From Nanny To Wife (5 page)

"Just one," Hope said. "Do I need your permission when I want to take Zoe someplace?"

"No," Ryan said. "You don't as long as I can reach you. So make sure you keep your cell on at all times."

Hope read and signed the contract a few minutes later. She had no idea as she signed her name that she was sealing her fate.

Chapter 5

A month had come and gone since the day Ryan hired Hope. He saw a change in his home now that she lived there. Zoe laughed more, Maggie, William and Gordon smiled more. It was as if everyone had been in a daze before she came along and some how she had brought them out of it. Hiring Hope, Ryan realized, was one of the wisest decisions he ever made. He was sitting in his office thinking about how fortunate Zoe was to have her for a nanny when the intercom on his desk suddenly came on and Pam started to speak.

"Sir, Ms. Hilton is here to see you."

Ryan swore under his breath. He reached out and pressed the intercom button. "I have a meeting in ten minutes. Tell her to come back later, never would be better."

"Yes, sir," Pam said.

Ryan knew he wasn't going to get rid of Laura that easily. Pushing back his chair, he stood and walked around the desk. He was half way across the room when the door flew open and Laura marched in. "Please, come in," he said dryly. "Have a seat. Do you want my wallet now or before you leave?"

"Don't be a smart ass, Ryan," Laura said coolly.

"Sir," Pam said, standing in the doorway. "Do you want me to call security?"

Ryan smirked at Laura. "Not yet. I'll see what she wants first."

"Very well, sir," Pam told him. "Shall I shut the door?"

"Yes, thank you," Ryan said.

"Well isn't she the perfect little secretary?" Laura sneered.

"She is the best," Ryan said.

"Is that in the office or the bedroom?" Laura asked.

"Now, Laura." Ryan perched on the edge of his desk. "You know I never mix business with pleasure. My relationship with Pam is strictly professional."

"Sure it is," Laura said sarcastically.

"I'm going to ignore that." Ryan crossed his arms in front of him. "Why are you here?"

Laura sat down and crossed her legs, smoothing her skirt over her knees. "I want to talk to you about Zoe's nanny."

"Her name is Hope," Ryan stated.

"I don't care what her name is," Laura declared. "I don't like her."

"Of course, you don't." Ryan smiled coldly. "That's one of the reasons I hired her. I knew you wouldn't like her."

Laura glared at him. "Fire her."

"I don't think so."

"You should have consulted with me before hiring a nanny for my child."

Ryan's eyes grew hard and the smile left his face. He stood, towering over her. "She is
my
child. I make sure she is taken care of. I give her the love and attention she needs. All you do is try to buy her love with toys. You are not there when she needs you, so don't you dare say she's your child."

"I'm not there because you won't let me be," Laura said through clenched teeth. "All I get is an hour and a half every other week. While I'm there that nanny
you
hired watches me as if I'm some kind of criminal. I can't be alone with my daughter."

"Hope is following orders," Ryan said. "I told her to keep an eye on you. I don't want you trying to turn Zoe against me."

"I wouldn't do that," Laura snapped, pounding her fists on the arms of her chair.

"Yes you would, given half the chance." Ryan turned his back on her and wandered over to the window to look out. "You would do anything to take Zoe from me. You hate it that I call the shots. Get used to it, Laura. Now get out. I don't have time for this."

"You never have time for anything," Laura said quietly. "You work, that's all you do. It was like that when we were married. I was always alone because you were too busy making money to-"

Ryan whirled around. "Money you were all too happy to spend. Don't play the victim with me, Laura. I took care of you. I gave you everything you wanted."

"That's what you think." Laura rose from the chair and headed for the door. She paused in the doorway and glanced at Ryan over her shoulder. "Next time I'm visiting with my daughter I don't want that woman watching me." Storming out, she slammed the door shut behind her.

