The Nanny's Christmas Wish Read online

  “Yeah,” Josh said and wondered again if having Maggie under his roof was a good plan.

  “Then I guess it’s okay to try her, Daddy.” Cody’s small face was serious. Josh hid a smile.

  “Then we will. I think she’ll be just fine.”

  “Is she gonna cook for us?”

  Josh shrugged. “She said she could but we’ll see.”

  They looked at each other for a moment, and Josh knew they were both thinking of Mrs. Herman’s practical casseroles.

  Years of casseroles.

  “No, um, cassy-oles?” Cody ventured and Josh laughed.

  “She doesn’t look like the casserole type but we’ll ask her tomorrow when she gets here just to be sure. Okay? Now let’s get you back to bed.”

  “Okay.” Cody slid off Josh’s bed. Josh followed him across the hall and tucked Cody back in. He ran a hand over the boy’s curls and Cody gave him a sleepy smile.

  “G’night, Daddy.”

  “‘Night, Code.” Josh lingered for a moment, enjoying the little rustles Cody made as he settled. Then he returned to his room, flopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

  Sleep wouldn’t come easy for him tonight.

  * * *

  Maggie pulled in the driveway of the big blue house, her car packed to the gills. Everything else had gone into storage when she sublet her apartment. That had been a bit of a risk. If this nanny position had fallen through, she’d have been up you-know-what creek without a paddle.

  At least it would be familiar territory.

  She got out of the car and hesitated in the driveway. Hired or not, it didn’t seem right to just walk in the house. Ellen burst out the front door.

  “Maggie! Oh, my goodness, let me help. Josh, come on,” she yelled over her shoulder. “Maggie’s here.” She hurried across the lawn and gave Maggie a quick hug. “Let Josh and me help you. Is this all you brought?” she asked as she opened a rear door.

  “All?” Maggie laughed. The car practically groaned under the weight of her “necessities.” The front door banged shut before she could say anything else and she turned to see Josh step out on the porch. His flannel shirt looked soft and worn with age, and his jeans held the same patina. His whiskey gaze caught hers and her traitorous pulse tripped. He gave her a half smile, strode down the steps.

  “Good morning, Ms. Thelan,” he said, his deep voice resonating in the very core of her.

  “It’s Maggie,” she said, and mentally winced at the husky element in her voice.

  “Maggie, then,” he said and looked at her with… Was that regret?

  “Josh! This box has books. Can you get it?” Ellen’s voice reached them, and he turned toward his mother.

  “Sure, Mom,” he said. Maggie went around to the other side of the car as her insides twisted. Was Josh having second thoughts about hiring her? He’d been ambivalent, she knew, but she’d hoped a few days of space would have erased his doubts.

  An hour later, she decided she’d imagined the whole thing. Josh was polite, and said no more than necessary, but she didn’t catch any more weird vibes from him. Ellen made up for it with chatter and Maggie was grateful for her warmth. Cody hovered around the edges of the activity, helping sometimes without being asked, but mostly dogging his father’s shadow. Her heart ached for the boy.

  She hoped by Monday he’d have accepted her enough that they could spend the day together comfortably.

  “Okay,” Ellen announced, placing a box on the floor by the bed. “Josh has the last one, he’s coming up behind me. Looks like you’ve made progress already,” she added, nodding to the closet where some clothes hung.

  Maggie laughed. “That’s why I leave all that stuff on hangers. Makes me feel like I’ve done a lot when actually…well, actually, I haven’t.” She sank down in a chair near the fireplace, looked around at the mess. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me.”

  Ellen waved her hand, dismissing Maggie’s thanks. “It was nothing, honey, really. Do you need any help unpacking?”

  Maggie shook her head. She wouldn’t ask for anything more even if she needed it. “No. Thanks, though. I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, then.” Ellen crossed to the door, then stopped. “You have my number if you need it on Monday? If you have any questions at all, you can call. Josh can’t always get away, but I’m usually available.”

  “I do have it. I’m sure we’ll be fine, but it’s a big comfort to know you’re there if we get stuck,” Maggie assured her. Ellen nodded.

