Miss Kane's Christmas Read Free Page A

acquainted.”
    Ben looked at the children in turn. They seemed remarkably composed considering they’d awoken to find a stranger in the kitchen. But his children were usually composed, which was one of his worries. He frowned.
    “Ah, I take it you must be a first-thing-in-the-morning coffee drinker,” Carol said. “If you could point me in the direction of the right cupboard I can make a quick pot.”
    He glanced at his watch. “No time. We need to get going if we’re to drop you off at the airport in time.”
    “In time for what?” Carol asked. “I don’t have a flight scheduled.”
    Ben stared at her. Her composure was remarkable. She seemed perfectly at ease sitting in his kitchen, playing cards with his children as if she were an old family friend. The fact he was in an obvious hurry to be rid of her didn’t appear to faze her at all.
    He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “That’s easily fixed, tell me what city you need to end up in and I’ll book a flight.” He flicked his finger across the screen looking for an airline schedule. “I’m sure we can find you something.”
    “Even with holiday travel being as busy as it is?”
    He fixed yet another curious glance on Carol. She was young as far as nannies went, but certainly she was old enough to know when she wasn’t wanted? In every other way she appeared to be socially appropriate. He must have been crazy to think that the solution to his child care problems was inviting a stranger into his home. He glanced between Hillary and Patrick. No, not crazy. Just desperate.
    “Which airport did you say would work best for you?” he asked again.
    “I didn’t.” Carol stood and gathered up the deck of cards and handed them to his daughter. “Hillary, dear, why don’t you and Patrick go set the game up in the living room. I’ll be right there. And remember, six cards for each of us.”
    Ben moved aside as the children obediently left the kitchen. He couldn’t deny that the children looked perfectly at ease with Carol. He, however, was quickly becoming disquieted by the ease with which she was fitting into his household.
    “Mr. Hanson, first let me say that I completely understand your qualms about leaving the children with someone you don’t know well, but please do remember that you reviewed my resume, references and clearances yourself. You must have been satisfied enough to engage me to watch the children. Might I know why you’ve changed your mind?”
    He hesitated, feeling slightly on the defensive. “I just feel that, well, it seems that I underestimated how great the change would be if someone actually moved in here.”
    “Ah, you’re nervous then.” Carol nodded her head as if the entire situation suddenly made sense. “I’m sure that after a few days we’ll have settled into a routine. When you’re home with the children I will be in my room or I’ll arrange to be out so that you don’t feel uncomfortable.”
    Ben put a finger under his shirt collar and wiggled it around for some more breathing space. Uncomfortable was the perfect word for the idea of having this lovely, composed young woman in his home.
    “Well, you see, the thing is that my work is quite demanding this time of year so I won’t actually be home very much-”
    “All the more reason you need me here then,” Carol said. “Unless you have a backup plan? Someone who can work days, nights, and weekends presumably? Someone who can devote themselves to Hillary and Patrick so they can enjoy their holiday school break as much as possible?’
    The young woman should be a lawyer, not a nanny, he thought. With the ability to pounce on his words and turn them around, she’d be in high demand in courtrooms across America.
    “Why don’t you let me stay for the day and we can discuss it this evening when you’re home from work?” Carol suggested. “It would give you all day to make other arrangements and it would give me time to make some