Chapter 1

1

Tahlia stared up at the Tudor-style mansion with a sense of hope and good cheer that had not a little to do with the bustling groups of people in coveralls putting Christmas decorations and lights on and around the house. It was a new day and a new opportunity. Nannying was definitely not her career of choice, but sometimes life threw a curveball, as Derek said, and adaptation was required.

The curveball in Tahlia’s case was a doozy.

She had life all figured out; everything was balanced.

A Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, a dream job with the best engineering firm out there, and a decent relationship. She was living the dream.

Until the job fell through, given instead to a relative of the firm’s CEO. Then her boyfriend cheated on her with her neighbor. Of course, she lived with him so come the breakup she ended up homeless.

No job, no boyfriend, no plan.

If her best friend and graduate school buddy, Violet Parker, hadn’t come to her rescue, Tahlia was pretty sure she would have applied to a third-degree program if only for the housing. Violet graciously allowed Tahlia to stay in the spare room of the two- bedroom apartment Violet shared with her fiancée and Tahlia’s other good friend, Derek. She also gave Tahlia a much needed direction when Tahlia lost her life compass.

Tahlia had a soft spot for kids so when Violet told her a professor at the university was in need of a nanny stat and suggested Tahlia try it out, she thought why not? It wasn’t like her chosen career was panning out.

Tahlia spent the whole summer with the Martin family, caring for the three kids while their parents struggled through a rough divorce. By the end of the season, Tahlia was sad to leave - Professor Martin received custody and moved away from the area - but came away fulfilled in a way she hadn’t expected to be. She loved working with the kids and helping them cope with a situation no kid should have to go through.

And the paycheck was a big bonus. As it turned out, being a nanny for the Marsdenian upper crust could be quite lucrative.

This holiday season she’d be able to afford much better gifts for her friends. At least, that was the thought when she drove up the horseshoe asphalt driveway of her next potential employer. Tahlia leaned against her restored (by her, thank you very much) vintage truck and considered the giant house. It was definitely Tudor. Dark timbers stood out against white walls, the windows had iron frames, and a grand oak double-door that would have put Henry VIII to shame was set as the imperious entrance. The lawn around the house was fairly plain, decorated only with a few trees and some well-coiffed rose bushes. There was also an army of people in coveralls putting Christmas lights on the house itself. A week before Thanksgiving and they were already putting up the Christmas lights. Tahlia had to step around them to reach the front door. Most ignored her, intent on their work. She supposed that it would take hours, if not another day, to get the classic multi-colored bulbs hung.

Mr. Matt Nelson certainly did not spare any expense when it came to decoration, which was even more evident when Tahlia entered the house, let in by a serious-faced young man who introduced himself as Eric Warner, Mr. Nelson’s house manager. Everywhere she looked there was holly being draped and various seasonal baubles and decorations placed on tables. The main staircase - she supposed it was the main staircase - had real fir wrapped around the banisters all the way up and down. There were just as many people inside as there were outside, bustling around, being barked at by someone with a clipboard. A person who put this much effort into Christmas decor was surely a nice human being and Tahlia instantly relaxed as she was led through the house.

Warner showed her into a dark room lined with bookshelves and a massive mahogany desk set into the center. At that desk sat who she assumed was the man she’d come to interview with, studiously examining some papers.

“Tahlia Jameson is here to interview for the open position, sir,” the assistant announced crisply.

“Thank you, Warner.” He didn’t look up from his work, but an almost imperceptible shiver went down Tahlia’s spine, Nelson’s voice deeper than she expected. “You can leave us.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Warner disappeared, Nelson scribbled something on the bottom of the page he was reading, set it aside, and stood from his burgundy leather-back chair. When he lifted his gaze and finally set eyes on Tahlia, he seemed to freeze for a few seconds, the only movement in his eyes, which looked her quickly up and down. Tahlia shifted, thinking that maybe he was observing her ratty flats, skinny jeans that had seen better days, and a blouse she’d definitely already worn three times that week and deciding they weren’t up to his standards. Nonetheless, she smiled, determined to be confident.

“Hello, Mr. Nelson,” she approached the desk with her hand held out. He clasped it with his and Tahlia tried very hard not to think about how easily its large expanse enveloped her own or how he towered over her. “I’m Tahlia Jameson. Which you already knew…”

Nice going, Tahlia State-the-Obvious Jameson.

“Please take a seat.”

That voice speaking directly to her was an experience. Tahlia lowered herself into one of the less elaborate chairs which stood on her side of the desk, growing increasingly aware that she was in a room with maybe the most physically attractive man she’d ever met. Yes, he was tall, but also wide, the fabric of his poor black henley deliciously stretched across his shoulders and chest. His hair looked ridiculously soft, falling in gentle waves just below his ears, which were mostly hidden from view but Tahlia could still see one peek out from beneath his locks. She had an urge to push his hair back and see what he was hiding.

