Free The Nanny and the CEO by Rebecca Winters

in the kitchen could inflict damage, she would have been vaporized in an instant.
    â€œEarlier Walter told me Anne was…fragile,” Nick added, as if he were choosing his words carefully. “After the way they both behaved today, I can see they’re still not happy with the idea of my bringing Jamie home. I should have made the break sooner.”
    Reese sensed he was in a brooding mood. “It’s hard to make decisions when you’re grieving.”
    â€œYou have some knowledge of it?” He’d posed the mild question while devouring his sandwich.
    â€œMy fiancé and I broke up at Christmas. It hit me very hard, but I couldn’t compare it to your loss. When you have a child born into the world, you don’t expect to have to carry on without your wife.”
    A bleak look entered his eyes. “Erica was in good health until she went into the hospital. Her labor wasn’t normal. By the time she got there, the placenta had torn and she’d lost too much blood faster than they could replenish it. The doctor performed a Cesarian before Jamie got into trouble.”
    â€œThank heaven for that,” she whispered. “He’s a little angel.”
    He studied her through a veiled gaze. “Does that mean you’re not ready to back out of our contract yet?”
    â€œIf you knew me better, you’d realize I’d never do that, but I’m assuming your in-laws don’t have much faith in me. From their perspective I suppose it’s understandable.”
    â€œI’m very pleased you’re here to help with Jamie, so let’s not worry about them. As you said, when a person is in mourning, their emotions are in turmoil. Nothing would help them but to have Erica back.”
    Nick was talking about himself, too, obviously. Reese didn’t know how he was functioning. The best thing to do was change the subject.
    â€œI’ve been thinking. How do you feel about my taking Jamie out and about in the stroller tomorrow? Just short little forays at first. Depending on how he does, maybe longer ones.”
    â€œThat’s fine. Later today we’ll program your cell phone so you can call me or Paul at any time. When you want to take Jamie farther afield, arrange it with him. He’ll drive you to spots where you can explore to your heart’s content. I’ll give you a remote to the penthouse to keep all the time. All I ask is that you check in with Albert coming and going. It’s for your safety.”
    In other words, with Nick’s kind of money he would be a natural target if someone decided to arrange a kidnapping. Only now was she beginning to realize what an enormous responsibility she’d taken on. “I’ll be extremely careful with him, Nick.”
    â€œI have no doubt of it.” He finished his salad. “I’ll open a bank account for you first thing in the morning so you’ll have funds to draw on.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œWe haven’t discussed your hours yet. If I can depend on you Monday through Friday until five every day, then you can be free to do as you wish the rest of the time. How does that sound?”
    Incredibly generous. “I couldn’t ask for a more perfect arrangement. But please feel free to depend on meif something comes up in the evening or on a weekend and you need my help.”
    â€œIf that should happen, I’ll pay you overtime.”
    â€œThat won’t be necessary. Being allowed to live here in such luxury with all my meals paid for is like another salary in itself. I wouldn’t dream of taking more money than we agreed on.” She helped herself to the salad.
    An amused gleam entered those dark eyes. To her chagrin her pulse sped up. The phenomenon kept happening the more she was around him. “Since we have that settled, are there any questions you want to ask me?”
    â€œThere’s only one I can think of right now. Do you know when