Falling for the Nanny (11 page)

“Dr. Frankenstein, I presume?” she asked.

“
Ja, Fräulein,
here ve create life from de ooze.” Chuckling, Alec helped the workman unload the refrigerator into one of the few unoccupied spaces along the wall. “Isn't this place amazing?”

“Yeah,” she said. “It's definitely you.”

He'd shown her his bedroom once during high school— Darlene hadn't been keen on letting Patty into that particular part of the house, she recalled—so she could see how he'd equipped it as a lab. There'd been a table with a microscope, shelves of insect specimens and petri dishes, even a small refrigerator because, he'd explained, his mother wasn't crazy about finding his biology experiments in with her food.

Here it was, the grown-up version, times a zillion. Alec's dream lab. “What are all these things?” She indicated the stacked equipment.

After thanking the workman and sending him along, Alec dusted off his hands. “Not a sterile environment yet, as you can see. Well, over there are cell freezers and over here are incubators. Once we're up and running, they'll hold eggs and embryos in a constant, clean environment.”

“What do you mean by constant?”

“It means that we control the temperature and the composition of the air,” he said.

With that, he was off and running on what was obviously his favorite subject. Well, second to his daughter. Eyes alight, Alec explained how separate labs would be dedicated to functions from analyzing sperm to what he called micromanipulation.

“Our ability to achieve fertilization even with less-than-optimal eggs and sperm is improving dramatically. You wouldn't believe how quickly the field has advanced,” Alec told her. “We're gaining ground on preventing birth defects, too. We plan to participate in research projects to switch genes on and off using epigenetics.”

“Epi what?” Patty had seen newspaper articles about the genetic studies underway at the University of California's nearby Irvine campus, but she didn't recall that term.

“It's one of the hottest fields in biology,” Alex enthused. “You know people can have the same genes, like identical twins, but still be different in some ways? Or if you clone a cat, the genetic double may have different coloring?”

“Actually, I didn't know that.” Patty couldn't see why anyone would clone a kitty, considering how many of them languished in shelters, longing for homes.

“It's because many of our gene functions can be turned on or off by the epigenome. I guess in simple terms you could call it a layer of biochemical reactions. So—”

“Those are simple terms?” Patty's head was whirling. “You left me back there with the cloned kittens.”

“Sorry. I get carried away.”

Carried away and vibrating with enthusiasm. It struck her that his work was Alec's true love. In a sense, this was what
he'd left her for, not that she would have stood in his way. But he'd always possessed an inner drive that was destined to take him far beyond Patty and Safe Harbor.

Only now it had brought him back. Life was funny that way.

“You love this, don't you?” she said softly.

“It's…” His hands flexed, as if he couldn't wait to get them on a microscope, or whatever it was he used to do this micromanipulation business. “It's a miracle. Just to be part of it is such a privilege. I was lucky to hook up with someone as visionary as Owen Tartikoff.”

“Bailey says he's a pain in the neck.”

Alec burst out laughing and draped his arms over Patty's shoulders, facing her at nuzzling distance. “I can always count on you to bring me down to earth.”

“Is that a good thing?” She was surprised at how wistful she sounded. “I wish I understood your work better.” This was a key part of his life she'd never been able to share.

“I married a fellow biologist, and look where that got me,” he answered, his forehead nearly touching hers.

“It got you Fiona.”

At this close range, his eyes were huge and darkly inviting. “Like I said, I can always count on you to remind me of the things that really matter.”

She supposed they were both, in their own way, helping and protecting people. They really did have a lot in common. Such as the desire to touch each other, she thought, and ran her palms down the sides of his blazer. “I never kissed a director of laboratories before.”

His mouth grazed hers. “There. What do you think?”

“This requires further analysis,” she said, and enjoyed the moist heat of his lips against hers as she drew him closer. Through her blouse and his shirt, she felt the hard thrum of his heart, powering them both. Yearning flooded her, and
she grasped his hips, angling him against her, feeling his arousal.

“Patty, Patty,” he whispered, lifting his head for a moment. “What are we going to do?”

Love each other and then cry for a few days?
That might work for Bailey—although Patty had her doubts—but it certainly wouldn't work for them. “I don't know.”

His cell rang in a distinctive tone. “It's Tatum. I'd better get that.”

Patty stepped back, suddenly self-conscious. What were they doing, smooching like teenagers in his lab, where anyone might walk in? How unprofessional. Besides, she'd taken on the responsibility of protecting Alec's home and family, and she was doing a lousy job at the moment. She hadn't even made an attempt to assess the place.

