Not to mention the fact Jonas was desperate for her attention, bless him.
‘Maybe I should go after them…’ Kitty mused. ‘In case they need something. It’s always good to have two adults around.’
Annie looked up. ‘You’re becoming attached to that boy, aren’t you?’
Her question made Kitty’s throat tighten. ‘He’s a good kid. It’s hard not to.’
‘That’s true,’ Annie said. ‘I’ve been tied to the Kleins for these past forty years. Good years they’ve been, too. I’ve seen those boys grow up into young men, and watched Mary and Francis become grandparents. It’s been a joy to behold.’ She looked up. ‘But they’re not my family, are they? I love them and I care for them, but at the end of the day I get paid to do that. And if I needed to, I could walk away. That’s the difference between a job and a family.’
Kitty wasn’t sure what Annie was trying to say.
‘I know there’s a difference.’
‘Your head knows that. Your heart can’t always be so logical. You care about that boy, and I know you’d do anything for him. But he has his own family.’
For a moment Kitty wondered if it was really Jonas they were talking about. The same words could apply to Adam. But Annie didn’t know what they’d been up to at the cabin, not unless she had some kind of CCTV.
No, she was definitely talking about Jonas.
‘It’s true I’m only the nanny for a few weeks,’ Kitty said, her voice hoarse. ‘But I worry about him and it’s my job to make sure he’s safe. That’s all I’m trying to do.’
She wasn’t sure why Annie’s words were making her feel so raw. Maybe it was the effects of her morning, or perhaps they’d really hit a nerve. Either way, Kitty couldn’t stop thinking about them as she helped Annie tidy up the kitchen.
They weren’t her family. But they could end up breaking her heart anyway.
Adam was still half asleep when he heard the rap at the door. Jumping out of bed, he ran to the entranceway, pulling the door open for Kitty. A smile formed on his mouth.
‘You didn’t make it very far…’ His words trailed off as he realised his mistake. Mia Klein stood in the doorway, her eyes wide as she took in his unkempt state. Adam hadn’t bothered getting dressed when Kitty left – heck, he hadn’t even stepped into the shower. He was too busy enjoying the after-effects of a morning with Kitty Shakespeare to worry about anything as mundane as personal hygiene.
If he was truly honest, he was enjoying having her aroma still on him. A reminder of everything they’d done together. He wasn’t sure he wanted to shower it away.
He was certain he wanted to now, though. Mia’s nose wrinkled as she took him in, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. He was under no illusions she was sizing him up, he was so not her type for that. She liked her men suave, sophisticated with a bank full of dollars. Though he could fulfil her final requirement a few times over, the rest made him a big fail.
‘What do you want?’ It was impossible to keep the contempt from his voice.
When she stepped to the left he saw Jonas standing behind her. Adam immediately regretted his harsh tone. It was one thing to disrespect the mother, but he didn’t want his nephew to see it.
Damn, he really was an asshole at heart.
‘Can I come in? I need to talk to you.’ She peered over his shoulder.
‘What about?’ Adam folded his arms across his chest.
She glanced beside her, looking down at Jonas. ‘It’s adult talk,’ she said. ‘Probably best if I come inside.’ She reached out, stroking Jonas’s face with her gloved hand. ‘Can you wait out here for a minute, honey?’
From the corner of his eye Adam could see the puppy stretching in his basket. Any minute now and he’d be padding over to sit next to Adam’s feet – his favourite spot to be. He was seconds away from Jonas discovering the big secret.
‘Jonas, you stay on the porch, OK?’ Adam nodded at the wooden deck that circled the cabin. ‘You’d better come in,’ he said to Mia, stepping aside so she could squeeze past him.
Jonas shrugged and started walking down the side of the porch, running his hand along the rail to collect up snow.
‘Hey, Jonas,’ Adam called out. ‘We can go sledding afterwards if you like.’
Jonas turned around, his expression suddenly bright. ‘Really?’ His eyes slid to his mother. ‘Can we, Mom?’
‘Yes, of course, darling.’
Five minutes later Adam was pulling on some clothes, having taken a cursory shower, enough to wash off the evidence of that morning’s liaison. When he walked back into the living area, Mia was sitting on a chair by the fire, scooted as far forward a