Temperance loved taking care of people. It had been born in watching her mother.
“Maybe I’ll get to try one of those delicious cookies?” he asked.
“Perhaps.” She had all of her mother’s recipes. They were treasures to her, and when she felt unending sadness, she’d get the recipe book out and simply read through, recalling every single memory.
There wasn’t a chance of her being around at Christmas, and that thought saddened her.
She placed the steak on the hot pan and grabbed the cream out of the fridge.
While she worked, Wayne remained silent, and it took every single ounce of restraint not to keep on looking at him.
All the while, she was aware of his gaze on her. Ignoring it, she kept on working. Within ten minutes, his food was complete and she urged him to sit at the table where a cool beer already sat.
“You’re trying to get me drunk?”
“Dad would always have it with a beer. Sorry. It’s habit.” She went to take the beer, but he stopped her, reaching out and taking a sip.
“Delicious.”
She chuckled, taking a seat at the table near him.
“What did you and Timothy have?” he asked.
“Pasta with meatballs. It’s his new favorite, and it’s a lot of fun to make.”
“So, Robert came to see me today.”
“Robert Thompson?”
“Yeah. He said that you’ve been ignoring his and Catherine’s calls.”
Temperance sighed. “They have been calling me, and per their agreement, when I was let go I had to cease all communication with them.”
“They want you back. Catherine made a mistake, and they’d be happy to re-hire you.”
She thought about that, and even though she’d love to go back and take care of their brood, there was no doubt in her mind this would be her last nanny job. She got too easily attached, and the one thing she had to keep remembering, she wasn’t sticking around. She would be moving on when the family did.
Tucking some hair behind her ear, she smiled. “I’m working for you and Timothy now. Part of your agreement is not disclosing who I’m working for, and I don’t break any rules, ever.” Remember that when he features in your fantasies.
“There are not a lot of women like you,” he said.
“The world is full of women like me, Wayne. You’re just not looking in the right places.”
He finished his food and sat back. “You’re a damn good cook.”
She smiled, but the happiness of moments ago had disappeared. All that remained now was the knowledge that she had to start looking for work. Timothy wouldn’t be around forever, and neither would this job.
The clock was ticking, and she had to move before once again her heart was broken.
Chapter Six
For the first time in his life, Wayne hadn’t rushed to work. He’d put a call through to Frances at a reasonable time, to cancel his appointments and to put all calls that needed his attention through to his cell.
He’d woken up, all prepared to go out to the office, but as he went to cross the threshold, he’d stopped. Temperance and Timothy were still sleeping soundly, and the apartment was so quiet, like he remembered it being just days ago.
What would be wrong with spending at least one day with the two people who were part of his world?
Frances asked him if he wanted her to speed up the DNA testing, and he’d told her to let them work it out at their own pace. He wasn’t in a rush for anything.
Standing in the kitchen, he opened the fridge, and saw it completely full of all different kinds of food. Sausage, bacon, ground meats, milk, and cheese, so much cheese. He’d never seen such an array of food. The freezer compartment was the same, and when he went to the cupboards, they were also full.
Temperance entered the kitchen and paused. Wayne chuckled as her hair was wild from her clearly just waking up. The bunny pajamas were on, only this time in the light of the morning, it was like he saw everything, the curve of her hips, the fullness of her tits. His cock began to harden, and he gritted his teeth in an effort to stop the arousal taking full effect.
“You’re home.”
“I’m home.”
She glanced at the clock. “Did I wake early?”
“No. I thought we could all spend the day together. You, me, and Timothy.”
“He’d like that.” She glanced down at herself and sighed. “I look a mess.”
“I think you look rather cute. Very … erm … natural.”
Instead of her blushing and running away, she laughed. “Have you ever seen a woman early in the morning?” She brushed past him, and he wanted nothing more than to reach out and grab her.
“Sometimes.” She gave him a look. “Not really. When I see a woman they’re usually all in place, with perfect makeup and hair. I like this look, though.” It was something he could get used to.