Although he'd notified hospital security as she and Mike had requested, no one had checked Patty's ID on the way down. Suppose Sabrina went out of control and came here to wreak havoc? There might not be any embryos yet—when there were, no doubt the doors would be locked to protect the sterility, anyway—but this equipment must cost a fortune.

Still, the ex hadn't threatened Alec's work. And you couldn't guard every single aspect of his life without bringing in far more staff than he could afford.

“Please calm down. Tell me exactly what happened.” His words drew her up sharply.

“Fiona?” Patty went on high alert. While she'd been fooling around, she'd left her charge unprotected.

He shook his head. A rush of relief ran through her. All the same, she should have been more careful.

“You're sure it was her?” he went on, still talking to the nanny. “Right, I forgot the land line has caller ID. Did Sabrina make any specific threat, or… I understand, but…I wish you'd
reconsider. I'm coming home right now… Yes, of course.” He frowned at the phone for a moment before clicking off.

“What is it?” Patty demanded.

Grimly, Alec stuck the cell in his pocket. “My ex called the condo. Whatever she said, it was enough to spook Tatum.” His troubled gaze met Patty's. “She's quitting. As of right now.”

As he phoned to inform the receptionist that he'd been called away by a family emergency, it dawned on Alec what he had to do next. The question was how to persuade Patty, especially after their lapse a few minutes ago.

It hadn't felt like a lapse, though. It had brought home the fact that in all these years, he'd never felt complete without her. Having Patty around was a greater pleasure than he'd been willing to admit, but acting the way they had was wrong. Wrong for them and wrong for Fiona.

He couldn't afford to be selfish. He couldn't let his daughter down again. And his actions had been particularly ill judged in view of this unforeseen development.

“What's going on?” Patty strode beside him out of the lab.

“There's been another threat.”

“We should bring in the police.”

“Not that clear-cut a threat. Just enough to spook her.” En route to the parking garage, he filled Patty in on the latest events.

Tatum had answered the home phone, to hear a woman's tight voice snarl, “Look out, you b—” followed by a hang-up. It might have been dismissed as a prank had the call display not identified Sabrina's cell number.

If not for the earlier threat to snatch Fiona, Alec might have
been able to persuade Tatum to overlook it. Instead, she was probably online right now, reserving her flight to Boston.

That left him without full-time care for his daughter. Darlene might volunteer, but he didn't like imposing on her to that extent, especially in light of her recent injury. And he could hardly enroll his daughter in a preschool with this threat hanging over their heads.

Patty, who'd had no trouble matching his rapid pace, stopped beside his SUV. “The call came from Sabrina's cell, right? So she could be anywhere.”

He registered that, indeed, his ex-wife might be lurking nearby. “That's true.”

“Phone her,” Patty said. “See what kind of shape she's in. Maybe you can get a sense of where she is and what she's up to.”

He tried it. The call went directly to voice mail. He left a terse message for Sabrina to call him,
now.

“Do you have a number for her home?”

He pressed that one, too. No answer. He left another message. “I'll try again later.” It would be a relief to learn his ex was still in New York. If, indeed, she was.

“She's trying to shake you. Don't let her.” Patty's piercing gaze fixed on him. “I'm parked one level up and I need to notify Mike, so I'll meet you at the condo. But first, take a few deep breaths. Focus on your driving. You're upset, and the last thing you need is to get into an accident.”

Levelheaded Patty. Thank goodness for her ability to stay in the moment and think clearly. “I'll be careful.”

She nodded. “See you in a few.”

He caught her arm. “Wait. There's something we have to discuss, and we can't do it in front of my daughter.”

Patty tilted her head, watching him from beneath a fringe of blond hair. “Mmm?”

She seemed so in control, despite everything. When had
his off-the-cuff high-school chum turned into such a rock? Alec hoped she wouldn't mind that he intended to lean on her a little further.

“I'd like you to take over for Tatum. Obviously, you aren't a nanny, but Fiona likes and trusts you. If you could watch her full-time for the next few days, I'd feel a lot better.” Whatever this cost, it would be worth it.

Her skeptical expression didn't bode well. “I can watch her on a double shift, which ought to cover the time from when you go to work till you return. But child care and guard duty are two separate functions.”

