LITMIR.BIZ

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grim expression was too much. The past week had been so carefree, Reese could hardly bear to see his brooding expression come back. “I didn’t have a choice, Reese, because I made them a promise. But after today, all promises are off.”

      He flicked on the intercom. “Paul? Drive us to the heliport.”

      “Where are we going?” she asked when he’d finished.

      “Out on my sailboat.”

      Her heart thudded with sickening speed. “If we need a helicopter, it must be pretty far away.”

      “Don’t worry. We’re only going to Martha’s Vineyard outside Edgartown. One of our summer homes is there.”

      A summer home there, an estate with horses on Long Island, a penthouse on Park Avenue, a villa in Cannes. Reese had an impression those possessions only constituted the tip of an enormous iceberg. If Jamie didn’t have a daddy who’d decided to break the cycle of emotional neglect that went with so much luxury, he could be suffocated by it all the way Nick had been.

      He studied her for a moment. “Have you ever been sailing?”

      She knew it was his favorite sport. “No. One time our family went to Wisconsin and we crossed Lake Michigan on the ferry in choppy conditions. None of us did well. That’s the sum total of my knowledge of being on water.”

      A light gleamed in his eyes. “As long as you can swim, that’s all I need to know. When we get out beyond where the breeze fills the sail, you’ll find out you’re a wonderful sailor.”

      “That’s wishful thinking. I only hope I won’t be imitating Jamie’s bout of last weekend.”

      He chuckled. “You don’t have the flu.”

      Reese knew Nick wanted and needed this outing, if only to take his mind off leaving Jamie with his grandparents. Please don’t let me get seasick. When she saw the helicopter, another prayer went up about not getting airsick. She’d never been on one of those, either.

      In the end she needn’t have worried because Nick’s cell phone rang before they even exited the limo. After he picked up, his gaze sought hers. She tried to read his expression as he listened to the person on the other end. It went on for a minute. After he hung up, he told Paul to turn the limo around and go back.

      Her brows lifted. “Jamie?”

      “He won’t settle down. Anne says the nurse can’t do anything with him, so if she can’t, that’s it.”

      Reese bit her lip. “I was afraid of that. Jamie worships you.” She bet Nick’s mother-in-law told him it was the nanny’s fault for spoiling him and probably decried Nick ever removing Jamie from their house in the first place.

      “Nothing could please me more,” he declared in a satisfied voice. “Now we can take him with us. I’ll call ahead for a cooler of food and drinks to be packed for us.”

      The burst of elation exploding inside Reese only lasted until she remembered her mother’s last question to her. “You’ve got a terrific head on those shoulders and broke off with Jeremy for a reason. I don’t have to worry about you losing sight of your career plans just yet, do I?” Not for the first time, Reese had to remind herself that she was just the temporary nanny. But the pain she felt at the thought of leaving this little family was becoming too much.

      When they reached the mansion, Reese could hear Jamie’s heart-wrenching sobs from the foyer of the mansion. They hurried down the hall to the dayroom and found the nurse pacing the floor with him. His in-laws stood around looking upset.

      “Hey, sport? What’s going on?” Nick walked over to the distraught-looking woman and took the baby from her arms. Jamie caught sight of his daddy and lunged for him before bursting into another paroxysm of tears. Reese could almost hear him saying, ‘Why did you leave me?’

      When he burrowed his head into the side of Nick’s neck, Nick must have felt it deep in his heart. In a few seconds peace reigned. While Jamie clung to him, everyone in the room looked infinitely relieved.

      “I think there’s been enough excitement for one day. Why don’t you come to the penthouse next weekend and we’ll try this again.”

      “We’ll be in Salzburg. Don’t you remember?” Anne sounded indignant. “You and Erica went with us two years ago.”

      “I’m sorry. This new job of parenting has taken over my life. Call me when you’re back and we’ll make arrangements. Have a safe trip.”

      Jamie refused to leave his arms, so Reese picked up the carryall and diaper bag before they headed for the limo waiting outside the mansion. Once Nick got in the backseat with him, Reese’s eyes zeroed in on the baby.

      “Your cute little face is all splotchy from crying. Here’s your pacifier. Do you want your rattle, too?”

      His fingers glommed right on to it. He didn’t fight Nick as he strapped him in the infant car seat.

      “Crisis averted,” he said to Paul before the older man shut the door. In seconds they were off.

      Her eyes flew to Nick’s. “That wasn’t a pleasant moment back there.”

      “No, and there’s not going to be another one like it again.”

      She covered Jamie’s face with kisses until she got a smile out of him. “You’re so worn-out, you’ll probably sleep all the way.”

      Reese didn’t realize how prophetic her words would be. He slept through the fabulous helicopter flight that took them to the famous little island off Cape Cod. They were set down at Katama Airpark only a few miles from Edgartown.

      Nick took them to one of the harbor restaurants where they ate a delicious shrimp lunch. Afterward they walked around the historic part of the town and visited some of the shops. It wasn’t until they reached the boat dock on the Wainwright’s property that the baby’s eyes fluttered open. He’d missed everything.

      Reese found it so funny, she started to laugh. Nick joined in. He was still smiling when he transferred his son from the ramp onto the end of the immaculate, twenty-three-foot sailboat called the Aeolus.

      “What does it mean?” she asked him.

      “In Greek mythology, Aeolus was the god of the winds.”

      “That’s beautiful.” The white keel had a blue stripe. She thought of the little boat she’d bought for Nick and couldn’t wait for him to open his present, but she’d put it off until after they’d finished sailing.

      Excitement mounted in Reese to see all the boats out on the water. This was a day out of time, one to treasure before they went back to the city. But having Jamie with them was the reminder she needed to remember she was his nanny, nothing else.

      Nick brought out two adult life vests and an infant life jacket. While he went about getting the boat ready and undoing ropes, she laid Jamie down on one of the benches and changed his diaper. He loved being bare and kicked his strong legs as if he was doing exercises. She laughed with pure pleasure before putting a fresh diaper on him.

      With him propped against her shoulder, she went down to the galley. There was a microwave so she could warm his bottle. By the time she climbed the stairs with him, Nick had everything ready to go. She put the bottle down. Together they helped put Jamie’s infant vest on, but she was unbearably aware of Nick and his potent masculinity. Their hands brushed, sending rivulets of yearning through her.

      He kissed his boy’s tummy before snapping everything in place. “I know you don’t like it, sport, but that’s the rule.” He fastened him back in his carryall. “You’ll get used to it.”

      With a speed that took her breath, Nick’s gaze unexpectedly flicked to hers. “Now it’s your turn.” The message in his dark brown eyes was unmistakable. They traveled over her features and down her body, melting her from the inside out. She got

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