Baby for the Billionaire(62)
“Is that what you think I’m after? A free vacation?” Laughter brightened her eyes. “No way, ace. I’m talking low-key. A little bungalow on one of the islands around here. Someplace modest where the three of us are tripping all over each other so we’re forced to bond.”
“Dangerous, all that bonding.”
Color dotted her cheeks and he could see the reflection of those moments in the playroom mirrored in her eyes. “Focus, Mason. I’m talking about bonding with Isabella,” she stated tartly. “Once we’ve spent some quality time together, we can come back here. It would help if you could transition to working part-time and hang around here with your niece the rest of the day.”
“Hell, honey. If I do all that, what am I paying you for?”
Annalise didn’t take offense, though her chin jerked upward an inch in open challenge. “You’re paying me to help Isabella adjust to a brand-new life, a life she didn’t expect or want or ask for. You’re paying me to get CPS off your back, although you neglected to mention that small detail during our interview.”
“Sorry.” He scrubbed his hands across his face. “You’re right, of course. I’m not handling this well. Blame it on exhaustion.”
It took her a minute to work out the reason. “Isabella’s nightmares?”
He nodded. “It’s hard to get her settled afterward. I’m down to about five hours a night. She can sleep during the day to make up for it, but I can’t.”
“That explains a lot. Isn’t there someone who can cover for you at night? What about the woman you mentioned during the interview?” She fumbled for a name.
“Mrs. Walters?”
“She’s here five to ten but refuses to live in. And I’ve had enough trouble finding someone for the day shift without running the risk of losing Walters. I need her for those occasions I work late or have a meeting out of town. Besides, the nights I’m with Isabella …” His mouth compressed. “You’ve talked about my bonding with my niece. Well, the nights when I sit with her, comforting her while she drifts back off to sleep, those are the times we come closest to bonding.”
Annalise nodded in perfect understanding. “And you don’t want to give them up.”
“No.” His response caused a hint of relief to flicker across her face. His back teeth clenched. “My guardianship of Isabella isn’t just about duty, Ms. Stefano, despite what you clearly believe.”
A smile quivered at the corners of her mouth. “Do you realize that whenever you’re annoyed with me, you revert to formality?”
“Take it as a warning.”
Annalise’s smile grew and Jack stared in disbelief. Why didn’t she react the way every other intelligent person within his sphere of influence did when confronted with the predatory side of his nature? She should be quaking in her sensible flats. She should be utterly intimidated by the slightest frown. Hell, she should be doing precisely what he said without a single word of argument. Instead, she helped herself to another olive and popped it in her mouth as though lounging across from a man capable of destroying her world was an everyday occurrence.
“Do you have no sense of self-preservation?” he demanded.
She blinked, mildly startled. “Excuse me?”
“You are familiar with my name, I assume? With my reputation?”
She frowned. “Sure. Who isn’t?”
“What, may I ask, do you know about me?”
She shrugged. “You’re thirty. You’re rich. Powerful. You were supposed to go into the family business with your father. Instead you walked away. When you were cut off from the Mason purse strings, you built an import/-export empire from scratch that succeeded in eclipsing your father’s in the business world. You’ve been linked, romantically, with some of the most beautiful women in the world.” She blinked at him in open bewilderment. “Is it important that I know your history? Will it help somehow with Isabella?”
He gritted his teeth. “No, but it should help in our dealings.”
Her eyes narrowed, then widened. Her mouth gave another betraying quiver before she bit down on her lip to suppress it. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Mason. Have I neglected to treat you appropriately?”
“Instant obedience to my every whim would be appreciated,” he responded dryly.
A gurgle of laughter escaped. She leaned forward and pitched her voice to an ingratiating purr. “Very well, sir. Your every wish is my command, no matter how boring and tedious all that instant gratification may become.”