Then Came You (The Wilde Sisters #2) (5 page)

It was the woman. The elegant blonde with the honest face. She stood over her, blocking the sun from Thyme’s eyes, and smiled.

“I noticed your little girl yesterday at The Green Sands. She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Thyme sat up and suddenly felt self-conscious in her two-piece bathing suit. It wasn’t as revealing as some of the other women’s on the beach, she was here as a nanny after all, but compared to the tall, thin woman, she felt like a beached whale.

“Mind if I join you?” Dressed in some sort of white, flowy number and over-sized white sun hat, the woman sat on the lounge chair Thyme had reserved for Maddie.

“Uh, sure.”

Thyme’s sunglasses did nothing to shield her from the glare of the enormous rock on the classy lady’s left hand.
Bastard.
Older woman
and
she was married. Why did Thyme always fall for such jerks?

Not that she fell for Grayson. Possibly was falling. Definitely not fell.

“What’s her name?”

“Hmm? What?”

“Your daughter. What’s her name?”

“Oh, she’s not…I’m her nanny. Her, uh, name is Maddie. Madeline, but she goes by Maddie.”

“Ah, I see.” The fashionable glasses couldn’t hide the honest glow emanating from her face.

Thyme wasn’t the type of person to get nervous around others, but this woman was intimidating with her toned arms, even tan, huge rock, and genuine smile. Damn, she didn’t want to like her.

“How long have you been a nanny?” She watched Maddie play with the other girls with such appreciation and…joy. It was sweet. And a little weird.

Uh oh. Did the woman have children? Was she trying to scope out Thyme to be her nanny? No way in hell would she nanny Grayson’s mistress’s kids. Thyme was all for fun and sowing her wild oats, but she’d never condone infidelity.

“It’s actually my first time being a nanny. We’re just here for a little vacation. Maddie’s father is working down here right now.” Crap. Did she say too much? Would Cougarmama—on closer inspection the woman had to have a decade on Grayson, maybe—know who Maddie’s father was? It would serve her right.

“Oh? What does he do?”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but is there a reason why you’re interested in Maddie?” Thyme shifted in her seat, tempted to grab Maddie and shield her from Grayson’s twisted love life.

The woman ran her hands down her legs, which were draped in white chiffon flowy type pants, and tilted her head to study Thyme. She should have felt creeped out, but the woman seemed so…nice. She smiled brightly and folded her hands in her lap. “Maddie reminds me of myself as a little girl. I guess I got a little nostalgic. My son seems to have an aversion to marriage and I fear I’ll never be a grandmother.”

Thyme snorted. “You’re what, forty? Your son is probably barely old enough to even be thinking about marriage and children.”

The nice woman—Thyme decided to drop the Cougarmama name—beamed. “I knew I’d like you. No, my son is in his thirties and I’m…well, I’m not forty. But thank you.”

“Wow. Mother Nature has been kind to you. When you’re not busy I’d love to swap skin care secrets. Actually, I have none to swap. I’m a Dove soap kind of girl. Wash and go. Whatever you’ve done over the years is definitely worth every penny.”

“I’d love that. You’re…refreshing. Not like the women I normally talk with.”

“Um, thank you?” Why was Thyme being polite to the woman who had obviously taken Grayson’s time away from Maddie?

“Yes.” She laughed. “You’re welcome. If my son wasn’t tired of his grandmother’s matchmaking, I’d definitely introduce you two. But Grayson has been extremely busy with his latest project.”

Thyme nearly lost her lunch. Grayson? Cougarmama-turned-Nice-Woman was Grayson’s
mom?
No wonder they were cozy, hopefully not in an Oedipus way.

And then it struck her. The resemblance was remarkable. Moreso than to Grayson. Maddie was the spitting image of her…grandmother. No wonder the woman was drawn to her. Wow. And Thyme would bet her fancy suite that Grandma had no idea she was a grandma.

Not sure how to play her cards, Thyme decided to probe.

