Marrying the Millionaire (13 page)

Dear Diary,

Richmond has hired a nanny
by the name of Kayla. Something about Kayla disturbs me, makes me
nervous. When she looks into my face, I feel like she can see
straight through me, like she knows what I did to Salina. I’m
hoping it’s my insecurities getting the best of me and I’m wrong
about her. The last thing I need is for Kayla to get curious and
start sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong—in my business. I’d
hate for her to end up like Salina—dead.

KAYLA SAT CJ ON THE couch inside her
den, then headed straight for the dresser positioned against the
wall in the hallway.

Unless Russell has a twin
with the same name as him, I know that’s him in the picture with my
grandfather.

Once she reached the table in the
hallway, she picked up the photo lying on the furniture’s surface
and brought it up to her eyes. As clear as day, her grandfather and
Russell stood side by side on a boat dock, holding fishing
rods.

Dear God, Russell lied
about knowing my grandfather. But why? Why?

Needing to get back to Richmond’s
estate so CJ and Isabelle could spend the night, Kayla folded the
photo and slid it in her back jean pocket. Once inside her bedroom,
she propped her small suitcase on the bed and started packing. Why
in the world would Russell deny knowing her grandfather? The two of
them looked like best friends in that darn photo.

She pulled open her dresser drawer,
grabbed some panties and bras, then walked back over to the bed. As
she placed her items inside her luggage, her mind traveled back to
the day her grandfather had died. She’d replayed that day over and
over inside her head on so many occasions until she remembered it
by heart, every single sordid detail. Her grandfather, the man who
raised her, had said he had something important he’d wanted to tell
her right before he’d died in that horrible car accident. ‘Til this
day, she’d always wondered what it was. She closed her suitcase and
headed for CJ’s room.

Tossing CJ’s pajamas inside the
suitcase, she couldn’t stop wondering why Russell had lied. What
was he hiding? Dear God, could Russell know what her grandfather
wanted to tell her? Could that be why he pretended as if he’d never
heard the name Leroy Van Buren before? So many questions and not a
single darn answer bothered the mess out of Kayla.

Now finished packing her overnight
bag, she gripped the handle of the luggage and rolled it down the
carpet along the hallway. Hefting CJ in her arms, she pushed open
the screen door and descended the steps. If it was the last thing
she did, Kayla was going to find out why Russell—or Big Daddy, as
he liked to be called—lied.

BACK AT THE ESTATE,
DARKNESS loomed in the sky, hovering over the brick, two story
mansion. Isabelle and CJ sat on the floor inside the den, watching
the cartoon
Peppa Pig
, while Richmond stood outside on the opened deck grilling
steaks beneath the porch light.

Unable to get her mind off Russell,
Kayla stood at the counter next to the sink, pouring sugar into a
pitcher of iced tea. Lowering the container of sugar to the marble
countertop, she hefted the spoon by her side, lowered it into the
drink, and stirred.

While I don’t know much
about Russell, I know he’s a big fat liar.

“
The steaks are done.”
Richmond’s husky voice broke Kayla’s train of thought about his
lying-behind father. She looked over her shoulder to find Richmond
entering the kitchen carrying a pan loaded with seasoned peppery
steaks, grilled corn on the cob, vegetables, and red
potatoes.

Inhaling the spicy aroma,
Kayla’s stomach growled.
I’m
starving.
“Mmm. It smells delicious. You
really didn’t have to cook for us. Thank you.”

Richmond lowered the silver pan to the
stove. “I often cook dinner for Isabelle, so it’s really no big
deal. Something I would’ve done anyways. I just hope it tastes as
good as it looks.”

“
I’m sure it will.” Kayla
walked over to stand beneath the kitchen’s arch. “CJ. Isabelle.
Dinner’s ready.”

Isabelle hopped to her feet. She
reached for CJ’s hand and helped pull him to a stand. “Come on.
Let’s go wash our hands so we can eat.”

“
I already washed my
hands,” CJ exclaimed.

Giggling, Isabelle covered her mouth.
“That was earlier today, silly,” she stated between her spread
fingers on her lips.

Kayla snickered.
Boys.
“CJ. Go wash your
hands with Isabelle, then come eat dinner.”

“
Okay, Mommy.”

Short minutes later, the four of them
sat at the dinette table inside the kitchen. After Richmond blessed
the food, Kayla lifted her head to meet his gaze. Sitting across
from him in Salina’s old spot, an uncomfortable feeling swept over
her. She felt like she had no business sitting in Salina’s chair.
Distressing over it, her rear shifted in the seat.

Kayla hefted her fork. Her
eyes traveled over the other faces joined at the table with her.
Her mind on Salina, a shadow of sadness touched her heart. God,
Salina had had it all before she got sick. Before someone had taken
her life.
Poor Salina. Poor Richmond. And
poor Isabelle.
Kayla shivered at the
thought that she’d been murdered inside this home, right inside her
bedroom.

Forcing herself to think of something
happier, Kayla carved out a piece of steak with the sharp knife,
then forked it into her mouth. Juicy flavors burst into her mouth
as she chewed the oh-so-tender meat. Speaking of tender, she
wondered if Richmond’s kisses were tender. If his touches were
tender. If his lovemaking skills were tender. Imagining the fine
specimen sitting across from her naked, moisture gathered in her
center. Wondering if his manhood was dark and thick, heat flooded
through her veins. Sex clenching, she carefully swallowed her
food.

Oh my.
She’d gotten so hot and bothered until she had to take a long
gulp of her iced tea.
Richmond would never
take a second look at me, so I need to get him off my dirty little
mind.

