The Playboy Prince and the Nanny (Royal Duology 1)

He chuckled. “Now I’m going to have to try putting both legs in at once, so I can be special.”

But her face remained serious. “No, I mean it. You have feelings like anyone else, and of course this is a difficult time. And you live in the public eye, which makes it even harder.” She put her hand on his arm, her fingers warm and sure. “Is there a right or wrong way to grieve? And is it really anyone’s business?”

That was it exactly. In addition, Diego was really worried about his brother, and his father, too. Alexander was the king, but it seemed he’d aged a good decade since the accident. He rarely smiled anymore, and he always looked so tired. Raoul, on the other hand, had become something of a workaholic.

“I’m really glad you’re here.”

She released his arm. “Yes, you mentioned that.”

“No,” he said, stronger than he’d spoken before. “It’s not just the children who need you. I think we all do.”

Her eyes widened. “That’s a tall order for a new nanny on her first day on the job.”

“Don’t worry. I just mean . . . you’ve got a sweetness to you. A steadiness. And a great smile. Just do what you do, Rose. That’ll be enough, I think.”

“And you? What will you be doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Now that I’m here, will you be jetting off again, resuming your normal life?”

He frowned. “What makes you ask that?”

She took a step backward. “Emilia said you aren’t here often. That you’re too busy traveling all over and having fun. The kids miss you . . . sir. They think the sun rises and sets on you. If you want them to have stability, perhaps you need to focus on being there for them on a more consistent basis.”

Ouch. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard before, and Rose was a stranger, really. Her opinion shouldn’t have the power to hurt him, but somehow it did.

“Miss Walters, I do believe you’ve overstepped.”

She lifted her chin. “I beg your pardon, sir, but you overstepped when you came out here tonight and approached me, rather than leaving me to enjoy my walk alone. I don’t mean to be insubordinate or overly blunt, but I’m here to do a job. Not make friends.”

It burned that she was right. Completely right. Truth was, she was pretty and he was lonely. He’d opened up to her, crossing the line between prince and nanny. Then she’d been honest and he hadn’t liked what he’d heard.

She wasn’t sending mixed signals, despite what her gorgeous eyes said, despite the little shiver of attraction running between them. She was here for the job. He was the one blurring the lines.

“I beg your pardon.” He stepped back and sketched a quick bow. “I won’t disturb you any longer. Good night, Miss Walters. Buenos noches.”

He turned on his heel and started back along the path, leaving her alone beneath the arbor. Maybe she expected him to leave again. Maybe they all did. But someone had to lead the family through this crisis, and Diego figured he might just surprise everyone. This was one time he’d stay.

CHAPTER FOUR

Rose watched him walk away, heard his shoes crunch against the fine gravel. She let out a huge sigh. This had never been an issue before. At each house where she’d worked, there’d never been any blurring of lines between employer and employee. Parents had been employers, not friends, and they’d worked together to see to all the needs of the children. No meddling uncles or family members. Especially incredibly attractive ones with a well-documented reputation.

She’d offended him. She understood that much, and when he spun to walk away, she longed to call after him and apologize. But she didn’t. The line had to be drawn and it had to be clear. Might as well do it now.

Still, she thought, as she finally left the shadows of the wisteria, it might have been nice to have a friend here. He certainly cared about the children, and his brother and father too. He seemed . . . lonely. Which was ridiculous, of course. He had lots of friends—the papers were full of them. There was no reason why their conversations today should play on her sympathies. She imagined what it would have been like tonight if they’d just met at the fountain as an ordinary man and woman. Maybe she would have flirted back with him, just to see that teasing gleam in his eye. Maybe she wouldn’t have forced herself to ignore the ripple of awareness that had rushed through her when he grabbed her arm and asked her to stay.

But they weren’t regular people, and she’d do well to remember it.

She found her way back to her room, and wondered where Diego’s was. Close by? In another section or wing? She let herself in quietly, then went to the door that joined her room with the nursery. She peeked in and saw both children sound asleep, exhausted from their time outside today.

She closed the door and let out a long sigh. It was nearly midnight. Her day would begin at six. She really needed to get to bed.

Instead she went to her window and opened it, letting in the perfumed night air. She sat on the window seat and looked out over the dark grounds, a world away from where she’d been this morning.

She didn’t know how long she’d be here, but she could hardly discount the influence this job would have on her future. On top of that, it paid extremely well, so she could send more money home. Nothing meant more than looking after her family.

Nothing. And so, when she finally crawled into bed, she knew that sending Diego on his way was best for everyone involved. Because screwing this up would have ripple effects she didn’t even want to think about.