The Au Pairs (The Au Pairs 1)

now, he's so good with the kids... ."

"Seriously, Liza, I'm going to yak if you don't get out of here," Mara said with a smirk.

"Out of here?"

Mara waved her doubts away. "Totally. Go see him. You saved my butt the other day at the polo match. Go ahead! Really, just go!"

"I owe you one!" Eliza squealed, wrapping her arms around Mara and giving her a kiss.

She ran down the dune, hoping to catch Jeremy before he went home for the day.

204

poor little not-so-rich girl

Eliza tiptoed back into the estate, ducking behind the statuary as she observed Kevin Perry heading off for the yacht club. He was taking out the schooner today and had even invited Jacqui to come with him. Kevin stood in front of his Ferrari Spider, checking his watch. But when it was clear Jacqui wasn't going to appear anytime soon, he drove off in a snit.

Eliza crept through the back entrance and found Jeremy planting hyacinths near the croquet hoops.

"Guess who?" she asked, covering his eyes with her hands.

"Sugar? Is that you? I'm awful tired out right now," Jeremy joked. "Or is it Poppy, hoping for some action?"

"That's so not funny," she said, walking off, a little hurt. She didn't think anything to do with the twins was in any way entertaining.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Jeremy said, running to catch up with her. "I'm just goofing around."

205

He nudged her in the midsection and Eliza smiled. She couldn't really stay mad at him for long.

"C'mon," she said, taking his hand and leading him to the cottage. They snuck inside the attic room, which was still mercifully empty. (Hell, it wasn't too often no one was there, after all.)

"Nice digs," Jeremy said, checking out the small, eight-by-ten room.

"It's not the Four Seasons, that's for sure." Eliza sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked at him expectantly. Now that she had ditched work to hang out with him, she wasn't sure what they were going to do.

She tried her hardest to look endearingly innocent, sitting there in her pink sundress and canvas espadrilles, waiting for him to make the first move.

Jeremy took a seat next to her. "So."

"So."

They turned to each other, and the next thing Eliza knew, he was kissing her. Softly at first, on the lips, light little trembly things. She closed her eyes. He smelled like the dark, warm earth with a hint of sweat and the sun. One of his hands was tangled in her hair, the other caressed the small of her back.

She returned his kisses eagerly, exploring the taste of his mouth. He tasted like mint and Dr. Pepper. He thought she smelled like coconuts and vanilla.

He pulled her onto his lap, and she buried her face in his chest.

206

"That's nice," she said.

"Mmm?"

"Last night, did I tell you I live in Buffalo now?" she asked.

"No, you just said you grew up on Park Avenue."