There was more to Maddie Adams than he knew.
Lyle quirked a brow and softly confided to Marco in a whisper. ‘I know she’s good. Why do you think I clung on fast? My son needs someone extra special. He lost his mother recently.’
Marco’s eyes glittered in response. ‘I sense you’ll be good for each other. Look after her for me, Lyle. She’s special.’
‘Unconditionally,’ Lyle solemnly stated. ‘Rest assured.’
Some minutes later Marco helped Josh put his prized pizza in a large box, and Maddie approached his table. ‘Job done. I think he’s enjoyed himself.’
‘I have too. Thanks for bringing us here. If your uncle needs you on Saturday, I’m more than happy to oblige – never hesitate to ask me if you need flexibility. You’ll probably be keen for space from us by the weekend.’
Maddie quirked her lip and teased. ‘I don’t need to escape – well, not Josh. You on the other hand … ’
Lyle reached out to fake-push her arm. ‘Hey, the cupboard locking incident is still on record. Tread with care; I might just lock you somewhere myself.’
‘You could try. But I’m pretty nimble.’ Her look was provocative, cocky.
‘Saying I’m not?’ Lyle jutted his chin in challenge. ‘Want to test me? You caught me off guard that day. Next time I’ll be primed as a contender.’
Maddie stifled a bubbling grin. ‘No need to bluff, boss. But even if you did manage to lock me in a cupboard I’d figure out a way to fox you. I’m a nanny; one step ahead is my code of conduct.’
Lyle raised a brow. ‘Really? I’ll hold you to that sometime.’
A blush rose at speed along her cheekbones. Lyle was as intrigued by it as he was upended that together they were both riding a mini-flirtwave without thinking through the implications. Lyle stepped closer, opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped. How could he explain his own flirtation offensive when he didn’t understand it himself?
Marco approached with boy and pizza. Now was not the time to banter and spar with his nanny just because it was like a fix he couldn’t stand to walk away from.
‘Why don’t you come on Saturday, Lyle?’ Marco asked him. ‘It’s a few business colleagues gathering together. Come and network. You’re an Edinburgh businessman yourself.’
Lyle nodded vigorously. ‘As long as I’m not intruding.’
Marco laughed. ‘A new handsome business owner appearing out of nowhere. The female committee members will adore me.’
‘I look forward to it.’
‘So what’s next on the agenda?’ Marco asked rubbing his hands together. It was only then, when Lyle glanced at Maddie, that he noticed the creases on her brow. Had he caused those? Had he been so overzealous with Marco he’d failed to figure Maddie’s take?
If she had a problem, he’d step back, no matter how much he wanted Marco’s input. Part of his brain zoomed around the possibilities and a tiny flicker of awareness sparked – why did he find it so easy to accept Marco’s help, when he’d railed against early intervention by his niece?
Easy answer: strictly business, no hormones involved. Marco Bonafonte didn’t bring hot looks and potent attraction. But if Maddie had a problem with him, better to broach it.
Lyle pulled her to one side and hushed his voice. ‘About coming on Saturday, I don’t want to barge my way into your private life. I’m your boss and it’s not fair to make assumptions.’
Maddie shook her head but it still didn’t convince him. Her eyes grazed up his body, then met his full on. ‘Uncle Marco made the invitation.’
‘But I won’t accept if you feel I’m hijacking your free time.’ He stared into those pool deep blues.
Lyle pulled himself together; there was so much he could explain but wouldn’t. He knew how feeling squeezed out and compromised felt. He’d often been commandeered into uncomfortable situations by Josh’s mother. Especially over contact time; Becca had enjoyed her ‘maternal’
Lyle quirked a brow and softly confided to Marco in a whisper. ‘I know she’s good. Why do you think I clung on fast? My son needs someone extra special. He lost his mother recently.’
Marco’s eyes glittered in response. ‘I sense you’ll be good for each other. Look after her for me, Lyle. She’s special.’
‘Unconditionally,’ Lyle solemnly stated. ‘Rest assured.’
Some minutes later Marco helped Josh put his prized pizza in a large box, and Maddie approached his table. ‘Job done. I think he’s enjoyed himself.’
‘I have too. Thanks for bringing us here. If your uncle needs you on Saturday, I’m more than happy to oblige – never hesitate to ask me if you need flexibility. You’ll probably be keen for space from us by the weekend.’
Maddie quirked her lip and teased. ‘I don’t need to escape – well, not Josh. You on the other hand … ’
Lyle reached out to fake-push her arm. ‘Hey, the cupboard locking incident is still on record. Tread with care; I might just lock you somewhere myself.’
‘You could try. But I’m pretty nimble.’ Her look was provocative, cocky.
‘Saying I’m not?’ Lyle jutted his chin in challenge. ‘Want to test me? You caught me off guard that day. Next time I’ll be primed as a contender.’
Maddie stifled a bubbling grin. ‘No need to bluff, boss. But even if you did manage to lock me in a cupboard I’d figure out a way to fox you. I’m a nanny; one step ahead is my code of conduct.’
Lyle raised a brow. ‘Really? I’ll hold you to that sometime.’
A blush rose at speed along her cheekbones. Lyle was as intrigued by it as he was upended that together they were both riding a mini-flirtwave without thinking through the implications. Lyle stepped closer, opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped. How could he explain his own flirtation offensive when he didn’t understand it himself?
Marco approached with boy and pizza. Now was not the time to banter and spar with his nanny just because it was like a fix he couldn’t stand to walk away from.
‘Why don’t you come on Saturday, Lyle?’ Marco asked him. ‘It’s a few business colleagues gathering together. Come and network. You’re an Edinburgh businessman yourself.’
Lyle nodded vigorously. ‘As long as I’m not intruding.’
Marco laughed. ‘A new handsome business owner appearing out of nowhere. The female committee members will adore me.’
‘I look forward to it.’
‘So what’s next on the agenda?’ Marco asked rubbing his hands together. It was only then, when Lyle glanced at Maddie, that he noticed the creases on her brow. Had he caused those? Had he been so overzealous with Marco he’d failed to figure Maddie’s take?
If she had a problem, he’d step back, no matter how much he wanted Marco’s input. Part of his brain zoomed around the possibilities and a tiny flicker of awareness sparked – why did he find it so easy to accept Marco’s help, when he’d railed against early intervention by his niece?
Easy answer: strictly business, no hormones involved. Marco Bonafonte didn’t bring hot looks and potent attraction. But if Maddie had a problem with him, better to broach it.
Lyle pulled her to one side and hushed his voice. ‘About coming on Saturday, I don’t want to barge my way into your private life. I’m your boss and it’s not fair to make assumptions.’
Maddie shook her head but it still didn’t convince him. Her eyes grazed up his body, then met his full on. ‘Uncle Marco made the invitation.’
‘But I won’t accept if you feel I’m hijacking your free time.’ He stared into those pool deep blues.
Lyle pulled himself together; there was so much he could explain but wouldn’t. He knew how feeling squeezed out and compromised felt. He’d often been commandeered into uncomfortable situations by Josh’s mother. Especially over contact time; Becca had enjoyed her ‘maternal’
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