Chapter Two
Brooks smiled down at Leah, loving the slight blush that stained her cheeks. She had that innocent, good-girl vibe emanating off her like a homing beacon. He didn’t know why that was such a turn-on. Maybe because it was different. He typically steered clear of the good girls; too many complications. And he had a strict policy of only getting involved with women who were as commitment-phobic as he was. It made life easier.
But he’d been watching Leah all morning and couldn’t get her out of his head. The yacht was crawling with people. A pre-christening party for his goddaughter. When Cole had mentioned they were bringing someone to help with the baby, Brooks had pictured some heavyset matriarch wielding diapers and wet wipes. Not this brown-eyed beauty that blinked up at him with a shy smile. How could he possibly resist that?
Besides, Kiersten was smiling, not glaring any warnings at him. That was a green light in his book.
“I don’t think we’ve met yet,” he said, extending a hand. “I’m Brooks Larson. Their second in command,” he said, nodding at Kiersten and Cole, who had come up behind her.
“Leah Andrews,” she said. “Their nanny for the weekend.”
He took her hand, holding it rather than shaking it. “It’s a very great pleasure to meet you,” he said, laying on the charm as thick as he dared.
“Likewise,” she said, her fingers tightening around his ever so slightly.
Hmm, intriguing. He’d expected her to be a bit shy. And while her voice was quiet, it was strong, straightforward. Confident and sexy as hell.
“Would you care for a walk around the deck before the party really gets underway? I saw the DJ setting up near the bow, but there’s a perfect spot to view the islands from the stern.”
“That sounds great,” she said, glancing back at Cole and Kiersten. “If you don’t need me right now?”
Cole glanced at his wife, his forehead slightly creased, but Kiersten grinned. “Go on. It’s about time for me to feed Piper anyway.”
Brooks held out his hand and waited for Leah to take it. He wasn’t completely sure she would, which was an unusual experience for him. He was young, rich, and good-looking—that was a winning trifecta right there.
The woman before him, however, was not his usual prey. For one thing, she took care of children for a living, which typically meant she was a responsible adult. Responsible adults rarely had fun. And Brooks liked to have fun. She also had a bright-eyed innocent look about her. Unlike some of the other guests who were lounging in bikinis and sarongs while sipping champagne, Leah wore a cute sundress, complete with a gold crucifix necklace, and was drinking what looked like an ice water with lemon. Not the type he usually went for and certainly not the type that went for him.
“You look confused,” she said, slipping her hand into his.
“Maybe a little,” he said with a short laugh. “Kiersten just smiling and encouraging you to go off with me instead of beating me off with a stick is unusual.”
“Hmm, should I be worried?” she asked, though her tone remained flirtatious.
“Not at all. I’m a pretty decent guy. Just not looking for anything serious.”
“Why do I feel like you’re trying to make a good impression in a job interview?”
Brooks gave her his best aw-shucks-you-caught-me grin. “Well, it’s not a job interview, but I am trying to make a good impression.”
“Really?”
“Really. How am I doing?”
Leah took a sip of her water and shrugged. “The jury’s still out. I’ll let you know.”
That surprised a laugh out of him. “I guess I’ll have to try harder.”
“Or you could be yourself and we’ll go from there.”
Brooks lifted his glass in a small salute. “A novel approach.”
“Sometimes the simplest line of attack is the most efficient.”
“Wouldn’t it have been even more efficient to gather intel on me from Kiersten?”
“You’re assuming I didn’t already do that.”
Another surprise. She was full of them. “And she didn’t tell you to run screaming in the other direction as fast as possible.”
Leah laughed, a throaty, rippling sound that was both infectious and sexy. “No, she didn’t. But even if she had, I can make my own decisions.”
He leaned in a little closer. “Then I guess I should be thankful both for your impeccable decision-making capabilities and for Kiersten not throwing me under the bus.”
Leah shrugged. “Maybe she thought we should get to know each other since I’m Piper’s godmother. The godparents should know each other, I suppose.”
“True.”
“Or, maybe she thought I was a big girl and could handle you,” Leah said. At his raised brow, she grinned. “Or at least handle myself.”
“Is that right?”
Leah stopped and leaned an elbow against the railing. He followed suit, standing much closer than necessary. She didn’t move away.
“I get it. I know what I look like. Sweet little inexperienced Catholic girl. Naive, innocent.” His gaze raked over her and she shrugged. “See, men assume because I’m quiet, dress a little conservatively, and go to church most Sundays that I’m an innocent child who needs to be guided and protected. It’s infuriating, and a little creepy.”
“For the record, the thought never crossed my mind that you were a child.”
She gave him an eye-rolling grin.
