You said she didnt want to worry me. Did she think this wasnt worryinggoing to the hospital and leaving you to break the news?
The fine lines around Alexs dark eyes seemed to deepen. She longed to smooth them away with her fingertips. The urge, so strong her skin tingled, shocked her. She couldnt think that, couldnt feel it.
She didnt have a good answer to his question. I thought she planned to tell you. When we talked on the phone last week, she said she would.
Maida had sounded so desperate. I need you, Paula. Jason needs you. That child is hurting, and you might be the only one who can help him. Maida must not have wanted to risk telling Alex, and his finding some other solution to her absence. She could only pray Maida was right.
Why didnt you tell me, then?
Alexs intense, dark stare seemed to pierce right through her, finding the vulnerabilities she longed to hide. She took a deep breath, trying to quell jittery nerves. Shed known it would be difficult to come back here. She just hadnt anticipated how difficult. If Aunt Maida knew how hard this was for her
No, she couldnt let Maida know that. Shed agreed to do this thing, and she had to do it.
I am telling you. I mean, now you know, dont you? She clenched her hands together, hoping he didnt realize how much of her attitude was bravado. Look, all I know is that she said shed tell you. I thought it was all arranged. Thats why Im here she gestured toward the scattered pots trying to fix dinner for you and Jason.
Alex looked if it was the worst idea hed ever heard. If he sent her packing, shed never have a chance to make up for the mistakes shed made the last time she was here.
I can cook, you know, she assured him. I learned from the best. Maida had insisted on giving her cooking lessons every time Paula came to visit.
Of course youre going to get an education and have a profession, Maida would say. But it never does any harm to know how to cook.
He looked at her skeptically, and her doubts rose. Why was this so difficult?
Lord, if this really is the right thing to do, please let me know it.
Dinner tonight isnt important. His voice was clipped. Ill take Jason out for a hamburgerhe always welcomes that. As for the rest of it, Ill make a decision later. You can go to the hospital to see Maida. Tell her Ill be there tomorrow.
She nodded, trying not to react to his tone. As heir to the Caine family fortune, hed probably been born with the commanding manner that assumed compliance with his orders. The quality never failed to irritate Paula, but Alex had a right to make his own decisions about his staff. And if she did work for him, hed also have a perfect right to give her orders and expect obedience.
Seeming to consider the matter settled, Alex turned toward the front of the house.
She wanted to let him go, because his disturbing presence upset her equilibrium and made her silly heart flutter. But she couldnt. There was too much yet to be settled. She had to convince him that she was the right person for this job.
She caught up with him at the swinging door marking the boundary between the familys part of the mansion and the servants section.
Alex She put her hand on his arm to stop him, and was instantly sorry. Through the silky broadcloth of his shirt, his skin warmed to her touch. He wore the dress shirt and tie that was part of his usual attire, but the sleeves were turned back at the wrists, exposing a gold watchband that gleamed against his skin.
She pulled her gaze from his hands, fighting for balance, and focused on his face, instead. It didnt help. He bore lines he hadnt two years ago, and the narrow scar that crossed his cheekbone added an attractively dangerous look to his even, classic features.
She snatched her hand away. I mean, Mr. Caine. She felt her cheeks flushing. Observing the proprieties might help keep things businesslike between them. It might prevent a recurrence of what happened two years ago.
He stopped, looking down at her, his dark eyes unreadable beneath winged brows. Then he shook his head.
Youve been calling me Alex since the first time you came here. You were only about Jasons age.
She nodded, deflected by memories of the past. At least Alex seemed able to put his antagonism aside for the moment and remember a more peaceful time. That had to be a good sign.
I was eight. And homesick as could be. You showed me where the childrens books were in the library and told me to help myself.
Shed been awestruck when Alex Caine, only child of the towns richest man and the prince in the Caine castle, had made the effort to be kind to her. Shed felt like Cinderella when hed led her into the elegant room lined with books and shown her the window seat next to the fireplace where she could curl up and read. Not that shed ever done it when there was a chance his formidable father might find her.
