Enthusiastic cheers followed her as she walked toward Garrett. He’d turned the hose on an assortment of tools. “Mind if I use the hose there for a little rinsing myself?”
He pointed the hose at her legs, and she shivered a little as the cold water washed away the mud. But it was a good shiver because the day was almost unbearably hot. “So, are you going to be able to fix the leak you found?”
He didn’t look at her as he nodded, and Darby stifled a sigh. For a while there he’d laughed. The sound had delighted her just as much as when she’d heard Regan and Reid giggling in the bathroom that first night.
Now, however, he’d apparently put his sense of humor back on ice.
“I’m going to fix some lunch. Would you like some?”
“No. I’m gonna pick up some materials to get this mess taken care of.” He bent over, hooking his fingers through the handle of his red toolbox.
Darby folded her arms, looking anywhere but at the play of muscles across his smooth, hard back. You’d think she’d never seen a male torso before.
You haven’t. Not one like this.
She ignored the voice. “You’ve got to eat,” she said to him.
“I’ll grab something while I’m gone.” He straightened, hefting the heavy box with ease.
“But—”
“Darby.” His jaw looked tight. “Let me take care of the plumbing and my stomach, and you take care of the five minis. Deal?”
She frowned, glancing at the children. They were perfectly occupied in the yard. Safely fenced in. The only dangers were squishy, messy mud and grass stains. She followed Garrett around the side of the house, latching the gate behind her. “Have I upset you? I know I’m just the nanny and you’re the boss, but it was just so funny. I couldn’t resist.”
“Some things I can’t resist, either,” he said roughly. “And dammit, Darby, you’re soaking wet.”
She ran her hands through her wet hair. “So are you.”
“I’m not wearing white.” He ran his finger along the narrow strap over her shoulder. “You are.”
She flushed, hastily crossing her arms over her chest. “I didn’t realize.”
“I did.”
“I’m sorry.”
Garrett exhaled in a thin stream and stepped in her path when she turned to go. “I’m not. But that’s a problem I’m just gonna have to deal with.”
Her chin angled. “There’s no problem. I wasn’t throwing myself at you.”
“No, you were throwing mud and—”
“I said I was sorry.”
“You were throwing smiles and laughter, too. And the kids loved it. So stop apologizing.”
Her mouth closed. But only for a moment. “Is the water turned back on inside the house, then?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Well. Okay, then. Be sure you put a fresh bandage on your finger.”
He’d told himself he wouldn’t. “I loved it, too,” he admitted. And sliding his hand around her neck, he pulled her to him and pressed his mouth to hers.
He heard her squeak. Felt her gasp. Tasted her shock. Her surprise.
Her hands touched his arms. Rose to his shoulders. Destroyed his intentions. His toolbox hit the ground with a heavy thud.
He slid one arm around her narrow waist. It was like holding a fluttering wild thing against him. Like tasting an exotic, heady spice. He kissed her jaw. The pulse thundering frantically beneath her ear. “Open your mouth,” he muttered.
She inhaled and he felt the thrust of her breasts against him. The heat that had been simmering inside him bubbled. He covered her mouth again, tasting. Going deeper, needing— “Well, this is about what I expected of you.”
The intrusive voice barely penetrated Garrett’s brain. But Darby sprang back from him as if she’d been shot.
He shifted, shielding her behind him, and stared at the one man he could truly say he hated.
Caldwell Carson.
“I’ve never much been interested in what you expect,” Garrett said evenly.
“Carrying on in plain sight of my grandchildren with one of your—”
“Don’t say it,” Garrett warned. “And they’re my nieces and nephews. In case you’ve forgotten.”
“I’ve forgotten nothing,” Caldwell snapped. “Particularly the fact that Elise never had anything to do with you. This story you’ve managed to concoct may have convinced a few people for now, but it won’t last.”
Darby slid past Garrett’s restraining arm, dismay darkening her bright eyes. “Mayor Carson, I know your loss has been terrible. But Elise did say—”
“Who are you?”
Garrett silenced her with a look. “Take the kids inside,” he ordered flatly. “And keep them there until he’s gone.”
She bit her lip, clearly reluctant. But finally she went, leaving Garrett alone with his father. “What are you doing here, Caldwell? Slumming?”
“I came to see my grandchildren. That secretary of yours has put me off long enough. You wouldn’t take my calls, so here I am. I want to see them.”
“Not today, Gramps.”
“You can’t keep them from me.”
“I can as long as I’m their guardian.”
“That’ll end on Wednesday.”
“So you keep threatening. Frankly, I’m pretty bored with it all.”
“Do you have no respect for your sister at all?”
Cold anger settled inside him. “Have you? You slapped a For Sale sign on her house before anyone could blink. You were huddling with your lawyers before my sister was even buried.” His lips twisted. “You never did have any respect for the dead.”
“Your mother would be ashamed of you.”
Garrett’s hand curled. It took everything he possessed not to raise it. “The only shame in my mother’s life was her involvement with you.”
“I loved Bonnie.”
“I’m sure your wife found that as comforting as the rest of us. You loved women,” Garrett corrected flatly. “My mother was just one more to you.” He stared at Caldwell, seeing the physical resemblance between himself and the older man and hating it. “No comment?”
“You can’t keep those children from me,” Caldwell finally said. His voice was harsh. “For God’s sake, son. They’re all I have left.”
Garrett knew that. How well he knew that, and how well he knew just how much like this cold old man he really was. “Don’t call me son.”
Then he picked up his tool chest and walked away.
He stopped short at the sight of Darby standing inside the fence. The children were nowhere in sight.
“Garrett, I—” she hesitated “—are you all right?”
His jaw tightened until it ached. He wanted, needed, her on his side to win his case against Caldwell. But right