Free Urgent: One Nanny Required (Crimson Romance) by Olivia Logan Page A

he closed the cupboard door to find her standing in the archway, now freshly washed if the state of her wet hair was anything to go by and dressed in faded jeans and a baggy white V-neck jumper. The overall effect shouldn’t have made his mouth go dry, but it did.
    She moved quickly and efficiently around the kitchen, placing bowls, spoons and a fresh cup in front of Theo, who looked relieved to have his favorite person back; one who also knew what she was doing.
    Nick’s feet felt glued to the floor and she moved around him to the cupboard. “You can go to work now. It’s okay; I’ll take over from here.” The softly whispered comment — accompanied by the sweet apple scent of her shampoo, which wafted up his nose as she reached past him — had his tongue feel as if it had spent a night in the Sahara. Yes, maybe it was time to go. As far away as possible.
    Unfortunately, the only place left was work, where he would most likely be bombarded with Valentine’s Day music and flowers. Great, just what he needed. The image of the two heads together, one light and one dark, stuck in his mind as he went to grab a shower. A fleeting thought entered with it, despite his attempt to shake it off. It was ridiculous.
    As the cold water cascaded over him, he found it kept coming back. The real question was, could he? Should he?
    • • •
    “Belle, I’m going to do a handstand in the water. Watch me!”
    Laying down her Kindle, she pushed her sunshades further up her face, the rays of sun blazing down.
    Giving a thumbs-up, she watched as he dived down. Seconds later, two scrawny legs emerged, leaning to the right then flopping back in with a splash as he surfaced. Laughing, she wiped the droplets of water from her arms, placing the Kindle back into its pouch and onto a side table.
    Grabbing a nearby floating rubber ring, Theo plopped himself in, paddling around in circles, each time trying to go faster and faster.
    The sun was still high up in the sky and she grabbed her phone to check the time. It’d felt like they’d been out there for ages. Actually, they probably had. After Nick had left, they’d played a few games on the X-box and learned some more phrases in French before they took up residence at the pool.
    She couldn’t help cringing when she thought about that morning. About how she’d almost knocked out her boss with a utensil, and then proceeded to have a conversation with him while in her dressing gown. Boy, did she know how to behave in front of guys.
Boss
, she corrected herself. He was her boss. Not just some guy.
    Her phone buzzed with an incoming message. She’d told Tanya to contact her if there was any emergencies. Yes, she couldn’t fly back and fix them, but she could give advice. It was still her business, after all.
    Tanya’s number flashed up, followed by a whole stream of capital letters and exclamation marks. “DELIVERY ARRIVED!!! WE’RE SAVED!!! WHOO HOO!!!”
    What the … how had that happened? They’d been waiting for the delivery for the last three days and now it had turned up. Like pieces of a jigsaw, a bizarre picture started to form in her mind. Dismissing it, she shook her head. That couldn’t be possible. Other than Tanya and herself, the only other person who knew had been Nick and he wouldn’t have done anything.
    The question gnawed at her and clicking on reply, she suddenly heard another splash as more droplets landed on the phone screen.
    “Are you coming in?” Theo cried, falling out of the ring and pushing it to one side.
    “I’ll be there in a sec,” she replied, standing up and unwrapping the sea blue sarong. Pulling the straps of the old black one piece bathing suit up, she stood at the deepest end and executed a perfect dive, swimming under till she was next to him.
    “Wow, you’re really good!” he said, clapping so hard water splashed up her nose.
    Smiling through the coughing fit, she bowed theatrically.
    “I bet I can swim to the end and back in a