Good point. “My mother should be able to help. Especially if you go out, since that's when you'll need to be especially cautious. But…” Might as well give this a shot. “What I'd really like is for you to move in. Be there 24/7.”

“I think she's safe enough with you on the premises,” Patty advised.

Alec's pride urged him to agree with her, but this was no time for arrogance. “If they hire someone to kidnap my daughter, or if Sabrina shows up with Eduardo, I may not be able to handle it.”

He noted the wry twist of her mouth. “You're asking me to move in with you?”

“You've seen Tatum's room. You'd have plenty of privacy.”
Much as I might wish you were staying closer. Like, on the other side of my bed.

“Down the hall,” she said drily. “Practically in the next state, right?”

“In spite of what happened a few minutes ago, we have to do this for my daughter,” Alec pressed. “Until after the party, anyway. I have a feeling that whatever Sabrina's up to, she'll pull it off by then or lose interest. That's only two days.”

And two nights.

“Let me talk to Mike,” Patty replied coolly. “I'll catch up with you at the condo.”

“Thanks for considering it.” Alec wished he could add some brilliant comment to press his case. None presented itself.

So he got in the SUV, took a few deep breaths as instructed, and started the engine.

 

M
OVING IN WITH
A
LEC
.

She couldn't view it in those terms, Patty reflected as her car followed the SUV along Safe Harbor Boulevard. This was all about Fiona's security.

On her hands-free phone, she explained the situation to Mike. “If he wants to hire a night guard, I can subcontract that,” he replied. “You're not going to be much use while you're asleep.”

“Agreed.” She ought to feel relieved that she could stay home. It would be up to Alec whether he chose to hire additional protection at night. “I'll be more alert if I'm well rested, anyway.”

“Exactly. In the meantime, I'll cover your other cases so you can spend your days and evenings with the Dennys. And, Patty?”

“Yes?”

“Since he hasn't told his ex about hiring a guard, I'm going to recommend we continue to keep her in the dark as long as possible.” They'd decided that, given Sabrina's volatile moods, learning about Alec's security arrangements was as likely to intensify her anger as to dissuade her. “Posing as a nanny could give you a tactical advantage.”

“Agreed.”

With that decision made, Patty sketched in her findings on the runaway boy and promised to send her notes so Mike could take over. By that time, she'd arrived at the condo
complex. Nothing unusual going on, a quick scan told her. No crazy ladies peering from the bushes, no commandos leaping from helicopters, no well-cloaked homeless person who might turn out to be a kidnapper for hire.

Instead, afternoon sunshine had broken through the over-cast morning, typical of May weather around here. Beyond the bluffs, sunlight sparkled off the ocean, while seabirds circled, mewing.

From the gated parking lot, Alec moved with contained purpose, body tight, mouth set in a firm line. If they were more than friends, more than business associates, they would lace their fingers together and hurry in side by side, awareness simmering between them.

And if you keep thinking this way, you'll fail him in the worst way possible.

“Mike's cleared my schedule to work double shifts for you through Sunday. Longer if you need me,” she told him as they double-timed it along the walkway. “He can subcontract for a night guard if you like.”

Alec's jaw clenched. “I'd rather have you.”

“I'm not much use in my sleep. Besides, the police can be here in a few minutes.” She worked more than enough night patrols in Safe Harbor to know how quickly they could arrive at a scene.

“It isn't the same as having you right there.” He broke off. “But I understand. And no, I don't want a night guard. I'm trying to keep things as normal as possible for Fiona, although that seems to be getting harder and harder.”

As they neared the stairwell, Patty watched for any movement. Nothing stirred. “Have you talked to your mother?”

“Yes. She's not exactly surprised. She figured Tatum would bolt sooner or later.”

So had Patty, but she'd hoped the nanny would stay until after the party. This must be rough on the little girl. “Your
ex doesn't seem to care how much disruption she causes for her daughter.”

“This is the same woman who left a three-year-old alone in a car,” he reminded her.

“I haven't forgotten.”

Ahead, Patty saw the door to Alec's condo open slowly. Putting out an arm to halt him, she edged closer. Out rolled a suitcase, pushed over the sill by a running shoe. The crack in the door widened, and Tatum shouldered her way through, burdened by a backpack plus a laptop shoulder bag. To Patty, her skin looked even paler than usual, and she gave a start when she saw Alec.

“You're leaving already?” he asked.

“Got a flight in an hour from John Wayne.” That was Orange County's airport, named for the famous local resident who, during his lifetime, had despised the noise from airplanes flying over his home.

