She’d never imagined being lost amid an inferno of lust and madness.
She’d also never imagined how difficult it would be to look a man in the eye after shamelessly begging for him, pleading for more.
So much for her vaunted boldness now. She’d become a puddle of bashfulness under Finn’s thorough regard.
“I see ye decided to stay and take me up on my offer.”
Aila frowned. Her train of thought and his were clearly on diversely divergent tracks. Becoming his children’s nanny hadn’t figured into the delay in her departure. In fact, it had been her plan to retrieve her dog and flee before he woke to avoid this moment. Yet somehow, she’d seized the weakest excuse to stay. One “Mistress Marshall, look! Rab knows how to sit!” had been all it took to give in. Just so that she might see Finn one last time.
To see if he had any regrets.
Because for all her self-consciousness, she hadn’t a one.
“Ye’re mistaken, Mr. Keeley.” She rose to her feet and made a show of dusting off her skirts, acutely aware of the return of the Furrow of Fury at her formal address. As she’d spent a good portion of the night crying out, “Finn, Finn, Finn!” like a bloody mantra, Aila could understand his bewilderment. Fine by her, she didn’t understand him one whit either. “I have no’ changed my mind. I merely came to fetch Rab and to say goodbye.”
Niall and Effie both howled in protest. Niall ran to his father and hung off one of Finn’s legs begging him to make her stay. Effie flung her arms around Rab, pinning him to the ground under her with a pitiful wail. Aila ignored them. As did Finn. His eyes shifted from her to her trunk not far away and back to her.
“Ye’re leaving?”
“Ye should consider my refusal a kindness.” Aila moved to her luggage, forcing a smile for Jean, who observed their interaction with wide eyes while absently spoon-feeding Fergus’s ear. “I ken nothing about caring for children.”
She hefted the trunk and turned, only to find Finn a foot away. He took the baggage from her and planted it back at her feet. “They dinnae need to be cared for, lass. They merely need a weather eye upon them to assure they come to nae harm.”
Jean snorted at that.
Aila merely shook her head. Not a care for her qualifications. No interrogations over her experience in early childhood development, no demands for samples of daily schedules including a well-rounded curriculum of educational activities combined with physical exercise. Aila had a preschool teacher friend with a master’s degree who couldn’t do enough to satisfy helicopter parents. Funny that a weather eye was Finn’s sole requirement for his children. It was a nice throwback to another era gone by when kids were allowed to be kids. To roam free, roughhouse, and even scrape a knee or elbow in the name of good fun.
If she weren’t so put out by his presumption, she might have been amused. She picked up the case again. “I appreciate yer clarification; however, I have neither the desire nor the weather eye required to accept.”
With a roll of his eyes, Finn snatched the trunk out of her hands. “Ye are eminently qualified for the level of effort necessary to supervise their play. Simply ensure their good health and all will be well.”
“I think no’.” Aila reached for the trunk again only to engage in a ridiculous bit of tug-of-war with him.
“That bit of baggage has become the singular amusement in my life,” Ian announced as he strode into the room. Aila released her hold, gratified to see Finn stumble a step before finding his footing.
The trunk found a spot on the floor once more.
“Mr. Keeley,” she ground out, aware of the five pairs of eyes glued to them. “May I speak with ye a moment in the hall?”
A muscle jumped in Finn’s cheek before he offered a stiff bow and swept an arm toward the door. “Excuse us, please.”
He trailed her out the door, a warm tantalizing shadow she hurried to distance herself from. A dozen steps down the hall, she heard the door shut with a thud and turned to confront him. Finn hooked an arm around her waist and pressed her back against the wall. His lips caught hers with all the fury and frustration that welled up in her.
She tore her mouth away before she surrendered to the whirlwind of passion that so readily threatened. “If ye think this will end up as it did before, ye have another thing coming.”
Chapter 12
If he were honest, Finn would admit that he wasn’t thinking at all. Pinning her sweet lithe body up against a wall for the second time in as many days had been the last thing on his mind when he’d followed her out of the nursery. Alas, the manner in which she walked — that purposeful stride softened by a sensual sway of her hips—had the same effect they’d had the previous night. As much as he enjoyed the view, he’d have to make a point of walking by her side or lead the way in the future.
If she were to stay.
For the life of him, he couldn’t imagine what compelled her to leave. Nor could he understand why he was so dead set on making her stay. He’d be far better off if she left. His body rebelled at the thought, but he knew it to be the truth. Her very presence made a muddle of his mind and sent logic to the winds. She tested his self-control and left him feeling rather testy with her and himself. He hardly recognized himself. In the past twenty-four hours he’d become a thoroughly unlikeable human being. Was it any wonder Aila wanted to leave him behind?
“Ye’re the most maddening lass.” Fully aware that the arch of her body against his and the way her fingers curling in his hair delivered a message contrary to her words, he lowered his mouth to her neck. Unable to stop himself, his lips teased at the sensitive spot he’d discovered the previous night that was guaranteed to reduce her to a puddle of desire.
What was he doing? Hadn’t he awoken resolute in his opinion that it would be best for her to leave? Shewantedto go. “Stay.”
Her chin brushed against his ear as she shook her head. “I will no’ do…oh —” with a gasp, she angled her head farther to the side “—something simply because it’s the traditional role for a woman.”
