already explained that I was out of the country at the time.”
“And I was the one here with her. The one who had to break the news that Ben and Charity weren’t coming back.”
“I promised my friend that I would raise his child if anything happened to him. I gave my word.”
“But they gave Morgan to me,” she countered.
“So you want to keep her. I get it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The thing is they made me her legal guardian.”
“Paperwork. It can be changed if you agree.”
“I don’t.”
“Even though you don’t really want her?”
“Who said I don’t?” he asked sharply.
She raised a hand to indicate his posh penthouse. “There are signs.”
“I assured Ben that his daughter would have everything she needed and he shouldn’t worry.” He looked at her. “So I found the finest child-care service available to provide supervision. Now you’re here. How did that happen?”
“Since you were too busy to seal the deal, maybe you should ask your lawyer and secretary.”
“I will. And Ginger Davis is on my list, too. Frankly I’m questioning her judgment in sending you.”
“She wouldn’t have sent me unless you approved,” Libby defended. “I’ll admit it was my idea—”
“There’s a surprise.”
She glared at him. “Just think about it and you’ll see that this makes sense. Morgan has been with me since her parents left and it could potentially be harmful to leave her in the care of strangers. I’m willing and eager to be her nanny. It’s a good plan.”
“Define good,” he said.
“Continuity of care for Morgan at a time when she’s especially vulnerable.”
“By that you mean yourself.” He stared at her. “Why didn’t you come to me? Approach me up front and run this scenario by me?”
“I tried.”
“Apparently not very hard.”
“You’re not really like the rest of us, are you? Do you remember what it felt like when the name of gazillionaire Jess Donnelly didn’t open doors or grease the wheels in getting you past secretaries, administrative assistants, doormen and security? Right to the top of the food chain?”
“I’ll admit there are layers to my organization.”
“No kidding.” She blew out a breath and struggled for calm. “I didn’t set out to campaign for this job. As it happens I already work for Ginger at the preschool. We discussed the arrangement and she decided there was some merit to my suggestion. I assumed that when she said everything had been worked out you’d agreed to it.” She folded her arms over her chest. “No one told me negotiations had gone through your minions.”
“Look, I’ve only ever been introduced to you as Libby. I didn’t know you and Elizabeth Bradford were one and the same. It seems a conflict of interest since we have a prior relationship.”
“What we have isn’t a relationship. It’s a series of brief encounters, ships passing in the night. Nothing about that is personal enough to prevent me being Morgan’s nanny.”
He shook his head. “Look, Libby, I don’t think this is going to work out—”
“Aunt Libby?”
Jess whirled around and when he moved, Libby saw Morgan behind him. She didn’t know how long the little girl had been there. “Hey, sweetie. Is SpongeBob over?”
“No.”
“Is something wrong?” Libby asked. Stupid question. Everything was wrong, she realized. But nothing good would come of letting Morgan see her desperation.
“I got scared. You sounded mad.”
“I’m sorry. And I’m not mad.” Not at you, she wanted to say. She hurried over to the child whose brown eyes were now worried and filling with tears. So much for hiding the highly charged situation from her. “We didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Morgan brushed a finger beneath her nose and stared uncertainly at Jess. “Is he making you go away?”
“We were just talking about that.” She looked at him.
“I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to stay here by myself. Please, Aunt Libby—”
When Morgan started to cry, Libby gathered her close. “It’s going to be okay, baby. It will.”
“I d-don’t want you to g-go away.”
Jess ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t cry, Morgan. Your Aunt Libby isn’t going away.”
“Really?” Libby said.
Morgan lifted her head and looked at him. “Really?”
“Really. I’m sorry. I didn’t handle everything very well. Your Aunt Libby is mad at me.” He shrugged when she lifted one eyebrow. Points to him for getting it. “The truth is that you’re both going to stay here with me and Aunt Libby is going to be your nanny.”
“What changed your mind?”
“You were right,” he said. “It wouldn’t be a good idea to let a stranger look after her. So I’d appreciate it if you’d stay on. Until she’s adjusted to the situation.”
“Okay.”
“Is that all right with you, Morgan?”
“Yes.” She nodded eagerly.
“Then we have a plan for the short term.”
That was good enough for Libby. She’d take what she could get and figure out the rest later.
“Seemed like a good idea at the time” was the best way Libby could describe her first week under Jess’s roof. Libby had been so sure the living arrangement would take the edge off her attraction, but not so much in the first week. Even when he wasn’t there, which was ninety-five percent of the time, the place was all about him.
Pictures of him hiking in Red Rock Canyon. A carelessly discarded expensive silk tie in the family room. The spicy scent of him in every room made it feel like having his arms around her. Or was that wishful thinking? Not that it mattered. Or it wouldn’t if she could say the idea was unpleasant. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“Aunt Libby?”
“Hmm?” She pulled her thoughts back to tucking Morgan into bed. “Sorry, sweetie. I was thinking about something else.”
“That’s
