Baby for the Billionaire(65)
“I’m working on it.”
“Work harder. Does this one have the qualifications I suggested?”
“Yes. Not a lot of experience, but she does have the appropriate educational background.”
There was a delicate pause, then Derek asked,
“What’s she like?”
Jack’s focus strayed in Annalise’s direction again. “Different,” he stated succinctly.
“Good different?”
“Let’s just say that our marriage won’t be dull.” A sudden thought occurred to him. “Before I forget, I need you to contact our private investigator and have her thoroughly checked out. I know he did a preliminary run on all the applicants. Tell him to dig deeper on Annalise Stefano. I don’t want any surprises that might come back to bite us.”
“I’m on it. So, where are you going for your vacation?”
The question caught Jack off guard. “Come again?”
“I told Locke you were going away. That wasn’t just hot air. You’re going to have to actually do it.”
“I can’t afford the time right now.” He felt like a broken record.
“Find a way.” Before Jack could argue, Derek added, “What the hell do you think will happen if Locke discovers you’ve been going into work? She won’t be happy.”
“Damn it, Derek.”
“It’s either that or you take my earlier suggestion. Let Isabella go. You can find a good home for her. Then you can give your business all of your attention. You don’t have to marry. You don’t have to deal with CPS. No more headaches. No more stress.”
No more Isabella.
Jack closed his eyes. “Enough. I’ll do it.”
“Have a nice vacation.”
Jack snarled a final comment before flipping his phone closed and crossing the yard in long, ground-eating strides. Annalise and Isabella peered up at him with identical looks of curiosity.
“Good news,” he announced. “Pack your bags. The three of us are going on vacation.”
Four
Bright and early the next morning, Jack had all the luggage loaded and Isabella and Annalise installed in the car. She turned to him as they pulled down the driveway and smiled brightly.
“So, where are we going?” she asked.
He eased into the boulevard traffic before sparing her a brief glance. “You’ll be pleased to know that I took your advice. I’ve arranged for us to stay at a small bungalow on the beach.”
He was careful not to use the word vacation. When he’d said it the previous day, Isabella had reacted with something approaching hysteria. It wasn’t until Annalise made the connection between the word and the accident that had claimed the lives of Joanne and Paul that she’d been able to figure out a way to comfort his niece.
Annalise grinned. “A bungalow on the beach, huh? Sounds fantastic.”
“It’s not quite as modest as you requested,” Jack warned. “But I think it’ll do.”
“I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”
Her quiet confidence in his abilities affected him more than he cared to admit. He was thirty years old with a first-class education. He came from one of the oldest families in all of Charleston. He owned and operated a billiondollar international company with countless employees at his beck and call, most of whom were confident in his overall abilities. But for some reason, he responded to Annalise’s admiration like a cat being presented a bowl of cream. If he wasn’t careful, he’d start purring.
“Part of the problem is that I need someplace that will allow me Internet access so I can stay in touch with the office.”
“Of course,” she agreed. “Perfectly understandable.”
“And a location that protects our privacy.”
“An unfortunate aspect of your position in life.”
“Luckily, I have a friend who owns an estate with a guesthouse right on the water. He’s in Europe for the summer, so we’re welcome to stay for as long as we want. It’s only two bedrooms, but it has a kitchen.” A sudden thought struck. “Do you cook?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, now for the important question. Are you willing to? I realize it’s not part of your duties, but I’d be happy to compensate you for the additional work.”
“That’s not necessary.” Annalise turned her head to stare out the window. “I’m happy to help out.”