His fingers jerked through his dark hair as he let out an exasperated breath. “I…the other night… I mean, yesterday morning…” He looked away, then blurted, “Why did he kiss you?”
“What?”
“This Bill guy. He kissed you. Why? It wasn’t really Ben was it?”
I laughed. “God, no. It was Ben’s brother, and his mother had left a letter for me before she passed away.”
“And thekiss?”
“Aiden, you made it very clear this morning where I stand in your life. I’m the nanny. Not a friend or a part of the family, which is fine. I’m finewith that. So why don’t we keep my private life just that?Private.”
Pulling my arm from his grasp, I walked back into the church. My heart was racing, and all I wanted to do was run. Run far away from everyone and everything.
Instead, I lifted my chin and walked back into the roomful of women I knew were fixin’ to pounce on me.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
EMMA
THE SECRET
Tammy rushed up to me first. “Are you okay?”
Smiling and putting on the practiced look ofmy life is perfect, I nodded.
“Yes. My ex-mother-in-law passed away and Bill, my ex-brother-in-law, was here to give me a letter she had left for me.”
Tammy stared at me, as if waiting for me to crack. “That was it? He couldn’t mail it? He had to come all the way here?”
I nodded. “He wanted to tell me in person. That’s all.”
We made our way back to the circle. The women were all talking about everything from feeling excited about the fall fair to volunteering for the children’s Christmas drive. I tried to stay focused, but my mind was everywhere. Bill had been here. Lee had died. Ben’s family knew he was abusive, just like my mother had.
The worst of it all, though, was Aiden not seeing me as anything but hired help. That hurt me the most, and I felt so foolish for that. I’d come to this particular town to start over. I wasn’t even looking for a relationship, and the first guy I meet, I catch feelings for. What was wrong with me?
“Emma?” I jumped when Rose touched my shoulder. “We’re done.”
With a grin, I stood. “Sorry, I was lost in thought.”
She nodded. “Would you like to go grab some coffee?”
“Oh, thank you, but no. I’ve made plans for the rest of the day.”
“Plans?” she asked, smiling. “With Aiden and Hadley?”
“No, I don’t work until tomorrow.”
My comment clearly threw Rose, and she tilted her head and gave me an inquisitive look. Before she could ask any questions, I started for the door.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, ladies,” I called out.
I left without giving anyone the chance to respond.
* * *
I was curled up on the sofa in my apartment as I sipped hot cinnamon tea. The last few weeks had been very different from those when I’d first started working for Aiden. I’d been keeping my distance from him, and he was doing the same. We were friendly toward each other, but a line had been drawn. I still had feelings for him, and some days it was a struggle just to look at him, but I’d learned to push the ache aside. I was here to do a job, and that was what I intended to do.
Hadley was a different situation. I was so head over heels in love with that little girl, it was beginning to scare me. She’d asked me to go trick-or-treating with her and Aiden tonight, and I’d politely declined. She was unhappy at first, but I was able to smooth it over by telling her how much fun she and her daddy would have.