“
I’m glad the two of you
could join us tonight.” Richmond’s deep baritone voice straggled
around the kitchen.

“
I’m glad we could stay,
too. The steak is delicious. Very tender.”

Tenderly, his eyes seemed to melt into
hers. “I did do pretty well, if I may say so myself.” He took a
swallow of the sweet tea, then lowered his glass to the napkin. “So
tell me, Kayla…what do you like to do for fun?”

Holding up a finger, Kayla
wrapped her lips around her straw and sipped again at the sweet,
sugary tea.
Ah, delicious. Other than look
at you, let me see.
“I like to go to the
movies, ice skating, swimming, and reading. Love a good book. What
about you?”

“
Let’s see. I like
horseback riding. I enjoy breeding horses. Golfing, I enjoy that as
well. But my favorite thing to do in my spare time is to play Polo.
It’s such an active sport, and I love it.”

“
Have you ever seen a horse
born? I haven’t.” As soon as the question left her mouth, she felt
stupid for asking it. She slapped her forehead. “Of course you
have.”

“
You’re right. I
have.”

Kayla’s cell buzzed against
her chest. She pulled it from her bra and spied the Caller
ID.
Great! Carson.
Wanting to give him a dose of his own medicine, she tapped
the ignore button, sent him to voicemail, and laid the cell on the
table. She hefted the buttery corn on the cob to her lips. “So.
What were we talking about?”

“
Baby colts. If you’d like,
perhaps you can join me during the delivery of one sometime. It’s
the most amazing thing to witness. Gypsy Rose is pregnant now, and
about to deliver any day.”

Kayla’s lips hitched. “I’d love to see
the birth of a colt.”

“
Then it’s a date.”
A date.
“Um. I meant a
plan.”
Changed your mind about that date
thing rather quickly, I see.
You’re no
more ready to start dating than I’m ready to go
skydiving.

“
Oh, another thing I like
to do is skydiving.” What the hell? Had this man read her mind or
what?

After dinner, Kayla washed the dishes,
got the children a bath, and shortly thereafter the four of them
regrouped inside the den. Sitting on the floor beside Richmond with
her back resting against the sofa, she held CJ in her lap while he
held Isabelle in his.

Clenching the book
Peter Pan
in her hands,
the children listened intently as she read them a bedtime story;
however, the entire time she read to them, all she could think
about was how hot this man sitting next to her made her. Richmond’s
close proximity to her drove her mad. Made her hotter than burning
fire. Overcome with heady arousal, Kayla’s mouth watered. So much
so, she felt like she could drool any moment now.

Isabelle lay her head on her father’s
chest. “Can people really fly, Daddy?”

“
No, Pumpkin. Only in fairy
tales.”

CJ pointed at the blue cast encasing
his arm. “No. No. Flying off the toilet.” His remark caused
everyone to laugh.

“
All right, you two, it’s
time for bed.” Richmond stood. “I’m going to put her to bed. You
two make yourself at home. Let me know if you need
anything.”

“
Thanks. I’m putting CJ to
bed, too.” Following Richmond up the staircase, Kayla tugged CJ’s
hand, then entered the guest bedroom at the other end of the
hallway opposite Salina’s old room. She turned back the covers on
the bed, laid CJ down, then pulled the covers up to his
chin.

Rubbing her fingers over his hair, she
gazed at his brown, round face and his adorable brown eyes. Such a
cute kid. Hopefully, one day Carson would find it in his heart to
spend more time with him.

“
Sleep tight.” She bent
over to kiss his forehead.

Fisting the linen, CJ squeezed his
eyes shut. “Night. Night.”

Kayla entered the bathroom inside the
guest room and turned on the shower. Steam billowed toward the
ceiling as she stood over the sink brushing her teeth. Standing in
front of the mirror, she pulled her hair on top of her head into a
high ponytail. Ready to indulge in a long, hot shower, she pulled
open the pantry to find it empty. Remembering she’d used the last
wash cloth and towel on CJ, she grimaced. Dang, she didn’t have
anything to bathe with.

Kayla jogged down the staircase and
rounded the corner off the den. Wanting to borrow a clean towel and
wash cloth from Richmond, she walked down a long, narrow hallway
and headed toward his bedroom, tucked in the rear corner
downstairs.

When she reached his bedroom, the door
was open, so she walked in.

“
Richmond,” she said
softly, walking further inside.

Richmond stalked from his closet butt
naked. Shocked to see her, he jumped. “Kayla!”

Kayla’s breath caught in
her throat. Starting with his rock solid chest, her eyes lowered to
his dark, thick shaft stretching long against his toned
thigh.
OhmyfreakingGod
. His big rod hung like the horses he bred.

Electricity surged through
Kayla’s veins. Her heart palpitated in her chest. She slapped her
hands over her eyes, then whirled. “I’m sorry.” Keeping her face
covered and her back to him, she fled from the room belonging to
the sexiest masculine man she’d ever laid eyes
on—
Richmond beast-of-a-cock
Spaulding.

Embarrassed as hell, Kayla
jogged up the stairs. Unable to concentrate, she turned left when
she reached the top of the stairs and hustled down the
hallway.
I saw his penis. Ohmygod.
Ohmygod. It’s big. Huge.

Reaching the end of the hallway, she
grasped the door knob and flung open the door. A big black Doberman
Pinscher sitting on the bed leapt from the mattress and began
charging in her direction. Kayla’s heart spiraled.

Oh crap, wrong room! This
is Salina’s bedroom!