“Look, I have enough to handle with two kids and a business. I don’t have time for a relationship or…whatever other kind of business you think we’re going to do.”

Danny’s eyebrows almost disappeared into the curls on his forehead. “A relationship?”

“That’s right.”

“Who the hell said anything about a relationship?”

“You just propositioned me.”

“The hell I did.”

Tessa wasn’t buying it. She crossed her arms and gave him her big-bad-mom stare. “Then what was all that bedroom stuff?”

Danny clenched his jaw, flushing to the roots of his hair, but whether it was embarrassment or anger, Tessa couldn’t tell. “I don’t need to proposition strangers to get them into bed. I need a babysitter.”

Dear Reader,

A close friend who had gotten divorced inspired this novel. She had two children in tow, and plunged back into the dating world only to discover that most of the men she dated had children of their own also. For me, this led to tons of fun questions such as: What if we get serious and the kids hate each other? What if the kids love each other and the man and I don’t get along? Then there is the babysitting problem—how can you ever see each other alone?

What better than to use the original situation’s potential and write a story about Danny Santori, a fireman, who is a widower with four kids, and Tessa Doherty, a landscape designer, who is a divorcee with two kids. Danny and Tessa have lost their summer babysitters at the last minute. They’re stuck until a friend comes up with the solution of putting them together.

The fun part of this was imagining all the antics of the children and their impact on the relationship. I called my local fire department and they rolled out the carpet so I could do the research. Plus, I got to hang around with firemen. What could be better than that?

Meg Lacey

The Fireman’s Christmas
Meg Lacey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meg Lacey first discovered romance in the sixth grade when she wrote her own version of Gone with the Wind. However, her writing career didn’t last. Instead she went into theater and studied acting and directing for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and, finally, ended up in television as a writer-producer.

Over the years, she also dabbled in a few other areas. She has been an actress, director, copywriter, creative dramatics teacher, mime, mom, college instructor and a school bus driver (and wow, are there stories in that experience). She started two creative marketing and media companies in the Midwest and worked in all media from network cable programming to corporate initiatives, but through it all, she’s always returned to writing. She has written for Silhouette Books as Lynn Miller and for the Harlequin Temptation line, and is now thrilled to join the Harlequin American Romance family.

She has three funny, mouthy, independent daughters who are now all married and creating chaos in someone else’s life. She also has two little grandchildren and a wonderful husband. Guy is her true hero—he’s survived life in a house with four women, two female cats and a female dog and can still remember how to tie his shoes. Without his marvelous sense of humor, patience and support, her life would be very different.

Visit Meg Lacey at www.meglacey.com.

Meg Lacey

To my friend Robin Graff-Reed

(aka Robin Wiete, Leanne Grayson)

for her continual support and inspiration.

To my husband, Guy, who keeps me sane

while I drive him insane; and to my daughters,

Jen, Sara and Jes, for the same reason.

To my agent, Karen Solem, who enthusiastically

welcomed me back from my writing hiatus.

Finally, to the men and women of the

Green Township Fire Department in Cincinnati, Ohio,

who were so generous with their time and knowledge.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter One

Danny Santori looked up from the résumé in his hand. “Thank you for coming over on such short notice, Mrs….” His mind went blank. What was her name again? Staring at the austere woman seated in his cluttered front parlor, he felt a smile stretch his mouth until he was sure he resembled a grinning monkey. It was a hot day in Warenton, Pennsylvania, but the woman opposite him was dressed as if it was early spring with her long-sleeved buttoned-up blouse and gray cardigan.

God, he hated this! It was a royal pain, interviewing babysitters, explaining his situation over and over again. He hated the fact that his wife wasn’t here to do it for him. Of course, if she had been, he wouldn’t be in this predicament at all. Laurie had been perfectly content to be a full-time wife and mother, and had even given up her job when Danny suggested it due to his schedule. Danny realized he’d been a lucky man—now he was discovering how lucky. He stared blankly at the stern face before him. “Uh, Mrs….”

The older woman gave him the once-over with narrowed, suspicious eyes, then dropped her gaze to the frayed Oriental rug sprawled across the scarred hardwood floor.

Her mouth pursed as if she’d just sucked a lemon. “My name is Peach. P-E-A-C-H. Miss.”

Danny blinked, unable to reconcile the sweet name with this sour woman. He wished her stare didn’t make him feel so much like an errant schoolboy. After all, he was supposed to be in charge here, wasn’t he? He stood, hoping to feel more at ease once he was on his feet.

“I understand from the agency that you can be here day after tomorrow, Miss Peach. That’s great, because my shift at the firehouse starts that day at 7:00 a.m. The kids probably won’t be up at that time, which is why I was glad you could stop by today so I can introdu—oooofff!”

