Chapter 6

6

Tahlia sighed in relief when she closed the door to the kids’ room. They were tucked in nice and snug, completely tuckered out, stomachs full. Nelson had the resort stock the cabin’s fridge and pantry in preparation for the family’s arrival and was very happy. She’d seen a definite difference in them with their dad around. They were… lighter. Maybe it was the excitement of a vacation and Christmas, too, but Tahlia knew the bulk of it was Matt Nelson.

He wasn’t unaffected, either, she thought, a little smug as she made her way back to the main living area. She’d seen him almost smile multiple times since they landed. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d ever see that.

Not that she dreamt of him.

Okay, once. They both had weird, laser-sword weapons and there was a lot of fighting and maybe a few longing looks. She chalked it up to her brain using the two of them as stand-ins for a problem. Probably what she was going to do with the rest of her life, which was an issue she’d shoved aside while taking care of Nelson’s children. While she knew she’d have to deal with it eventually, nannying two of the best kids in the world was a convenient distraction.

“Miss Jameson, may I have a word?”

Tahlia jumped, a hand flying to her chest. Nelson had somehow managed to sneak up on her, despite being all of a 6-foot-3, brooding refrigerator.

“You scared me!” she exclaimed softly, not wanting to wake the kids. Her boss frowned and stuffed his hands into his pockets, drawing his shoulders up. Tahlia got the sense he was trying to make himself appear smaller and instantly regretted her reaction.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she waved a hand and composed herself with a deep breath, which perhaps wasn’t a great idea because Nelson was close enough, she was able to inhale his cologne, warm and woodsy with a hint of spice and it turned her head.

Be professional dammit!

Tahlia cleared her throat. “What did you want to have a word about?”

“Ah,” Nelson grew serious and Tahlia wondered if she’d done something wrong. “Your work.”

She must have. “My-my work? Did something happen?” She wracked her brain for any mistakes she could have made between exiting the plane and arriving at the resort but came up short. He seemed okay after their little tiff on the plane but maybe he wasn’t and she was going to get fired after all.

“I wanted to say I think…no, I have been harder on you than was necessary. I apologize.”

An apology? From the least apologetic person in the world? This would make the second apology he’d given her tonight, actually. Maybe the world was ending.

Realizing he was expecting a response, Tahlia pulled herself out of her shock.

“Oh, um, thank you,” she managed to stammer out. “I, uh, I really appreciate that. But,” now she couldn’t help being curious, “what brought you to that conclusion?”

Nelson lifted his dark gaze away from her and toward the room where his kids were sleeping in a cozy bunk bed.

“I haven’t seen you with them before, not since our interview. You are surprisingly astute about their needs as individuals.”

Tahlia snorted. “Thanks, I think.”

“I’m not trying to be backhanded by saying that.” He turned to her again, just as serious but there was a softness around his eyes. “You understand them. You listen to them. You’ve drawn them out in ways I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Goodness, she was blushing.

“Thank you, Mr. Nelson,” she said quietly and hoped he didn’t notice her red face. “I’ve grown very fond of them. They’re great kids. You should be proud.”

“I know,” he murmured with an actual, real, soft smile. “I am. And I’m…I’m grateful that you think so.”

Tahlia felt her mouth move up into a grin before she realized what was happening. “Are we friends now, Mr. Nelson?”

“Um,” he cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, a hint of pink visible on his cheeks. “I guess we can be. As far as an employee and their employer can be.”

“I’ll take that.” Tahlia stuck her hand out and he stared at it for a moment before he took it. Then, of all things, he smiled again. At her.

A new start. That’s what this was.

She tried not to think about how nice his smile was.