Oliver turned to see Wendy give his new nanny a quick hug. She slipped an arm through Shannon’s and lifted her gaze to Oliver. “I’m not sure if you’ve had a chance to meet Shep’s daughter—”
“Introductions are unnecessary.” Oliver offered Shannon a warm smile. “Miss Singleton and I are well acquainted.”
Wendy exchanged a glance with her husband.
“Just this afternoon Shannon agreed to be Ollie’s live-in nanny,” Oliver announced.
Astonishment rippled across his cousin’s pretty face. “Why, that’s wonderful.”
“Live-in?” Marcos’s dark eyes narrowed. “Your father approves of this plan?”
“I’m twenty-five, Marcos,” Shannon said drily. “I hardly need my father’s okay.”
“He’s your father,” Marcos said pointedly.
“Living in is necessary because of the time difference between here and London.” Shannon quickly explained the circumstances, ignoring Marcos’s disapproving glance and focusing on Wendy instead.
“Because of that six-hour difference, most of Oliver’s business will be conducted during the overnight hours,” Shannon continued before Oliver could add anything. “As a toddler, Ollie can’t be counted on to sleep through the night.”
“We know all about sleepless nights.” Wendy shot a teasing glance at her husband. “Remember when MaryAnne was that age?”
Marcos nodded but his gaze remained troubled.
For the first time, Oliver considered what Shep Singleton would think of his daughter living under the roof of a man he didn’t know. Would he understand that it was a simple business arrangement? Or would he worry Oliver might take advantage of Shannon?
Shep had been pleasant and accommodating when Oliver had called to inquire about the house. A personal visit to the Singleton home appeared necessary. Oliver would introduce himself, explain the situation and allay the man’s fears before Shannon moved in on Monday.
He was planning his strategy when his mum, Josephine Fortune Chesterfield, breezed through the door, a vision in pale blue silk. Her gray hair, arranged in a chignon, flattered her handsome face. “I’m here. The party can begin.”
She extended both hands and moved quickly to him. “Oliver.”
“You look lovely as always.” He took her hands in his then bent to brush a kiss against her cheek.
“Good evening, Wendy. Marcos.” His mother’s curious gaze settled on Shannon. “You’re Shannon Singleton, Shep and Lilian’s daughter. Am I correct?”
“You have an excellent memory, Mrs. Chesterfield.” Shannon smiled at his mother. “How are you this evening?”
“Josephine, please. I’m wonderful, now that my son and grandson have joined me in Horseback Hollow.”
Ollie made a sound of displeasure when Oliver tightened his hold on the child’s hand.
“There’s my little darling.” Without warning, Josephine scooped Ollie up into her arms.
Startled, the boy stiffened. His eyes widened and his bottom lip began to tremble. Oliver certainly didn’t relish snatching Ollie from his mother’s arms. But neither did he want his son to start crying and cause a scene in public.
He was rapidly sorting through options when Shannon stepped forward and stroked the child’s arm, diverting his attention.
“Hey, Ollie,” she said in a gentle, melodious tone. “Remember me from this afternoon?”
Apparently the child did remember. His trembling lips morphed into a wide smile and he extended chubby arms to Shannon.
Instead of taking him from his grandmother as Oliver expected, Shannon clasped his small hands in hers and jiggled them up and down. “Can you tell your grandma your puppy’s name?”
Ollie smiled, showing a mouthful of drool and tiny white teeth. “Barn-bee.”
“Is Barnaby a nice puppy?” Josephine shot Shannon a grateful smile before refocusing on her grandson, now content in her arms.
As the two continued their corgi conversation, Oliver touched Shannon’s arm, drawing her attention to him. “Thanks.”
She shot him a wink. “No prob.”
Their gazes locked and that electricity she’d mentioned returned to give him a hard jolt.
Blast it all to hell and back. He was not so crass as to be attracted to the nanny. Okay, so perhaps he was...intrigued. Shannon was different from the London socialites he frequently took to the opera and sometimes to bed.
But intrigued didn’t translate into action. Correction, wouldn’t lead to action. Even if Shannon wasn’t his employee, Ollie and managing his business affairs were his top priority.
Shannon’s eyes widened as Fortunes flooded the lobby, including Oliver’s brother Jensen and his fiancée, Amber. “Why is everyone here? What’s the occasion?”
“Mum decided to host a last-minute dinner party. She invited all the family in the area.” Oliver smiled ruefully. “She didn’t want to put my aunt out so she decided to have it here. She’s a bit impulsive, but that’s part of her charm.”
“How fun. I admire spontaneity.” A hint of wistfulness crept into Shannon’s voice. “I’m not spontaneous. You miss out on a lot when you’re always thinking things through.”
“So true, my dear,” Josephine interjected.
Shannon’s cheeks grew pink. Clearly, she hadn’t realized that his mother had eyes—and ears—in the back of her head.
“I was surprised to see you here this evening. I didn’t know—” Oliver stopped, remembering. “That’s right. You told me you had plans.”
“I met some friends for happy hour.” Shannon glanced over to the bar.
Oliver followed her gaze. A cowboy sat in the seat she’d vacated moments before, munching on nachos. Was the man someone she knew?
Oliver opened his mouth but shut it without speaking. Not his concern.
Strictly business, he reminded himself.
“It was a pleasure seeing you again, Josephine.” Shannon’s use of his mum’s first name earned an approving smile. “Enjoy your dinner party and your grandson.”
Shannon shifted her gaze to Oliver, and when those brown eyes settled on him, he experienced another punch of awareness.
“Trust me.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Go with the enchiladas. They’re the best.”
Unable to resist touching her, Oliver reached over and lightly squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you...for everything.”
Shannon smiled and strolled off.
“I thought someone said we were meeting in the party room,” a feminine voice said. “But the lobby works for me.”
Oliver turned to find a petite dark-haired woman with an angelic face and a wide smile approaching him.
“You probably don’t remember me from the other night.” The young woman extended her hand. “I’m Gabi Mendoza. We—”
“He remembers you, darlin’.” Jude Fortune Jones, another one of Oliver’s Horseback Hollow cousins, stepped forward and pressed a kiss on the top of Gabi’s head. “No man forgets you.”
Gabi flashed her tall blond fiancé an indulgent smile. “Aw, thanks, honey. But Oliver saw a lot of new faces the day he arrived.”
Though Oliver