“How did you get this stuff here so fast?” she asked.
“I didn’t. The room was already painted and empty, awaiting someone’s child or children when I found them. Once I was certain that you were on board, I had ordered the furniture and put it into place.”
“It’s perfect,” she said. In fact, it was much larger than the cramped nursery she’d had at the other house.
“Oh. One more thing. It’s a big house. The baby monitor has a large unit downstairs in the living room, but there is also a portable receiver that you can put in your pocket or clip on your belt if you get too far away to hear them by ear. I’ve tested it already and it seems to pick up even out in the garage or for a good distance in the yard.”
“The garage?”
“The metal building. I work on my bikes out there.”
“Bikes?”
“Motorcycles. My old pack was a motorcycle club. Tailspins, they’re called. I haven’t joined another one since I’ve been up here on my own, but I do custom work for a lot of the local riders. My shop is in that building.”
“I see. I guess I didn’t think to ask what it is you do for a living.”
“Mostly that, a bit of some other stuff.”
For the first time, Leslie had some reservations about this. Motorcycle clubs could be involved in a lot of seedy activities. Even if he wasn’t currently in one, it didn’t mean he wasn’t tied up in a bit of all that with the ones he associated with at his shop. A half million dollars seemed like a lot of money for someone to have available in cash, which he would have had to do if he paid her half and put the other half in escrow.
“Other stuff?” she said tentatively.
“Nothing you need worry with,” he replied. “Come on and I’ll show you your room. You’ll be close to the girls and all on a separate floor from me. I’ve already had the driver put your things in there.”
“Won’t that look odd if someone visits?”
“No. All the rooms anyone would need to go into are on the first floor unless they are overnight guests, which are rare here. There is no reason for anyone to come up here, but if they do, there are some things in my room that will make it appear you stay in there. You know, a hairbrush, scented shampoo, a robe . . . stuff like that. The fact that you have a separate room down here will make complete sense with the triplets, as there is nowhere on the third floor we’d have been able to put them. My private quarters take up the entire space up there.”
“So, you have the entire third floor and I have the second then?”
“Pretty much. There is another room there, I’ve had it updated a bit so that we can hire you some help, but they will sign a non-disclosure that will prevent them from discussing anything that goes on in this house.”
“I see. Okay,” she said, her mind still considering how massive his bedroom must be to take up the entire top of the house. She found herself wondering what that looked like.
Her room was gorgeous. Everything about the cabin was done in earth tones, decorated like you’d find a resort lodge in the mountains. Of course, in one sense, that is exactly what this place was, only private. She admired the intricate quilt on the bed and heavy oak furniture it adorned. The dressers were antique claw foot style units and there was a large writing desk to one side beneath a window. At one end was a private bath and, separately, a walk-in closet.
“It’s fantastic,” she said.
“Glad you like it. I’ll give you some time to unpack your things while the girls are still resting. We’ll go through the rest of the house later. Tomorrow, I have interviews set up for a nanny to help you out.”
“A nanny? No. I don’t need a nanny. I can take care of the girls.”
Although he had mentioned it before, it was only just now sinking in. She realized she was a bit bewildered now that she was here. She couldn’t really say she was afraid, but it was a lot to happen in one day. This morning, she had been at her home in South Carolina and now, she was on the other side of the country, in Wyoming, with a man she didn’t know, living in his house and pretending to be his wife.
“I’m sure you can, but you shouldn’t have to. I spend a great deal of time in the shop, working, and won’t always be here to help if you need it. This will give you some assistance and someone to talk to. I’m not much of a conversationalist, if you haven’t noticed, so pick someone you think you can get along with and I’ll work out her salary with her.”