“Oh wow,” she sighed as it came into view.
Yeah, even I had to admit that it was pretty damn impressive. While I loved the house I’d grown up in—the mansion that Mom had decorated with such care—I’d gone for something simpler for myself. But simple could still be luxurious, if it was done right. Everything was clean, straight lines with tons of windows. The house was a deep gray, so it nearly disappeared on foggy days.
“You live in a…lair,” Nina breathed as we drove up the long driveway. “Are you a Bond villain?”
“Occasionally. Let’s just say you should avoid my basement.”
She laughed. “Got it.”
“Are we home, Daddy?” Noah asked in a sleepy voice as his eyes fluttered open.
“We sure are.”
“Hi, Miss Nina,” he added, like he was just remembering she was along for the ride as well.
“Hiya, sweetie,” she grinned at him, and they shared a moment.
Any concerns I’d been fighting off disappeared as I watched them. It didn’t matter how distracting it was going to be having her under my roof; she was exactly what my son needed.
“When are you going back to the boat?” Noah asked Nina.
It hit me that we’d be spending our time together shifting from faux married to employer and employee. Would Noah pick up on the difference between how we acted in public versus how we were at home? Maintaining equilibrium for him was going to be a delicate balance.
Nina reached over to squeeze his hand. “Oh, not for a while, bud. And let’s not worry about that now. We’ve got tons of fun times ahead of us. Right?”
“Right,” he said, with sleepy enthusiasm. “I’m happy.”
His eyes fluttered shut right as we came to a stop.
“Wow,” Nina sighed as she looked out the window. “Honey, I’m home.”
I chuckled. “Let’s get settled. Henry will be out to gather our things. Noey, you have to wake up.”
“Is Henry the guy who irons your black turtlenecks and keeps your hairless cat healthy?” Nina asked me as she tumbled out of the car.
“Excuse me?”
“The comic book villain vibe,” she insisted, pointing to my house. “Never mind, dumb joke.”
Noah finally stretched, yawned, and slid out of the car. “Hi, Henry.”
My house manager, Henry, came out on the front steps, beaming at us. “Welcome home. I trust you had a wonderful voyage.”
His voice still had the lilt of his native tongue, and even though I’d told him he didn’t have to wear a blazer, he still insisted on dressing up every day. He’d been with me for so long that his jet-black hair had faded to white.
“Miss Nina,” he continued, giving her a little bow. “I’m so pleased to meet you. I can assist with anything you might need, as can Josie our housekeeper.”
“It’s nice to meet you, thank you,” Nina answered, looking even more overwhelmed. She turned back to me. “Can you unlock the back door? I want to grab my?—”
“Please don’t trouble yourself,” Henry said quickly. “Come in and get comfortable; your luggage will be taken care of.”
She paused in the driveway like she wasn’t sure she could believe it.
“C’mon,” I assured her.
Noah trudged past us and up the front stairs.
“I’m going to play in my room for a little bit,” Noah said.
