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‘I paid a nanny to understand her.’
‘It doesn’t sound like that worked out very well.’
‘Cassandra clearly wasn’t the right choice.’
‘Apparently not.’
The silence between them throbbed and every second that passed did something to Bea. She felt herself being pulled towards him, as though a ribbon was wrapped around her, dragging her closer. She resisted it, but the effort it took was monumental.
‘My brother is likely to be in hospital for another few weeks.’
Bea frowned at the swift conversation-change.
‘I need someone to help with Danica while she’s with me.’
‘Perhaps you can find a nanny who has more experience with unsettled babies? It’s quite a specific skillset, but if you let the agency know—’
He shook his head, moving towards her with urgency. ‘I’m not going to contact the agency again.’
Bea looked confused. ‘Then how will you find someone?’
Ares pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her as he’d done in the office earlier that day. Had it really only been a day? ‘I’ve already found her.’
Bea stared up at him, unable to think straight when he was so close.
‘Danica is a difficult child, you’re right. But you were able to calm her easily.’
‘That’s just experience.’
‘It’s experience I need.’
She stared up at him, her expression wary. He couldn’t possibly be suggesting...? ‘You do realise I have a job?’
His eyes glittered with ruthless determination. ‘Unfortunately, agápi mou, you showed your hand too early.’
Bea was silent.
‘We both know what my business means to the London Connection.’
Her heart stammered, her jaw dropping in surprise.
‘And we both know you’ll do almost anything to keep me happy.’
‘Ares,’ she whispered, a plea in her voice, ‘I was happy to help you tonight, but I can’t just walk out of my job—my real job—to play babysitter. No matter how cute the baby is.’ Or how sexy the uncle, she added mentally.
‘Unfortunately, I’m desperate. Otherwise I’d never think of blackmailing you into staying here for the month.’
‘A month?’ she repeated on a wave of something that was terrifyingly like excitement.
‘My brother’s treatment will take a few weeks, at least. Let’s say a month, to be safe.’
‘We can’t “say” anything, Ares. I’m not agreeing to this.’
‘Of course you are,’ he dismissed easily. ‘You have no choice.’
She shook her head.
He made a frustrated sound. ‘I would prefer not to bully you into this, Beatrice. Stay because we—I—need your help. Because I must do whatever it takes to help Danica. Stay because it’s the right thing to do, just like it was the right thing to help Priti finish her degree. Stay because I am desperate.’ He moved closer, his body finishing the intoxicating job his words had started. ‘Stay because you want to finish what we started on the boat tonight, and a month gives us ample time to do that.’