Stars, Jameson! Stop being inappropriate . Tahlia gave a little shake of her head and shoved all those thoughts deep down into her psyche, attributing them to her recent breakup. No lusting after her potential new boss. She was a professional. When Nelson returned to his own seat, she drew back her shoulders and lifted her chin.

“Here are my references and my resume,” she said, drawing a folder from the messenger bag at her side and sliding it to him across the desk. “I admit I don’t have a lot of nannying experience but my references-”

“You have a Master’s degree in Engineering?” He lifted a quizzical brow as he looked up from the now open folder.

While Tahlia didn’t appreciate being interrupted, she smiled. “Yes. But I assure you-”

“I’ve heard enough, Miss Jameson.”

Tahlia’s mouth snapped shut in surprise but she quickly recovered. “I don’t understand-”

“My children need stability,” Nelson continued, pointedly shutting her folder and shoving it back across his desk. “And I’m looking for someone with more experience. You’ve only had one previous nannying position and you’re clearly confused on what you want to do with your life. I don’t believe you would be a good influence. Frankly, Miss Jameson, I don’t know how or why my assistant allowed this appointment. I’m sorry, but you’ve wasted your time. Warner will escort you out.”

He immediately turned to the screen of the computer which sat to his right on the desk, pointedly ignoring her.

As a general rule, Tahlia didn’t hate people. There were only a handful of names that made it to that list, most of them belonging to her various foster parents. Even then it took awhile before she added them; she didn’t think it was fair to judge someone on first impressions.

Matt Nelson was an exception.

“You know what,” she stood up, “you’re right. This isn’t a good fit. I don’t want to work for a complete and utter prick.” Tahlia grabbed her folder and stuffed it into her bag, knowing she probably ruined it, but she didn’t care.

Nelson’s already impressive scowl deepened, and his jaw worked as he stood up, planting his hands on the desk. “Excuse me?”

“For a man who’s decking in his halls in all kinds of fa-la-la, you’re acting more like a Scrooge!” She was on a roll of burning this potential bridge and wasn’t about to stop. “I bet that Grinch song was written about you!”

“Goodbye, Miss Jameson.” Every syllable dripped with barely restrained fury; his hands now fisted at his sides.

“Goodbye, Mr. Nelson.” Tahlia pivoted toward the door, which seemed further away than it had before, when it slammed open and a little girl, about eight years old with wild, dark curls burst in.

“Daddy!”

Ah, the offspring. I bet they’re just as nasty. Tahlia didn’t like having unkind thoughts about kids, but gosh, how could a man like that raise good ones?

Nelson rounded the desk, and Tahlia was surprised to see a somewhat panicked look on his face. “Maddy, what happened?”

“Daddy!” The little girl rushed up to her father, curls bouncing around her head. “Kaiden broke my robot dog!” She planted said dog on the desk with an angry pout.

“I didn’t mean to!” A little boy Tahlia assumed was the accused, shuffled into the room, crying. He shared the mess of curls with his sister, though they were shorter. Both children had ears that were a tad too large but all the more adorable for it. “It was an accident!”

“He did it on purpose!” Maddy pointed at her brother with tears streaming down her own face.

“No I didn’t!” Kaiden wailed. The two commenced arguing over the incident, both fully bawling now.

Tahlia could not help being delighted at seeing the giant irritant she’d come to know as Matt Nelson frazzled and paused to take it all in, but as she looked on and watched him look more and more helpless as he tried to console his increasingly upset kids, she took pity on him, though she was sure he didn’t deserve it. With a long-suffering sigh, Tahlia walked back over to the desk and knelt beside the two sobbing children.

“Hey,” she smiled when all three Nelson’s turned to her with identical expressions of confusion. She ignored the father and focused on the children. “My name’s Tahlia. What’re your names?”

She already knew but she thought kids appreciated it when they were asked directly.

“Maddy. That’s Kaiden.” Maddy jerked a thumb at her brother who had fallen silent and sort of edged behind his sister. The shy one, evidently.

“It’s very nice to meet the two of you,” Tahlia said. “I couldn’t help overhearing that your robot isn’t working. I’m really good with machines. Maybe I can fix him?”

The little girl eyed Tahlia appraisingly for a moment with an eerily similar scowl to her father’s before she sniffled and handed the toy over. It was typical of a robot dog toy, though this one had a transparent body through which the gears and inner machinery could be seen. Upon a brief examination, Tahlia was able to diagnose the problem and noticed it was accessible through a latch in the robot’s belly. All she needed was a screwdriver. A tool she happened never to leave her house without.