Danny staggered, then righted himself to look down at the small, round body that had just wrapped itself around his left leg. His almost-four-year-old daughter hung on as if she were resisting a hurricane wind. “Emma, let go, honey.”

“Daddy,” she demanded, hugging harder. “Walk me.”

“Not now, Em. I’m talking to this nice lady.”

Emma just held on, staring up at him with that heart-wrenching smile and tousled blond hair that reminded him so much of her mother. Danny’s resistance sagged. “Okay, just once around.”

With Emma clinging like Velcro, he swung his leg wide and walked around the room, talking over his shoulder. “As I was saying, my shift lasts twenty-four hours, which is why I requested someone who can stay overnight. I take it this is okay with you?”

Miss Peach adjusted her black straw hat more squarely on top of her skinned-back gray hair. “Naturally the agency explained your needs in full detail.”

“Good. And you’re sure four kids won’t be too much for you to handle?”

Miss Peach drew herself up even straighter in her chair. “I have been under the employ of the agency for twenty-two years, Mr. Santori. I assure you that I am quite capable of maintaining order and discipline in your household.”

At her tone, Danny stopped walking, barely managing to keep his hand from flashing her a mock salute. Suddenly he wasn’t sure he wanted to subject his kids to this rigid, humorless woman. The problem was, he didn’t have much choice. Maybe he could suggest that she lighten up a bit. He reached down to peel Emma from his leg. “Okay, punkin, the ride’s over.”

Emma started to resist, but Danny headed her off. “Why don’t you find one of Mommy’s cups and we’ll give Miss Peach a cup of Daddy’s special coffee.”

Emma brightened. “The purple flower cups?”

“That’s right.” Danny patted her bottom. “Now scoot.”

Emma giggled and scampered through an arched entrance into the adjacent dining room. Danny smiled at Miss Peach and gestured toward an antique oak sideboard. “I keep a pot on all the time when I’m home. Firehouse habit, I guess.”

“I don’t drink coffee,” Miss Peach announced with an imperious shake of her head. “Caffeine, you know.”

“Yes, I know. Uh, isn’t that the point?” Danny’s frown was perplexed, but at her stern stare he added, “Can I offer you something else?”

“Fruit juice, if you have any.”

“Sure thing.” Danny prayed his refrigerator held something besides Kool-Aid. He went quickly to the kitchen, returning with a plastic pitcher in one hand and his own coffee mug in the other. “I have cherry Kool-Aid—will that do?”

“You have no juice? Juice is good for children, Mr. Santori.”

“The kids like this better, I think. It’s got lots of vitamin C and stuff.”

“Huuummph,” was her reply.

He started to speak but stopped short, following Miss Peach’s rapier gaze as it circled the room, cutting across every surface—or at least what surface could be seen beneath the clutter. He grimaced at the sight of mail and other papers littering the coffee table, at the pile of gym shoes tossed haphazardly into one corner, and at the packs of crackers stuffed around the antique silver service that decorated an old tea trolley. He remembered how delighted Laurie had been to find that, and wondered how long since it had been polished.

“Sorry the place is such a mess.” Danny shrugged sheepishly. He pushed aside a stack of magazines in order to set the pitcher and his mug on the coffee table. “The last babysitter quit rather unexpectedly last week. I called the agency right away, but I had to work last night….”

“What is that?” Miss Peach pointed to the wall between the kitchen and dining room.

Danny followed her gaze. “It’s a dumbwaiter. One of those elevator things that comes up from the old cellar where the summer kitchen used to be. These old houses—”

“I know what a dumbwaiter is,” Miss Peach replied. “I’m talking about that.”

He squinted at the crack where the dumbwaiter’s wood-paneled door met the frame. Was that a towel wedged in the opening? Despite his constant warnings, the boys must have been playing in the thing again. He’d started over to investigate when Emma’s chirping voice claimed his attention.

“I found it, Daddy.” She emerged from the dining room, cradling a cup and saucer protectively in her chubby arms as if they were more precious than gold. “I won’t drop it, will I?”

“Of course you won’t, punkin.” Danny resisted the urge to snatch up the delicate china, waiting instead until Emma proudly placed it in his hands. “Good girl.”

It seemed a sacrilege to fill the hand-painted porcelain with cherry Kool-Aid, but Danny didn’t care to question Miss Peach’s preference again. He handed her the cup and saucer, then picked up his own coffee mug. “When we’re done here, I’ll call in the rest of my crew. I’m sure you’ll find them a well-behav—”

“AIIIEEEE!” A piercing screech filled the air, followed by the machine-gun-like rat-a-tat-tat of the dumbwaiter door as it slid upward.

