Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Through an open door, I could see the kitchen was huge and spotless. When I glanced through large ceiling to floor windows, I spotted a huge pool in the backyard. It felt as if the house was expanding. The more we walked the more there was to see.
It felt uncomfortable to me to be walking together without conversation, but it clearly suited him. I shot him a sidelong glance. I was so intensely aware of him, my skin throbbed. I had never felt this way about any man before.
We climbed a grand marble staircase and walked down a corridor.
Christian knocked on a door lightly before he opened it…
I melted at the sight of the little girl. One day, she would be a heartbreaker, but at the moment she was just the cutest, most beautiful angel I ever saw. Actually, she looked a lot like him. Her raven hair pulled into a ponytail and her green eyes were big and round. She was utterly, completely and totally adorable and she knew it.
His eyes had softened and he smiled as he looked at her. So much love and adoration poured from the stern man that I could feel it in the air. He crossed the room.
I held back and watched the situation unfold.
The little girl glanced up at us and then back down at the phone in her hand.
"Annie, I want you to meet your new nanny, Miss Gray."
Annie, her little face still full of red spots, glanced up at me again, pressed her lips together tightly, flipped onto her stomach, and languidly kicked her legs in the air. Her shoulders drew up closer to her ears as she peered down at her phone’s screen as if it was the only important thing in the room.
This wasn't going to be easy.
But that was okay.
I liked a challenge.
"You don't want to say hi?" Christian asked as he moved closer and sat on the bed beside her.
Annie shook her head.
Her father rubbed her back lightly.
She ducked her head under her father’s arms and secretly cut a hateful glare my way.
Okay, I wasn't expecting that.
She clearly didn’t want me here, but I didn’t have even a moment of uncertainty. If the little madam thought I’d give up just like that, she had another think coming. I would get this child to be my friend if it killed me.
Chapter Three
Hannah
"Alright, I’ve got some paperwork to sort out with Miss Gray. Maybe we could watch a movie together, after that."
Annie perked right up. "Really?”
"Really?”
"Do I get to pick?"
"Maybe.”
“I know what. I’ll pick a selection and you can pick from that.”
“Fine,” he conceded,
"Yes!" she shouted as she hopped off the bed and bounced over to the TV. She picked up the remote and started going through movies.
Christian laughed, a deep smooth sound. “But just give me a little while, okay? Play your game, and I'll be back."
Something about a single dad and a child had always been my weakness. That gorgeous hard edge only softened by love was enough to make me melt. I wanted to see that smile on Christian's lips again. It just came off as so sweet and comforting.
"I'll bring some snacks up for us," he said, standing and pushing his hands into his pockets. "Anything you want in particular?"
"Popcorn and juice," she said distractedly as she found a movie that drew her eye.
"Juice and popcorn, it is."
"Okay, Daddy."
As soon as we left the room, the smile was gone from Christian's face again. That same distant coldness filled the space between us as we walked downstairs together.
I cleared my throat and tried to clear away the awkwardness I felt. "She seems sweet."
"She is," he agreed as we stepped off downstairs. "She has a hard time letting new people in, but she's not a bad kid."
"I'm sure she isn't," I said politely. “Uh… where is the rest of the staff?”
He cut his eyes in my direction. "They are attending a wedding. One of the maids is getting married.”
We walked in silence until we ended up back in his office where he rooted around in a drawer and produced a set of keys.
I took them and clutched them in my palm. He stood so close to me I swear I could feel his body heat if I leaned in just a little.
"You can start tomorrow morning. Arrive at about seven. Be on time. Take the paperwork with you and bring it back tomorrow signed.” He pointed at the file in front of me. “Mrs. Bennet, my housekeeper has included a file on Annie’s diet and schedule in there."
"Sure, great. Uh… Mr. West, I mean Christian. Thank you for giving me the job. I promise you won’t regret it."
Something flashed in his eyes as if he already regretted his decision, but he said nothing.
I took the papers and shook his hand. Our palms stayed connected a little longer than they needed to, but I felt unable to let go right away and for that matter so did he.