  “Okay, then. Sorry to run, but I’m meeting a friend for dinner and it’s a good hour drive.” She left, and Maggie heard her voice in the hall before Josh came in, carrying the last of the boxes.

  “Where can I put this?” he asked.

  She waved her hand. “Anywhere’s fine. I have to go through them all anyway.”

  Josh deposited the box near the one his mother left and stood still. An awkward silence fell over the room as Maggie tried her hardest to look everywhere but at him, but her gaze kept darting back as if he were magnetic.

  “I—”

  “Do—”

  They both stopped, and he dipped his head in her direction. “You first.”

  She drew in a deep breath. “I was just going to thank you for the help,” she said. “It wasn’t necessary but I really appreciate it.”

  “No problem. Do you like pizza? You’re welcome to eat dinner with us.”

  Maggie hesitated. She needed to erect some kind of wall between her unexpected emotions and this man. On the other hand, it would be an opportunity to interact with Cody. “Will Cody mind if I join you? I don’t want to infringe on his time with you.”

  Josh shook his head. “You won’t be. It’ll be good for you to spend some time together. Any requests for toppings? Anything you can’t stand?”

  They settled the pizza question with no onions or peppers for her but anything else was fair game. Josh left the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Maggie stared at the closed door, then flopped back on the bed as the enormity of her situation began to take root.

  She’d found Cody, gotten the job she wanted so badly.

  But she’d never figured on her brother-in-law. She hadn’t counted on seeing him as an attractive man. Somehow, she needed to figure out how to ignore that while keeping her true relationship to Cody a secret from his father. A flash of guilt made her swallow hard. Would it have been better to own up to her connection to Lucy?

  No. She stood up and moved to the nearest box. The last thing she wanted was to inflict any more pain on either Josh or Cody. They’d experienced a terrible loss before Cody’s first birthday and she had no desire to open any old wounds for them. With any luck she could spend a year or so with Cody, and have enough of a relationship with the little boy that Josh would allow her to stay in his life after Cody no longer needed a nanny.

  So she’d get over this ridiculous quasi-attraction to Josh and that would be that.

  Wouldn’t it?

  So why didn’t her plan seem to be quite so simple anymore?

  Chapter Two

  Her nephew, so far, hated her.

  Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. Maggie braced her arms on the kitchen counter and let her head fall forward with a sigh. Almost lunchtime on their very first day together and Cody hadn’t spoken more than four words to her. And only then because she’d spoken to the little boy first. It would take time for him to adjust, this she knew. It didn’t bother her. Really.

  If only he wouldn’t look at her like he might a particularly freaky bug. He edged around her like he expected her to squirt something vile at any moment.

  She squared her shoulders and her resolve. She was not here in the capacity of auntie. To Cody, she was the nanny and a poor sub for Mrs. Herman at that.

  The shrill of the phone snapped Maggie back to reality. She grabbed the handset off the counter. “Hello?”

  “Maggie. It’s Josh.” Oh, Lord. Her insides did a totally unwelcome li
ttle flip. “How’s everything going there so far?”

  “Morning, Josh,” she said, glad her voice remained steady. “We’re doing just fine.” True enough. Just not the kind of fine she’d hoped for.

  “That’s good.” The relief in his voice rang in her ear. “Sorry I wasn’t there this morning,” he added. “I rotate on calls with two other docs. I usually get calls every night I’m on. Not all of them involve me having to go in to the hospital, though.”

  “It’s okay. I understand.” She prowled around the kitchen. Talking to him on the phone wasn’t much easier than doing it in person. Here he was right in her ear and she couldn’t put distance between them.

  “Is he right there?” Josh asked. “I’d like to talk to him for a minute.”

  Maggie headed for the stairs. “Of course. He’s got his trains out in his room. Hold on.”

  She called for Cody, who came running when he heard it was his dad. After a brief chat, and numerous looks slid Maggie’s way, from which she deduced the conversation was about her, Cody handed the phone to her and returned to his trains without a backward glance. She stared at his retreating form with a muffled sigh and lifted the handset to her ear.

  “Josh? Still there?” The bright note in her voice sounded false, even to her.