Miss Peach jumped to her feet, her arms flying up, cherry Kool-Aid splashing all over the front of her starched white blouse. She managed to hold on to the cup in one hand and the saucer in the other as she stared at the opening in the wall.

From the dumbwaiter’s depths two black heads emerged, then two perfectly matched, leering faces. “Earthlings! Surrender. Or we’ll slice you open and turn your guts to goo!”

Danny stood frozen for a moment, unsure whether to laugh at the ridiculous sight his twin sons made, kill them or rescue Laurie’s china from Miss Peach’s death grip. He took a step toward the sputtering woman, then looked over his shoulder at Emma crouched behind a chair with her mouth gaping. “Emma, get some cold water.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

Danny grabbed a towel from a chair and reached for Miss Peach, intending to blot the spreading stain from her formidable bosom. She batted his hand away, dropping the cup and saucer onto the rug, where they landed with a muffled thunk. Her hands now free, she used one to pluck her soaked blouse from her chest and the other to point at the open dumbwaiter. “What on earth…?”

“Come out of there, you two!” Relieved to have something else to do, Danny tossed the towel onto Miss Peach’s shoulder, then reached inside the gaping hole and hauled out a pair of identical squirming, mirthful boys, dressed in shorts and T-shirts with aluminum wrapped around their chests to resemble armor. Their older sister’s makeup was streaked all over their faces. Tufts of dark hair of varying lengths stuck out at odd angles from their heads, with pink scalp showing through here and there. They must have decided to cut their hair to resemble the alien space warriors they’d seen on an old video the night before.

Danny propped his twin sons against the wall. “Don’t move, or the only gooey guts will be yours,” he promised.

He turned back to his soaked guest. “I’m truly sorry, Miss Peach. You’ve probably guessed by now that these are my sons, Kyle and Kevin. They aren’t usually so—”

“Daaaaddy!”

Emma’s warning cry from the vicinity of the kitchen door erupted just a split second before a resounding “Woof!” filled the air. Their huge yellow Labrador retriever skated into the room, paws skidding on the hardwood floor, pushing the Oriental rug up like an accordion. Emma made a valiant attempt to hold the dog’s exuberant tail. “Out, General! Sit!”

Neither command was obeyed as the dog leaped toward the two boys. Miss Peach took a step backward, but her sensible low heel caught on a fold of the carpet. Danny grabbed for her, his fingertips just missing her elbow. She flung her arms wide again before falling back into the chair.

“Oh, God,” Danny groaned. “Are you all right?”

“Here’s the water, Daddy.” Emma, holding a sponge at arm’s length, raced into the melee and slapped the dripping sponge against Miss Peach’s chest. The poor woman let out a strangled cry.

With her eyes bigger than saucers, Emma put one finger in her mouth and backed away. The boys collapsed into a heap, laughing hysterically.

Danny groaned again.

As if pulled up by strings like a marionette, Miss Peach jerked to her feet. She swatted at the dog sniffing the hem of her skirt, snatched the sponge up and flung it to the table, then pointed at Emma. “That was ice-cold, young lady.”

Emma burst into tears, which drew her warrior brothers to the rescue.

“Hey,” Kyle yelled, his hair sticking out in all directions like a molting rooster. “You can’t talk to our sister that way!”

“You better leave us alone!” Kevin added furiously.

General barked an emphatic command before Danny finally gathered his wits enough to respond. “Quiet!” he roared. “Will everyone just…be…quiet!”

The noise level dropped as he turned back to Miss Peach. The woman was a mess. Her blouse was red-stained and soaking wet, her skirt was hiked up to reveal thick stockings and a slip with the bottom strip of lace torn. Amazingly, her hat was still on her head, though it limped to one side.

In a vain attempt at damage control, Danny gestured with his hands spread, palms upward. “Miss Peach, I’m so sorry. What can I say? Boys will be boys.”

“Not when I’m here they won’t.” Miss Peach straightened her clothing. Once in command of herself, she took a deep breath, exhaled through flaring nostrils then bobbed her head with a definitive nod. “It seems my work is cut out for me here. Look around you, Mr. Santori. Usually I do not tolerate such unruliness. Be certain I shall have your children under control in no time. You are fortunate that I am not easily discouraged.”

Danny cringed inwardly at the tyrannical tone in her voice; nevertheless, he obeyed her by scanning the chaos around him. But instead of seeing the mess, he saw only the way Emma huddled in the corner, tears in her eyes. Even the boys cowered beneath Miss Peach’s smug expression.

He just couldn’t do it.

Shoving his hand through his hair, Danny shook his head. “To tell you the truth, Miss Peach, I like a little unruliness now and then.”

“Perhaps you don’t understand. I just said that I am prepared to give your children the full benefit of my experience. In one week you will hardly recognize them.”

