From Nanny To Wife (14 page)

"We tell William, Maggie and Gordon the truth." Ryan leaned forward. "No one else can know that includes Pam. When we leave this house the marriage has to look real."

"And sweet little Zoe," Hope said. "What do we tell her?"

"Nothing for right now," Ryan said. "She wouldn't understand and I don't want to confuse her."

Hope nodded. "I can't think of anything else to ask you. I do have a few conditions."

"Of course you do," Ryan said dryly. "Let me hear them."

Hope arched a brow. "Not if you're going to take that tone of voice."

"I'm sorry."

Hope gave in to the urge to touch Ryan and reached for his hand. As always a tingling sensation spread up her arm. "If we're going to make this work I want us to be equal partners. That means,
Ryan,
I want to be included in the decision making around here."

"What else?"

"I don't want to be married to a stranger." Hope gave his hand a squeeze. "I want to know you. That means you're going to have to trust me and let me in. Those are my conditions."

"You're asking for a lot."

"So are you," Hope whispered.

Ryan's eyes met Hope's. "I will try, that's all I can promise you. Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

Ryan grabbed his suit coat from the arm of the couch and retrieved a ring box out of the pocket. He took the diamond ring out of the box and slipped it on Hope's trembling finger. It was a perfect fit.

Chapter 1
5

Hope pulled up in front of Kendall Industries the next day and killed the engine. She got out and opened the back door. Sticking her upper body inside, she unbuckled Zoe from her car seat and helped her out of the car. Hope knelt down in front of the little girl and buttoned up her coat. Once she was done, she took her mitten-covered hand, straightened up, and led her toward the entrance.

Hope and Zoe entered the building and made their way across the large lobby to the elevator. They passed a security guard who was talking on his cell phone. He nodded his head in greeting and Hope nodded back. At the elevator, Zoe insisted on pushing the button. When the doors slid open, she raced inside. Standing on her tiptoes in front of the control panel, she reached up to push the buttons.

"Not so fast, little one," Hope said, stepping inside the elevator. "We don't need to go to all the floors. Push this one." She pointed to one with a number five on it. "That will take us to the top floor where your Daddy is."

Zoe jabbed the button with her finger and moved closer to Hope as the elevator began to ascend. The doors parted a minute later and they walked out into the reception room to find Pam and Harvey talking.

"Zoe," Pam said, rising from her chair. She came around the desk and bent down to give the child a hug. "Hi, sweetheart. Are you here to see your Daddy?"

"Yeah," Zoe said, nodding her head enthusiastically.

Pam smiled at her. "You can see him in a few minutes." She glanced at Hope. "His meeting is running a little late."

"That's fine. We don't have anywhere we need to be." Hope turned toward Harvey. "Hello, Mr. Finch."

"Please, it's Harvey." He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. "Mr. Finch is my father."

"Harvey it is." Hope raised her hand and brushed her hair out of her face.

"Is that an engagement ring on your finger?" Pam asked.

"Yes," Hope answered.

Harvey grinned. "Now I know why Kendall told me to stay away from you. He wanted you for himself."

Pam grabbed Hope by the arm and all but dragged her to a corner of the room. "What do you think you're doing?"

Hope frowned. "Would you mind being a little more clearer?"

"Mr. Kendall," Pam muttered. "You're marrying him?"

"I am," Hope answered.

"I thought I told you to guard your heart against him," Pam said.

"I tried," Hope told her, "but the heart wants what the heart wants."

Pam sneered. "Apparently you didn't try hard enough."

"Why are you so angry?" Hope asked.

"Because you're making a big mistake." Pam sighed. "He's going to hurt you." She worked her bottom lip between her teeth. "Do you love him?"

At that moment, the door to Ryan's office opened and he walked out with several businessmen. Hope stood there and watched him as he spoke with the men. It was obvious to anyone who could see that he was the one in control. He was the type of man that exuded power. Ryan glanced in Hope's direction and their eyes met. His gaze held warmth that made her weak in the knees.

"You didn't answer my question?" Pam said quietly.

Hope turned her head and looked at Pam. "What question?"

"Do you love, Mr. Kendall?"

Hope searched her heart for the answer. Did she love Ryan? She gazed his way once more and saw he was holding Zoe in his arms. The sight of him kissing the little girl on the temple brought a lump to her throat. He was such a loving and caring father. Hope realized she wanted some of that love and attention for herself.
I've fallen in love with you, Ryan. Will you ever return those feelings?

"I'm waiting," Pam said.

