“Long story.” I waved my hand in dismissal.
“Hmm.” He studied me for a while then shook his head. “If something is going on here, I need to know. As your boss, of course.”
“Okay. It’s nothing bad. I don’t think. It’s just awkwardbecause our dad sort of moved in with my mom when he was still married to Louisa’s mom. And, well, even now after twenty-five years, people still talk about how Louisa and I are the same age.” I adjusted Joey on my hip and fixed his hat. Anything to keep from having to meet Declan’s inquisitive look.
“I see. I think I remember now.” He scratched the stubble on his jaw. “You were hoping that at some point during your tenure at Windsor Holdings you’d run into her and become BFFs.”
Of course, it sounded like a ridiculous idea when he said it like that. “Yeah, that had been my plan until you decided to fire me.”
“I hired you back.”
“As your nanny.”
“Hmmm.” He chuckled.
The raspy sound implied something kinky. Or maybe that was just me and my overactive imagination when it came to Declan.
“Well, she’s here shopping for baby clothes. Why don’t you join her?”
“I can’t.”
“This is synchronicity at its best.”
“What?”
“You know when you ask the universe for something and then the universe delivers.”
“I know what it means. I’m just surprised you know.”
“You’re only shocked because you don’t know me.” His features softened, and then, he smiled.
Jeez.
I swore the temperature in the room wentup several degrees. Sweat beads gathered in the back of my neck. I shook my head to clear my thoughts before the usual images flooded my mind.
“We should go.” I pulled at his sleeve.
“You wanted time with your half-sister. It’s here. Take it.” He gestured toward Louisa and the bouncy baby in her arms. “Babies are an excellent topic of conversation.”
“I’m not ready. I honestly wasn’t expecting for the universe to deliver so fast.” I stepped toward the end of the aisle to find Louisa at the same time Declan shuffled toward me. If it weren’t for Joey, I would’ve landed in his arms.
“We can stay back here until she leaves, if you’d like.”
“Thank you.” I shifted my body away from him. “We do need a playpen, too.” I busied myself reading the small pamphlet attached to the display.
“She’s coming this way. Let’s go check the clearance rack.” He grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me toward him.
I had to practically run to keep up with him while still holding Joey in my arms. “Shhh.” I kissed Joey’s head to get him to quiet down. He found the entire thing incredibly amusing and exciting.
Declan was right. I didn’t know him at all because I never would’ve guessed that my broody boss could also be fun. “Try this on.” He grabbed a beach hat that was way too small for me and rammed it on top of my head so it covered my face. He toyed with the strings while he kept his gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder.
“There’s no way she hasn’t seen us.” I chuckled, swatting the ties away from my eyes.
Playing hide and seek in a baby store wasn’t how I thought my first week with Declan would go.
“Maybe she’s feeling scared.” He smirked at me. “Same as you.”
“What? To talk to me? You think she’s ignoring me?” We’d gotten very good at that when we were in school. It was better to pretend we didn’t exist. I glanced over at Louisa. She seemed so happy and completely unaware of her surroundings. No way she was afraid to face me. I simply didn’t exist for her. And why would I? She was living her best life. “Just in case, let’s go check out the diaper pails.”
