The Nanny And Her Scrooge

If he only knew what he was doing to her. She had been dreading Christmas, maybe that was why she had been giving her all at work. Without her mom, she was alone—and what Nicki wanted more than anything was a family.

But Jared Gillette wasn’t offering her that, she sternly reminded herself. He was offering her the opportunity to be hired help to his family.

“The thing is, I’d still have transportation problems,” she said.

Jared’s response was lightning-quick. “Not if you move in.”

Nicki’s jaw dropped.

“I have seven bedrooms and six baths. I think we could find you something comfortable. Maybe the guest room,” he said thoughtfully, “it has a sitting room and an efficiency kitchen.”

“Oh, why are you doing this to me,” she moaned.

“What?”

Grimacing, Nicki tried to dredge up one more argument. There weren’t any; there were only positives to this arrangement. Her mom always said things happened for a reason. Maybe this was a time to remember and to embrace mom’s sage old advice.

“My mom’s lease is up at the end of January, and I’d been trying to find something—” she hesitated, ashamed to admit her dire predicament “—less expensive. But if you think that we could manage to get along, in the same house, and not…”

“I do,” Jared said firmly.

For some strange reason his response rattled Nicki. He made it sound as if they were taking vows, not agreeing to a business deal. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “I’ve got my reservations, but since this is just a temporary arrangement, you’ve got a baby-sitter.”

A smug smile settled onto Jared’s features. He slowed at the entrance to Tammany Hills and flipped on the turn signal. “You’re on the clock,” he said. “Starting now.”

“Now?” Nicki couldn’t keep the ripple of surprise from her voice.

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Oh, that one, to the right,” she directed, as he turned into the complex. “The gray front with the red shutters and trim.” She took a deep breath. “I can’t do it that quickly. I need to get my life in order.”

He pulled up into the assigned parking space. “Get your life in order tomorrow,” he scowled. “Tonight, you put on your dancing shoes and wear something dressy. I want you with me at this charity event.”

Nicki’s jaw slid off center. “But…but…but—” Realizing that she sounded like a motor running out of steam, her mouth whomped shut.

He shut off the car and turned to her, resting an elbow over the back of the seat. He skimmed her front with a challenging look, as if daring her to balk.

“Here’s the deal,” he said flatly. “I told my ex-wife that she wouldn’t have to worry about Maddy, because I have a new woman in my life, one who will be able to help me out and do all the little-girl things.” He shrugged. “For some reason she seemed extraordinarily concerned about that.” He nailed her with a telling glance. “Guess what? That woman is you.”

A feeling of anticipation and dread pooled in Nicki’s middle. Her mouth went watery, and for an instant she wondered if she’d truly lost her mind to even consider working for this man. Aside from the entire scenario being preposterous, Jared made her jittery, as if she were being pulled in two directions.

“If I know my ex,” Jared went on, “she’ll call someone tomorrow to find out who I escorted to the gala. You’re going to play the part of the woman in my new, serious relationship, and you’re going to help me get full custody.”

“I can’t,” she protested. “That seems so…deceitful. Dishonest.”

“Not if you know my ex-wife,” he said brusquely.

Nicki shook her head, debating, and very much aware she could still back out. The last thing she wanted was to get involved in some kind of messed-up triangle. The power struggle of two people fighting over their child had to be the worst.

“Nicki, listen to me. If you do this, everyone gets what they want.”

She stared at him, unable to determine whether he was telling the truth or not.

“I promise you. It’s the best for everyone. Most of all Maddy,” he said. “My wife hasn’t paid fifteen minutes of attention to her since she got custody—and she only got that because she lived with my in-laws. They passed away last year, within months of each other, and Maddy hasn’t been cared for properly since. My ex only keeps her around because of the child support, because it gives her a little more leverage to my bank account.”

It occurred to Nicki he was probably being honest about that. Residents jokingly claimed the Gillettes owned half of Winter Park.

“I’m doing this for Maddy’s best interests,” Jared went on. “My ex suddenly decided she wants to get married—in some cheesy little Las Vegas chapel—and she doesn’t want Maddy hanging around.”

Nicki blanched, knowing too well how a child could so easily be dismissed.

“I want her,” he continued. “She’s my daughter, and I can provide for her.”

War waged inside Nicki’s head. If she had been a vindictive person she’d say no and leave him to his own devices. Yet she’d seen enough on that ten-foot strip of mantel to know he was being sincere. She’d seen Maddy’s photos, carefully arranged like a shrine. The Gillette family did appear to be committed to each other, and she did appear to be a lovely child….

“Even you’ll get what you want,” he said softly. “You’ll get the job, the money, everything and anything you could want. I’ll see to it.”

There really wasn’t a choice, and Nicki knew it. She needed the job, she needed the security. Yet, it wasn’t just that…she needed a home for Christmas, and he was offering it to her. She’d be a fool to not accept.

“I only need a fair salary,” she said shakily. “That’s all.”

“Done.”

Nicki’s eyes slid closed, and she wondered if she was making a pact with the devil or Scrooge. “Okay. I have a black sheath in my closet,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s nothing special, but it’s…” She shrugged somewhat helplessly as she tried to pull off one more lame joke. “Well, it’s nicer than the Santa suit. I think it’ll do.”

Her mother loved glitzy costume jewelry and Nicki hurriedly chose the best pieces—baguette-cut earrings and a matching necklace. Jared didn’t seem to notice they were fake, but when she walked out, his eyes widened at the revealing slit in her slim skirt.

“You’re right,” he said evenly, “this is definitely better than red velvet and fake fur.”

Realizing that for the first time he saw her as a woman, not as an employee, not as a baby-sitter, a wave of self-consciousness washed over Nicki. She picked at a piece of nonexistent lint. “The fashion experts claim you can never go wrong with basic black.”

“Right. It’s simple. Subtle. Sexy…”

She offered him a sharp look, but his face was unreadable. “I don’t have a coat,” she said, “And my mother’s things are three sizes too small, so I thought…” She lifted up a fringed black wool shawl. “Will this be okay? I don’t want to embarrass you.”

“It’s fine.”

Taking a deep breath, she expertly draped the shawl around her shoulders, letting it cascade down her arm.

His gaze went dark, heavy-lidded. He abruptly turned away, as if he were already bored with her game of dress-up. “It’s a nice condo. I suppose you hate to give it up.”

While she put her wallet, keys, a few tissues, and a lipstick into her black clutch, she glanced around the sparsely decorated room. She’d always thought the upscale town house had been too modern. “No. It was my mom’s choice. She liked the location.”

He nodded. “I noticed this photo, here on the table. Your mom?”

Nicki hesitated uncomfortably, she didn’t want to go into it now. She didn’t want to explain heart failure to a virile man who most likely only took gasping, self-inflicted breaths when he ran five miles. “Yes,” she said, “but…I’m in the process of settling my mom’s estate.” Estate? What estate? There’d been nothing left after the medical bills and funeral expenses carved huge chunks out of her life insurance and pension.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I just assumed…” To his credit, Jared didn’t press for more information, but deftly changed the subject. “You ready to make your debut?”