“So, your son Grayson. He lives here?”

“No, he lives in New York. He’s working on the hotel I saw you at earlier. It’s been the death of him. I’m so proud of him for pursuing his dream and branching off on his own. Hopefully in a few weeks he’ll have everything under control and be able to take some time off.”

“And you’ll put your matchmaking skills to the test then? Not that I’m interested,” Thyme quickly added.

“Oh, no. I promised him after Angelica that I’d keep my mouth closed when it came to women.”

“It’s a little late in our conversation, but I realized I never caught your name.” Like her son, she too got lost in the Maddie moment and forgot to introduce herself.

“Oh, dear. I’m sorry for being so rude. Your little girl, Maddie, just made me lose all my manners. I’m Eva. Eva Montgomery.” She held out her dainty hand and Thyme reached out to shake it.

Firm, yet soft. Strong, yet gentle. Yup. Definitely a Montgomery.

“Thyme Wilde. A pleasure.”

“Thyme? What an unusual and pretty name.”

“My parents are total hippies. My oldest sister is Sage, the middle sis is Rayne, and I’m Thyme. The ‘rents are pretty one with earth.”

“Well, those are lovely, unique names. If I had a daughter I was going to name her Isabelle. I always thought it was so elegant and beautiful.”

Eva seemed to be lost in her thoughts once again as she watched Maddie and two other girls giggle and splash in the water. Returning her focus to Thyme, she asked, “And where are you two from, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Maine. It’s really beautiful there but I don’t miss it at the moment. I’ll take January in Aruba any day. Summers, however, can’t be beat in Maine. We have beautiful lakes, mountains, and the ocean. The air is so fresh. And fall. Nothing is as gorgeous as New England in the fall.” Thyme blushed. “Listen to me. I sound like a tourism guide.”

“It sounds lovely.” Eva laughed. “I’ve actually never been to Maine. I’ll have to look you up if I visit so you can tell me all the sights to see.”

Oh, how about Aster Lane where your granddaughter lives?

“I’m going to be late for my massage.” Eva stood and adjusted her hat. “Thank you for letting me intrude on your afternoon. I enjoyed watching Maddie play. I hope you enjoy your stay in Aruba.”

“Sure. Anytime. We’re staying at the Montgomery Resort. Maybe we’ll see you around,” Thyme threw in for good measure.

“Oh. I’m staying there too.”

Ha! She knew it. “What a coincidence. I’m sure we’ll run into each other. Maddie and I will be here for another week.”

“I look forward to our future encounter. It was absolutely lovely meeting you, Thyme. Maybe next time I’ll get to play with Maddie. I can take her swimming. With your permission, of course. I’d love to play in the pool but without any children around I’d look a tad foolish.”

Thyme couldn’t imagine Eva ever looking foolish.

“She’d love that. I’m sure she’s getting bored with my company. She was thrilled to meet some kids her age today. No offense. She loves adults too.”
Like your son.
Maddie instantly bonded with him, and would surely do the same with her grandmother.

All she needed to do now was convince Grayson to tell his family about his little girl.

***

The smell of freshly washed girl still lingered in the air hours after Maddie’s bath. The hot Aruba sun tuckered her out so easily. It was actually the best medicine for her grief. Back in Maine Maddie often struggled going to sleep, the emptiness her parents’ death made in her heart giving her insomnia nearly every night. Whether it was tears, slap-happy giggling, or constant drinks of water, there seemed to be a reason every night why Maddie needed Thyme to stay with her longer than usual at bedtime.

And Thyme didn’t mind. Caring for the little orphan was her number one priority. And she found she was actually good at it.

Thyme went to her room, took off her constraining bra, and changed into a tank top and boy shorts. The breeze off the ocean whispered through the suite, making the sheer curtains billow in the light wind. So romantic.

As if.

She strolled to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of wine, and washed the dinner dishes. The task she most hated growing up relaxed her now. Hands submerged in hot, soapy water while the breeze from the Caribbean tickled her neck made her feel wistful, wishing there was a man to talk with, lean on, hold her.

