Falling for the Nanny (15 page)

The entire room seemed to hold its breath. “All of you, please stay put.” Mike stepped cautiously outside.

“You, too!” Patty called to Darlene, who'd stood up and was edging toward a window.

“It sounds like…” The older woman peered out. “Oh, for heaven's sake, they brought sparklers and party poppers.”

With his phone in one hand, still apparently connected to the dispatcher, Alec pulled his mother gently but firmly away. “If you'd been mistaken, you could have been hit by flying glass.” His worried gaze traveled to his daughter. “Everybody okay?”

“We're fine. People, please remain where you are in case this is a distraction.” After murmuring reassurances to Fiona, Patty stood and surveyed the clubhouse to make sure no one had opened a side door or was behaving suspiciously. Everything appeared normal. A couple of parents had even started joking with the kids, as if this was a game, and a little girl scrambled to her feet.

“Down, please.” Patty gestured until the child obeyed. “Everybody, treat this like an earthquake drill.” In California, schools and entire towns held drills to prepare for quakes, ranging from duck-under-your-desk exercises to large scale run-throughs that tested hospital, fire department and police
readiness. “Remember what Mike said. Nobody moves until we get the all clear.”

“I had no idea nannies took safety this seriously,” said one of the mothers. “Do they train you for this?”

“You bet.”

“Is it going to be okay?” Fiona's words came out muffled because she had her nose buried in the bunny's fur.

“Sure. It's just your mom.” Patty's heart ached for the little girl, who couldn't even enjoy her birthday party in peace, let alone count on her mother for support.

The child peeked up at her. “Can I open the rest of my presents now?”

“Later, little one.” Patty continued to observe their surroundings for anything amiss. Outside, Mike had engaged the couple in conversation.

“But—”

“They won't sprout legs and trot off. I promise.” Patty was glad to see an answering smile. She'd have liked to ease the tension even more, but not yet.

On the phone, Alec was explaining to the dispatcher that the explosions appeared to be harmless. “We'd appreciate having a patrol car stop by, but at this point it doesn't look like an emergency.”

On the walkway, the tall woman tossed back her mane of dark hair impatiently. The suave fellow at her side, his pencil-thin mustache and gray-tinged black hair giving him a sophisticated air, spoke courteously to Mike.

Finally her boss signaled her, and Patty gave everyone the okay to get up. “That's just like Sabrina,” Darlene grumbled. “She can't stand not being the center of attention.”

“Those people certainly know how to make an entrance.” Bailey brushed off her knees.

“Are you all right?” Patty asked Alec as he ended his call.

“Just seriously annoyed.” He reached down to hug his daughter. “Sorry for the scare.”

“That's okay, Daddy.” Her little arms wound around him. The expression on her face was utterly trusting, and so achingly sweet, it was all Patty could do to tear her eyes away.

When Alec released Fiona, his hand brushed Patty's and he gave her a short, intense look. Something she didn't fully understand passed between them—partly a shared sense that they'd both been ready to risk their lives, but something else, too. A kind of belonging that ran so deep it almost scared her.

“I guess I'd better go invite them in,” Alec muttered. “Fiona, you'll be fine with Patty.”

“I know.” She took Patty's hand and gripped it tight.

Outside, Eduardo was showing Mike a handful of fireworks that appeared from a distance to be harmless sparklers and noisemakers. All the same, they could burn a child's skin or cause serious eye damage.

“What a bad idea. Don't they realize how young these children are?” Tina complained as she and the other guests gathered around the refreshment table. A second helping of cupcakes seemed to soothe everyone's nerves.

Fiona stuck close to Patty. She didn't seem eager to greet her mother, and no wonder, Patty reflected, scrutinizing the new arrival through the glass. Sabrina Denny had an intimidating air, like a Thoroughbred horse ready to trample any hapless critter that skittered across her path.

It wasn't Patty's job to judge. She was here to protect the child and, secondarily, everyone else at the party.

Besides, Alec had once fallen in love with this woman, and she'd given birth to this precious little girl. There must be something worthwhile about her.

