They had been in New York for five days, and even though he should have been busy every minute of the day, the damn woman found a way to slip into his mind when least expected.
She sipped her chocolate milk. “You wanna hear something funny? I always secretly hoped you two would get together. You and Alice.”
“Really? Why?”
She shrugged, her eyes still glued to the panoramic view of the stretch of trees ahead of them. “I don’t know. I guess because you’re lonely, and she would be a good fit for our family.”
“No one will ever replace your mother. You know that, right? She loved you very much.” He ruffled her hair. Maybe one day, when his daughter was older, he’d share with her about Kristin’s addiction as a cautionary tale. Until then, he had no right to shred Cara’s immaculate memories of her mother.
She turned to him, and the sweetest smile spread across her face. Yes, he had messed up a lot in life. But Cara was his redemption. “Yes, Dad. I miss Mom, too. My friends have blended families. You don’t have to worry.”
He drew back. “When did you become this mature? If it has anything to do with that camp, I must give them a considerable donation.”
She chuckled. “You’re funny.”
Funny? He didn’t feel the least bit funny. He chugged the rest of his coffee, now cold and stale. The housekeeper hadn’t come from Austin, and he had interviewed two candidates for the task.
The doorbell rang, and he set the coffee to the side and headed to the door. It was Mildred, the fifth nanny he would interview in the last few days. In a matter of seconds, a woman with dark blond hair and almost as tall as he materialized in front of him. She flashed him a smile and started to make eye contact with Cara immediately. Cara waved back, but he decided to take her to the office, like the others. Interviewing them first was a better approach to make sure Cara’s vote didn’t let him make the wrong decision.
“You have worked as a nanny before?” He held her resume without really reading it. She had on a plaid conservative dress and the type of perfect makeup women wore for important business meetings: a touch of color on the lips and eyes, but very tame. Good.
“Yes, for eight years. I’ve attached my recommendation letter.”
“You don’t have an issue with occasionally sleeping here? When I’m out of town?” he asked, even though he hoped he wouldn’t have to leave often.
“Not at all. I live with roommates, and trust me, we all need a break from time to time.”
“Do you like birds?”
She frowned, leaning forward. “Birds? Yes. I have a cat. But birds…are nice, too.”
He leaned in his chair and toyed with his pen. They had brought Nibbles with them, although, seeing the bird without Alice chilled his blood. Hell, seeing his apartment without her was strange. Even though she had never set foot in his New York place, at times he imagined her there with him. The brutally honest comments that would fly from her lips. Her body, naked and warm in his outrageously big bed.
“Mr. Baldi?” Mildred called him.
Shaking his head, he repositioned himself in the chair. “Sorry. I’ve been distracted lately.”
“Did Cara have a nanny before? In Texas?”
“Yes. She did.”
“She couldn’t come along? I know it’s always hard to fill someone’s shoes, but I’m confident…” He tuned her out, her New Jersey accent background noise.
This potential nanny seemed nice enough. Why was Alice so difficult to replace?
Because he wasn’t just searching for a nanny, and damn it, he knew it. Why was it that hard to admit? Truth be told, he never searched for anything she offered him besides her childcare skills. Her warm smile, her witty comebacks, the way she cared for everyone around her like that was her mission—that was all Alice.
He loved the zingy energy she brought to his life. He loved the way her skin tasted of magnolia and vanilla. He loved how she came again and again under his touch. He loved her hearty laughter filling up the room.
He loved…Alice.
Lorenzo surged to his feet, restless. His heart slammed against his rib cage.
“Sir?” the woman asked, drawing her eyebrows together. “I’m sorry? Is everything okay?”
He blinked a couple of times. No. Everything was not okay. It sucked without Alice, and he was so tired of trying to tell himself otherwise. “I’m sorry. Can we continue this interview when I come