Macy noticed Riley’s butt half sat on the floor, half sat on Nick’s foot. Interesting. Riley had all the markings of a wolf, including the golden eyes. He had to weigh in at somewhere over a hundred pounds. Like as much as her.
“Riley is a Malamute,” she guessed. Malamutes had long been mistaken for their wild cousins, wolves.
Nick nodded.
A girl, nearing her teens if she wasn’t already there, strolled into the room next. She looked like any normal kid, except for the huge boa constrictor around her waist. “Ah, this is my oldest, Savannah. That’s Philippe.”
“Who’s this?” The girl’s voice wasn’t sullen, just bordered there.
“This is Macy Beckman, she’s applied for the position of live-in nanny.” Nick was a bit clueless, obviously, but that’s probably why he’d gone through so many nannies. And he was gorgeous – she could overlook the oblivious-to-his-daughter’s-needs bit for now. Plus he did seem beyond weary.
“I’m Macy. Will I have to take my turn at wearing the snake?”
“Probably.” Savannah shrugged.
“I can handle that.”
“You don’t mind snakes and stuff?”
“No,” Macy said, and although she could elaborate with the girl about her failed attempts at veterinary school, she decided she didn’t want to. Maybe someday she’d get her chance.
“So, do you, like, clean up puke and stuff?” Savannah sounded interested now, and Macy suppressed a sigh. Poor girl. No wonder Savannah was probably hard on the nannies. Obviously the duties of “Mom” fell to her when they were in between help. This sounded like it happened more frequently than not.
“I do. I’ve never encountered a mess I couldn’t handle.” Macy glanced around the room. Although this one came close.
“Our housekeeper broke her foot a few days ago,” Nick muttered, and his cheeks went a little pink.
“Grandma fell over Lexus,” Savannah supplied with an impish grin.
“Grandma was your housekeeper?”
“Yeah, she came and helped a lot. But the doctor told her she couldn’t come for a while.”
Macy looked at Nick. This man definitely needed her. No doubt about it.
As though on cue, a cat the size of a bobcat sauntered into the room. She glanced around, located the Malamute and took the long circuit through the room. Once the cat located Nick she stretched before launching into his lap. Where she immediately put up signs of ownership.
“This is Lexus,” Nick said.
Savannah leaned closer to Macy and whispered, “She thinks she owns Dad.”
“I see that.” Macy smiled as she stared at the cat. Her markings were gorgeous. Her coat was a dark gray with a silvery white in contrast, and some black, especially on the tips of her ears. “A Maine coon?”
“We’re not sure. She just showed up one day,” Nick said, and Macy liked the way his hand stroked down the sinuous back. She could become accustomed to being petted like that.
You’re on a job interview, she reminded herself. Not that the little pep talk helped. She still wanted to feel Nick’s hands on her.
Hello?
The man’s teenaged daughter was in the room with her. What she needed was a distraction. Fortunately, someone heard her, because the door thrust open and another child appeared.
She stopped in the archway and posed – there was no other word. Although she could only be about six, Macy had no trouble imagining a cheroot in her hand to accompany the sultry gaze. The gliding saunter, when the girl chose to move, didn’t surprise her, either. This little package was Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, and Bridgette Bardo all wrapped in one.
Her blonde curls were artlessly arranged, and while the pink t-shirt and matching pants weren’t exactly femme fatale garb, they still worked in her favor. This little girl probably had more knowledge at age six on how to extract exactly what she wanted from the opposite sex than Macy had learned in her thirty years.
“This is my other daughter, Starla.” Nick’s voice broke into her thoughts.
Yeah, I bet she is Starla, or Scarlet, Macy thought.
Starla strolled through the room with the same supple grace Lexus had utilized and Macy wondered if they traded notes. Both of them could write a book – How to be Spectacular Without Trying. Macy figured Nick faced major trouble with this child when she hit her teens. Or at least with the boys who fell under her spell.
Macy didn’t envy him.
Hopefully by that time, she’d be a graduate of veterinary school and have a thriving practice. Six years, yeah, she could do it. Dealing with a femme fatale in training wasn’t how she planned to spend the next six years.
She’d rather be bitten, scratched, and pooped on. That she could manage. Of course, glancing around the room again, she did see that as a present possibility. This room alone could provide surprises she didn’t want.
“Do you have other children or pets?” She’d better find this out now, before the shock of the mini-me Marilyn wore off.
“Yes, I have another boy, he’s ten, and his name is Bryce.”
“Bryce doesn’t talk,” Savannah said. She stared at Macy, as though she expected the new nanny to refute her statement. Macy could see she had some work to do with this girl.