Hope sat alone in the living room knitting and watching the television. It was a quarter after nine. Zoe was in bed sound asleep. Maggie, William and Gordon had retired to their bedrooms, and Ryan wasn't home from the office yet. Other than the sound coming from the television, the house was quiet. Hope enjoyed the time to herself. She adored Zoe and wouldn't take anything for her, but by the end of the day, she was worn out and ready for a little peace and quiet. She
grabbed the remote control and flipped through the channels, stopping as she came across an old black and white movie that looked interesting. Putting the remote down, she went back to knitting.

Ryan walked into the living room. "When I got out of the car I saw that stray dog again. Is William still feeding it? Because I told him not to. I don't want that dog hanging around here."

Hope grimaced. "I've been feeding the dog. I know you told us not to, but the poor thing looks like its starving. I can't bear to see an animal go hungry."

Ryan sighed heavily. "Damn it, Hope. I don't want that dog near Zoe. Hard telling what kind of diseases it could be carrying."

Hearing her name spill from Ryan's lips gave Hope a warm feeling. It wasn't the first time he had said her name. She had gone from Ms. Landry to Hope a few weeks ago and welcomed the change. "I'll take him to the vet and have him checked out. If he gets a clean bill of health, can he stay? I will pay for his food and vet bills. You won't have to do a thing."

"All right," Ryan said, taking a seat in the armchair across from the sofa. "I expect you to clean up after it craps. I don't want to walk in the back yard and step in dog crap."

"I promise I will follow him around with a scoop and a bag," Hope said. "I think a dog would be good for Zoe. When you were a child did you have a dog?"

"No," Ryan said softly.

Hope saw sadness in his eyes and it tugged at her heart. She had a feeling Ryan's child hood hadn't been a happy one. She longed to ask him about his life, but knew if she did, he would get angry and tell her to stop prying. She wondered if she would ever truly know him. Would he always be a stranger to her? She hoped not. "I had a collie I named Jeffrey. He was run over by a car. The stupid dog was always chasing cars."

"What are you knitting?" Ryan asked.

"A scarf for Zoe," Hope answered.

"Did you have a hard time getting her to go to sleep?" Ryan asked, watching the needles in Hope's hands.

"Yes." Hope picked up the remote and turned off the television. "I read two stories to her, got her a glass of water and she still would not settle down. I think she was missing you."

"I tried to come home on time, but something kept coming up and I couldn't get away." Ryan massaged the back of his neck. "I'll check on her before I turn in."

Hope nodded. "Good because I promised her you would kiss her good night when you got home." She smiled. "She is definitely daddy's little girl."

"I'm all she has."

Hope shook her head. "Not anymore. She has me now. Maggie, William and Gordon adore her. She has us all wrapped around her finger." She set her needles and yarn aside. "I just wish Laura gave a damn. I don't understand. What mother wouldn't want her child? I would be the luckiest woman in the world if I had a daughter like Zoe."

"Laura is selfish," Ryan said. "She has no business being a mother. She came into the office earlier today."

Hope turned her head and stared at Ryan. "What did she want?"

Ryan looked into her eyes. "She wanted to talk about you. She's tired of you watching her when she's with Zoe."

"I'm just doing what you told me to do," Hope said.

"That's what I told her," Ryan muttered. "She wants me to fire you."

Hope swallowed hard. "What - what did you tell her?"

"I told her, I don't think so."

Hope went limp with relief. "Should I stay out of her way when she comes to see Zoe?"

"No," Ryan said firmly. "I want you to keep doing what you're told. You let me take care of Laura."

Hope glanced at the carpet. "She leaves me with a bad feeling."

Ryan snorted. "She leaves everyone feeling that way."

Hope gathered up her things and got to her feet. "I guess I should turn in. A little angel likes to wake me up at six-thirty sharp every morning. Are you sure she can't tell time?"

With a smirk on his face Ryan stood. "Some times I wonder about that."

Hope glanced at him and her heart knocked against her ribs. He was so close she could smell his cologne. She took a step back, cleared her throat, and prayed her voice would sound normal. "Good night, Mr. Kendall." She did her best not to grimace. She hated calling him by his last name, but she couldn't call him by his first. After all, he was her employer.

"Good night, Hope," Ryan said huskily. "Sleep well."

"You too." Her knees weak Hope hurried from the living room.