So were old friends. The smile that came too rarely lit his lean face, causing an uncomfortable flutter somewhere in the vicinity of her heart. Alex will do.
Alex, she repeated, trying not to linger on his name. You know how stubborn Aunt Maida can be. Im sure she was just doing what she thought would cause the least trouble. If she could have delayed the surgery, she would have, but the doctor insisted.
She wanted to say the words that would convince him to let her stay, but she couldnt find them. Instead, she swung back to her worries about Maida.
She told me Dr. Overton retired. Someone else took over his practice.
You can have confidence in Brett Elliot, he said promptly, apparently reading her concern. Hes an excellent doctor, and Im sure hes recommended the best surgeon. A hint of a smile touched his lips again. And Im not saying that because Bretts an old friend.
She suddenly saw herself as a child, peering from the housekeepers cottage toward the swimming pool. A teenage Alex entertained two other boys: Mitch Donovan and Brett Elliot, his closest friends.
Aunt Maida seems to trust him. Thats the important thing.
He nodded, hand on the door. She could sense the impatience in him, as if he wanted to be elsewhere, as if only his deeply ingrained politeness kept him standing there.
She probably should let this go, but she couldnt. She took a breath. I know Aunt Maidas suggestion has put you on the spot. But it really would ease her mind if she knew I was staying.
She knew instantly shed pressed too hard. He seemed to withdraw, putting distance between them even though he hadnt moved. His face set in bleak lines.
Alex had never looked that way when she was growing up. Hed always been surrounded by a golden aura nothing could diminish. But that had been before his wife left, before hed spent too many weeks in that hospital himself.
Lets get the immediate situation taken care of first, he said. You settle Maida at the hospital. If she needs anything, she just has to ask.
I know that. Im sure Maida does, too. She tried to deny a wave of resentment that he could so easily grant any wish of her aunts, while she couldnt.
He clasped her hand, sending a surge of warmth along her skin and stealing her breath. Then he dropped it as abruptly as if hed felt that heat.
Maida will be glad to have you with her for the operation. I know how much she enjoyed it when you worked here.
He clasped her hand, sending a surge of warmth along her skin and stealing her breath. Then he dropped it as abruptly as if hed felt that heat.
Maida will be glad to have you with her for the operation. I know how much she enjoyed it when you worked here.
He almost seemed to stumble over the words, as if he found this situation as awkward as she did. It surprised her. Smooth, sophisticated Alex had never been at a loss for the right phrase. That ability was something else the upper crust seemed to be born with.
All the things she didnt want to say about the time she worked in the Caine mansion skittered through her mind. Still, it wouldnt hurt to remind him that his son already knew her. I appreciated the chance to take care of Jason. How is he?
Fine. His face seemed to stiffen again. Looking forward to summer vacation after the rigors of second grade.
She had the sense of something suppressed, something he didnt want to say about his son, and thought again of Aunt Maidas worries about the boy.
He used to be such a happy child. But his mother went away, and then Alex was in the accident and in the hospital all those weeks. Jasons changed. Hes all curled up inside himself, and I dont know how to help him.
Im looking forward to seeing him. She tried to keep the words casual. Does he really want a fast-food burger, or did you just make that up?
Believe it or not, he does. Maida and I try to educate his palate, but hes very much a seven-year-old in his tastes. The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. I think you gave him his first trip to get fast food when you took care of him, didnt you?
Im afraid so. She remembered it as if it were yesterday. Jasons excitement at ordering from the counter, the awed look on his face as he sat across from her in the booth. The feelings that welled up at how much he resembled his father. That emotion struck her again, as strong as if someone had hit her.
Lord, whats happening to me? I thought I was over this.
Alexs dark, intent gaze penetrated the barrier shed so carefully erected to shield her errant emotions. What is it? Whats wrong?
Nothing. She looked up and summoned a smile that felt tight on her lips. Everythings okay.
Shed like to convince him. Shed like to convince herself. Alex couldnt know that, thanks to the accident, for nearly two years she hadnt been able to remember the crash or the months that had preceded it.
He didnt know that the memories of the time shed spent in this house had fallen out of the hidden recesses of her mind a week ago, as fresh and as emotional as if theyd happened yesterday.