 

F
ROM THE TIME
he was seventeen and made the decision to put his future ahead of his heart, Alec had embraced being an adult. He'd shouldered every responsibility that had come
along, without question. But right now he wished he could act like a kid, tell his self-centered ex-wife where to get off, and send these intruders packing.

When the noisemakers had gone off, he'd felt a jolt of adrenaline and a pang of dread, not for himself but for Fiona. For an instant, he'd feared that all his efforts had been useless to protect the person he loved most in the world.

Then he'd seen Patty, fiercely protective and balanced, ready, trained. His first impulse had been to leap to his daughter's defense, but he'd been assigned a vital role, calling the police. And he'd been able to rely on Patty to be there, not only standing guard but also comforting Fiona.

She'd done her part. Now he had to paste a smile on his face and move forward to murmur a polite greeting to the woman he wished he never had to see again. And shake hands with a man who might turn out to be his worst enemy.

“Dr. Denny!” Eduardo gripped his hand eagerly. “I am very pleased to meet you.”

“Mr. Patron. Welcome to Safe Harbor.” Alec was glad for Mike's looming presence, because he didn't trust this fellow despite his friendliness. “I understand you're interested in seeing the lab. Will tomorrow be soon enough?”

“Oh, honestly.” Sabrina adjusted a large, undoubtedly very expensive, tooled-leather shoulder bag. “Do you
have
to talk business?”

Alec didn't bother to answer, because anything he said would come out sarcastic. The adrenaline still surged in his veins, and the anger… Best not to dwell on that.

“It is an important part of our trip,” Eduardo responded levelly.

Sabrina shrugged. “Where is Fiona, anyway?”

Hiding from you.
“In the clubhouse.” From the corner of his eye, Alec noticed a black-and-white pulling to the curb.
Good. A police presence ought to put a lid on his ex-wife's mischief.

Or so he'd believed. “Well, let's show her some fun!” She reached for a sparkler. “Eduardo, where's the lighter?”

“Put the fireworks away!” Alec didn't bother to disguise his irritation.

“We went to a lot of trouble to bring these. We had to ship them by rail,” Sabrina retorted. “As long as we're here, let's enjoy them.”

“Clearly, we have caused a problem. Let us save them for another time.” Her companion opened his satchel, allowed Mike to inspect its contents and added the unused poppers and sparklers. “You are very careful about security. I didn't realize Americans were so cautious.”

“Only if they're paranoid,” Sabrina griped. When Mike indicated her purse, she glared, but opened it at a gesture from Eduardo. “A gift for my daughter. You don't expect me to unwrap it, I hope!”

Mike hesitated, then shook his head. To Alec he said, “I'd better go square things with the police.” He strolled off toward the two approaching officers, who greeted him like an old friend.

“Can we go in now?” Sabrina demanded. “You aren't going to have us arrested, are you?”

“Of course not.” Alec hung on to his temper. Quarreling would solve nothing.

“I wasn't sure you'd trust us inside without an armed guard.” Sabrina stalked forward. In her mile-high heels, she moved like a runway model, clearly aware of the stunning picture she made. The police officers watched her retreating figure as if willing her to turn toward them for a better view.

She's toxic, guys. Don't be an idiot like I was.

Eduardo, however, took more interest in Alec than in his
fiancée as they approached the clubhouse. “I hear Dr. Tartikoff thinks very highly of you. Setting up a laboratory, you must be a technology expert.”

“I keep up with the field, yes.” Alec still felt reserved around the guy. “You speak excellent English, by the way.”

“I earned my MBA at Wharton, in Philadelphia,” the man explained. “And I have a second home in New York.”

Far away from your wife and children.
How could Eduardo bear to be separated from his three kids, who, according to Mike's written report, ranged in age from seven to fifteen? True, the report indicated he visited them occasionally, but he must have been miserable in his marriage to seek a divorce. Or madly in love with Sabrina, in which case he might be putting on a suave front to help her steal her daughter.

Inside the clubhouse, the party was breaking up, Alec saw as they entered. While his mother handed out goody bags, the guests and their stuffed animals were wishing Fiona a happy birthday. Hanging on to Patty, his daughter thanked them all for coming, but her gaze kept straying toward the door. Toward Sabrina.

