Nanny Makes Three(29)

“I hope the food is half as good as the decor,” Hadley commented, bending over Maggie’s carrier to remove the infant from her warm nest before she overheated.

“I assure you it’s much better. Chef Mongillo is a culinary genius.”

Since becoming Maggie’s nanny, Hadley had grown accustomed to the rugged rancher Liam was at home and forgot that his alter ego was sophisticated and well traveled. And by extension, his preferred choice of female companionship was worldly and stylish. This abrupt return to reality jarred her out of her dreamy mood, and she chastised herself for forgetting her role in Liam’s life.

Taking refuge behind the tall menu, she scanned the delicious selection of entrees and settled on an ahi tuna dish with artichoke, black radish and egg confit potato. The description made her mouth water. Liam suggested the blue crab appetizer and ordered a bottle of sauvignon blanc to accompany it.

She considered the wisdom of drinking while on duty, but deliberated only a few seconds before her first sip. The crisp white burst on her taste buds and her gaze sought Liam. The glint lighting his eyes was a cross between amusement and appreciation. Heat collected in her cheeks and spread downward.

She spoke to distract herself from the longing his scrutiny awakened. “This is delicious.”

“Glad you like it.” His deep voice pierced her chest and spurred her heart to race. “I’m really glad you were willing to come along this weekend.”

This is not a date.

“Are you kidding? You had me at snow.” She tried to sound lighthearted and casual, but ended up coming across breathless and silly. Embarrassed, she glanced away. The view out the window seemed the best place for her attention. What she saw made her catch her breath. “And speaking of snow...”

Enormous white flakes drifted past the window. It was so thick that it was almost impossible to see the storefronts across the cobblestoned street.

“It’s really beautiful. I can see why you come here.”

“I arranged the weather just for you.” As lines went, it wasn’t original, but it made her laugh.

Hadley slanted a wry glance his way. “That was very nice of you.”

“And I’m sure the guys will be happy to have fresh powder to ski.”

When the waiter brought their appetizer, Liam asked about the weather. “How many inches are you expecting?”

“I’ve heard anywhere from eight to twelve inches here. More elsewhere. It’s a pretty huge system moving across the Midwest.”

“That’s not going to be good for people trying to get in or out of here.”

“No. From what I’ve heard, the Denver airport is expecting to cancel most if not all of their flights tomorrow. I don’t know about Eagle County.” Which was where they’d landed a few hours earlier.

“Sounds like we’re going to be snowed in,” Liam said, not appearing particularly concerned.

Hadley didn’t share his nonchalance. “What does that mean for your guests?”

“I’ll have to check in with them tonight. They might be delayed for a couple days or decide to cancel altogether depending on how long the storm persists.”

“But...” What did she plan to say? If the storm moving in made inbound travel impossible, they certainly couldn’t fly out. Which meant she, Maggie and Liam were going to be stuck in Vail for the foreseeable future. Alone.

Hadley focused on the food in front of her, annoyed by her heart’s irregular beat. What did she think was going to happen in the next few days? Obviously her hormones thought she and Liam would engage in some sort of passionate affair.

The idiocy of the notion made her smile.





Seven

Liam knew he’d concealed his delight at being snowed in with Hadley, so why was she so distracted all of a sudden? And what was with the smile that curved her luscious lips?

He cleared his throat to alleviate the sudden tightness. “I take it you like blue crab?”

Hadley glanced up, and her eyes widened as she met his gaze. “Yes. It’s delicious.” Her attention strayed toward the window and the swiftly falling flakes. “It’s really magical.”

Her dreamy expression startled him. He’d become accustomed to her practicality and was excited that her professional mask might be slipping.

With the snow piling up outside, they didn’t linger over dinner. As much as Liam would have enjoyed several more hours of gazing into her eyes and telling stories that made her laugh, they needed to get Maggie home and tucked in for the night. His disappointment faded as he considered that they could continue the conversation side by side on the living room sofa. Without the barrier of a table between them, things could get interesting.