"Yes," Hope whispered. "I love him. You're right; he could end up hurting me. I'll take that chance. Life can be painful, Pam, but that doesn't mean people should close themselves off from love. Living in fear of getting hurt is no way to live. Believe me, I know."

"Why him?" Pam asked. "Why Ryan Kendall? You're a beautiful woman, Hope. I've seen the way men look at you. You could have anyone you want."

Hope laughed humorlessly. "Sure I can. I can't have children. Most men want a family, Pam. I can't provide one. That doesn't matter to Ryan."

"He says that now, but-"

"He's ready for us, beautiful Hope," Harvey interrupted.

Hope turned and saw the men heading toward the elevator. "I don't want to talk about this anymore," she informed Pam. "I appreciate your concern, but I've made up my mind." She crossed the reception room and stopped in front of Ryan. Moving in close, she pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Tell me what I did to deserve that and I'll do it more often," Ryan said his eyes sparkling. "Why is Pam glaring at me?"

"She doesn't approve of our engagement," Hope mumbled. "She thinks you're going to hurt me." She took Zoe from Ryan, kissed the tip of her nose, and set her on her feet.

"Get in here, Harvey," Ryan said. "I want to know what happened between you and Laura's attorney."

Harvey followed everyone into the office and shut the door behind him. "Laura's attorney's name is Skip Dickerson. He's a dick-"

"Language," Hope said. "We have a young one in our midst." She settled Zoe at the long conference table with a coloring book and crayons.

"Sorry," Harvey said, grimacing. "Skippy was a jerk."

"What did the little jerk have to say?" Ryan asked, perching on the corner of his desk.

"He said we're going to lose." Harvey shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "Do you believe the nerve of that little pri- jerk? He went on to say Laura would make a better parent and that the little one should be with her mother, not a nanny."

Ryan crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Hope has been more of a mother to my daughter these past few months than Laura has ever been."

"He started to play the family card with me," Harvey said. "He wasn't too happy when I told him you and Hope are to be married. By the way, when will the sad occasion take place?"

Ryan arched a brow. "Sad occasion?"

Harvey winked at Hope. "Sad for me."

"We haven't set a date yet," Hope said, watching Zoe color a picture of a pumpkin.

"The sooner the better," Harvey stated. "You know, it wouldn't hurt if you two were to have a child. I think it would help your case. It-" He broke off as his cell phone started ringing. "I'll just shut this off."

"Step outside and answer it," Ryan said.

"I won't be long," Harvey said, striding toward the door.

Hope left Zoe's side and walked over to the enormous window behind the desk. "Harvey's right," she said softly.

"He's right about what?" Ryan asked, joining her at the window.

"It would help if we had a child." Feeling inadequate, Hope hung her head in shame. "I'm sorry I'm defective."

"Don't say that," Ryan growled. "You are not defective. We don't need a child for the judge to see that Zoe belongs with us."

Hope shifted her gaze from the view before her to Ryan. She noticed he had a piece of lint on his suit coat and reached up to remove it. "Are we doing the right thing, Ryan? Can we make this work? Not knowing what lies ahead scares me."

"I believe we're doing the right thing." Ryan touched Hope's cheek. "We can make this work if we focus on Zoe and our love for her. Everything will be fine. I refuse to believe otherwise."

"Thank you for talking me through my doubts." Hope smiled weakly. "I assure you I'm not always this negative."

"I know you're not."

"When did you want to tell Maggie and the others?" Hope asked.

"I all ready did," Ryan said. "I told them last night."

"They haven't said anything about it to me," Hope said, looking over her shoulder at Zoe. The child was still coloring in the book. "How did they take the news?"

"About the engagement or Laura suing for full custody?"

"Both," Hope muttered.

"They were angry that Laura is suing for custody," Ryan said. "There were mixed feelings about the engagement. Maggie feels that marriage should be between two people who love each other, not a business deal."

Hope stared at Ryan. Did he think of their upcoming marriage as a business deal? God, she hoped not. She knew if she didn't ask him it would eat away at her. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. "Do- do you think of our upcoming marriage as a business deal?"

"On some level, yes. " Ryan ran a hand through his all ready disheveled hair. "I'm good with business deals, Hope. I'm not good with relationships. It involves sharing yourself with someone and I'm not good at that. You share with someone and you're giving them the power to hurt you."

His words tugged at Hope's heartstrings. She laid a hand on his arm. "I won't hurt you, Ryan. I know you don't believe me now, but in time you will."

Ryan glanced at the hand on his arm and then at Hope. Without saying a word, he leaned in close and brushed his lips across hers.