“Seriously? You’re going to go there?”

  Abby glared at me. “You’re my baby sister. I care about your safety. Someone has to. I mean, who—”

  “Okay, Abby. That’s enough.” I gritted my teeth as I stared out the window at the ocean.

  I loved her, but she could be overbearing and in my business. I wanted her to be my friend, not a mother. I’d thought after high school she would lighten up, but her older sister duty never went away. Even our mother had never been this attentive.

  “Turn left up there, after that palm tree,” I said quickly. “Right there.” I pointed. “Skyshore. You’ll see the house.”

  Abby slowed the car to turn and then parked on the curb in front of a two-story mansion. “Wow. Very nice. Well, good luck and call me.”

  I got out of the car and opened the back door to get my duffel bag. “It’s only two weeks. Besides, I’ll only be spending the night when the parents are away for whatever the reason. You’ll see me soon. Don’t miss me too much. Give Ty my love and kiss him for me.” I blew her a kiss and shut the door.

  Abby’s tires on the gravel sounded loud in the quiet of the posh neighborhood. I watched her leave and then knocked on the front door. The longer I waited, the harder the knots formed in my gut. I inhaled a deep breath and released an even a bigger one.

  A door opened.

  “Miss Chang.” Mona stepped back with a relieved smile.

  She must have worried I wasn’t going to show up.

  “Come in.” She opened the door wider and took my bag. “Let me put this away for you. I’ll be back with Roselyn. We want her to meet you before the driver takes her to school.”

  Mona left, leaving me to stare at the crystal chandelier and the grand Christmas tree. I stiffened when a man jogged across the foyer, unbuttoning his shirt.

  He must be Mr. Banks.

  “Mona, where’s my dry cleaning?” he hollered by the stairs, his back to me.

  I retreated and watched from the doorway. We hadn’t met, and I didn’t know if he knew I was there. I’d wait to be introduced by Mona.

  Mr. Banks had his hand on the banister, his shoulder muscles taut and defined. When he peered upward, the sunlight cascaded down on his dark hair from the window high above.

  “Mona, where are you?”

  My heart somersaulted in my stomach. That voice. I knew that voice. I swallowed hard ... twice. Surely I was wrong. To prove myself wrong, I came out of hiding and strutted toward him.

  “Mr. Banks?”

  He spun around and his face registered the same shock I felt. More shocking, his unbuttoned shirt gave me a peek-a-boo of his muscular chest.

  I sucked in a breath. “Leonardo? Um ... what are you doing here?”

  “What am I doing here? I live here. You’re Kaitlyn Chang? You’re the Miss Chang Mona hired?”

  He clearly knew my name. He had said it like he didn’t know?

  “Yes,” I said.

  “Why?”

  What is he implying, exactly? I crossed my arms.

  He read my expression well enough to lower his voice. “I didn’t mean that. Mona told me the new nanny’s name, but I didn’t know it was you. I thought it must be a strange coincidence. I didn’t know you were a nanny. You work with your sister. Why would you need this job?”

  Leonardo was merely explaining, and there was nothing technically wrong in what he said, but somehow it made me mad. Should I be mad? When it came to that man, everything was confusing.

  “Would you like me to leave? I can fire myself.” I certainly wasn’t going to be fired by him.

  When he just stared at me, looking perturbed, I walked away. Here I’d thought we’d gotten along just fine at the Movie and Popcorn night. We weren’t on bad terms. We hardly knew each other. But his tone made it clear he wasn’t happy to see me.

  To make matters worse, I felt ridiculous for storming out, but I didn’t care if he thought I was rude. Abby would be happy. She didn’t have to worry for my safety, but she might need to nurse my ego instead.

  “Miss Chang.”

  I passed the grand Christmas tree.

  What was taking Mona so long? But I was glad she wasn’t there to witness that scene with ... Roselyn? Or was it Bridget? Did he have two daughters? But Mona said I’d be taking care of one. And what was Leonardo’s real last name—Banks or Medici? I shook my head, confused.

  I was trying to get out of there before a child saw me. If it was Bridget, she’d be shocked.

