There with You (Adair Family 2)

She drew herself up straight. “Mr. Adair, I assure you, you will not find a better candidate than me to look after the children.”

“Eilidh and Lewis,” he said, his irritation building. “My children are called Eilidh and Lewis. Not ‘the children.’ And I’m afraid I haven’t made a decision yet regarding the position.”

Understanding what that meant, she sniffed haughtily. “Well, thank you for wasting my time. I’ll see myself out, and I’ll invoice you for the taxi fare!”

Before Thane could say anything else, the woman marched down the side of the house.

“What on earth did I just walk in on?”

The wind blew Regan’s copper-red hair off her face, revealing her elegant bone structure. While Thane could absolutely see what Lachlan found attractive in Robyn, his soon-to-be sister-in-law wasn’t a classic beauty. Her half sister, however, was. She had high apple cheekbones, those disarming dimples, warm, oval-shaped, chestnut-brown eyes surrounded by thick, dark lashes, and lips that were neither too thin nor too full. A resemblance existed between the sisters, but where Robyn’s nose was a little long, Regan’s was dainty.

Overall, the younger sister had the style of someone who cared about her appearance. Robyn didn’t and somehow was more attractive for it. Lachlan’s fiancée had a certain charisma that was far more appealing than any physical perfection could ever be.

“Well?” Regan pushed.

Thane scratched his beard and sighed. “I’ve been working as a freelance architect, but the jobs just aren’t coming in. To run a business, you need time to advertise it, and I don’t have time, what with juggling full-time childcare. So I’ve had to return to my job with a firm in Inverness. Between the commute and the work, I’m looking to hire a live-in nanny housekeeper. We had one when Eilidh was little, but she left for a position in the States.”

“And fence lady was the best you could get?” Regan screwed up her face.

Irritated by her blasé attitude, he bit out, “You try finding a nanny who will leave their life behind to live in the Highlands.”

Her eyes grew round. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be flippant. But honestly, I only met her for five seconds, and she’s not good enough for Eilidh and Lewis.”

Remembering how well Regan had gotten along with his children, a smile prodded his lips. “No, she isn’t.” He looked beyond her to his brother’s house. “Where are Robyn and Lachlan?”

Regan shrugged and stared out at the water, not meeting his gaze. “They went out.”

“Without you?”

She shrugged again. “They had stuff to do.” Finally, she looked at him, grinning as if she hadn’t a care in the world. But he saw shadows in the back of her eyes. “I turned up out of the blue. They had plans.”

Something was going on with Robyn’s sister. He couldn’t imagine Robyn hadn’t noticed it herself. Behind the smiles and carefree attitude was sadness and something else. Desperation?

Remembering the last redhead with shadows in her eyes who got past his defenses, Thane promptly ignored his growing curiosity. “Right. I better get back inside. Eilidh and Lewis will wake any second.” He took a step toward the house as he realized, “You’re up early.”

“Jet lag. And stupid automatic blinds in the guest room.”

He chuckled. “Ah. I see. Well. I better go.”

“Wait.” She stepped toward him, her short dress fluttering a little dangerously in the breeze. “I was actually coming over because I promised Eilidh I’d braid her hair.”

“Right.” He remembered. Part of him wasn’t too sure about Regan spending time with his children. But last night she’d been brilliant with them, while he was constantly doing and saying the wrong things. It was the first time in weeks both Eilidh and Lewis had laughed that much. Well, not Eilidh. His Eilidh-Bug found many reasons to giggle. But Lewis, his serious wee man, had been too broody for a little boy since Lucy. Thane had a terrible feeling he’d bungled that entire conversation.

“Eilidh’s not even up yet.”

“Then maybe I can come over to talk with you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Regarding?”

She grinned. “The genius plan that just occurred to me.”

He waited.

Regan threw out her arms as if to say, “Voila” and continued, “Meet your new nanny housekeeper.”

Confused, he shook his head. “What?”

“I’m staying here for the six months I’m legally allowed, and I need a job. Like Robbie said, I am amazing with kids and have lots of experience as a nanny. And I know I don’t look like it, but I can clean, I can cook, I can do laundry. Six months gives you plenty of time to find a perfect and permanent nanny housekeeper.”

Thrown by the offer, Thane tried to think of a polite way to say “no way in hell.”

“Regan … I just don’t think it would be a good idea to hire a family member. And for all intents and purposes, that’s what you are now.”