Free From Nanny To Wife by kate hopkins

children."
     
    "You are not damaged goods, Hope," Ryan said softly. "And you are not a poor excuse for a woman. That would be Laura." He squeezed her hand. "Your ex husband was selfish and heartless. You needed him and he deserted you. You're better off without him."
     
    "I know I am," Hope muttered.
     
    "Daddy," Zoe said.
     
    Ryan released Hope's hand, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stood. He moved toward Zoe's seat and squatted down in front of her. "Do you want out of your chair?"
     
    "Yeah," Zoe said.
     
    "Why don't you lie down and Daddy will put Beauty and the Beast on for you?" Ryan removed Zoe from her chair and carried her to the small couch toward the back of the plane. He laid her down and fetched a pillow and blanket from an overhead storage compartment. After covering her up, he slipped the DVD in the small player and pressed play. He rejoined Hope and settled into his seat once more. "She'll be asleep before it's over. You can get up and move around."
     
    "No, I can't." Hope rested her head against the headrest. "My legs are trembling badly. Tell me why we're flying to Jacksonville."
     
    "There's a shipyard I'm looking into buying," Ryan explained. "I'm meeting with the current owner tomorrow and he's going to give me a tour. I thought you and Zoe might like to come along. Zoe likes to look at the big boats, that's what she calls ships."
     
    "I thought you were in the shipping business," Hope said.
     
    "I am," Ryan said. "I want to branch out into other areas of the shipping industry. Owning a shipyard seemed like the next step to take."
     
    "I wouldn't mind watching a ship being built," Hope said. "Do you think that instead of flying home I could get a ride on a ship?"
     
    "No," Ryan said.
     
    Hope sighed. "How long is the flight?"
     
    "Two hours and thirty minutes."
     
    "Oh, God."
     
    The plane landed in Jacksonville a few minutes after nine. A waiting car picked up Ryan, Hope and Zoe and took them to a nearby hotel. Ryan had reserved a room for Hope and Zoe and one for himself. Once they checked in, they retired to their rooms for the night. Before Ryan turned in, he rang Hope's room.
     
    "How are you doing?" he asked when she answered the phone.
     
    "Other than my legs being a little wobbly, I'm all right," Hope said. "I'm just relieved to be back on the ground."
     
    "You'll get used to flying," Ryan said.
     
    "I doubt that highly," Hope said.
     
    Ryan perched on the side of the bed. "Is Zoe asleep?"
     
    "Yes," Hope said. "I was getting ready to turn in myself. What time do you want to leave for the shipyard?"
     
    "Nine-thirty," Ryan said. "I thought we would have breakfast first. I'll come to your room and get you at eight."
     
    "We'll be ready," Hope said.
     
    "I'll see you in the morning then." Ryan said. "Good night, Hope."
     
    "Good night," Hope repeated. "And thank you for helping me get through the flight."
     
    "You're welcome." Ryan dropped the receiver in the cradle, switched off the light, and laid down. With thoughts of Hope swimming around in his head, he knew sleep would be a long time coming.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 1 2
     
    As the car approached the iron gates Hope saw the sign hanging from a fence post. Someone had painted a piece of plywood white and written on it in black paint Monroe Shipyard. Hope tried to imagine the sign saying Kendall Shipyard and could not. She glanced Ryan's way and found he had his cell phone out. He was frowning at the small screen and muttering under his breath, what he was saying she could not make out.
     
    "Is something wrong?" she asked.
     
    "My attorney wants me back in Newark as soon as possible. He has some urgent news to share with me."
     
    "Maybe you should give him a call," Hope suggested.
     
    "What he has to tell me can wait." Ryan switched his phone to vibrate and slipped it into his pocket. "I