  Bridget, Roselyn. Whoever.

  “Miss Chang.”

  I passed under the chandelier.

  Thinking of Mona reminded me she had my bag. Great. I had to turn right back around and ask if she could give it back. So much for the dramatic exit.

  Perhaps I could just storm right back in, stomp up the stairs, and swoop back out with my bag, all the while ignoring Mr. Medici.

  “Miss Chang.”

  Making up my mind to get my bag without asking his permission, I whirled just before I reached the front door. Unaware he had caught up and was right on my heels, I collided with him.

  My hands somehow slipped through his open shirt and my palm smacked against his warm skin. His arms wrapped around my back to keep me from falling.

  Oh, heavens.

  Words fled me. The surf rushed in my ears. I saw stars and fireworks around the edges of my vision. I knew he experienced the same intensity when his gaze pierced through mine. Time seemed endless as neither one of us looked away until the fog over my mind vanished.

  “I’m so sorry.” I backed away as my fingers laced through my hair. “I was going to get my ... Mona took it and ...” I leaned sideways as if I could point to Mona there.

  Surprisingly she stood at the top of the stairs with her arms crossed, looking giddy as a child holding cotton candy with her lips spread in a delighted smile.

  If I didn’t know better, I’d call her smug. Next to her was Bridget, her eyebrows arched upward in confusion. Had they been there all along, watching us?

  “Mona?” I clenched my jaw and walked toward her, Leonardo behind me. “Where did you go?” Then I mustered a sweet smile. “Hello, Bridget.”

  “Hello, Tyler’s aunt.” Bridget waved, keeping the same flustered expression.

  Mona took one step at a time down the stairs. “I put your bag away in your room as I said. I was going to introduce you to Mr. Medici, but you two were already ... talking.” She pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh.

  So Medici and not Banks. Why had Mona lied to me?

  My face burned. I took a quick peek at Leonardo next to me—Mr. Medici, now that he was my boss—and he was rubbing his neck.

  “I was trying to explain to Miss Chang that I was confused, that’s all.” Leonardo’s grin tugged up at one corner.

  Was he laughing at me?

  “It didn’t sound like he was,” I said to Mona.

  “Well, if Miss Chang would just stay put like a grown-up and let me explain, we wouldn’t be wasting time.” His voice was soft and calm, but his brow furrowed. Then, as if he realized his daughter was present, he said, “Bridget, everything is fine. This is Miss Chang. She’ll be taking care of you in place of Mona until she returns. We talked about this, remember?”

  Calling Abby to pick me up did cross my mind, but now that I knew who I would be working for and this unnerving situation had settled, I decided to stay. Two weeks. Nothing to it.

  Bridget nodded. “Yes, I remember. Does that mean Tyler will be staying over too?”

  Her blue, glistening eyes made me think of the ocean.

  “No, sweetheart. Just his aunt. Are you ready for school?”

  “Yes.” She bounced on the balls of her feet on the marble floor.

  She looked adorable in jeans and a purple shirt with unicorns on it. Her hair was braided in two sections tied with pink and white ribbons. Her white Mary Jane shoes reminded me of the ones I’d had when I was little.

  “Wait. Who is Roselyn?” I asked Mona.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, that. Mr. Medici will explain. Well, I have to go, my ride is here. Mr. Medici, your dry cleaning is in your room. Look again in your closet. I set it to the side. And Miss Chang, Mr. Medici can tell you everything I was going to tell you. Unfortunately, I’ll be late if I don’t go now. And Bridget, you need to get to school.” She shouldered her purse and scurried to the front door.

  Mona sounded like a mother who had just given strict orders to her two children before leaving for work.

  “Have a good day, sweetheart. I’ll call you tonight.” Leonardo got to his knees and embraced his daughter. “I love you.”

  Bridget nestled her head into the crook of his head and neck. “Have a safe trip. I love you, too.”

  The tender loving interaction tugged my heart and my vexation eased.

  “Come on, dear. I’ll take you to Phillip. He’s waiting for you outside.” Mona took Bridget’s hand and guided her toward the door.