“I have a brother like that.” She kept her voice easy, her tone light, so Savannah wouldn’t feel threatened. How many women had the poor girl broken in? Only to have them all leave all too soon. Oh yeah, somewhere in the vicinity of her age. Thirteen, fourteen.
She’d be a little defensive too if she’d had to do all that work with little to no benefit. Macy hated when she landed into situations like this where she knew they needed her. Now she’d have to go in and fix this Morrison home. Great.
Her eyes slid to Nick Morrison. Of course, the benefits of this job might far outweigh the hassles.
Yum.
***
Nick hated to raise his hopes, but he really wanted this woman to stay. He’d have to tell Janine, his cousin, that he’d actually interviewed a woman named Macy. They had discussed how much he liked the name earlier. Back when he’d despaired over ever finding someone suitable to take care of his kids and house.
“Are you sure you’re okay with us asking Macy to come live with us?” He asked the table in general, knowing he’d probably only hear a suitable response from Savannah. And ever since she hit the teenage years earlier this year, a suitable answer was questionable.
“Yes, Dad, it’s fine.” She sounded disgusted, but that seemed to be normal for her lately.
“Good.”
He glanced around the table. Bryce’s plate was nearly empty, but his nose was planted firmly in a book. Nick saw the cover held mythical looking warriors and maidens, all with long flowing hair, body armor, and swords.
Bryce probably had no idea he’d even interviewed someone for the nanny position. For that matter, he might not be aware they had a nanny vacancy. Wondering if there was anything they could do for his older son, Nick decided to pass over him for the moment. His diagnosis was too new for them to know what to do with Bryce.
His eyes settled on his next son. “So, Brandt, what do you think of Macy?”
“Think she has a tiger, Dad?”
“I doubt it.”
Savannah snorted and threw her younger brother a disgusted look. “Of course she doesn’t have a tiger. People aren’t allowed to have tigers.”
Brandt stared back at her with pre-teen disdain. He had a few years before he hit the same age, but Savannah didn’t appear to daunt him. “People are allowed to have tigers,” he corrected, not without some loftiness. “But you have to have a permit. You’re so stupid, Savannah.”
“I am not!” And Savannah launched a fist, which Nick managed to intercept.
“Savannah, what did I say about hitting your brothers?” Nick maintained his calm only because he didn’t have the energy to get worked up. Every morning when he awoke reminded him that he wasn’t getting enough sleep so any
reserves must have fled long ago. At this point, just the fact he could still wake up was reassuring.
“He called me stupid.” Savannah’s eyes flashed with hot indignation, which matched her voice. She eyed Brandt like he was an insect she wanted to stomp on. Nick decided not to put the idea in her head.
“Brandt, what did I tell you about calling your sister stupid?”
“Dad, she didn’t even know you can have a tiger with a permit.” Obviously that was something everyone should know. Unfortunately, he doubted many people did. Why couldn’t his children have the same interests?
Nick sucked in a deep breath before answering. “Now she does. But you know it’s okay if other people don’t know much about tigers.”
“Just because a nerd like you would know that, doesn’t mean cool people like me do.” Savannah ended her statement with a haughty sniff and before the fireworks erupted around the table, Nick intercepted again.
“I’m sure Brandt doesn’t know your favorite shoe type, either,” Nick said and made a looping gesture with his hand. Maybe he fumbled a bit, but he thought he managed well enough. Savannah turned away, apparently deciding to ignore them. That worked for him.
“Daddy, you didn’t ask me what I thought of Macy,” Starla inserted. She stared at him through her lashes, which were far longer than any little girl should sport. Mother Nature had been kind to Savannah, but unfortunately, she’d been overly generous with Starla. Nick had never related to Greta Garbo’s father before Starla, but soon after her birth, he’d begun having kind thoughts about the man.
“I’m sorry, baby. What do you think of Macy?”
“I think she’s going to be our mom.”
Everyone at the table, even Bryce, stopped and turned to stare at her.
Savannah managed to say what no one else managed to force through stunned lips. “What?” Disbelief liberally laced her voice. Pretty much how he felt, too.
Starla didn’t appear fazed in the least. She blinked her startling eyes at them, which fortunately were not laced with lots of makeup, and stared back at them with utter conviction. Nick didn’t doubt she was confident in the ball she’d just pounded into their court.
What he doubted was whether the family could withstand another heartache. Their mother’s leaving had hit all of them, but especially Savannah, hard. Another woman to blow into their lives and then blow out would devastate them.
And he couldn’t deny that he’d found Macy Beckman attractive to the extreme. Mother Nature had also been generous to her. He liked her curly honey blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Her smooth, pale skin reminded him of his daughters. Actually, most people would probably mistake his daughters for hers. Like their mother, both girls sported blonde curls similar to Macy’s. At least with Macy being a female, he’d have someone to go to for advice.