Starting a family had never been on her radar. Rayne’s radar, yes. Thyme’s older sister never made a secret of her longing to be mom. A wife. Have the white picket fence deal. And Sage had made it quite clear that she wanted nothing to do with anything involving settling down. Career orientated was putting it mildly.

Thyme had never made dreams and goals of her own, instead keeping up with her sisters and filling in when they needed her. Sage had pushed for Thyme to make long-term plans but nothing ever interested her. She loved dating men, the first date, first kiss thrill. However, the guys she dated didn’t thrill her anymore. They were losers. Or maybe it was Thyme that attracted the losers. Men who had no ambitions in life.

Just like her.

Sipping her wine, she turned to look out at the ocean. A couple holding hands walked the beach in the distance. It made her wish she had her own family instead of this pretend one she was forced into. Not that she was complaining. The Davenports treated her well, personally and financially, in life and…death. If Grayson Montgomery hadn’t come along she’d have met with the attorney to inquire about adopting the precious girl. Or at least being her legal guardian.

But Grayson Montgomery
did
come along.

Bastard.

And he totally, completely, one hundred percent ditched his poor, grieving daughter to play Pass the Bimbo in Aruba.

Okay, maybe that wasn’t entirely accurate. Eva Montgomery definitely wasn’t a bimbo. And Bethany Davenport had been no bimbo either. So what was the draw? Why did a happily married woman fall into the clutches of a man fifteen years her junior?

Was it his money? No, the Davenports lived a very comfortable life. Maybe not Montgomery rich, but high class for Maine.

Was it his body? He sure did wear his suits well. Obviously custom made—not that she knew exactly what that meant, but they fit his body too perfectly to be off a rack—and soft to the touch. Yeah, she stooped that low. Copped a feel of his…fabric…while at the library last week. Her hands nearly got away from her and grabbed his perfectly tight butt, but they stayed north and caressed his high-thread count button-down instead.

And they may have accidentally brushed his leg. Maybe both legs. But it was just to check out the material. Not to see if his thighs were as powerful as they appeared to be under his tailored slacks.

Or maybe Bethany was drawn to his eyes. When Thyme first met him they looked like the Caribbean. Yesterday they filled with surprise and…pity? They were dark, the green swirling around with cobalt blue. She imagined how dark they’d turn in the heat of passion. Whether that be anger or…woah. It was getting hot in here.

Thyme rinsed the last pot and set it on the counter to dry. Picking up her wine glass, she sipped the cold, pale liquid as she walked to the patio. Maybe a soak in the hot tub would clear her mind. She stripped out of her tank top and shorts and lowered herself into the warm, bubbly water.

It wasn’t long before the sound of the crashing waves lulled her to sleep.

***

Grayson

It was nearly nine at night before Grayson could pull himself away from the hotel. Thankfully his father hadn’t joined his mother during her impromptu visit. Richard Montgomery had been a fairly easygoing father, but he’d pushed—subtly—Grayson into following his footsteps. It was either that or fall into his grandmother’s company. And while Grayson didn’t mind wearing the finest clothes, he had a problem working in the fashion world for the rest of his life.

Choosing the lesser of two evils, he studied architecture and found he really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t the steel and concrete buildings that had his imagination up all night. Grayson liked the challenge of making something from nothing, having a strict budget and creating a beautiful home or building with the bare necessities. That, in his opinion, was true talent. However, the clients who hired Montgomery Designs had copious amounts of money and wanted their buildings to outstand, outshine, and outlast the competition. They cared more about one-upping their competition and not one bit about the environment or the people involved in the project.

When Grayson realized he had become a product of the obnoxious elite, he stopped in his tracks and spent the five hours a day he wasn’t working researching and designing economical and environmentally friendly buildings.

The more others told him it couldn’t be done, the harder he worked. The Green Sands Resort was his pet project. His proof that beauty and class didn’t have to cost a lot.