  “Is Miss Chang going to pick me up?” Bridget asked, her feet scurrying to keep up with Mona.

  Before I could answer, Mona said, “No, Phillip will. Everything stays the same. Oh, Miss Chang, don’t forget to put the chicken in the oven at four and take it out by five thirty.”

  Mona closed the door, but it sounded more like a slam in the dead quiet. Then they were gone, leaving Mr. Medici and me by the stairs.

  “Let’s start over?” Leonardo’s eyes widened, almost pleading, and then he extended a hand.

  “Sure.” My traitorous gaze settled on his unbuttoned shirt when I shook his hand. I lowered my eyes so he wouldn’t notice.

  But he did.

  He began to fasten buttons as he spoke. “Mona started dinner for you and Bridget. I won’t be home for dinner. Actually, I’m not going to be home for a couple of days. When I come back, I’ll be home a day or two. You’re welcome to go home during those days if you’d like.”

  “Great. Thank you.” I paused to figure out how to ask what I needed to know. “How about Mrs. Medici? Will she be around or on the trip with you?”

  I didn’t know how to ask about his significant other. Nobody had mentioned anything about Bridget’s mother. I hadn’t seen anyone besides the three of them, but perhaps Mrs. Medici was packing for the trip.

  “No. There is no Mrs. Medici,” he said flatly.

  Strange. Mona had indicated during the tour that the household had two parents.

  “Oh.” I tried to make nothing of it and keep my tone neutral. “So, Banks? Roselyn? Could you explain, please?”

  His gaze lowered to the marble floor and then back to me. “I’m sorry for misleading you, but if we had told applicants my real name when they interviewed, news would have spread fast. I wanted people to apply with genuine interest for the job, not curiosity about me.”

  A man of his status and money probably got a lot of attention from people, including those with an angle. I’d already seen how women, like Jessica Conner, worked hard to get his attention.

  “Anyway, I left my cell number with emergency contacts just in case on the kitchen counter. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call. Also, if you wouldn’t mind, please text me your number.”

  “Of course.”

  “Thank you.” He gave a polite nod and finished buttoning up his shirt.

  “You were asking Mona for your dry cleaning, right? Did you want to change your shirt?” I pointed at his shirt pocket.

  He glanced down at the small yellow stain, the reason he’d been taking off his shirt in the first place.

  “That’s right.” He furrowed his brow. “That’s what I get for being in a hurry. Thank you for the reminder. I’m going to change and then leave. Have a good day.”

  “You too.” I watched him strut up the stairs maybe longer than I should.

  My pulse finally slowed to a steadier beat, but the warmth from Leonardo Medici’s skin lingered on my hands.

  Chapter Sixteen — Snooping

  After Leonardo left, I wanted to check out the chicken Mona wanted me to bake. As I headed to the kitchen, I did a double take in the family room.

  A large framed photo of Bridget wearing a white ruffled dress hung over the mantel. A small beaded tiara crowned her long locks that flowed over her shoulders. It hadn’t been there the last time, and neither had the photos in the cabinet.

  One that caught my eye was a picture of baby Bridget and Leonardo hugging. I smiled, then wondered about the mystery of Bridget’s mother.

  When I had come for an interview, there had been no photos, which I’d thought was strange, but now it all made sense. If an interviewee recognized the people in the photos, they would know who lived here.

  I went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. A silver baking tray sat on a tidy shelf, and I pulled it out to sniff. Not only had she seasoned the chicken, she’d left me simple baking instructions and the times to put it in the oven and when to take it out.

  “You are good at your job, Mona,” I said.

  Having time to kill, I washed the frying pan and a few dishes. Then I roamed about downstairs, opening all the doors. There was a fitness room Mona hadn’t showed me before. The last door led to a laundry room as big as my sister’s family room. Then when I thought I knew every nook and cranny of the first floor, I went to the second.

  I took the sweeping staircase and glanced between the left and right hall. The left led to the master bedroom Mona hadn’t offered to show me the last time I was here, and the right led to the other rooms.

