Millionaire Playboys. Emilie Rose
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Название: Millionaire Playboys

Автор: Emilie Rose

Издательство: HarperCollins

Жанр: Короткие любовные романы

Серия: Mills & Boon By Request

isbn: 9781474004046

isbn:

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      And then the answer fell into place—an answer that could solve several problems at once. Irma, the lady who’d been more like a mother than a nanny to Juliana, had become increasingly lonely and unhappy since having to retire. Juliana worried about her. Helping Kelly meant helping Irma and there wasn’t anything Juliana wouldn’t do for Irma. And, Juliana admitted, she wouldn’t mind having the opportunity to spend more time with Rex and uncover yet another layer of the complex man she’d bought.

      “Perhaps I could help.”

      Both heads swiveled toward her.

      “No,” Rex barked.

      “Who are you?” his sister asked simultaneously.

      “I’m Juliana Alden. Rex’s…friend. My evenings and weekends are free, and I suspect the lady who used to be my nanny would love to keep the girls for a few hours a day when either Rex or I can’t be with them.”

      Hope flared in the eyes the same dark coffee shade as Rex’s. “You like kids?”

      “Yes, although I confess I don’t have loads of experience. But I’m a fast learner and I don’t give up easily.”

      “If you could cover the girls in the evenings then Rex could watch them in the mornings, and your nanny could cover midday.”

      Rex stepped between them. “We don’t need to bother Juliana. I’ll work something out. I’ll call an employment agency or a local day care—”

      Kelly looked horrified. “The girls are upset enough. They don’t need that kind of upheaval.”

      “My town-house complex has a pool and a playground,” Juliana added, earning a glare from Rex. “Irma could watch them at my place, and I grew up in Wilmington, so I know where all the parks and yummy ice-cream shops are located. How long do you think you’ll be gone?”

      Kelly gestured toward the suitcase. “I packed enough clothing for the girls for a week, but I don’t know. It all depends on M-Mike.”

      “We don’t want to inconvenience you.” Rex didn’t say back off, but it came through loud and clear in his clipped words.

      Juliana ignored him. “It’s no trouble at all. In fact, I’m sure Irma would love to have something to keep her occupied. She’s recently retired and not enjoying it.”

      Kelly threw her arms around Juliana. “Thank you so much. I’m so worried about Mike. What if he—” Her voice cracked and a fresh wave of sobs racked her.

      “I’m sure he’s getting the best care possible.” Juliana put an arm around Kelly’s shoulder. “When does your flight leave?”

      “Midnight.”

      Juliana glanced at her watch. “It’s almost nine now. We need to get you to the airport. I’ll drive you. Rex can stay here with the girls.” She turned to Rex. “I’ll be back as soon as I get Kelly checked in, and we’ll work out the details.”

      Juliana’s last glimpse of Rex as she led his sister out the door wasn’t reassuring. His scowl and fisted hands didn’t bode well for their week together.

      Gentle, loving brother. Doting uncle. Rebel. And too proud to accept her assistance. The man’s contradictions intrigued her more than a falsified account, and Juliana couldn’t wait to figure him out.

      Who’d have suspected the bean counter would be so difficult to shake loose?

      Rex had invited Juliana in to buy her a drink and dump her, and here she was back in his apartment long after midnight. Worse, it looked as though he’d be stuck with her until Kelly returned. It wouldn’t be a hardship if his body didn’t hum like a generator when she was around, but that was one engine he couldn’t afford to start.

      What really pissed him off was that as much as he resented her help, he really didn’t have a choice since he couldn’t come up with another solution. Damn his sister for refusing to become a part of the support network on base. But Kelly had always been an ostrich who preferred ignoring a problem instead of dealing with it. She couldn’t handle the tragedies of other husbands being killed in action, so she isolated herself from the wives and turned a blind eye to the possibility instead of preparing for it.

      Reluctantly, he settled beside Juliana on the sofa. She looked slightly rumpled and incredibly sexy. With her lids at half-mast, she looked tired enough to nod off at any second. The urge to pull her head onto his shoulder wasn’t a welcome one.

      She covered a yawn with her hand. “I called Irma on the way to the airport and set everything up. She’s thrilled about watching the girls, and Kelly’s relieved that they’ll be in experienced hands most of the time.

      “Kelly, Irma and I worked out a schedule. The girls will spend the nights here with you. You’ll deal with mornings and then drop them off at my town house. On weekdays, Irma will take over until I get home in the evenings. Becky and Liza will have dinner with me, and then I’ll bring them back here for baths and bedtime. I’ll stay until you can take over, and I’ll watch them on the weekends.”

      Juliana had made plans, but she’d missed a few critical details. “Hold it. Most nights I don’t get upstairs before two. That’s too late for you to drive home, and I only have two bedrooms—the girls’ and mine.”

      She sat up straighter. “Bedrooms aren’t an issue because I’m leaving each night as soon as you get home.” She rose, picked up her purse and took a step toward the door. “I’d like to stop by in the morning on my way to work so the girls can meet me. I think that would make them more comfortable with me tomorrow evening.”

      For a lady who was supposedly good with numbers, she wasn’t adding them up very well. He rose and parked his hands on his hips. “How far do you live from here?”

      “About twenty or thirty minutes, depending on traffic.”

      “And what time do you usually get up in the morning?”

      “Six, but I’ll rise earlier to come here.”

      “If you drive home, you’ll get about three hours sleep before you have to get up and come back.” As much as Rex hated to admit it, there was only one solution. “Starting tonight, you’ll have to sleep here.”

      Juliana’s mouth dropped open. She quickly snapped it shut again and backed toward the door. “That’s not necessary.”

      “No way around it unless you can live without sleep. It’s late. You’re exhausted. Take my bed. The sheets are clean. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

      Her eyes rounded. “But I don’t have clothes or…anything.”

      The idea of Juliana sliding naked between his sheets guaranteed he’d have a hard time sleeping—hard being the operative word. “I’ll loan you a T-shirt. We can throw what you’re wearing into the washer. We’ll get the girls ready together in the morning, and then you can go home to dress for work. I’ll follow you. You can show us around and introduce us to Irma.”

      A hand fluttered to her throat. Several silent seconds ticked past while she digested the new plan. “I…okay. But we СКАЧАТЬ