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, Brigitta.’

The woman’s lip trembled. ‘I really must go. I can’t stop worrying.’

‘Naturally you want to go home. I’ll call around now and make requests to nanny agencies. As soon as we can get another nanny replacement – ’

Brigitta broke in with a sudden sob. ‘My father’s suffered a heart attack, I must leave now. I’m going to the airport. Perhaps you could come and retrieve Josh’s car seat from the taxi cab?’

Her lip trembled again and she blotted her eyes with a handkerchief as the tears poured down her cheeks. ‘I deplore having to leave this way,’ she muttered. She reached out to touch Josh’s arm and bit back more tears. Clearly leaving Josh was as hard as this whole paternal health crisis issue. ‘Family, Mr Sutherland, is family.’

Lyle retrieved his wallet, grabbed a clutch of notes. ‘Here, take this to cover your current expenses. I’ll make sure you’re paid until the end of the month. But I will have to employ a replacement, Brigitta, you are aware of my position? My son needs day care and he’s my first concern.’

Brigitta’s lip wobbled again, ‘I understand. You are a generous man, Mr Sutherland.’

‘You’ll be missed,’ he told her. Inside him confusion, tiredness and frustration cycloned, blowing his plans, his priorities to the four winds. He felt like one of the snow globe baubles they peddled in the market, his senses blinded in the swirl of events. He needed his world to be in sharp, clear focus right now. He didn’t need snowstorms of added problems sending everything into disarray.

Two more cafés to launch and no nanny for Josh.

But taking such feelings out on Brigitta wouldn’t help. He’d learned that much from the day he’d had the difficulties with Maddie – she’d taken the brunt of his woes because she’d felt like an immoveable obstacle to his peace of mind. He’d had his fill of life’s dramatic turns in the last year.

Years of turmoil and fighting for precious time with his son. Followed by a tragedy that had rocked life as he knew it.

Trying and failing at fatherhood. One step forward, three steps in reverse.

‘Daddy, I love you so much. Can we play carpet bobsleigh tonight?’ Josh remarked in his ear.

Lyle hugged him close.

‘Sure, buddy.’

He disguised his facial tension with a taut smile. His predicament concerned him; his failing status as a coping dad, his vulnerable precious boy left sidelined again, his livelihood, his business objectives …

Lyle knew his palm pilot was so crowded with to-dos, another list of vital jobs might as well get the red flag urgent treatment.

‘Let’s go and fetch the car seat,’ he said lowering Josh to the ground and taking his hand. ‘You’re absolutely right, Brigitta. Family is family. Your priority lies at home.’

Maddie watched as Lyle tried to juggle the hard-to-manage combination of an unwieldy kid’s car safety seat in one hand and a small boy keen to run and explore in the other.

She heard him calling to the child to come back, his tone revealing his difficulties with every repetition.

‘That’s Lyle’s son,’ Jim told her. ‘Josh. A cutie, isn’t he?’

The son? Or the father?

The revelation of Lyle’s personal circumstances jarred with Maddie’s thoughts and expectations. She’d imagined the boss otherwise – single, driven, a go-getter tycoon without ties. But why wouldn’t Lyle Sutherland have an attractive doting wife and a brood of gorgeous beaming children at home too? Domestic harmony behind the surly Scot with the harsh work ethic and professional strictures.

And it was then she realised she’d been so busy firing artillery at the man, holding the confusing sparks and contradictions he kindled inside her against him, she hadn’t stopped to consider any of the real details. That he was a father. Involved. Out of her zone of interest.

Maddie watched the boss lay down the seat as the boy removed his gloves. Lyle tried to replace the gloves, without any progress worth noting. The furrows on his brow told of a man under attack. Maddie’s instincts made her walk over and offer to provide the helping hand he looked like he needed.

‘Want me to try?’ she asked softly. ‘It is cold here, he might think he doesn’t want them but he needs gloves. You’re right to push the issue.’

Lyle’s back remained as stiff as his resolve. Again he tried to negotiate glove realignment while the boy deflected him with ease. ‘I’ll manage.’

‘Gloves and pre-schoolers aren’t a good combination,’ she elaborated, getting closer. Like herding wary sheep and trying not to scare them. ‘Wriggling octopus fingers makes it trickier than origami.’

Lyle looked up at her from his crouched position. ‘Any suggestions for success? Besides studying origami at advanced level?’

‘Mittens simplify the task.’ Then she reconsidered her words. Knowing Lyle, he’d immediately assume she was calling him a fool and judging him on his lack of knack in the toddler gloves department. ‘I speak as someone who struggles to get bread in the toaster holes in the morning.’

Lyle’s shoulders rose as he forced a semi-laugh.

Maddie crouched down and intercepted the tiny hands, brushing Lyle’s large manly ones as she did and sending a fireball catapulting through her from some hidden place in the pit of her stomach.

Ignoring the flush it sent to her cheeks, she smiled at the boy. ‘Hello, I’m your dad’s friend. I love putting gloves on real fast, wanna help?’