The feeling wasn’t something she’d ever recalled experiencing, even when her parents passed away when she was younger. They’d guided her and told her to follow her heart.
Her mother and father had both been amazing people. They’d helped her to flourish in ways she didn’t think possible.
They’d not been wealthy people. Growing up, she had been spoiled as she’d been their only child, but still. They had taught her that people mattered, not material or status. People and what they thought of you.
A loud scream filled the air.
Timothy was having his first nightmare since she’d been there. She didn’t take time to glance at the clock. Leaving her bed, she left her room and went to his room. Timothy sat up in the bed and she spoke his name, calmly, gently.
She went to his side, and as she began talking to him, he calmed down.
Suddenly, he flung himself into her arms, crying. “She’s gone. She’s not coming back.”
Wrapping her arms around Timothy, she closed her eyes and felt so much emotion welling up inside her. He didn’t have his mother anymore, and he didn’t have a father. He’d never know what it felt like to grow up in a family filled with love, like she had.
He had a nanny who would leave the moment the proof came that Timothy wasn’t Wayne’s son.
She held him as he cried. A creaking noise alerted her, and she glanced toward the doorway. Wayne stood there. He didn’t wear a shirt, and only a pair of boxer briefs.
“Is he okay?”
She stared at him and realized it was the first real emotion she’d ever seen on him.
Temperance nodded. “Yes. He’s fine.” She kissed the top of his head, rocking him in her arms.
She expected him to leave. Wayne didn’t. He moved closer and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I thought the nightmares had finally gone. He had them with the other nannies every night, and none of them came to comfort him.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Shocking, I know.” He reached out, stroking back his hair. “Are you okay?”
She smiled and lowered Timothy back to the bed. The little boy nodded his head and rolled a little closer to Wayne. “Just a bad dream.”
“The same one?” Wayne asked.
“Yes.”
Wayne looked at her. “He’s left alone out in the cold, and no one comes and gets him.”
“Oh.” She felt tears well up but forced them down. Together they stayed with Timothy as he fell back to sleep. She was sure to place the bunny that he’d gotten attached to. They left his room, and she partially closed the door. “I’m sorry he woke you.”
“I’m not. I was already awake.” Wayne ran a hand down his face, and she was aware of how close to being naked he was.
She was his nanny, but that didn’t mean she was dead. Her traitorous body decided to wake up, and she didn’t want it to. Wayne was her boss, and that line would never be crossed.
“I’m going to bed.”
Turning her back on him, she went toward her door when his voice stopped him.
“I’m not that completely cold and unfeeling, you know.”
She looked over her shoulder. His hands were clenched into tight fists.
“I care,” he said, when she’d not spoken up.
“You’re never home to at least know him.”
“He’s not mine to get to know. I shouldn’t be taking another father’s rights away.”
“What if he has no father? What if there’s no one there and they take him anyway?”
Wayne shook his head. “There has to be someone.”
“There’s not always someone, Wayne. There’s sometimes no one. Believe me.” She tucked some hair behind her ear, aware that she wasn’t even dressed right for this conversation.
Within seconds he was standing before her. His finger was beneath her chin, tilting her head back. She didn’t like how her body reacted to his closeness. She shouldn’t be reacting to him at all, and yet she was. Her nipples hardened, and her pussy went slick.
Why couldn’t she remember her place right now?
No man had ever made her react like this. She didn’t need it, nor did she welcome it. Wayne was a cold man. He was also a player.
She’d heard of his long list of conquests.
Not that she’d ever join it.
Still, his touch awakened a need inside her so great it startled her with the intensity of it.
As she bit her lips, his gaze dropped to them, and she saw the hunger in his eyes.
No, it’s not hunger. It will never be that.
She had to remind herself that she wasn’t the kind of woman men like Wayne went for. He didn’t want homey, or loving, or curvy. He liked them supermodel size, and with a big name.
“What do you want from me?” he asked.
Think of Timothy.
You’re not talking about sex.
“Give him a chance. See him in the morning. Get to know him. You may find that he brings something to you that you didn’t know you’d been missing out on.”