“Good evening, Jenna.” He pulled a chair out for her and waited.
“Hello, Liam.” She took the seat and he pushed it in, careful not to touch her, as she sat down.
See? Easy. Now that he was over his initial reactions, he’d be fine. As the old saying went, familiarity breeds contempt, and though he didn’t want or expect to hold Jenna in contempt, he did expect familiarity would breed indifference to her allure. It was practically scientific.
Several silver dishes with domed covers sat on the table. He lifted the cover off the first, revealing a fragrant curry. He passed the serving spoon to Jenna so she could put some on her plate.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, scooping rice from a second dish. “I hope it didn’t put you out.”
She didn’t look up as she filled her plate with the food. “Not at all. It gave me a chance to talk to Katherine.”
“How’s that going?” Ideally, the two members of his household staff would have a good working relationship, but knowing his housekeeper and her preference for working alone, he was aware that was unlikely.
“I don’t think Katherine approves of me eating with you.” Her voice, normally lyrical with her Nordic accent, was somber, more careful. “I’m pretty sure she’d like to serve me in the kitchen.”
“She’s always been a stickler for propriety,” he said in an attempt to soothe the waters.
“I’m more than happy to—”
“No. You’re welcome at this table. I used to eat while reading journals or research papers, but now that I have Bonnie, it’s time I started some new routines, like family dinner time. I want the tradition to be in place by the time Bonnie notices it. I told Katherine she’s welcome, too, but she said she’d rather eat in her room.”
Jenna ate another mouthful of curry before continuing. “Katherine will probably tell you herself, but she’s hired a part-time maid to do the babies’ washing and give her some support now she has a busier house.”
“Good,” he said and nodded. “I didn’t want any of that falling to you when you’re exhausted from keeping up with night feedings and looking after both girls.”
Jenna settled her unflinching blue gaze on him. “You must be exhausted too. You’ve been getting up during the night and still going to work every day.”
“Coffee has become my friend.” She was right, but he wouldn’t change a thing—Bonnie was worth it. He glanced over at the cradle, wishing his daughter was awake so he could hold her. Yet, even if she were awake, she’d prefer Jenna to him. His stomach hollowed and he turned back to his plate. “How was Bonnie this evening?”
“She cried a bit and didn’t want to settle. I brought the cradle in here and had her with me while I made out the grocery order for Katherine, and she was happier with that until she drifted off.” Jenna took the dish of spicy lentils that he passed and spooned some onto her plate. “Will you have any time free tomorrow? I’d like to start working on your bonding with Bonnie as soon as possible.”
“Tomorrow will be difficult. What about tonight?” Creating a relationship with his daughter was a priority, but he also had to be careful about his work now that he was providing for a daughter. It was not the time to let things slip.
“That could work.” She checked her watch. “She’ll probably be awake for another feeding in less than an hour. We can do something then.”
“Sounds good.”
She spooned some more curry onto her plate. “Have you heard anything from Bonnie’s mother’s family? Are they still planning on filing for custody?”
“They’ve already taken the preliminary steps.” In fact, they were becoming a royal pain in his butt. “My lawyer is on it and he doesn’t think they stand a chance.”
She nodded and looked back down at her plate. He took a mouthful of dhal and they ate for several minutes in silence. He and Jenna didn’t know each other well, and conversation was hard to create. He wasn’t good at small talk. Dylan was always telling him he needed to improve his ability to chat when they attended business functions or charity events. He drew in a breath. Now was as good a time as any. Plus, he could quiz Jenna about her background again.
“You asked me a few days ago what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I’ve been wondering the same about you.” He picked up his water glass, took a sip and then watched her over the rim.
She bit down on her lip and looked at her plate for a long moment before replying. “Liam, if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not talk about my childhood.”
He sat back in his chair and swirled the water in his glass. Interesting. Perhaps she had a difficult time growing up and preferred not to think about it. Or perhaps she was keeping a secret. He couldn’t force her to answer questions, but he would wait for the right moment to push further.
If she was hiding something, he’d find out what it was.
* * *
No one had ever asked her what she’d wanted to be—not as an adult or as a child. She was a princess. A princess with four older siblings would never be queen, but she was still expected to dedicate her life to her people. Her three brothers had served in the military, but that was about as far as the children of the monarch could move away from their royal duties.
Mewling from the cradle let them know Bonnie was waking. Jenna jumped up, eager for the distraction. “You keep her entertained, and I’ll make her bottle.”
She saw his quick doubtful glance at the cradle and suppressed a smile. He’d held Bonnie often but usually when she was fed and happy. And quiet.
When Jenna came back into the room with a warm bottle, Liam was sitting at the table, looking bemused as he held a screaming Bonnie. When he spotted her, the relief on his face was almost comical. “Thank goodness. She’s been telling me that she’s pretty desperate.”
“At full volume.” Jenna chuckled, took Bonnie from him and sat back in her own chair. “It’s all right, little one. I have your bottle right here.”
As she fed the baby, Liam finished his dinner, though she felt his steady gaze on her the whole time.
“Want me to take her so you can finish your meal?” he said when Bonnie was done.
“That would be great, thanks.” She handed him the now happy baby. As Jenna resumed eating, she sneaked glances at man and daughter. The soft, loving expression on his face when he looked down at his baby turned her heart to putty.
In her world, men didn’t have much to do with babies—there were nannies for that. Liam’s murmured words, his stroking of her tiny cheeks, affected Jenna more than she would have guessed and made her grieve the loss of a father for Meg all over again. Her own little girl was missing out on this.
It also made her miss her own father and mother. It had been more than a year since she’d seen them, since she’d heard their voices. This job with Liam would need to be her last in the States—soon, she’d have to work out a plan to return home. It still seemed impossible, but she had to believe that when the time came, she’d find the right way.
When she’d finished her meal, Liam returned Bonnie to the cradle so they could clear the plates, then stood with his hands resting on his hips. “So what’s your plan for me with Bonnie tonight?”
She’d been mulling over that very question in her mind all day. Where to start was important. “I was thinking we could try you and Bonnie with her baby carrier.”
“Baby carrier?” He rubbed a hand across his raspy chin. “I thought you’d have us doing something more...”
“Hands-on?” She reached