“No, there’s nothing you can do for me,” she said and raised a delicate hand to brush away the wisps of hair that the soft breeze had blown into her eyes. “But I’ll speak to Pierce about the activities of this child. Why do you have her out here digging in the dirt? Shouldn’t she be in school?”
“There’s no school on Saturdays. Besides, she’s only four. Whatever she needs to learn I teach her at home.”
Sophia frowned. “You? Teach her? What would a maid know about what’s best for a child? She needs structure in her life. The best thing that Pierce could do for her is to get her into a good boarding school.”
Celine gasped. “Boarding school? Are you mad?” The words were out before she could stop herself. She could not believe the woman would suggest such a thing.
Sophia’s lips tightened and she glared at Celine. “I would ask you to remember your position.” Then with a look full of scorn she said, “I went to boarding school in Europe all of my young life and it did me a world of good.”
Celine could just imagine the good it had done her. That was probably what had turned her into the world-class bitch she was now. The nerve of her to even think of putting dear little Kylie into boarding school.
“Celine, am I going away?”
She looked down to see Kylie gazing up at her with huge, scared eyes, the hint of tears already appearing in the corners.
Celine felt like someone was squeezing her heart. How could she have been so thoughtless? She’d been discussing Kylie’s future with this woman right in front of the child as if she weren’t there.
She dropped to her knees in the dirt and pulled Kylie into her arms. “No, cherie, you’re not going anywhere. Your home is right here with Uncle Pierce.”
“And you?” Kylie asked, searching Celine’s eyes as if for even more reassurance.
But how could she promise Kylie that, too? She was only an employee, after all. Pierce could terminate her employment at any time. And if this meddler Sophia Redgrave had any say in it that day could come sooner rather than later. Still, she had to say something to appease the child. She’d already experienced enough confusion for one day.
“Oui, cherie , and me too.”
Kylie smiled and Celine’s heart sang. The little girl was going to be all right. Pulling her close, she gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Oh, so you’re a foreigner, are you?”
Sophia’s words broke into their communion of friendship, making them turn their attention back to her again.
“You called her ‘cherie’. Lots of foreigners come to this country and then decide they’re never going home. Are you an illegal immigrant or something?”
Of all the backwards things she could have said, for Celine this was one of the worst. As wealthy and sophisticated as she might be Sophia Redgrave was obviously living in a world of stereotypical perceptions. She was a bigot who needed a curt response.
But then she remembered. Not in front of Kylie. As much as she itched to put Sophia Redgrave in her place she would not do it at the expense of Kylie’s happiness.
Taking a deep breath, she counted to ten in her mind then slowly expelled the air. In a calm voice she said, “If you’ll excuse me I have to take Kylie inside now.” Then she quickly gathered up the tools, took Kylie’s hand and walked away leaving the grand Ms. Sophia Redgrave staring after them.
***
Pierce groaned and shook his head. Yet another delay and two more hours this time. He looked across at his pilot and the man gave him a shrug and an apologetic grin. There was nothing he could do. If air traffic controllers said they had to sit out the windstorm then that was what they would do.
Pierce checked his watch. After eight o’clock. Mrs. Simpson would be gone by now and Kylie would already be in bed. He’d spoken to her earlier that day and promised he’d be home to read her a story. He grimaced. He’d broken a promise to a child who was very sensitive right now and needed stability and reassurance. Breaking a promise was definitely not the way to give her that.
Then his mind went to the woman who had crowded his thoughts for the whole week he’d been away. He shifted in his seat as his loins tightened at the very thought of her. What was it about Celine Santini that turned him on every time? He couldn’t think about her without imagining kissing her till she was breathless, his hands sliding down to cradle her soft, full br**sts.
He shook his head and stood up then he went over to the plate glass windows of the lounge and began to pace. He had to rein in his thoughts. Celine was an employee and he’d better remember that. But, damn, why did she have to be so sexy?
And there was more. There was something about her that drew him like a magnet. It wasn’t just her physical beauty. Maybe it was her infectious smile or her obvious love for children. There was something good and calm and nurturing about her that made him trust her completely. He’d trusted her with Kylie and even though he’d done his duty and checked all her references he’d known from the first time they met - brief as it had been - that she was genuine.
He smiled to himself as he thought about getting back home and seeing her again. Of course he wouldn’t see her tonight. It would be too late for that. But he’d be home all day Sunday in the company of his two ‘girls’. He chuckled at that thought. He, the dedicated bachelor, had become a family man in the space of just a couple of weeks. The thought of the responsibility of a family had scared him for years but now he was looking forward to seeing his pretend one. He must be getting old.
Pierce did not get home till almost two o’clock in the morning. Tired and grimy from his travels he dumped his suitcase in the hallway and climbed the stairs to the master bedroom where he stripped and went straight into the shower. It was only when he was clean and refreshed that he felt the weight of weariness lift from his shoulders. God, it felt good to be clean.
He pulled on his boxers then grabbed his robe from the hook and shrugged it on and secured it with the sash. Then, barefoot, he headed over to the wing that Celine and Kylie occupied. He wanted to check on them quickly before retiring for the night.