Twelfth Night Proposal

Her gaze collided with his, and there was that shakingly, fascinating awareness again.

Breaking eye contact, he said, “Since I consider your room to be off-limits to me, do you want me to get her or do you want to do it?”

“I don’t mind if you do,” Verity murmured as she continued to stare at him. Leo was still wearing the black polo shirt and khakis he’d had on that afternoon. He was tanned, and his arm muscles were obvious under the shirtsleeves. His stomach was flat and she suspected hard. His hips were slim.

When he turned, she chastised herself for liking every bit of his backside, too. She couldn’t be attracted to her employer. Besides the fact that she was tired of men letting her down, she was much younger than Leo Montgomery. She’d seen the picture of Heather’s mother in the little girl’s room. Carolyn Montgomery had looked poised with her perfect makeup and blond pageboy. She was absolutely beautiful. Verity imagined any woman would have trouble living up to that. Jolene Connehy, Mr. Montgomery’s sister, had told her honestly that he wasn’t over his wife’s death, even though it had been two years. Verity could understand that. She knew she’d never get over losing Sean.

Leo stepped into Verity’s bedroom, and the very fact that he was so near her double bed disconcerted her. Maybe because ever since this afternoon pictures had been swimming in her head—pictures of Leo kissing her, pictures of her kissing him back.

His gaze had gone to the bed, too, with its white chenille spread, its maple bookcase headboard, where she’d lined up some of her favorite reads. But her mind wasn’t on her books as she said in almost a whisper, “She likes to play hide-and-seek under the bed.”

With a shake of his head, as if he couldn’t believe he was doing this, he got down on his knees and lifted the edge of the spread. His voice was filled with affectionate frustration as he called, “Hey, you. You’ve got to get out from under there and put on some pajamas.”

“I don’t wanna go nighty-night. Wanna play with Vewitee.”

Without hesitation Verity got down on the floor beside Leo. Her shoulder brushed his as she peered under the bed at her little charge. The touch of her shirt against his sent a jolt of adrenaline rushing through her. “If you come out and put on your pj’s, I’ll read you a story.”

“That’s bribery,” Leo murmured very close to her ear, his breath warm on her cheek. Verity shivered.

“Would you rather kneel here and cajole for the next half hour?” she asked him, half joking, half serious.

“I’m too big to fit under the bed, and cajoling isn’t my style.”

“That leaves bribery,” she decided, unable to suppress a grin.

His face was so very close to hers as they focused on Heather. When he turned his head to her, mere inches separated their lips. Leo’s scent was pure male, and his light-brown hair fell over his brow in a rakish way. But it was the gleam of raw hunger in his eyes that kept her immobilized.

Suddenly he cleared his throat, bent lower, and extended his arm under the bed. “Come on, you little hooligan. Verity will read you a story. But don’t think this is going to happen again. Next time I won’t let you out of the bathroom until you have your pj’s on.”

Quickly recovering from whatever had overcome her when she’d been so close to Leo, Verity teased, “You really shouldn’t tell her your strategy.”

“Good advice,” he admitted as Heather started wriggling toward them from under the bed.

“I’ll go get her pajamas. Try to keep her from hiding anyplace else until I get back.”

Verity laughed. “She likes me to brush her hair. I’ll do that.”

Less than five minutes later, Leo had returned with Heather’s pajamas and Verity had helped him get her into them. She watched him as he fastened two small buttons at the three-year-old’s neck, and his fingers fumbled with them. He was such a big man, but he was gentle with his daughter.

“Okay.” He scooped her up into his arms. “To your room.” In the middle of Verity’s sitting area, he stopped. “I just realized you don’t even have a TV in here. The last nanny who stayed here had her own.”

“I don’t need a television. I don’t watch it very much.”

He looked surprised.” You don’t watch reality shows?”

She shook her head.

“Or the Discovery Channel?”

Again she shook her head and gave him a little smile. “I can always find so many things I’d rather do. Listening to music, especially.” She pointed to the CD player on her night stand. “Now that I can’t do without.”

“You can use the stereo system in the great room anytime you want.”

“I noticed you have an extensive collection of Beatles music.”

“Sure do. Play it anytime.”

“That’s kind of you, Mr. Montgomery. I just might.”

“It’s Leo,” he said gruffly.

They’d never really addressed that issue. Jolene had introduced her to her employer as Verity the first time they’d met, but she’d always thought of him as Mr. Montgomery…on purpose. Today, however, everything seemed to have changed.

“Leo,” she repeated softly.

“Vewitee wead me a stowy now?” Heather asked, laying her head on her dad’s shoulder.

“One story coming right up,” Verity assured her.

A short time later Leo stood beside the rocking chair as Verity sat with Heather, rocked and read her a favorite Dr. Seuss book. Heather’s eyes were almost closed as they finished, and Leo lifted her from Verity’s lap and placed her in her crib.

Then he leaned down to her, kissed her forehead and said, “Good night, baby.”

The huskiness in his voice tightened Verity’s throat and she didn’t know why. Maybe because Sean was gone. Maybe because her relationship with her father was strained. Maybe because she suddenly felt so alone.

Standing, she took a deep breath and said, “Nighty-night, Heather. I’ll see you in the morning,” and went to the door.

Leo joined her in the hall.

For a few moments they just stared at each other and a hum of attraction seemed to grow louder and stronger between them. They were standing very close, the toes of Leo’s boots almost touching the toes of her sneakers. He towered a good six inches above her. When she looked up into his blue eyes, her tummy fluttered and her pulse raced. In fact, she almost felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath. Leo didn’t touch her, and she so wished he would. He looked as if he wanted to. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her.

With a shake of his head, he blew out a breath. “Do you feel safe here in this house with me?” he asked.

“Yes!”

“I didn’t realize until tonight how this could look. Your staying here, I mean.”

“I’m your nanny and housekeeper. Nannies often live in the residence where they take care of the children.”

“That’s true, but usually there’s a wife. I don’t want to compromise your reputation.”

“I know who I am. I know why I’m here. What other people think really doesn’t matter to me. Does it matter to you?”

“No, what other people think has never bothered me.”

“Then we’re fine,” she said brightly. “There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

But the expression on his face as well as the wild beating of her heart told her that wasn’t true. Besides that, if he knew how terrifically attracted she was to him, he might fire her. She liked this job, and she was beginning to like Avon Lake.