Kelly glared at him in the mirror. She was already dressed for her dance class, in a black leotard, tights, and a short skirt. Her feet were turned out in the classic “ballerina” position-heels together, toes pointing away from the body. It ma de his back hurt just to look at them.

“And I’m too old for a baby-sitter,” she said, her voice low but filled with fury. “Just get me a driver and a car and I’ll be fine. Any car. A Town Car, even. I don’t need a limo.”

He adjusted the tie one last time and reached for his jacket. “Good to know that you’re so flexible, but I’m not getting you a car.”

“You don’t have to buy it, you could just rent it or something.”

“No.”

“I don’t want Doreen around here. She’s creepy.”

“Then you’re not going to ballet class, and you’re going to spend the day in my office because I’m not leaving you home by yourself.”

Kelly’s green eyes practically spit fire. “I knew you were going to say that,” she told him. “You’re so difficult. You never think about what’s right for me.”

If only, he thought grimly. “I think about that all the time. Unfortunately our definitions are different. If Doreen is abusive in any way, then I’ll not only fire her butt, I’ll have her arrested. Until then, you’re stuck, kid.”

“Why can’t Francesca take care of me? She’s totally cool.”

He thought so, too. Unfortunately between Kelly, his workload, and Francesca’s need to finish the outline for her dissertation, he’d only been able to see her a couple of times in the past week, and both of those had been at a dinner chaperoned by his daughter. Not exactly the romantic, sexy, sensual relationship he’d envisioned.

“Francesca has her own life. She’s given you more than enough of her time. I’m not going to ask her to cart you around.”

Kelly folded her arms over her chest. “This isn’t making me like you.”

He figured the fact that she hadn’t called him a bastard and run out of the room meant they were making progress.

“You’re not supposed to like me,” he said. “I’m your parent, not your friend.”

Her gaze narrowed. “You’ve been reading stuff, haven’t you. You didn’t come up with that sentence on your own.”

He was saved from answering by the sound of the doorbell. Doreen was downstairs and would probably answer it, but even so he walked through his bedroom into the hallway. He didn’t usually have visitors at nine in the morning.

Kelly pushed past him and raced down the stairs. She ran to the foyer and spoke to Doreen, who retreated to the kitchen. Francesca entered the house.

Sam’s initial reaction of pleasure turned to curiosity when he saw Kelly hug Francesca.

“You came,” his daughter said as he approached. “You have to save me.” She lowered her voice. “Doreen is awful!”

Curiosity turned to annoyance when he figured out his daughter had called in her version of the cavalry.

Francesca pulled one of Kelly’s red curls. “You barely know the woman.”

“She smells funny,” Kelly whispered.

The corner of Francesca’s mouth twitched. She glanced at Sam. “Ah, the executive look. The power suit is very flattering.”

“Unfortunately I don’t have much power in my own home.” He narrowed his gaze. “Kelly, did you call Francesca and ask her to take you to class?”

Teen-zilla rolled her eyes. “Well, duh. I can’t face a whole summer with her-” She pointed toward the kitchen. “I had to do something. I just knew you weren’t going to get me my own car.”

Francesca looked surprised. “You’re giving away cars? Can I put in my order? I’ve always wanted something flashy. In red or silver.”

“A convertible?” he asked.

“Oh, that would be nice.”

Kelly stamped her foot. “Would you two please pay attention to me. This is important.”

Sam ignored her and took Francesca’s arm. “Have you had coffee?”

“Yes, but I can always use more. I’m not really a morning person.”

“What are you doing?” Kelly asked in a shriek.

“Ignoring you until you can act like a civilized person,” Sam said.

“I’m civilized!” Kelly yelled. “I’m polite and well mannered and you’re just a stupid butthead.”

Sam turned back to Kelly. She stood with her hand over her mouth. At least she looked shocked.

“I guess you’re not going to have class today, huh?” he said quietly.

She dropped her hand, opened her mouth, closed it, then burst into tears. Seconds later she was running up the stairs, sobbing as if her heart would break.

Sam sighed. “I know you said to be patient, but nothing about this is easy.”

Francesca squeezed his arm. “I’m sorry. Things were going so well last week.”

“Probably because Kelly was getting her way. She’s one determined kid.”

They walked into the kitchen. Doreen sat at the table, reading the paper. She looked up at them and smiled.

“Good morning, Mr. Reese.”

