the door to the room she’d been standing in and had just stared up at her. Sean and Christina Harper had the bluest eyes she had ever seen, reminding her so much of their father’s eyes. Their honey-blonde hair was similar in color to their mothers and their chipmunk cheeks had been begging to be pinched and kissed. She’d fallen in love with both of them almost instantly.
Squatting down to be on their level, she’d reached out her hand. “Hey, sweetie. My name is Cherie, can you say Cherie?” Watching Sean and Christina eye her with cautionary glances, she’d waited patiently for them to decide if they would like her or not. She wouldn’t rush them. She’d known waiting would be a necessary part of gaining the children’s trust and she really wanted to gain theirs.
Just that quickly, Cherie had made a decision. They would need her; and if she’d been honest with herself, she’d need them just as badly. Finally, Sean had taken a tentative step towards her on short, chubby, but very sturdy-looking legs. On the way, he’d picked up one of the many toys on the floor, a stuffed bear with a missing eye and one arm hanging limply to the side. It had definitely been a wellloved teddy. He’d handed her the toy and waited until she’d grabbed it. “Nice bear. What’s his name?”
As she was speaking to Sean, he’d turned around to grab his sister. Tugging her hand, he’d helped her walk back over to Cherie and stood in front of her squatting form. “Stay wif us. Pway wif us.” Reaching for her hand, Sean had pulled her behind him and Christina and led her to the pile of toys at the side of the room.
Chapter Two
“Uhm, Ms. Gilbert?”
With a start, Cherie had realized she had inexplicably forgotten about Mr. Harper. The man truly was unforgettable with a body to die for and sexy bedroom eyes. It had proved that his children were simply irresistible to her and that she belonged here with them.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. They are just adorable and I couldn’t say no. Is it okay if I play with them for just a bit?”
“Uh, sure. I’m just surprised. They don’t usually take to anyone so quickly. You can’t imagine how many potential nannies have come to the house and the kids have run screaming in the other direction. They haven’t slowed down for five minutes today and now look at them.”
Sitting down in a chair across from Cherie and the kids, he’d simply watched while they’d played. He’d asked a question every once in a while about her background and experience. She’d asked him questions in return about the children’s routines, likes and dislikes. After about two hours of conversation, she’d noted the time and had discovered this had been the most relaxing interview she’d ever had. The children had been curled in her lap, one on each side, while she’d been sitting on the floor and leaning against a chair, caressing their soft, silky hair.
“Cherie, how did you do it? You have no idea how difficult it is for me to put them down for a nap. You must have a magic touch with children.” Smiling inside, she’d realized they had already reached first-name basis. Her insides had fluttered upon hearing her name flow from his lips.
Looking down at the children and then up at Rick, she’d shrugged and smiled. “I love children. I always have. They are the innocents of the world and all they want is someone to love them. I can do that. It doesn’t matter that they’re not my children. I’ll take care of them and cherish them as if they were my own.”
Cherie came back to the present when she felt tears streaming down her face. Wiping her eyes and looking around her room, she knew she couldn’t do it anymore. She loved those two children so much. She couldn’t see her life without them in it.
And their father…well, he had broken her heart for the last time. After that first day, he had checked her references, such as they were, and she had interviewed with the other members of the household.
Squatting down to be on their level, she’d reached out her hand. “Hey, sweetie. My name is Cherie, can you say Cherie?” Watching Sean and Christina eye her with cautionary glances, she’d waited patiently for them to decide if they would like her or not. She wouldn’t rush them. She’d known waiting would be a necessary part of gaining the children’s trust and she really wanted to gain theirs.
Just that quickly, Cherie had made a decision. They would need her; and if she’d been honest with herself, she’d need them just as badly. Finally, Sean had taken a tentative step towards her on short, chubby, but very sturdy-looking legs. On the way, he’d picked up one of the many toys on the floor, a stuffed bear with a missing eye and one arm hanging limply to the side. It had definitely been a wellloved teddy. He’d handed her the toy and waited until she’d grabbed it. “Nice bear. What’s his name?”
As she was speaking to Sean, he’d turned around to grab his sister. Tugging her hand, he’d helped her walk back over to Cherie and stood in front of her squatting form. “Stay wif us. Pway wif us.” Reaching for her hand, Sean had pulled her behind him and Christina and led her to the pile of toys at the side of the room.
Chapter Two
“Uhm, Ms. Gilbert?”
With a start, Cherie had realized she had inexplicably forgotten about Mr. Harper. The man truly was unforgettable with a body to die for and sexy bedroom eyes. It had proved that his children were simply irresistible to her and that she belonged here with them.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. They are just adorable and I couldn’t say no. Is it okay if I play with them for just a bit?”
“Uh, sure. I’m just surprised. They don’t usually take to anyone so quickly. You can’t imagine how many potential nannies have come to the house and the kids have run screaming in the other direction. They haven’t slowed down for five minutes today and now look at them.”
Sitting down in a chair across from Cherie and the kids, he’d simply watched while they’d played. He’d asked a question every once in a while about her background and experience. She’d asked him questions in return about the children’s routines, likes and dislikes. After about two hours of conversation, she’d noted the time and had discovered this had been the most relaxing interview she’d ever had. The children had been curled in her lap, one on each side, while she’d been sitting on the floor and leaning against a chair, caressing their soft, silky hair.
“Cherie, how did you do it? You have no idea how difficult it is for me to put them down for a nap. You must have a magic touch with children.” Smiling inside, she’d realized they had already reached first-name basis. Her insides had fluttered upon hearing her name flow from his lips.
Looking down at the children and then up at Rick, she’d shrugged and smiled. “I love children. I always have. They are the innocents of the world and all they want is someone to love them. I can do that. It doesn’t matter that they’re not my children. I’ll take care of them and cherish them as if they were my own.”
Cherie came back to the present when she felt tears streaming down her face. Wiping her eyes and looking around her room, she knew she couldn’t do it anymore. She loved those two children so much. She couldn’t see her life without them in it.
And their father…well, he had broken her heart for the last time. After that first day, he had checked her references, such as they were, and she had interviewed with the other members of the household.
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