  I gravitated toward the left. No one had told me I couldn’t go in Leonardo’s room. A quick peek wouldn’t hurt. Besides, I was the nanny and I needed to know every inch of this mansion.

  Just as I swung the door open, I wondered if there were cameras in the house. I also wondered if Leonardo had some kind of app on his phone to monitor the cameras that might be scattered about.

  Some of my friends had doggie cameras. They’d shown me the funny things their pets did when owners weren’t around. Not only could they monitor the rooms, but they could broadcast their voices through a smart speaker.

  Too late.

  My pulse kicked up, but I told myself Leonardo was on his private plane and too busy to spy on me. Bridget wasn’t even home yet, and Leonardo had things to do, like not be late for his meeting. Wherever he was going. I hadn’t even asked—not that I needed to know.

  There was no portrait in his neatly made master bedroom. Only the king-size bed, cherry-wood dresser to the right, a large flat screen television across from the bed, and a painting hung to the left.

  I marveled at the painting, so familiar that I knew every detail of the colors and strokes. I went closer and sure enough, my signature was on the right corner.

  Leonardo had bought my painting? He thought my painting was worth hanging in his bedroom? I couldn’t believe this.

  I’d felt like half of me was missing when Abby had told me she’d sold it a couple of years ago in New York, but she hadn’t told me who had bought it. But then again, I hadn’t known Leonardo then. If she had told me the buyer’s name, it wouldn’t have meant anything.

  An artist pours their heart and soul into their craft, and it was always difficult to part with any creation, but this one, My Soulmate, meant the most to me.

  I recalled the night that had given me the inspiration for the piece. The night sky had been filled with stars and I’d pulled over on my way home to study them.

  The leftmost star was me, and the farthest right star was my soulmate, whoever he might be. I’d once believed it was Jayden. How wrong I had been. I wasn’t sure if I believed in soulmates anymore.

  Abby had sold a handful of my paintings before, but never to someone I knew. It felt strange knowing he had my favorite.

  Do I tell him?

  Feeling like I had overstepped my boundaries, I made my way out and shut the door. I went to Bridget’s room next, which was awash with sunshine, the window facing the grand backyard.

  The giant stuffed unicorn with a rainbow-colored horn still sat at the back corner, and her pink unicorn bedding hadn’t changed. I’d half-expected the room to be transformed into something entirely different.

  Dainty white furniture embellished her room. The bed, the dresser, a desk, and a bookcase were all the same as before, only now there were photos on her dresser. One was of Bridget and a beautiful woman. She must be her mother. They both had the same blue eyes, blonde hair, and similar features. I’d thought the woman I had seen at the plaza was his wife, but the women looked nothing alike.

  The second photo was of the three of them, Bridget, Leonardo, and the woman. They were at the beach, and they looked so happy. I wondered what had happened.

  Most couples shared custody after a divorce, shuttling the kid back and forth from week to week. Not a word about Bridget going to her mother’s within the two-week span I had been hired to stay.

  I needed to stop being nosy. None of my business. Take care of the kid for two weeks and that was all. Simple enough.

  I startled when my phone vibrated silently in my back pocket. I had forgotten I had put it there. It was a text from my sister. She said she had something to tell me and that I should message her back. She knew I’d be annoyed with her for checking up on me so soon.

  The never-ending dots indicated she had a lot more to say. Why didn’t people just pick up the phone and call? I was guilty of it too. So I sat on the edge of the mattress and called her.

  “Hello. Kate?” She sounded hesitant.

  “I’m calling to let you know I’m still alive.”

  “Uh hum.” My sister cackled through the phone.

  “What’s so urgent? But I have something to tell you too, so you first.”

  She sighed like she had a mouthful to say, something I wouldn’t like. “Okay. Don’t get mad, but I did some snooping around.”

  Starting with “don’t get mad at me” didn’t bode well. I wanted to tell her she had to stop meddling with my life, but she was my older sister. She always had my back. And grieving her husband might make her even more overprotective of those she had left. So I listened.

  She continued, “Anyway, one of my friends, who knows Jessica Conner—”

 

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