Page 8 of Innocent Salvation

He whipped the white napkin across his lap and began to eat his eggs and toast. Fleur filled the silence, not letting him get a word in as she ate, and he knew he should be stricter about her talking at breakfast as his parents had been, but he loved the sound of her chatter. His home had been so quiet and dead, now it was filled with life.

The doorbell rang and he glanced at the clock. The new nanny candidate wasn’t due until nine am and it was only eight-forty-five. Standing, he went to the entranceway to see Mrs Lewis letting someone inside. He couldn’t see from where he was what she looked like, so moved forward as Mrs Lewis stepped back.

He scowled at seeing her, and as his body tightened in unwanted lust at the sight of the woman, he knew she’d never work out. A woman who could evoke such a strong reaction in him wasn’t a good person to have around.

She was petite, barely over five feet, with blonde hair that looked almost white and blue eyes that danced like ice diamonds. Pink lips full and ripe but slim build with just the hint of curves. She was nothing like his type and yet he wanted to strip her down in this hallway and find out if she tasted as sweet as she looked. If the twinkle in those eyes was as bright when she came from his touch. No, this wouldn’t do.

“Ah, Mr Alexander, there you are. This is Ms Goubert, the new candidate for the nanny position.” Mrs Lewis was smiling in encouragement, and it made the frown between his brows deepen.

He didn’t know what to say. He was a powerful man, but words failed him as she stepped forward, her head barely reaching his shoulder and offered her hand. He took it and gave it a quick shake and a grunt of greeting before he pulled away, her touch sending electricity through his skin and up his arm. He wondered if she’d been affected but found he couldn’t read her in the least, another thing he didn’t like.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr Alexander.”

He detected a very slight accent in her voice and wondered how long she’d lived in the UK. Her voice was soft and had a happy, confidant quality to it which annoyed him because it instantly brought visions to mind of them laughing together. Steeling his features and emotions back under control, he locked his eyes on Ms Goubert.

He was about to send her away when her face lit up with a smile that took his breath away, and she crouched as Fleur came skidding past him to stop just in front of the woman. His hand shot out to stop Fleur from getting too close, his overprotective streak even more pronounced since the incident with Ms Moss.

“Hi, I’m Snow. What’s your name?”

He glanced at Fleur who was wearing a similar expression to his own at the sound of the name she gave. His hand flexed lightly on the child’s shoulder, and he smiled at her with reassurance when she looked at him for permission.

“I’m Fleur Louise Alexander and I am this big.” Sebastian watched as Fleur held up four fingers indicating her age.

“Wow, that is big. You must be eating all your greens to get that big.”

“Uncy Seb says that if you eat your greens you get to be big and strong.”

Her eyes found his and again he couldn’t read them. It annoyed the hell out of him, although he did detect warmth in them and a tiny twitch of her full lips.

“Well, your uncle is correct.”

“Why are you called Snow? Snow isn’t a name.”

“Fleur.” Sebastian agreed but he wouldn’t have Fleur being rude to this woman even if her tenure would be short.

“It’s fine, I get it a lot.” Her eyes moved from him back to Fleur and he admired how she stayed focused on his niece at her eye level.

“Snow is a nickname, because of my hair. My friends say I can blend into the snow. My real name is Sabine.”

Sebastian rolled that answer around in his head and found he liked the idea of her being compared to the purity of snow. He’d always liked the snow, the quiet, the peace, and the pure beauty of it.

“Uncy Seb, can I have a nickname?” Sebastian pulled his gaze away from the woman who was now watching him intently and focused on his niece.

“You already do. I call you munchkin.”

He saw Fleur wrinkle her nose as if thinking and then patted his hand as if placating him. “It’s okay, I’ll think of one.”

Sebastian tried not to smile at her trying to let him down gently. “You do that. Now, why don’t you go in and finish your breakfast and let me speak with Ms Goubert for a moment?”

“Okay.”

Fleur turned and waved at Snow before she skipped away. He watched, schooling his features into the mask of ice he wore in the courtroom before facing Ms Goubert again.

She was standing tall and she still only reached his chest.

“Thank you for coming, Ms Goubert, but I’m afraid this won’t work out. I won’t be needing your services.”

Her blue eyes widened in surprise and disappointment and for a second, he felt the tiniest smidgen of guilt before he pushed it away. This was his home, and he couldn’t have a woman he found this attractive in it with him and his niece. He needed to stay on track and give all his attention to Fleur.