“Dad, how can she say that?” The first words Bryce had uttered all day. Maybe all week.
“Well, she can say it. But I don’t know if Macy will take the job.”
“She will.” Certainty dripped from Starla’s lips. She patted her hair before delicately sipping from her water glass. Nick still had trouble believing she was his child. But back to Bryce.
“Why don’t we worry about whether she’ll take the job? She might not like it once she’s here.”
This time, both girls turned eyes of disgust on him. “Dad, no woman likes this job.” Savannah’s voice was firm.
“No way, Daddy, it’s awful.” Starla blinked at him and between her and Savannah he nearly threw his hands up.
“Well, let’s just ease her in, okay?”
“Do you think she likes snakes?” Brandt asked.
“She didn’t seem to mind Philippe,” Savannah answered.
“Then she can be our mom.”
“She’s going to be whether we like it or not,” Starla answered and Nick refused to squirm in his seat. She was six, how could she know these things?
He didn’t know these things. He’d tucked his attraction to Macy away in a far corner of his mind. Falling for one blonde bombshell had been bad enough. He wasn’t doing that again. Nick had sworn off blondes long ago.
And there was no going back now.
Just say no to blondes.
The Morrison Family Series
The Nerd and the Marine — Book 1
What does a to-the-core, orphaned Marine have in common with an introverted electronics expert with too much family? A dog named Bentley. Her sister talks Lainy Morrison, self-proclaimed nerd, into caring for Captain Mitch Monahan’s dog while he’s deployed. The pair get to know one another through e-mails, family DVDs, and pictures. Can love overcome old fears and sustain a relationship formed an ocean apart?
The Corpsman and the Nerd — Book 2
When KC Gilmore wanted something to heat up her cold, lonely nights, she should have been more specific. Sand, unbearable heat, and caring for the wounded in Kuwait wasn't what she had in mind. An ocean between her and Max Morrison, her business partner and best friend and the man caring for her son and dog has caused her to view Max in a different light. Now she has to struggle with growing feelings for the one man she can’t do without. Will telling him destroy their precious friendship?
The Nerd and the SEAL — Book 3
Ben Morrison and Treeny Deveau have never forgotten the precious moments they shared in The Closet. Their magical encounter has ruined them for anyone else. Now they have to work through new family members, past fears, and odd working schedules to maintain a relationship. Will Ben and Treeny ever enjoy another stolen moment in The Closet? Can they overcome their fears and pasts so they can have a future together?
The Nerd’s Pocket Pets — Book 4
Shelby Conroy has always had this thing for Mr. Clean and now she’s met his look-a-like. Sam Welby is an oncology pediatrician, former Navy SEAL, and all around yummy man. Except she’s supposed to be working for him, not drooling over him. Sam has managed to fight his attraction to Shelby so far, but he’s a little confused as to why her lab coat pockets wriggle.
Shadows and Spice — Book 5
Janine Morris and Greg Gilmore hold secrets that could kill them and maybe their families. Together they need to discover the enemy who is after them, protect their families, and all before time runs out. Will Janine and Greg’s skills be enough to combat the enemy threatening them? Or will they call upon the many Morrisons to help defeat those who hate them? Set in contemporary Hershey, the story is about two people who learn the value of love and family, while thwarting an enemy who wants them dead.
Macy’s Parade — Book 6
Her dream of becoming a veterinarian is hindered by him and his four kids.
Macy Beckman has a dream of becoming a veterinarian. As soon as some smart school finally accepts her, she’ll be on her way. Nothing will interfere with her goals. Except maybe Nick Morrison and his four kids. They’re now offering Macy another dream, one she thought had died. Soon this amazing Morrison family wiggle their way into her heart and she’s not sure she wants to leave. But the school that finally accepts her isn’t within commuting distance to Hershey. Now Macy has to make a heart-wrenching decision. Can she give up her dream job for her dream family?
Bad Nerd Rising — Book 7
She’s a nerd in nerd’s clothing, easily identifiable, so why is a prince attracted to her? Why would his hotness, Prince Aleksi, want her, Dr. Tia Morrison, major nerd? And why on earth did she give her cell phone number to a bona fide prince? She’s not princess material – ask any of her three obnoxious brothers. But it would take a stronger nerd than Tia to resist Aleksi’s pleas. His water wells are dying and his country is running out of water sources. He needs a microbiologist. He needs Tia. And Tia figures, what could go wrong? Watch out Rurikstan, there’s a Bad Nerd Rising.
The Morrison Family series is an open ended series. There are plenty more books to come! Please visit: www.drgradybooks.com for more information.
You can also look into my light roman
tic suspense series - The Me Series. There are five stories available.
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