“You need to,” he repeated.
His gaze filled with compassion, and she winced inwardly, knowing he pictured her destitute and homeless or something equally horrible, which couldn’t be further from the truth. “I want this job with all my heart and soul,” she said, hoping her earnestness would be enough, that someday if he learned the truth, he’d forgive her. “I’ll take good care of Melissa and see that she gets everything she needs.”
“You might want to think about this,” he said. “Because believe me…” He pulled his stained shirt away from his chest. The material stuck to his skin until the last possible second, letting go with a suctioning sound that for some reason tugged at a place low in Carlyne’s belly.
“Grape juice,” he muttered. “It’s not an easy thing, caring for a four-year-old, so please, be sure. I need total concentration for my work, and she’s—” A little guiltily, he looked into Melissa’s eyes.
“A nightmare,” Melissa said proudly, nodding. “That’s what my mommy says.”
Sean laughed, the sound rich and genuine, and again, something pulled within Carlyne.
What was the matter with her? She’d heard a man laugh before, for crying out loud. Men far more sophisticated than Sean O’Mara. Smoother, richer, even more good-looking.
But there was something about this man who was obviously unconcerned about opening the door with bare feet and disheveled hair. Something unpolished and edgy. He didn’t care what others thought.
Another first for her. All the men in her life cared a great deal for what others thought.
“I’m not sure that’s something to be proud of, you know,” Sean told Melissa. “Being a nightmare.”
“Yes, but Uncle Sean—”
“Hold on, I’m still talking to Carly.” He looked at her. “Do you really want the job?”
For some reason, one Carly didn’t want to examine too closely, she wanted to stay more than ever. “Yes.”
Sean let out a ragged, relieved breath. The weight of the world seemed to lift off his shoulders. “Good.”
Awkwardly, they stared at each other.
“Uncle Sean!” Melissa tugged at him again. “I really have to go potty!”
“Again?” Sean turned that steady, heart-skipping gaze on his little niece, who’d let go of his legs to do what was apparently the got-to-go dance, which consisted of holding herself between the legs and skipping around in a little circle.
“Quick!” she demanded.
“You know how to do it.”
Still gripping herself, she shifted from foot to foot. “I want you to come with me.”
“Melissa—”
“I’m going to have an accident!” she cried, bouncing. “You’d better hurry!”
Groaning, Sean scooped her up. “Be right back,” he said to Carlyne, striding away. “Make yourself comfortable.”
They headed down the hall, Melissa in her uncle’s arms, her beaming face close to his. “I drank too much juice,” she confided.
“How could that be? I’m wearing more than half of it.”
“I didn’t mean to spill.”
“Yes, you did.” Their voices faded. “You were mad because I wouldn’t give you salami for breakfast, remember?”
Carlyne couldn’t help herself, she laughed, which was odd as she wasn’t one for spontaneous laughter.
Sean stopped, turning to look at her.
He had the longest eyelashes. That was her inane thought. Long and thick and black. Totally wasted on a man. Except that they emphasized the leanness of his cheekbones, the straight line of his nose, his generous mouth, and when he smiled, when those eyes of his closed slightly, his long lashes gave him a sleepy and undeniably sexy look.
She wondered if women fell all over themselves when he smiled like that. If he even knew it.
Of course he knew it. In her experience, men were very aware of themselves. Too aware.
Carlyne didn’t plan on falling at his feet, no matter how her heart fluttered. She wasn’t here to make friends—or lovers for that matter. She was here to prove something to herself.
But Sean wasn’t what she planned on, and he sure wasn’t going to be easy to ignore. Unaccustomed nerves leaped at her. “Is the job really mine?”
Melissa bounced in Sean’s arms, and with an ease that assured her of his strength, he shifted her to his other side so he could look directly into Carlyne’s eyes. “It’s yours,” he said. “For better or worse.”
“Hurry, Uncle Sean, hurry!”
Carlyne had to smile at the pure terror that crossed Sean’s face—her father had never, ever given a thought to helping his children in the bathroom—before Sean whirled and rushed down the hall.
No, Sean may not like this responsibility he’d taken on, but he appeared to be a man who wouldn’t shirk his duties. Carlyne watched him with new eyes and an awareness she hadn’t expected to feel.
When they were out of sight, her be-mused smile slowly faded. She blinked at her reflection, wondering about what she’d done.
Urgent potty calls?
Salami for breakfast?
She shivered at the thought, but then she pictured Sean, all that disturbing dark sensuality, his intensity, and shivered all over again.
AT HIS FIRST opportunity to work without the interruption of a high-strung four-year-old, Sean sat at his desk. He meant to dig in but found himself staring out the window instead.
Melissa was running as fast as her short, chunky legs would take her. Hair flying out behind her, wide, mischievous grin on her face.
Sean rose, swearing, thinking she was on the run from whatever terrible thing she’d done to the new nanny, when said new nanny appeared in the window, as well.
Hair flying behind her, running, and though he doubted her legs were short and chunky like Melissa’s, he couldn’t say for certain as they were hidden beneath her skirt. Just like his niece, she wore a wide and mischievous grin, and there was something in her infectious laughter that made him smile, too. She wasn’t beautiful, but she was incredibly…real. He liked real.
He liked her.
“Can’t catch me, can’t catch me,” squealed Melissa, slowing with a hopeful, expectant glance over her shoulder.
She wanted to be chased.
She wanted to be caught.
And Sean stood there with a sudden pit in his stomach, because he couldn’t remember a single time over the past days that he’d spared the time to play with the little girl like that. Couldn’t remember not being annoyed or tired or frustrated.
Couldn’t remember laughing, or just…being.
“Can’t catch me,” Melissa sang.
Catch her, Sean willed Carly, leaning close as if he could do it from the other side of the glass. Do for her what I never did.
At the same moment he wished it, Carly surged forward and scooped the little girl up in her arms, swinging her around and around, looking young and happy and free.
Their joined laughter rang out, and finally, they both collapsed