Rowan knew he was there—that awareness gripped her. She didn’t look round, though, and waited for Zac to react when he saw him. He screamed and ran towards him, and she let him go before turning around herself—only to have her heart flip over in her chest. He was so gorgeous. He was dressed in a steel-grey suit, dark tie and an impeccable shirt, and his slicked-back hair was now fast becoming tousled by small hands.
Rowan felt shy and awkward. He strolled towards her, putting Zac down as he squirmed out of his arms. She wasn’t aware of how her eyes roved over him hungrily. Or of the surprised flare of response in his eyes as they were hidden by shades.
‘How did it go?’
Rowan smiled wryly as she automatically checked what Zac was doing before looking up. ‘Well, as it’s barely two hours since you last called, there’s nothing much to report.’
Isandro had to stop his reflex to return her smile. Instead he gestured to her arms, and the fading red marks from Zac’s slaps. ‘Zac?’
He saw her flush and quickly shake her head before stopping and smiling a little self deprecatingly. ‘He’s not aware of what he’s doing. It’s no big deal. He’s just testing his boundaries. I’m trying to make him see that he can’t …’ She crossed her arms and put her hands around the offending marks, suddenly scared. Would he think she’d hit him back?
Her immediate reflex to protect Zac surprised him. It was almost as if she hadn’t wanted him to know. ‘You handled him well. I saw you.’
Her mouth opened. Something cold settled into her chest. Of course he hadn’t trusted her for a second. ‘You mean you spied on me?’
He shook his head and removed his shades, his eyes so blue that they took her breath away. ‘No, I just saw you out of the window before I came out.’
‘Oh …’ Rowan bit her lip. ‘Then I’m sorry.’ She looked down at Zac again. ‘It’s time for his nap now.’
‘Why don’t you put him down and then meet me in my study? I have a couple of things I’d like to discuss with you.’
Like custody … or is the divorce through already? Rowan knew rationally that it couldn’t be, but it didn’t stop her heart from clenching. She just nodded and scooped Zac up into her arms to bring him inside. At the last second Isandro stopped her to bend down and kiss Zac’s head. His own head came close to her breasts, and Rowan could feel them respond. She closed her eyes weakly and willed him to step away. When he did, she set off on shaky legs.
A short time later Rowan knocked on Isandro’s door and opened it. He was on the phone, but gestured for her to come in. She felt too antsy to sit down, so she wandered around, looking at the books on the shelves, feeling all over the place. After a week of not seeing him? How pathetic was that? Especially when he so obviously despised her.
‘Sit down.’
She whirled around guiltily. She hadn’t heard him terminate his conversation. She sat down warily, with her hands in her lap, and forced herself to look at him steadily.
He leant back in his big leather chair for a second before standing up. All the air seemed to have contracted in the room as Rowan watched him approach. He was jacketless and tieless again. He sat on the edge of his desk and the action pulled the material of his trousers taut over one powerful thigh. She swallowed past a dry throat and hoped she had enough self-control not to let her eyes drop.
‘I’ve arranged for some nannies to come tomorrow for interviews.’
Rowan immediately sat up straight. ‘But—’
He silenced her with a hand. ‘It’s not a reflection on how you have cared for Zac this last week. I’m sorry I was away for longer than intended.’
Rowan shrugged and avoided his penetrating eyes. ‘It was no hardship—no work, Isandro. He’s my son. I’d take care of him every day if I could.’
He quelled a quick surge of irritation. ‘Well, we both know that’s not how things are going to work out.’
‘Yes. I know.’
He stood up then, as if restless, and paced the floor behind her. She had to turn awkwardly to look at him. He stopped and faced her, thrusting his hands into his pockets. He hadn’t planned on discussing this with her now, but somehow it felt right.
‘I would like it if you would sit in on the interviews. I don’t want a repeat of what happened with María, and perhaps you’ll be adept at seeing how qualified they are.’
Rowan stood too, to face him. She knew that it must have killed him to say that, and only his concern for Zac would have prompted it. However, this was the first time he’d accorded her anything approaching respect for being Zac’s mother. It made her voice husky. ‘I’d appreciate that. Thank you. But … if you feel that you’re not ready to hire another nanny I’m more than happy to keep looking after Zac.’