Free My Lucky Groom (Summer Grooms Series) by Ginny Baird

Elisa said with a happy smile.
    Little Ricky’s eyes were wide. “She can even do it
backwards!”
    “Is that so?” Richard asked with a chuckle. He eyed Ventura
with appreciation, and her face warmed under his perusal. “Well, how about
that.”

 
    Richard watched Ventura flit around the kitchen, thinking
she was mighty perky. Perhaps the nap had done her good, or maybe it was that
second cup of afternoon coffee that added extra spring to her step.
    “I think everything’s in order,” she told him, putting away
the last of the clean dishes.
    The kids sat at the table, companionably coloring in matching
shapes on a handout, big glasses of milk and fresh-baked cookies settled before
them. Although she must have baked them hours ago, the kitchen still smelled invitingly
of chocolate chips. Ventura had fed the kids early and given them dessert as
they finished up the last of their homework. Richard had another boring gala to
attend this evening, or else he would have eaten with them. Generally he fed
the kids later, after Ventura had gone. Tonight she’d done him a special favor
by doing this early to spare the teenage babysitter the extra effort. A horn
blew outside, and Richard glanced through the front window, seeing a car parked
outside. “Guess that’s my ride!” Ventura said brightly, scooping up her purse.
    “Your ride?” Richard asked, perplexed. Jason usually drove
Ventura home. Richard wasn’t sure what was different about tonight.
    Her expression was sunny, her cheeks a dusty rose. “I’ve got
a date,” she said with a happy lilt to her voice.
    Richard blinked, feeling like
someone had thrust an arrow through his chest. But that was absurd, wasn’t it?
Why would it matter to him that Ventura was seeing someone? She was pretty,
smart, and funny. It only made sense, didn’t it?
    “A date. I see,” he stated, trying to sound casual about it.
“Well, I hope you have fun.”
    She patted each of the kids on the head, then shot him a grin. “Thanks! I’ll try.”
    Richard cleared his throat and strode to his office to get a
better look out the window. Ventura practically ran down the steps and a
good-looking guy stepped from the car. Richard thought he recognized him as
Ventura’s date from the Tidal Basin. He was blond and built, and most assuredly
single. Free as a bird to take Ventura on any sort of outing her heart desired.
Ventura glanced back toward the house, and Richard stepped away from the
window. Spying on the nanny! What was wrong with him, anyway? It wasn’t like he
couldn’t have any woman in Washington. The females here were after him all the
time.
    He snuck back toward the window to peer out once again as
Ventura and her date drove away. Any
woman in Washington but that one , he thought with a frown. She was not only
his employee, which would make seeing her improper, but she was clearly into
somebody else. Richard checked the clock on his desk and saw it was time to dress
in his tuxedo and put on another show. Although tonight that
performance would ring extra hollow. Having a beautiful woman on his arm
didn’t mean nearly as much as being with someone he felt he could talk to.
Someone with a sharp wit and a good brain, and he couldn’t help but notice,
since he was only human, a naturally pretty face and enticingly hot body.
Richard drew a breath, ashamed of himself for having such thoughts about a
woman he’d hired. He wondered briefly what might have happened if she’d landed
a job in her field from the start and they’d met again on personal terms rather
than for business. But that was silly to think of now, given how life had
evolved. The best thing Richard could do was to put any notions of becoming
involved with Ventura out of his mind and focus on their working together, as
politely and professionally as possible.

 
    Ventura and Charles sat in a swanky pizza place in
Georgetown, swapping stories over mugs of beer. Charles glanced at her blouse, which
was held