“Doreen. This is my friend, Francesca.”

The nanny nodded pleasantly. “Is Kelly about ready to leave? I know she doesn’t like to be late for her class.”

“She won’t be going today. She needs to learn to control her temper.”

Doreen nodded. “She’s at that age, Mr. Reese. They get human again in a few years.”

Sam wondered if he would survive. He poured two mugs of coffee.

“I would like Kelly to stay around the house today so she can think about what went wrong this morning. Tomorrow she’ll be heading back to class. As those are only in the morning, feel free to take her shopping or to the movies in the afternoon.”

Doreen nodded. “Certainly.”

She spoke pleasantly enough, but Sam had the idea that hanging out with a twelve-year-old at the mall wasn’t Doreen’s idea of a good time.

He and Francesca took their coffee onto the deck. Sam was careful to shut the French doors behind them.

“I don’t think Doreen likes children that much,” he said.

“She’s probably more into babies,” Francesca said. “Plus, Kelly can be a handful.”

“She swears she’s being pleasant to Doreen, and when I’ve asked, there haven’t been any complaints. I don’t know.” He sipped his coffee.

Francesca leaned close. “I know you’re going to hate me for siding with your daughter, but, Sam, the woman smells.”

He groaned. “Great. So I have to find someone else.”

“That’s your call.” She leaned back in the wooden chair. “It’s just too bad Kelly can’t get into some summer programs and meet kids her own age. Has she made any friends at her dance class?”

“A couple. She went home with one Friday afternoon. I guess it went well. The mother wasn’t screaming when I picked Kelly up.”

“That’s something.”

“My daughter can be pleasant when she chooses to be, but the rest of the time, she’s a complete…”

Francesca looked at him. “Are you editing?”

“Yes. You’d be shocked if you knew what I was thinking.”

Francesca grinned. “I doubt that. For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a terrific job.”

“Thanks. It means a lot.”

He smiled at her, taking in her long thick hair, and the tank top and shorts. She was sexy, pretty, intelligent, and caring. Talk about a tempting package. He’d met a lot of lying, cheating, using women in his life, and she was nothing like them.

“I have my grandfather to thank for you,” he said. “All those years he pounded good manners into me. They finally paid off.”

She raised her eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

“If I hadn’t stopped to help you that day you were in the building, we never would have met.”

“You could try telling Kelly that story,” she said. “Maybe it would convince her manners have merit.”

“I doubt it.” He brushed his fingers against her bare arm. “I’ve missed you.”

“Me, too.”

“Want to have a sleepover?”

“More than you know, but what about Kelly?”

“Are you interested in sneaking around?”

One corner of her mouth twitched. “I’ve never done it before. Is it fun?”

“I’ve heard it’s exciting and erotic.”

She laughed. “You wouldn’t happen to know this from personal experience, would you?”

“Me?” He pretended shock. “I don’t do that sort of thing. I’m an upfront guy.” He leaned toward her and brushed her mouth with his. “Kelly’s usually in bed by ten.”

“I’ll be at your front door at eleven,” Francesca said.

His blood surged at the thought. “I can’t wait.”

“You can’t,” Sam said sometime close to two in the morning.

Francesca stretched out next to him, her bare leg brushing against his. “Of course I can. I want to. There’s no way you’re going to get anyone new for a couple of weeks. Tell Kelly she only has to deal with Doreen full time this week. The Fourth is Friday and that’s a holiday. Next week I’ll take her Tuesday and Thursday. I’m sure Doreen will appreciate the break, as will your daughter.”

He rose on one elbow and stared into Francesca’s green eyes. “What do you get out of it?”

“I like Kelly. She’s fun.” She pressed her lips together. “When she’s not being a pain.”

“What about your dissertation?”

She ran her hand along his back. “You are looking at the author of a completed outline. So there!”

He was torn between offering her money and telling her she didn’t owe him anything.

“I want to,” she told him. “Just be gracious and say yes. Or better yet, show your gratitude in a more carnal way. Be inventive. Startle me with-”

She shrieked as he suddenly flipped her onto her stomach. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice muffled by the pillow.

He nipped at her backside. “Being inventive.”


* * *

Francesca hummed through her morning. She’d been up most of the night, her insides felt mushy and sore, and she couldn’t be happier. Sam Reese was a man who knew his way around a woman’s body. Contentment didn’t begin to describe the feeling of well-being that swept through her.