Alec registered the mixture of worry and yearning on his daughter's face as her gaze met her mother's. If only he'd chosen more wisely. If only he'd married a woman who valued their child's needs and emotions above her own.

His ex-wife regarded their daughter with a startled expression. “Good heavens, what have they done to your hair? It used to be so beautiful.”

Did she have to say that? How insensitive.

Fiona went white, as if she'd been slapped. “I got it cut.”

Even Sabrina couldn't be unaware of the frowns directed her way from around the room. Or maybe, Alec thought, she actually registered the fact that she was hurting her daughter. “Once I get used to it, I'm sure I'll love it. Come here, sweetie.
I brought you a present!” Dropping the purse to the floor, she held out her arms.

After a second's hesitation, Fiona trotted forward. Her mother clutched her tightly, and when he moved to get a clear view of Sabrina's face, Alec saw a fiery expression worthy of a tigress.

At some level, his ex-wife did love their daughter, he thought, and it was good for Fiona to experience that. As long as she had him to keep her safe from Sabrina's unpredictable moods.

Patty hovered nearby, closely watching the pair and their surroundings. In this unwavering sentinel, he saw no trace of his goofy high-school sweetheart. She'd become so much more than he'd given her credit for.

Fiona wiggled away from her mother. “Where's my present?”

Out of the purse came a gift box wrapped in elegant pink paper traced with a lace design. Although he hated to disappoint his daughter, Alec knew this wasn't the time. “Fiona, your guests are leaving. You can open it and the rest of your gifts a little later.”

His daughter wrinkled her nose at him, but obediently turned her attention to a little girl. “Thanks for coming.”

“I had so much fun!”

The two hugged. He hoped some of these new friends would take the place of the ones she'd left behind.

“Oh, honestly!” Sabrina glared at Alec. “You're such a spoilsport. And who's this sourpuss?” She indicated Patty.

A blink was her only reaction to the insult. “I'm the new nanny.”

Alec couldn't help noting how different the two women were, despite their similar heights. Sabrina was exotic and high-strung, Patty warm and down-to-earth. Sabrina had all the media-admired photogenic qualities.

Patty had all the soul.

“Where do you find these nannies? You should let me do the hiring,” his ex said.

She didn't ask what had happened to the last one. But then, she didn't have to, Alec reflected, if she was the caller who'd scared Tatum away.

Having handed out the last bag of treats, Darlene joined them. “Patty was my choice. I've known her for years. Are you questioning my judgment?”

Sabrina had the sense to keep her mouth shut. She'd ruined many a holiday gathering for his long-suffering parents with her rudeness, temper tantrums and whining. Through it all, Darlene had attempted to keep the peace. But after Sabrina had left Fiona unattended in the car, Darlene had refused to speak to her outside the courtroom except to say, “You are unworthy of my son and undeserving of your daughter.”

Apparently Sabrina wasn't eager to hear that opinion repeated in front of Eduardo. Instead, she searched about for another topic of conversation, and fixed on Fiona's stuffed bunny. “You still have Hoppity? Well…that's nice. I've missed
my
little bunny.” Turning to her fiancé, she added, “See how cute she is?”

“Precious.” Eduardo smiled at the child pleasantly, but with no real interest. “I hope we aren't the reason your guests have fled.”

Alec checked his watch. “It's nearly three. That's when the party's supposed to end.” He saw appreciatively that Bailey and Tina Torres were bundling the last of the trash into plastic bags. “Guys, we appreciate your help.”

“It was fun!” After tying up the bag, the nurse retrieved her purse.

“Thanks for inviting us.” Tina and her daughter departed with a wave.

“Good timing,” Sabrina said brightly. “Now we're going
to take Fiona to the Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits, where they have the dinosaurs.”

“Saber-toothed tigers and mammoths, not dinosaurs,” Darlene interjected.

Her ex-daughter-in-law ignored the correction. “You can't possibly object, Alec. It's educational, and Eduardo can supervise. Dr. Tartikoff
did
phone you about him, didn't he?”