“You keep a screwdriver in your purse?” Nelson’s deep voice cut through Tahlia’s concentration.

“Do you mind?” she shot him a look. “This is a very serious operation.”

“Daddy, shhh!” Maddy exclaimed, earning a disgruntled huff from her father. Tahlia suppressed a smile as she returned to opening up the toy.

“Kaiden,” she glanced up at Nelson’s son, who peeked out from behind his sister. “Do you mind holding the screws for me?”

He looked at her warily. “Are you sure?”

Tahlia nodded. “It’s a very important job but I trust you.”

After a moment of hesitation, Kaiden put his hand out and Tahlia placed the screws into his palm. He closed his fingers into a tight fist and drew his hand into his chest protectively. Tahlia gave him an encouraging smile and returned her focus to the dog. One of the gears was out of place, a result of probably being dropped, but easily remedied. With a few careful taps of the screwdriver, Tahlia was able to push the gear back into place. Only after replacing the latch - Kaiden carefully handed the screws back - did Tahlia place it on the floor.

“Alright, Maddy. Give it a go.”

With bated breath, Tahlia watched as Maddy turned on the dog and it came to life, the gears and motor whirring beautifully. She screeched in delight and threw her arms around Tahlia’s neck.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she exclaimed. When she drew back she gave Tahlia a wide smile, revealing a couple of missing teeth. “Are you our new nanny? Is she, Daddy?”

“Um…” Tahlia extracted herself from Maddy’s hold, cheeks hot and surely red. She dared a look at the man she’d called a Grinch only minutes before. He looked like he was caught in a trap.

“Maddy…” he stopped when Kaiden appeared at his side and slipped his hand into his father’s much larger one.

“I like her, Daddy,” he said quietly, brown eyes staring so earnestly into his father’s that only a person with a stone heart could say no.

Despite Tahlia’s dire opinion of him, Matt Nelson did not, apparently, have a stone heart.

With a barely suppressed groan, Nelson leveled a glare on Tahlia as if to say she’d done this on purpose. Of course she hadn’t. If she had her druthers, she would run out of that room and never look back. Except…Maddy had taken hold of her hand and as Tahlia stared at the way the little girl held onto it so tightly, she was assaulted by a sudden lump in her throat. When she dragged her gaze back to Nelson, his glare wavered and something softer swept across his face before it went blank, and he said the last thing she expected.

“Yes, kids, she’s your new nanny.”

Nelson gave Tahlia a day to move into the spacious quarters given to her before she officially began her duties. The room had an en suite bathroom with a shower and a big tub Tahlia was definitely going to take advantage of, and a walk-in closet which was more than enough for her meager collection of clothes. Warner, who also appeared to be the house manager, gave her a general tour of the rest of the mansion before leaving her to unpack her things. The kids’ rooms were down the hall from Tahlia’s, side by side, with an adjoining door they apparently never closed, and their own shared bathroom. It was also huge and decorated like an aquarium, live fish tank and all.

A live fish tank. In the bathroom.

Tahlia didn’t know how much money Nelson spent on the home, but it must have been millions. It was a little excessive for Tahlia, but then again, he was able to give her a generous salary, so she wasn’t about to judge.

“I’m telling you, Violet,” Tahlia switched her phone to her other shoulder while she sorted through her clothes to fold them. “He’s filthy rich. Obscenely, actually.”

“What are your impressions about him, though? The man himself?”

Tahlia picked up a stack of shirts and hauled them to the bureau inside the closet. “He’s…okay.”

“Okay? What’s ‘okay’?”

“To be honest he didn’t want me to work for him and was a real asshole about it, but the kids begged him.”

“Who wouldn’t want you to work for them? You’re amazing!”

“I know!” Tahlia laughed and shoved the drawer shut. “Seriously though, I kind of get it.” She explained what happened at her interview and sighed. “I don’t know if I’d want someone who’d only had one previous nanny experience.”

“But you have an excellent reference from Professor Martin! Her kids loved you!”

“I know,” Tahlia returned to the bedroom and sat on the bed. Her fingers explored the embroidery on the white duvet, flowers and vines hand stitched into the soft cotton. “Still, I don’t have a lot of experience and my education is in engineering. What kind of a nanny is that?”

“You fixed the kids’ toy and they couldn’t part with you. I think that says a lot. And apparently he thought so, too. Even if he is a giant jerk.”

“Maybe,” Tahlia murmured. “Maybe.”

Though she doubted it very much, perhaps time would prove Violet right.