And prominent among them was the fact that the last time she was here, shed fallen in love with Alex Caine.
Chapter Two
D ad, is Maida going to come back?
The forlorn note in his sons voice touched Alexs heart. What did Jason fear? That Maida had gone away and would never come back, like his mother?
Careful, careful. What makes you think she wont come back?
Alex glanced across the front seat of the car. Jason, whod seemed happy enough at the restaurant, now sat clutching the plastic action figure that had come with his meal.
He frowned down at the figure, then looked up, his small face tightening into the mask that frustrated Alex as much as it did Jasons teachers.
Where has he gone, Lord? Where is the sunny little boy Jason used to be?
He felt almost embarrassed at the involuntary prayer, and his hands tightened on the wheel with determination. He was all Jason had, and he wouldnt let him down.
His son shouldnt have to worry, about Maida or anything else. Naturally hed had to tell Jason something to explain Maidas absence, but hed said as little as possible.
Shes just tired, he said now, trying to sound cheerful. She needs to rest more. Its nothing you have to be concerned about. Shell be back before you know it, and everything will be fine.
They passed twin stone pillars and swung into the driveway. Paula, still wearing the jeans and sweatshirt that seemed to be her uniform, was bending over the trunk of a disreputable old car in his garage. She looked up at their approach, and he pulled into the bay next to her. When he got out, she was already explaining.
I hope this is okay. Aunt Maida said you wouldnt mind if I parked my car here. She glanced down the row of empty bays, a question in her eyes.
No problem. I got rid of the other cars after my father died.
Nobody needed five cars. His father had insisted on trying to relive the old days, when a full-time chauffeur had taken loving care of a fleet of vehicles, a full-time gardener tended the roses, and Maida supervised a staff of three indoors. Now they made do with a cleaning company and a lawn service, with Maida watching Jason when he wasnt in school.
He waited for Paula to make some comment, but her attention was fixed on the small figure coming around the car.
Jason, hi. Its good to see you again.
Jason nodded warily, always seeming on guard with strangers. Not that Paula was exactly a stranger, but at his age, two years was a long time.
Hey, you got the green Raider. She touched the action figure Jason held. Good going. Hes the best, isnt he?
His sons protective stance relaxed a little. One of the guys in my class says the orange ones better, but I like the green one. He can do cool stuff.
He sure can. Did you see the story where he rescued the princess?
Yeah. And when he set all the horses free. That was neat. Jasons face grew animated as he talked about the latest adventure of his action hero.
How had Paula gotten past his sons defenses so quickly? Alex felt something that might have been envy, then dismissed it. She was a teachershe should be good with children.
Paula pulled a duffel bag from the trunk, and Alex reached out to take it from her. It was heavier than it looked, and for a moment their hands entangled.
Rocks? he enquired, lifting an eyebrow.
Books. She made an abortive movement, as if to take the bag back, then seemed to think better of it. I never go anywhere without them.
He glanced into the cars trunk. One cardboard carton overflowed with construction paper, and a plastic Halloween pumpkin poked improbably from another. It looks as if youve brought everything you own.
He meant the comment lightly, but a shadow crossed her face. It told him more clearly than words that how long she stayed depended on him. She shrugged, turning to pull out another bag.
Most of this stuff is from my classroom. I loaded it up the last day and didnt take the time to unload before I left to come here.
Ill carry that one. Jason reached for the small bag.
Thanks, Jason. She smiled, surrendering it to him, then hefted a box out and slammed the trunk. I think thats it. She glanced at Alex. If youre sure its okay for me to leave the car here?
Its fine, he said firmly. Hed rather see that poor excuse for a car hidden behind garage doors than parked in his drive. Lifting the duffel bag, he led the way around down the walk toward the rear of the house.
The setting sun turned the swimming pools surface to gold as they neared the flagstone patio. He hadnt done the water exercises for his injured leg today, and it took an effort to walk evenly carrying the heavy bag. Hed already seen Paulas expression at the scar on his face. He didnt want to see more pity if she caught him limping.