  “Yeah,” he said, sounding distracted. “But I have to go. My next patient is here. Give Cody time, Maggie. He’s a little shy. He’ll come around.”

  “Of course he will. We really are doing fine here, Josh,” she assured him. “I’m not worried.” Much.

  “Good. Listen, I’ll give you a call later if it looks like I’ll be late getting home.” Maggie heard a female voice in the background and the rustle of paper.

  “That’s fine. See you then.”

  “Bye.” Click.

  The dial tone sounded in her ear. Maggie stood and stared at the phone for a second before replacing it in its cradle on the wall. She released a long breath. If she couldn’t get a handle on this bizarre attraction to Josh, what would she do?

  Maggie stalked over to the fridge and yanked open the door in search of lunch for Cody. “I know exactly what I’ll do,” she muttered as she pulled out sliced turkey. “I’ll work harder to get over it.”

  She wasn’t stupid enough to fall for her boss.

  Again.

  * * *

  Josh tipped his chair back and stared at the ceiling of his office where he’d taken advantage of a few quiet moments to scarf lunch and call Maggie.

  It’s just because it’s their first day alone. It didn’t have anything to do with Maggie’s long legs or that smooth, dark hair that fell in a thick mass past her shoulders. Nothing to do with those clear blue eyes, or the wariness with which she watched him. And, of course, he wasn’t thinking about her because he was attracted to her.

  Not at all.

  She was the nanny for God’s sake.

  “Hey, Doc.” Marta, his nurse, leaned in his office. “Julie Henney’s ready in One.”

  Great. “Thanks. I’ll be right there,” he said, and let the chair legs thump forward onto the floor. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Julie Henney for an actual illness, unless he considered her inability to take a hint a sickness.

  “Everything all right?” Marta asked and Josh arched a brow.

  “Of course. Why do you ask?” Marta possessed the finely tuned radar of a protective older sister, except she was younger and not related to him at all. Well, unless he counted the fact she’d married his best friend.

  “You just seem a little distracted.”

  Josh shrugged. “No, everything’s fine. Just Cody’s first day with his new nanny, that’s all.” The truth as far as it went.

  Marta nodded and seemed to accept it. Josh struck out for Exam One, where Julie Henney waited.

  Before opening the door he grabbed her chart from the box and steeled himself. Ms. Henney had been after him for years. In fact, she’d offered him what she’d termed comfort not two months after Lucy’s death. The memory still made his stomach turn.

  The worst part? Lucy had considered Julie a good friend.

  He pushed open the door and fixed what he hoped was a neutral expression on his face. He couldn’t give an inch or she’d be all over him like he was a chocolate buffet. “Hi, Julie. What brings you here today?”

  She perched on the end of the table, her skinny legs crossed at the ankle, her skirt stopping midthigh. She’d braced on her arms, leaning forward, no doubt to be sure he’d get an eyeful of what he knew to be artificially enhanced cleavage since he’d recommended the surgeon. Bottle blond hair loose and silky on her shoulders? Check. Pout firmly in place, predatory gleam in her pale blue eyes? Double check.

  She must have broken up with her latest sugar daddy.

  “Hey, Josh.” Her voice was a throaty purr.

  “Let’s see.” He made a show of examining Marta’s few notes. “You’re here for a sore throat?”

  She shifted on the table. Probably to make sure he noticed her rack. “Yes.”

  Josh grabbed his laryngoscope and clicked it on. “Open up so I can see.”

  When he shone it down her throat—no redness, no drainage, no surprise—Julie grabbed his arm. She looped one foot around his leg and rubbed her hand on his chest. “I’m all fine now,” she murmured. “Why don’t you lock that door and ask me to open up again?”

  Hell. Josh extricated himself from her grip and stepped back. Enough was enough. He’d been polite to Julie for years, out of respect for Lucy, and this woman never got the hint. He looked her straight in the eye.

  “I’ve been nice about this for way too long,” he said, keeping his voice cool. “I’m not interested in you, Julie. I’m not interested in anything you have to offer. I think it would be best if you found another doctor.”

