Chapter 4 I hang up with Gertrude smiling into my empty living room. It's after nine, and I'm home, in my little sleep shorts and a tank top, eating my premade salad I picked up at the market down the street. She'll cover the position starting the day after tomorrow. She needs a day to get her affairs in order before she can move into Dimitri's home. I know Dimitri was hoping for tomorrow, but this is a very quick turn around and I hope he's pleased. Even thinking about him makes me warm all over and I throb again between my legs. I shake my head, wondering if my body has gone into complete revolt over the whole twenty-five-and-celibate thing. I stand, starting to pace the room as I look down at my phone. I need to call Dimitri, but his voice is going to further amp my overwrought system. I clear my throat, remind myself to be a big girl, and push his name, having added his number into my phone this afternoon. It rings several times and goes to voicemail. "Dimitri, this is Ava from Temps For You calling. Sorry for the late hour, but Gertrude has committed to working for the next two weeks as your nanny while we find you a more permanent placement. If you have any questions, call me. This is my cell so feel free to call anytime. Goodnight." I hang up, blowing out a big huff of air. Done. I didn't even have to speak with him. Though, even his voice message has the blood rushing in my ears. Just hearing that honey baritone... Phone still in my hand, I pick up the plastic container to toss it in the trash when my phone rings. I nearly jump out of my skin, the sound jars me so much. I look down, a jolt of energy coursing through me to see his name on the screen. I quickly toss the container in the recycling bin and pick up the phone. "Hello?" Shit. Why do I sound breathless? "Ava," my name in his voice makes me stop in the center of the room, my eyes sliding closed. He was gorgeous in person, but over the phone... I can just enjoy the sexual sound of his voice while I picture his face and those broad shoulders. No worries about actual touching or how I might freak out. This flash of fantasy zips through my mind of him holding me in his arms as he stands, my legs wrapped around his waist... A throb of pleasure so intense it nearly makes me gasp, tightens my muscles. "Hi, Dimitri." God. I sound like I feel. Needy. Wanton. I clear my throat, trying to get myself under control. "I got your message," he says, his low voice humming through me as I slide down onto my couch. "The day after tomorrow is excellent. Thank you." "You're welcome." I resist the urge to touch myself. This is a professional call. He's a client. "And Gertrude is a two-week option?" "I know for Anna's sake, consistency is better, but Gertrude is a wonderful short-term placement with forty years of experience, who will help train whoever takes over in two weeks." "I can see why you came so highly recommended." The deep, even tenor of his voice makes my body arch. God. I'm practically humping air. "That's very kind. Thank you." I clear my throat. "I told Gertrude to report at nine in the morning. She knows that this is a seven-day-a-week placement for the next two weeks. For your more permanent nanny, however, at least one day off a week is required by law. Like I said, if you need seven days a week coverage, two nannies will be necessary." "I understand. I'll consider everything you've said, and I look forward to meeting the candidates." He isn't having any trouble remaining professional. He sounds relaxed, at ease. Maybe he just doesn't feel the attraction I do. Which actually makes it easier for me to get myself under control. This isn't going anywhere and it's all in my head. "I'll start reviewing files tomorrow, I'll contact each of the candidates, gauge their interest in the position and their suitability as well. Once I've narrowed it down to three or four possibles, we can conduct interviews together at either your home or my office. Your choice." "Excellent, Ava. I look forward to it." "Good." "But also..." His voice gets deeper, richer, and I go completely still. "I look forward to seeing you again as well." My lips part as I try to mentally calculate what that means. It's personal but not too personal. Like I can't tell him I don't date, but it requires some sort of response. "Thank you?" He chuckles low and deep. "Until then." And then he hangs up. I pull the phone from my ear, looking down at the screen. I'm going to be giving my vibrator a workout tonight. In my dreams, my fantasies, I'm not afraid of a man's touch. I don't worry about being hurt. In fact, I do all manner of dirty deeds with men that are tall, dark, handsome and masculine. And now, I think my dream man is going to change to one who has a touch of gray at the temples. If only I could get out of my own head and enjoy a man's touch for real. But it doesn't matter because it will never happen. Sighing, I open my phone, staring at his name. Even looking at the letters typed in my phone makes me flush. I might just go to bed... I toss the phone on the couch, flopping back. I cannot use him as fantasy fodder. I have to face him, conduct interviews with him, maintain some semblance of professionalism. I grab the remote, turning on the television. I ought to keep my focus on Cadence, though Steve's words calmed many of my fears. She planned this. She's probably gone on some epic adventure. She might need to dry out in rehab after, but this isn't a crisis. Not finding anything on the television I want to watch, I pull out the files I brought home to review for a long-term nanny for little Anna Ivanov. I sort several of them into potential candidates or definitely not. Finally, around eleven, I quit and go to bed. My sleep is restless, filled with dreams about Cadence and then Dimitri. When my alarm finally goes off at six, I'm relieved to just get up. I pull on my workout clothes and head down to the gym in my building and then return to my apartment for coffee and a yogurt parfait. Showering and dressing in my favorite dress pants and a cute draped, silky shirt, I collect up my work from the night before and head to the office. The bus ride isn't too long, and I've given up trying to work with the bus stopping and starting so I stare out the window. I was up early enough that I put rollers in my hair and it hangs down my back in loose waves that I always love. The bus arrives at my stop, and I