Free Then Came You (The Wilde Sisters #2) by Marianne Rice

place.”
    “Thank you.”
    “What?”
    “That’s what I’m trying to do. Branch out to the middle-class, family style resort. Be good to the environment. I’m tired of catering to the rich and famous. I’d like to work with real, everyday people.”
    Double-damn. Now she really liked him. Keep the remarks snide, don’t let him get to you, she muttered to her aching libido. “So you think abandoning your daughter is the solution? Where’s Alanis Morissette? I’ve got material for her next “Ironic” song.”
    Visibly annoyed with her, Grayson pulled on his tie, wrapped it around his knuckles, then, when she thought he’d chuck it across the room, he surprised her by tucking it in his pocket. Such class.
    “I have been extremely busy lately. Not that it is an excuse, but Sophia…but some people are hoping I fail at this project and want me to stick with the luxury end. The timing of…everything has been off. I want to make it up to Maddie. Can I take you both to lunch tomorrow?”
    Great. Sophia must be another tall model-type whom he’s trying to please. “We already have lunch plans.” It was sort of the truth. Eva Montgomery had mentioned hanging out with them soon. Why not tomorrow?
    “Then I’ll join you. I already canceled my twelve o’clock meeting so I could see Maddie. Please?” He sat at the edge of her chair, invading her personal space, literally and figuratively. Grayson reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear, his erotic gaze honing in on her mouth.
    Oh jeez. Snide remark. Snide remark! Don’t succumb. “Fine. Sure. Lunch it is.” Damn. Her mouth betrayed her once again. But her legs would not. She set her wine glass down, nudged him aside with her hip, and walked away. “You let yourself in. Feel free to let yourself out,” she called over her shoulder and firmly closed the bedroom door behind her.
     
    ***
     
    For twenty-six years, Thyme never had to care for anyone except herself. Hell, she’d only started becoming responsible for herself in the past few months. Thanks to an overbearing oldest sister and a saint of an older sister, Thyme had never had to worry about food, shelter, bills. A job.
    She’d crash on one of her sisters’ sofas if she needed a place to stay while in between roommates. When she found herself short on cash, she’d ask one of them if they had a job for her at their work. Which they always did.
    It wasn’t until she responded to the nanny position four months ago that Thyme finally found a sense of responsibility. Of being wanted. It felt…powerful. It was one thing to be needed to fill a temporary position, but to be wanted, desired, and sought after was a whole new experience. Maddie made her feel this way. Maybe some day she’d have similar experiences in the romance department.
    When she was lonely, she’d hang out with her friends, meet a guy, hook up or date for a bit, then move on. She wasn’t trampy. Thyme didn’t sleep with just anyone , but she wasn’t overly picky either.
    If he could show her a good time, in or out of the bedroom, he was good material. She didn’t go for the buttoned-up business type. The Grayson Montgomery type. Her rash personality and lack of responsibility never attracted high-class and that was fine with her. Those stuffed shirt guys all thought they were better than everyone else anyway. That they could sleep with married women and get away with it.
    Ugh.
    Struggling to put on her usual cheery face, Thyme opened Maddie’s bedroom door and stopped. No longer struggling, she grinned ear to ear and crept up to the foot of the bed. One tiny foot poked out of the white sheet, one skinny arm dangled over the side of the bed, and a little wet puddle soaked the pillow under Maddie’s cupid mouth.
    Thyme lightly tickled the bottom of Maddie’s foot. Five little toes curled. Thyme chuckled and tickled her again. Maddie moved her foot under the covers, groaned, and rolled over, pulling the white sheet with