The way she said Mr. Rivvor had all his synapses firing, but he was determined to ignore his caveman reaction to her.
“You can call me Khall,” he told her.
“It’s good to meet you, sir,” she said. Her tone was polite, and he couldn’t help but notice she hadn’t used his name.
There was something endearingly old-fashioned about her good manners. It was certainly refreshing compared to the last nanny, who had come in calling him by his first name without an invitation, and flirting shamelessly with him until he made it abundantly clear he wasn’t interested.
He knew that he was good-looking, but he didn’t flatter himself. She had been interested in nothing but his money.
Still, he found himself wondering what it would be like to find this nanny lounging in his bedroom wearing nothing but a filmy negligee after Bo’s bedtime…
“You have a beautiful home,” she said softly.
Who was he kidding? He had known April for five minutes and he already knew there was no way she would ever do anything inappropriate. He felt like he was showing his house to the Duchess of Sono-12.
“Thanks,” he said, thoughts of his wife sobering his tone a bit. “We decorated it ourselves. Xteniya always wanted a country house. I guess it makes us feel close to her when we buy all this crap.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” April said with a simple sincerity that was impossible to doubt.
A lot of people seemed to throw those words around like they were the punchline to the awful joke that had lost him his life as he knew it.
But April said them like she meant them, like maybe she’d had enough loss in her own life to understand.
“Thanks,” he said gruffly. “This is your room.”
He tapped on the doorframe, not quite ready to end their oddly intimate conversation.
“But you’re free to spend time in the rest of the place, even when you’re off duty,” he told her. “Help yourself to whatever food you can find.”
He was rambling. He cut himself off and rubbed the back of his neck. Did they even have any food in the house?
They’d been eating cereal and ordering in Bergalian dumplings for so long that he honestly couldn’t remember.
“The doorman mentioned that I can use your credit in the building,” April ventured. “What about at the shops? I don’t mind picking up the groceries for you. It will give Bo and me something to do.”
Now that was considerate.
“It’s not in the nanny contract,” he hedged. He seemed to remember that there was strict verbiage about limits of duties.
“I’m happy to handle it as a favor,” she told him. “I get restless, and a walk will do me good. But only if you’re comfortable with me handling your credits. We can wait until you know me better, if you prefer.”
“I would be very grateful if you would do grocery shopping, if and when you have the time and the inclination,” he told her. “Here.”
He held his hand out for her wrist.
April extended her hand to him. For a moment, her innocent blue eyes fixed on his, and he felt a sudden wave of emotion that had him almost snatching his own hand back, like she was a fire and he was afraid to get burned.
When was the last time he’d felt like that?
“Mr. Rivvor?” she breathed.
He grabbed her hand and touched his bracelet to hers, depositing a breathtaking amount of credits into her account.
“If you run out just ask for more,” he murmured, uncertain if he wanted to impress her or, if it was just his caveman side coming out again, desperate to protect and provide for her.
“Thank you,” she told him, not even looking at her bracelet to see what he had given her.
She was looking at him - like she was starving, and he was a feast.
Sun Gods, protect them from each other.
He knew he was overreacting, but surely, he wasn’t imagining the hunger in her eyes…
“Do you want to see your room?” he asked, wrenching his gaze from hers.
“Yes,” she said quietly, stepping back slightly so that he could open the door.
Khall moved closer and turned the handle, trying not to let the fragrance of her hair drive him insane.
She’s here to work. She’s here to work. She’s here to work…