slide out of my seat and down the aisle. "Bye, Harry. Have a good day," I call to the driver. "You're a peach, Ava," he responds with a wink. Harry is in his sixties and nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. I grin back over my shoulder, but as I look forward again, I stop dead as I run into a solid wall of chest. I gasp, my hands coming up to meet hard muscle, my eyes snapping up to meet a familiar gaze. Dimitri. His arm wrapping around my back. That's when my surprise turns to fear, my eyes going wide as the color surely drains from my face. I try to yank back, but his grip is too tight. I can feel my chest tighten, my breathing becoming erratic as my vision tunnels. "Ava," he says in that even, calm voice that settles me enough that I don't start thrashing wildly. "Dimitri," I croak out. "I didn't see you. I thought..." And then I look down to see Anna strapped in a stroller next to us. The sight of her makes me relax as I swallow down my fear, easing back from his large frame. That's when I realize the bus hasn't pulled away yet. "You all right, Ava?" "Fine, Harry. Thanks." Now my cheeks are infused with heat as I shake my head at my own stupidity. I've made a fool of myself. "I did not mean to frighten you. My apologies." Dimitri's hand is still at my waist, and I take another step back so I'm out of his reach. "It's fine. I just didn't see you. It's my fault. I wasn't looking." I try for a bright smile but I'm out of sorts and I'm sure my lips just look stretched thin. "Come," he says, holding out a single hand to me. "Sit for just a moment. Recover yourself." I shake my head. "I should..." "You should take a few breaths." I'm shaky enough that I nod. His hand at my back, he pushes the stroller with one tattooed hand, crossing the street and opening the door to a shop. The smell makes me pause, the sweet scent of pastries delightfully comforting as is the beautiful case of treats displayed before me. My mouth drops open. "How have I not been in this place?" Dimitri leads me to a chair, then unstraps Anna. "It's run by a distant cousin of mine on my mother's side and happens to be a favorite of both Anna's and mine." Anna, let loose from the stroller, makes a beeline for the case, hands and face pressed to the glass that separates her from the pastries. I lean back in my chair, drawing in a deep breath as Dimitri follows his daughter. An older man comes out of the back and embraces Dimitri, thumping him on the back. It hits me. When I first saw Dimitri, I thought...that maybe he was following me. It's his intensity. Or his tattoos. They're seriously aggressive. But clearly, he was coming here and us running into each other was a coincidence. Have I passed him before? Not even noticed? That makes me relax as I let out a long slow breath. "Alex, this is my new friend, Ava. She's helping us find a nanny for Anna." I start to stand but Dimitri's hand comes to my shoulder, settling me gently back in the chair. But this time I don't panic under the weight of it. It doesn't feel predatory, but protective and if anything, I relax under his touch. I think it might be the first time in my life that's ever happened and I want to melt into him. "It's nice to meet you, Alex," I say, starting to recover myself from the fear that stole my breath on the street. I find myself reaching up and wrapping my fingers around Dimitri's wrist. I can feel his pulse, strong and constant under my fingers and my cheek bends toward his arm. "And you, Ava," Alex says, his accent much thicker than Dimitri's. With a wink, he whisks Anna up in his arms and carries her behind the case, allowing her to choose her treat. Dimitri doesn't sit. Instead, he bends down, keeping his hand on my shoulder, as he whispers close to my ear. "You're all right, milaya. Nothing will hurt you here." I have no idea what the Russian word means but I lay my cheek on his forearm, my eyes sliding closed. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. It's not anything you did, it just happens sometimes." "What happens?" But I can't answer as a plate of treats arrives on the table. "I'll get you both a coffee," Alex adds. "Raf. You'll like it, Ava." "What is it?" I ask, even as Anna toddles up to me, lifting her arms up, a treat in her hand. I pick her up without thinking, settling her on my lap so she can reach the other pastries. Dimitri's hand slides down my arm and then settles on my waist. It's intimate and comforting and I kind of want to sit in his lap the way Anna is in mine. "It's a sweetened coffee that tastes a bit like espresso." It sounds delicious. "Help yourself to a pastry," Dimitri squeezes my waist. "No one can bake like Alex." I do, taking a chocolate-covered sweet and helping myself to a large bite. I'm a healthy eater. With my curves, I gain weight pretty easily, but I can't resist taking another bite as the flaky chocolate goodness melts in my mouth. It's like the pastry is feeding my soul. Or maybe that's Dimitri. He chuckles. "I should make you eat about ten of these." "Why?" I wrinkle my nose, even as he reaches up his other hand and swipes his thumb at the corner of my mouth, removing a tiny bit of chocolate. I flush at the intimate touch, my chin dipping as I kiss the top of Anna's head to hide my embarrassment. "Because. You'd look good if you filled out." Why does it not feel weird that we're discussing this? "Most of the world would not agree." "Most of the world is stupid." I smile around another bite even as Alex returns with two coffees and a juice in a straw cup. I spend enough time with small children that I steady the cup as Anna grabs with two hands, tipping the straw to her lips. Dimitri's hand slides between me and the chair, settling on the small of my back. "You're a natural with her." "Experience," I answer with a shrug. "I did a year as a nanny before I was promoted onto full-time staff.' Dimitri, who is still squatting, leans over to kiss Anna's cheek. But it means his jaw slides across my breast, my nipple instantly peaking. My silk shirt is thin enough, it's totally obvious and I'm mortified. But he only gives me a slight smirk, his eyes full of a mischief that makes me ache as he says, "Try your coffee, milaya." Automatically, I pick up the mug with one hand and take a sip. But I can hardly attend the flavor, my senses overloaded by the man who is still looking up at me like he knows the most beautiful secret.