old enough now to go, too.”
There was an awkward pause as he tried to figure out how to say what he wanted to say. “The thing is, Sam called today and asked if I had thought about reinstating the tradition. It wasn’t possible when Anne was taking care of the boys. She could never handle four of them. Not sure too many people would want to, actually.”
“But you’d like me to,” she finished for him. “I’d love it.”
“You’d take on all four of them for two weeks?”
“If your nephews are anything like your sons, it won’t be a problem.”
“Actually, they’re a bit older. Maybe a bit more civilized. And they wouldn’t be with you all day. Usually in the summer, the boys help me all morning and aren’t around the house until after lunch. So, if you’re sure...”
“I am.”
“Thank you. I’ll call Sam and tell him it’s a go. Of course your pay will increase the two weeks Sammy and Jack are here.”
“Your brother named his sons for the two of you?”
“Yeah, gets a little complicated when we’re all together, but it was an honor. Anyway, I’ll increase your pay for those two weeks and give you vacation with pay the two weeks Lucas and Daniel are gone.”
“That’s way too generous, Jack. I can’t take two whole weeks off and expect you to pay me.”
“No, it’s not. You’ll earn it, believe me, with four boys here.”
“How about I work half time while they’re in Portland?”
“Two days a week with pay for all five. And I’ll make sure you get overtime pay for tonight, too.”
“Please, I don’t want to be paid for tonight. I stayed because I wanted to. And staying here for dinner meant I didn’t have to go home and cook.” She put her hand up as if to ward off the money.
He captured it with both of his. It was a big mistake. He hadn’t counted on his body’s reaction to touching her. Completely inappropriate thoughts crowded his mind. Like what it would be like to touch her cheek or kiss her luscious pink lips. What her body would feel like pressed against his.
He felt the warmth of the hand he held and wanted to hold it for a good long time. He knew he needed to back off. He couldn’t just drop her hand like a rock, though. So he made a clumsy attempt to turn their connection into a handshake. It didn’t work.
Quanna tried to untangle their hands but that made it even more awkward, which seemed to embarrass her, if her slight blush was any indication. To cover his inept gesture, he continued the talk of salary. “We can negotiate pay later. Thanks for agreeing to the change in plans for the summer. You’re invaluable around here.”
“Thanks. Again.” She withdrew her hand and opened her car door.
He watched her drive away, shaking his head after he was sure she couldn’t see him anymore, wondering how the hell it had gotten so difficult to talk to an employee. A beautiful, smart, sexy, and totally entrancing employee.
Dear God, he was in over his head.
Chapter 6
After the essay-writing evening, at least once a week, one of the boys, usually Lucas, came up with a reason for Quanna to stay for dinner. As time went on, it became almost routine for her to be there once or twice a week. The issue of overtime pay got settled the way she wanted it: she had no intention of being paid for a social evening and a good meal.
There was no repeat of the hand-holding incident, for which Quanna was grateful. Sort of. She had loved the feel of his hand, loved the look in his eyes when he told her how much she was appreciated. It had become her favorite just-before-sleep thought. One that usually guaranteed lovely dreams. She knew she was embarking on the slipperiest of slopes, fantasizing about Jack, spending free time with the three of them, but she loved being around the three Richardsons so much she was willing to try to keep her balance.
With the arrival of summer came changes in Quanna’s routine with the boys. First, they were around more every day, and
There was an awkward pause as he tried to figure out how to say what he wanted to say. “The thing is, Sam called today and asked if I had thought about reinstating the tradition. It wasn’t possible when Anne was taking care of the boys. She could never handle four of them. Not sure too many people would want to, actually.”
“But you’d like me to,” she finished for him. “I’d love it.”
“You’d take on all four of them for two weeks?”
“If your nephews are anything like your sons, it won’t be a problem.”
“Actually, they’re a bit older. Maybe a bit more civilized. And they wouldn’t be with you all day. Usually in the summer, the boys help me all morning and aren’t around the house until after lunch. So, if you’re sure...”
“I am.”
“Thank you. I’ll call Sam and tell him it’s a go. Of course your pay will increase the two weeks Sammy and Jack are here.”
“Your brother named his sons for the two of you?”
“Yeah, gets a little complicated when we’re all together, but it was an honor. Anyway, I’ll increase your pay for those two weeks and give you vacation with pay the two weeks Lucas and Daniel are gone.”
“That’s way too generous, Jack. I can’t take two whole weeks off and expect you to pay me.”
“No, it’s not. You’ll earn it, believe me, with four boys here.”
“How about I work half time while they’re in Portland?”
“Two days a week with pay for all five. And I’ll make sure you get overtime pay for tonight, too.”
“Please, I don’t want to be paid for tonight. I stayed because I wanted to. And staying here for dinner meant I didn’t have to go home and cook.” She put her hand up as if to ward off the money.
He captured it with both of his. It was a big mistake. He hadn’t counted on his body’s reaction to touching her. Completely inappropriate thoughts crowded his mind. Like what it would be like to touch her cheek or kiss her luscious pink lips. What her body would feel like pressed against his.
He felt the warmth of the hand he held and wanted to hold it for a good long time. He knew he needed to back off. He couldn’t just drop her hand like a rock, though. So he made a clumsy attempt to turn their connection into a handshake. It didn’t work.
Quanna tried to untangle their hands but that made it even more awkward, which seemed to embarrass her, if her slight blush was any indication. To cover his inept gesture, he continued the talk of salary. “We can negotiate pay later. Thanks for agreeing to the change in plans for the summer. You’re invaluable around here.”
“Thanks. Again.” She withdrew her hand and opened her car door.
He watched her drive away, shaking his head after he was sure she couldn’t see him anymore, wondering how the hell it had gotten so difficult to talk to an employee. A beautiful, smart, sexy, and totally entrancing employee.
Dear God, he was in over his head.
Chapter 6
After the essay-writing evening, at least once a week, one of the boys, usually Lucas, came up with a reason for Quanna to stay for dinner. As time went on, it became almost routine for her to be there once or twice a week. The issue of overtime pay got settled the way she wanted it: she had no intention of being paid for a social evening and a good meal.
There was no repeat of the hand-holding incident, for which Quanna was grateful. Sort of. She had loved the feel of his hand, loved the look in his eyes when he told her how much she was appreciated. It had become her favorite just-before-sleep thought. One that usually guaranteed lovely dreams. She knew she was embarking on the slipperiest of slopes, fantasizing about Jack, spending free time with the three of them, but she loved being around the three Richardsons so much she was willing to try to keep her balance.
With the arrival of summer came changes in Quanna’s routine with the boys. First, they were around more every day, and
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