In fact, I can’t think of anything nicer. I’d love to have my family gathered around while I serve them a hearty meal. I nod.
“There’s lots of food stockpiled in the house.”
“Oh my god!” she interrupts with a laugh. “Are you a prepper?”
I frown.
“What’s that?”
She laughs again.
“You know, a doomsday prepper. Someone who thinks the apocalypse is coming, so they stock their house with lots of supplies.”
I grin.
“Well I have a lot of stuff although it’s not because of the apocalypse. It’s just because I have five kids, so you go through supplies really fast. Then again, I could probably last a few months without grocery shopping, if not a year. So yeah, I guess you could call me a prepper.”
She laughs easily.
“What if more kids come along?”
I raise my eyebrows at her.
“Well, I’m not sure about that. Five is a lot to handle and I don’t have a mommy for the existing five yet. How would I find a mommy for six?”
But Regina just blushes prettily and looks down. Hell, she’d be a very pretty mommy in her pink negligee with her tummy heavy with a baby. But I don’t say anything. I just smile again, and take her hand. Her eyes flash to me, and her small fingers curl against mine. I’m lucky to have this woman as a nanny, and I mean to keep her by my side.
7
Regina
I stare at the darkness above me and think about him. Ryan. Lately, he seems to be all I can think about. I’m convinced I actually felt his hands as they undressed me. I’d like to think that, at least. Plus, I would have loved to see him shuck off his clothes and jump in bed, but no such luck. Ah well, that’s life.
I wait until Rachel’s hand relaxes in sleep, and then gently disengage myself. She stirs but doesn’t wake. The little girl is absolutely adorable in her small bed, with her lashes like small moons against her chubby cheeks. Across the way, Rufus sleeps soundly too, both fists by his head as if he’s a baby again.
Poor things. They’re so young, and yet they don’t have a mother. My heart aches for these five children. Even Rico, who thinks he’s too old for a nanny. They need a mother more than anything, and I’m desperately trying to fill that hole for them right now.
I rise and tiptoe out of the room, closing the door softly behind me. These kids mean so much to me already, and I’ve only known them a week.
I make my way downstairs and once out of earshot, I let out a sigh. My shoulders fall forward a bit, and I rotate my neck, trying to get the crick out.
A deep voice sounds behind me.
“The last few days have been exhausting for you, haven’t they?”
I turn with a smile and say, “It hasn’t been that bad.”
My breath catches because Ryan looks so damned attractive in casual clothes. He’s wearing a white t-shirt that emphasizes his broad shoulders, and jeans that hang just right off his hips. My mouth goes dry and it’s difficult to swallow, but I manage to smile like a normal person.
One black eyebrow raises.
“You’re not exhausted? I always am, whenever I’m in charge of my kids.”
I smile in admission. “Well, yes, I’m a little tired,” I acknowledge. “But I don’t mind.”
Ryan grins.
“Rico told me you saved Rufus’s life today.”
I giggle. “I think the only real danger was the wine bottle.”
“You have got to explain that one,” the billionaire invites. Then he grips my shoulders and massages them lightly in a distinctly intimate way. I almost pass out from the sensation because it feels so good. “Why don’t I make some tea and you can sit down and relax, Regina?”
I turn around and shoot him an arch look.
“Did you fly the tea in from New York?”
“What?” He’s completely dumbfounded.
I giggle as I say, “The only way I’m going to drink tea right now is if it’s a Long Island iced tea.”
He smiles broadly and says, “You’re something else. Okay, fine then. The adult version. I’ll have to look up the recipe online.”
“Oh God, no!” I say. “We’ll do simple drinks. You bring vodka, and I’ll get the cranberry juice. Fancy cocktails not needed.”
“Deal,” he grins. We busy ourselves in the kitchen and then bring the supplies out to the large living room where there are comfy couches and a coffee table.
Deftly, he pours vodka into a glass.
“Cranberry?” he offers. I nod and Ryan chuckles. “So how did you save my kids from a wine bottle today?”
I giggle while taking a sip of my drink. The vodka is slightly harsh going down, but it hits me right away and I lean my head back on the couch.
“Well, you know your twins are inseparable, right? That’s good news.”