last no longer than that.”
Jason didn’t want a parade of strangers coming through. He didn’t want a revolving door on Brady’s care. Continuity and stability were the cornerstones of a well-adjusted childhood and he’d do whatever was necessary to give his son the best cornerstone money could buy. He wanted long term now. He wanted Margaret Mary Shepherd.
She watched him carefully, gauging his reaction. “Ginger will find someone else—”
“What if I don’t want someone else?”
From the moment she’d ignored everything but the need to protect a baby—his baby—she’d had him. No one else would do.
Shadows turned her eyes navy blue and she pulled her lips tight for a moment. “I won’t stay beyond what’s stipulated in the agreement. It’s important that you’re aware of that up front.”
“Are you already angling for a raise, Maggie?”
“This has nothing to do with money.”
Right. And he was Mother Goose.
“Look,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “This isn’t something we need to decide tonight. When the time comes, we’ll discuss new terms.”
She stood up. “Six weeks, Mr. Garrett.”
“Call me Jason.”
“All right, Jason. But I’m not budging on my deadline. I won’t stay more than six weeks.”
He watched the unconsciously sexy sway of her slender hips as she walked out of his office after issuing what could only be construed as a challenge. Obviously Margaret Mary Shepherd had never negotiated with someone who was willing and able to pay whatever it cost to have her.
Chapter Two
Maggie stretched the baby out on her thighs and curled his fingers around her thumbs. “Hey, big boy. Where’s that smile? I know you’ve got one for me,” she cooed to him. “Let’s see it.”
He wasn’t five weeks old, and yet he was showing signs that he was on the verge of smiling. Would he look like his father? Her heart tripped up at the thought. This little guy wouldn’t be in that heartthrob league yet. The lack of teeth thing could be an issue. But his dad was something else. Jason Garrett had a very nice, very potent smile when he chose to use it. And Brady showed every indication that he’d be the spitting image of his dad.
Stretching out, the baby pressed his little feet into her abdomen and she wondered, not for the first time, what it felt like when life moved inside you. This child was a beautiful miracle, one his mother had walked away from. Not unlike her own mother.
She liked to think lack of money and resources had factored into the decision to abandon her. But Brady’s father clearly had big bucks. The penthouse was understated elegance with recessed lighting, soft yellow paint on the walls, plush white sofas and dark wood tables. Walking on the thick beige carpet was like sinking to your knees in softness. Expertly lighted art hung on the walls and expensive glass pieces and figurines were scattered throughout. In fact, before her tenure here ended, she felt duty bound to remind him to put the pricey stuff up high when Brady got mobile. A toddler’s oops in this place could cost way more than most people made in a month.
She glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows with a spectacular view of the lights on the Las Vegas Strip and the valley beyond. Scenery like that didn’t come cheap.
Jason had thoroughly checked her out, and she’d returned the favor, grilling Ginger for information. Her Nanny Network boss had assured her there were no sexual harassment or hostile work environment accusations against him. No hint of scandal or impropriety. Quite the opposite. Everyone who worked for him had only good things to say. Employee retention at his company was exceptionally high.
So why couldn’t he retain the mother of his son? Maggie would really like to know the answer to that question.
As if he felt her attention drifting, Brady cooed his irresistible baby coo, and she smiled. “I wasn’t ignoring you, sweetie pie. You’re a charmer in training, that’s what you are.”
His mouth curved up at the corners as he happily kicked his feet. She laughed and a corresponding sound gurgled up from deep inside him in what could only have been a laugh.
It was a major “awww” moment, melting her heart like ice on a summer sidewalk. And that was cause for alarm. She didn’t do the heart melty thing. That wasn’t to say she didn’t love babies, all babies. She did. But her thing was not to get attached. On her first day, this little guy had easily hurdled her defenses, then grabbed on to her emotions with both of his tiny hands and the sweetest disposition in the world. He was already starting to feel special and she had enough time left on her commitment for him to do a lot of damage.
Rubbing her thumbs across his tiny knuckles, she smiled. “You are too cute for words, Mr. Garrett.”
“Thank you.”
The familiar deep voice came from behind her and slid over her senses like warm chocolate and whiskey. Maggie had lost count, but this was the fourth or fifth time today Jason Garrett had dropped in unexpectedly. All that practice should have helped her get used to him. Unfortunately, she wasn’t even close to comfortable with Sin City’s most eligible bachelor and overachieving tycoon.
“Actually, I wasn’t talking to you,” she said. “I didn’t know you were there. Just like a couple hours ago when you stealthily sneaked up behind me. And the time before that. And the time before—”
“Yeah.” He came closer and set his suit jacket on the sofa back, then rested a hip beside it. He leaned forward and smiled at his son. “Hi, buddy,” he said, then looked at her. “I get your drift.”
“And I get yours.”
“I’m not subtle?” he asked.
“Not even a little bit.” From the moment they’d met, she’d figured out that he wasn’t the most trusting of men. His behavior today was further confirmation. “You’re checking up on me.”
“Does it bother you?” he asked, not taking the trouble to deny it.
“No. Quite the opposite. I respect you for protecting your son. If every child in the world was cared for so well, it would be a much better place.”
What she didn’t say was that his defensive actions not only made her respect him, she liked him, too. That was a good thing, right? How come it didn’t feel that way? All she felt was uneasy. The last time she’d liked a man this much the feelings had grown into love. He came with a family who liked her back and she’d felt as if she was getting everything she’d always wanted. Then it didn’t work out, a major blow that had hurt a lot.
She chanced a glance up at Jason, and her stomach dropped like an airplane hitting turbulence. The sight of him in his rumpled white dress shirt and loosened red tie made it hard to breathe. It was much safer to look at the baby.
“Your daddy’s home, Brady. For good this time? Or can we expect ongoing guerrilla warfare tactics this evening?”
“I’m in for the night. You can stand down.”
“Good
