Free Small-Town Nanny by Lee Tobin McClain Page B

much wanted to do.
    * * *
    â€œNo!” she said twenty minutes later. “I’m sorry you overheard that, but I don’t need any special favors.”
    â€œIt’s not a favor, it’s just a change in pay date.” He for sure wasn’t going to tell her about the ticket he’d just told his assistant to send to her mother. That would go over about as well as rat poison.
    â€œWhy are you doing this?”
    â€œTo help you out,” he said patiently.
    â€œI don’t need your help!” She banged open the dishwasher and started loading dishes in. Thankfully, they were plastic ones; the china wouldn’t have survived her violent treatment.
    He cocked his head to one side. “I thought someone was hassling you about a late payment. If that’s not the case...”
    â€œOh, it’s true, but I can talk some sense into them. Probably.”
    â€œWhat’s the problem? The car?” Maybe now was the time to offer her the services of his car dealer.
    â€œNo!” She scanned the now-empty counter and slammed the dishwasher shut. “My car is paid for. It’s...it’s my brother.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œHis camp. The last installment for this special camp I want to send him to, it’s due Monday. It’s why I’m working this summer. He’ll just love it, and he needs the extra stimulation. And my mom needs the break.” She let out an unconscious sigh, and Sam felt the strangest urge to put an arm around her.
    She was a little thing to be bearing the burden for an entire family, but she didn’t complain; she just accepted the responsibility. Exactly what he would have done in the same situation. Admiration rose in him, along with a strange little click of connection. Maybe he and Susan weren’t as different as he’d initially thought.
    â€œWill your first paycheck cover the payment?” he asked her.
    â€œJust about exactly.”
    â€œThen give me the number and I’ll have the money wired today.”
    Relief warred with resistance in her dark eyes. “But it’s not fair—”
    â€œLook,” he said, “it’s nothing I haven’t done for other people who work for me. I take care of my employees. Go get the information.”
    She drew in a breath and let it out in a sigh. “All right. Thank you, Sam.”
    The wheels were turning in his brain now. “In fact...” he said slowly.
    â€œWhat?” she asked warily.
    â€œDo you want to earn some extra money this summer?”
    She laughed, a short sound without humor. “Always. I need to send some money to my mom. And I’d love to pay for an extra course toward my master’s.”
    â€œAnd maybe buy a new car?” he needled.
    â€œSam!” She put her hands on her hips. “I know my car isn’t pretty, but it runs fine.”
    â€œIt runs loud. And smoky.”
    â€œIt’s fine.” She turned away. “If you’re through insulting my stuff, I’d better go help Angelica with the kids.”
    â€œShe’s fine. Wait a minute. Listen to my proposal.”
    The corner of her mouth quirked upward as she spun back around. “What proposal is that?”
    Their eyes met, and held, and something electric zinged between them.
    The breeze through the window lifted a strand of her hair, but even as she brushed it back, she still stared at him. He could see the pulse in her neck.
    His own pulse was hammering, too.
    Wow.
    They both looked away at the same time. “So what are you thinking of?” she asked in a businesslike voice, grabbing a sponge to wipe down the already-clean counter.
    He cleared his throat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the kitchen island. “I’m having my annual summer picnic for my employees, and the woman who usually plans it for me is out on maternity leave. How are you at party planning?”
    She laughed. “I’m a