“So, what are you then, assuming most men’s assumptions are wrong?”
Her expression was a curious mixture of shy confidence. “A full-grown woman who can take care of herself.”
Brooks grinned. “Point taken. So, oh experienced woman of the world, what do you do for a living? Cole mentioned something about becoming a nun?”
Leah opened her mouth, then grinned, a slight blush staining her cheeks. “No, I am not becoming a nun. I’m a teacher at a private girls’ school run by nuns.”
Brooks burst out laughing. “You’re not even making that up, are you?”
Leah laughed. “Okay, fine. I guess I fit the stereotype a little. Hush.”
“What’s a nice girl like you doing hanging out with a boatful of heathens like us?” he asked, nodding at the people milling about on the boat.
“The ‘heathens’ you’re referring to aren’t exactly the scum of the earth,” she said with a laugh. “Aside from their obscene bank accounts, they all seem pretty nice. Most of them, anyway,” she said, looking him up and down.
He gave her a slow smile with as much smolder as he could lay on and returned her roving gaze. Instead of blushing and backing off, she moved a little closer.
“Besides,” she said, “even nice girls like to have some fun. I’m on a yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean with good friends, celebrating the birth of my goddaughter. Can’t think of any place I’d rather be. It was good of you to host this getaway for them.”
A rush of pride flooded through him, something he didn’t feel very often. He liked that she approved of him. It had been a long time since he’d cared about what anyone thought. He didn’t know what it was about her, but she intrigued him, which scared the hell out of him, truthfully. But that paled in comparison to his desire to get to know her better. Much better.
“She’s my goddaughter and they’re my best friends. It was the least I could do. Besides, I’m always up for a party.”
She smiled at that, though the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes, and then looked out at the view spread before them. They weren’t far from land, so the whitewashed walls and blue roofs of the Greek village they were passing twinkled at them from the shores of the bay. The crystal-clear turquoise waters beneath them beckoned invitingly though a sudden cool breeze blew through, sending a fine shiver through Leah.
Brooks moved behind her, sheltering her with his body, his hands resting beside hers on the railing. “What are you thinking about so hard?” he asked, bending down so he could talk quietly. The scent of her hair washed over him. Honeysuckle and jasmine. He inhaled deeply, imprinting the scent in his mind.
“The future,” she said. Instead of moving away as he’d feared, she leaned back into him. A slight movement, but encouraging, though the future was a subject he tended to avoid as much as possible.
“Why think of the future when the present is so much more stimulating?” He ran a hand up her arm and she turned until she faced him.
“You don’t find the future stimulating?”
“When I have a beautiful woman in my arms right now?” He drew his thumb over her cheek. “Why would I want to think of anything else?”
His heart pounded while he waited for her to push him away, giggle and blush maybe, play hard to get. Or get offended and stomp off in a huff. He didn’t expect her to tilt her face against his hand so he cradled her cheek. The sun highlighted her hair, illuminating shades of red and blonde that reminded him of the fine mahogany table he had in his office. He brushed a strand away from her eyes, pools of brown with subtle flecks of green that had him mesmerized.
What had she done to him? He’d never wanted to kiss a woman so badly in his life. He leaned down, his pulse speeding. She gave him a gentle, encouraging smile, then froze. Her eyes widened, all the color in her face draining, and before he could ask what was wrong she pivoted and leaned far over the rail, her body tensing as she threw up what looked like everything she’d ever eaten.
He grabbed her hair, gathering it at the nape of her neck and holding it with one hand while he held her against him with his other arm, supporting her while she retched. Kiersten was at their side almost immediately with a towel and a bottle of water. He took both from her, ignoring her shocked face.
Leah took the towel gratefully and quickly rinsed out her mouth. Brooks led her over to a chair and ordered one of the passing waiters to bring him a glass of ice water with mint leaves. Kiersten’s eyes widened in question.
“I read somewhere that mint calms the stomach. And the flavor might help get the taste out of her mouth,” he said.
Kiersten looked like she was going to respond, but ended up shaking her head with a small smile. Brooks knew exactly what she was thinking, but ignored everyone other than Leah. Kiersten watched them for a moment and then went back to where Cole held the baby, a speculative gleam in her eye that he’d defuse later.
The waiter returned quickly, and Leah slowly sipped the mint water a few times before sighing deeply.
“Thank you,” she said, not meeting his eyes.
“Was the thought of kissing me that horrible?” he asked, smiling, though part of him really wondered if that had been the case.
Her gaze shot to his. “No, not at all!”
“Motion sickness?” They were on a boat after all.
She sighed again. “More like morning sickness.” She put the glass down, sat up straight, and looked him dead in the eye. “I’m pregnant.”