  She turned purple and her jaw dropped then snapped shut. She sat up straight, tugged at the hem of her skirt. “Oh, come on, Josh. I didn’t mean anything by it,” she sputtered. “What’s a little sex between friends? You’re alone, I’m alone. Lonely. Why can’t we enjoy each other?”

  Josh inhaled a deep breath and hissed it out. Damn. “I’m not interested in a relationship,” he said firmly. “Of any kind.”

  She shot up one manicured eyebrow. “I’m not looking for marriage, Josh. Are you still hung up on Lucy? She’s been gone a long time. And you’ve been alone a long time—fine,” she snapped and threw up her hands. “Fine. I get it. I’m outta here. If you change your mind—”

  “I won’t,” Josh said. “It doesn’t matter how long Lucy’s been gone. She was my wife.” Not that I was much of a husband. Josh shoved the thought and the accompanying pain away. “Do you want a recommendation for another physician?”

  She slid off the table, her skirt slipping up so it barely covered her cheeks. She tugged it back down and grabbed her purse. “No. I do not. This is your loss, Doctor.”

  She sailed out, her chin up. Relief flooded him. He turned to gather up the paperwork. He’d been willing to keep her in his life out of respect for Lucy but clearly Julie’s idea of respect and his were very different.

  “Well, looks like that went well.” Marta’s dry voice came from behind him.

  Josh turned and gave a half shrug. Actually, if it kept Julie from trying to jump him, he’d say it was a resounding success. “As well as it ever could, I guess.”

  She ripped off the paper cover on the table and began to unroll a new one. “That woman’s had her eye on you for years.”

  Josh grunted. What could he say? “She was Lucy’s friend. It just never seemed right.”

  She nodded. “You’re a good guy, Doc. You’ll find a good woman someday, too.”

  He gritted his teeth and turned on the water to wash up. “I’m not looking, Marta. You know that.” Why couldn’t people just leave him alone? Why was it so hard to believe he could be perfectly happy with just him and Cody? They were a team. They didn’t need anyone else.

  She studied him for a long mo
ment and shrugged. “Maybe not. But sometimes, Fate does the looking for you.”

  * * *

  Marta’s words rang in his ears as he drove home that night, hard as he tried to ignore them. Fate. Was it Fate that had brought Maggie to them? He’d seen the glint in his mother’s eye when he’d hired Maggie. Marta and half of Holden’s Crossing—the half that wasn’t trying to hook themselves or their single female relatives up with him—would undoubtedly have a similar look. A young, single, very attractive woman in his home. Conclusions would be drawn.

  Too damn bad. Josh flexed his hands on the steering wheel. People could think whatever they wanted. He knew the truth, was fully aware every single moment of every single day of the promise he’d made to his dead wife. No one else knew, except his best friend. He’d made his bed, so to speak, after Lucy’s death and stuck to his word for the past three years. He saw no reason to go back on it now.

  Even if he was lonely.

  Josh hissed and cranked the radio up as if the driving beat of Nickelback could squash that thought and all it implied. He’d never allowed himself to go there, to consider it. Cody was his first priority. Period.

  The brightly lit house greeted him when he pulled in the driveway and he noticed smoke curled from the chimney. In the garage he caught a whiff of dinner from the kitchen. Did he smell a roast? He chuckled as he climbed out of his SUV. No doubt Cody would be relieved that a casserole wasn’t on the menu tonight.

  Maggie stood at the sink, her back to him as he came through the connecting door. Her long, dark ponytail fell down her back and the ties of her red apron draped over her shapely rear.

  Not that it was the first place he looked or anything.

  He turned to hang his keys on the rack and weather the tide of guilt that lapped at him. Had he ever walked in and simply appreciated Lucy’s ass? No, he’d come in the house braced for a fight. Which she’d given him much more often than a smile.

  Jeez, Luce, what a mess we were.

  Maggie turned as he did. Her cheeks were flushed with the warmth of the kitchen and she offered him a quick smile.

  “Dinner’s almost ready. I just need to mash the potatoes. Cody’s washing up.” She lifted a steaming colander out of the sink and dumped it in a mixing bowl.