“Who's watching Fiona?” he asked. Below, Patty saw a taxi approaching along the street.

“Your mother was resting, so she sent the housekeeper until you got here.” Catching his frown, the nanny added, “It's okay. Rosita raised two kids of her own. She's teaching Fiona how to play a card game called
casita robada.
Kind of a go-fish type thing.”

“I'm sorry you're leaving. Let me write you a check for whatever I owe you, plus your airfare.”

“You can mail it to me. I left a note with my mother's address and the amount.” Tugging her braid free of her shoulder strap, Tatum grabbed the suitcase. “I'm sorry to jump ship this way, but I can't take all the drama. I told Fiona I miss my family and that's why I'm leaving. I hope she'll be okay. She's a little sweetie.”

“Why the rush? There's no immediate risk.” Patty wondered if there was some clue she'd missed about the latest call.

“Sabrina has a mean streak. You never know what that kind
of person will do.” Below, the cabbie honked and Tatum gave a pronounced start. How terrible it must be to go through life so easily frightened, Patty thought. “You will give me a good reference, won't you, Mr. Denny?” the nanny asked.

“Of course,” he replied. “You've done a fine job.”

“Take a course in self-defense,” Patty advised the young woman. “Once you feel more confident in your abilities…”

“I'll feel more confident when I'm home.” Below, the cab driver tapped his horn again. Over the portico railing, Tatum yelled, “Be right there!” To Alec and Patty, she said, “Got to go. Bye.” Off she sped, wheeling the suitcase behind her.

“Are you sure Sabrina didn't say anything else?” Patty asked Alec.

“I told you everything I know.” He held the door for her. Kind of a funny thing to do for the woman he'd hired to take out the opposition, Patty reflected, but she appreciated the gesture.

Inside, past the living room, Fiona and an older woman sat across from each other at the kitchen table, slapping down cards and giggling. “I win!” the little girl cried gleefully.

“You are smart girl.” The thin lady, her graying hair pulled back in a bun, reached across to pat Fiona's hand. “First time you play, you win.”

“You let me.” The child grinned. “I can tell.”

“
Very
smart girl.” Rosita got to her feet. “Dr. Denny, no need to hurry home. I finish cleaning your mother's place and now is turn to clean yours, so no problem.”

“Thank you for watching my daughter.”

“Is fun for me.”

Mike had run a check and found both Rosita's references from Houston and her credit rating excellent. While he hadn't been able to confirm that she was Marla's cousin, Patty already suspected that the old housekeeper's nieces weren't all related to her, either. An informal system of job-sharing
probably worked to everyone's advantage, except possibly Darlene's. However, Rosita had made a good impression so far.

A light breeze rippled through the living room from the partly open balcony door. Patty strode over, and was glad to see it anchored by a floor lock, its four-inch gap wide enough for cool air to circulate but too narrow for anyone to sneak through.

“If you don't mind, Rosita, I'd rather you waited until later to clean,” Alec said. “Patty and I have a few things to discuss with my daughter.”

“I understand.” The woman hesitated. “You will hire new nanny,
sí?
” What was she going to do? Patty wondered. Recommend some other “cousin”?

“For now, my mother and Patty will look after Fiona,” Alec replied.

“Bueno.”
Rosita bobbed her head in accord. “Years ago, my daughter have a stalker. I chase him away with my broom. Give him one, two good whacks.”

Patty couldn't help chuckling. “You may have missed your calling. You sound like a fierce protector.”

“I do anything for my family,” the housekeeper replied. “Now I work here, this is like my family.”

Alec escorted her to the door. “While I appreciate your concern, remember that Patty and Mike are the experts. If there's any danger, they'll handle it.”

“Sí, sí.”
With a little wave to Fiona, who was putting the cards into their box, Rosita departed.

Alec went to the table, where his daughter struggled to push the last card into the tight deck. “I can do that.” Gently, he took over the task.

The little girl pressed her lips together. Her high spirits of a moment ago had vanished. “Why did Tatum leave?”

“She misses her family. She told you that, right?” Alec glanced at Patty as if for confirmation.

Patty might not have much experience with children, but she hadn't forgotten how, as a child, she'd hated being kept in the dark by social workers after her parents' arrest on drug charges. Being unable to get the facts had intensified her anxiety. What a relief it had been when Grandpa arrived and told the unvarnished truth, ugly as it was.