That was exactly what Danny was afraid of.

He sighed, feeling like a drowning man giving away his life preserver. “Miss Peach, I appreciate your willingness to take on this bunch,” he said, his voice gentle but firm, “but I don’t think this is going to work out. Thanks for taking the time to come over.”

His declaration was met with stunned silence for a moment, then Kyle let out a triumphant whoop. Emma clapped her small hands, her upturned face beaming at him. Even the dog voiced his opinion, his tail thumping the floor in a happy rhythm.

“Well!” Miss Peach clutched her handbag to her stomach. “In that case, I won’t waste any more of your time.”

By the way her mouth pursed, he could tell her dignity was affronted, but Danny didn’t have a chance to make amends before she headed down the hallway for the front door, chin high. He followed, but stopped when she allowed the screen door to slam back, practically in his face.

“Miss Peach,” he warned. “Look out!”

Peering through the screen, he watched as she marched down the porch steps straight into the path of Nana, a neighbor’s boisterous St. Bernard, who had just dashed around the corner of the house with Alison, Danny’s oldest daughter, in hot pursuit. The woman teetered precariously on the last step, then nimbly hopped off into an overgrown flower bed. This time her hat flew off, landing a scant, tempting six inches in front of the surprised dog.

Danny pushed through the door, followed by his three other children but stopped short of attempting another rescue. Miss Peach stepped forward onto the walk, then snatched her hat from Nana’s slobbery mouth. With remarkable dignity considering the circumstances, she looked up at Danny.

“I have no doubt that you will someday regret turning me away, Mr. Santori. In the meantime, good luck finding competent child care. You shall need it.” With that she turned and stalked toward her car parked at the curb.

Danny watched her go, torn between feelings of relief and sheer panic.

“Who was that?” Alison asked, snapping her fingers to claim Nana’s attention from the flower bed.

“Mrs. Vulcan,” Kyle said.

“The Wicked Witch of the West,” Kevin added.

“She was mean!” Emma exclaimed.

“My last hope,” Danny moaned. He rubbed his temple, trying to ward off the headache he could feel coming on. “Well,” he muttered, “that went well.”

Only Alison, at the age of almost fourteen more astute than the others, seemed to notice the sarcasm. “What will we do now? Dad?”

It was a good question, and he wished with all his heart he had an answer. He tried to summon a reassuring smile. “I don’t know, Alison. Will you keep an eye on Emma while I straighten up the mess inside? And you two—go wash up and change your clothes, pronto. And if I ever catch you with scissors or pulling a stunt like that again…” His look had the boys scampering inside like frantic squirrels.

Danny stood on the front porch after the kids had retreated into the house, staring down at the ragged flower beds that Laurie had once kept so neat and orderly. He wasn’t exactly a control freak, but lately he had felt just a bit…What was that word? Frazzled? Man, he needed a drink. Or a two-day nap. He needed Laurie. He didn’t have time for all of this and work, too. Now, if he could find someone just like Laurie…

He shoved his hand through his hair and sighed. Alcohol and sleep might sound appealing in the short run, but neither would solve his problem. Not when he had to figure out who was going to take care of his kids when his next shift came up day after tomorrow.

What Danny really needed was a miracle.

TESSA DOHERTY WAS in her favorite position, crouched on her knees in the dirt. She whistled happily to herself as she dug her fingers into the soil, kneading and smoothing the flower beds she had designed to enhance the English Tudor house that belonged to her newest client. Reaching for a fairy polyantha rose, Tessa lifted it from its flat and carefully separated the roots. Gently she nestled the plant into the hole she’d just dug near the low, decorative limestone wall, which would support the delicate blossoms.

“Be happy, little rose,” Tessa said, smiling as she patted the soil around the plant. She sniffed, inhaling the pungent scent of dirt newly mixed with fertilizer. To some people the smell was disgusting, but to Tessa the smell was life. It was rebirth and fruitfulness, creation and creativity. The very air breathed hope and new life, which was exactly what she’d needed when she moved from Chicago to Warenton.

Warenton, nestled on the edge of the western Pocono mountain range, was a midsize town, although the locals called it a small city. It was a place where friendly smiles were directed at everyone and a warm welcome was guaranteed. Breaking in to the business market here was a different story. Even though everyone was politely interested and even enthusiastic about her new landscaping business, they generally patronized the old tried-and-true establishments. She wondered how long she had to be here before she could consider herself a real Warentonian.

Tessa inhaled deeply as the soft breeze brought another fragrant wisp in her direction. Then she chuckled quietly. She could just hear her son’s comments if she shared her fanciful thoughts. Eric would probably look at her as if she was nuts and then say, “It’s cow manure, Mom. Get over it!”

Tessa shifted her shoulders as she felt a drop of sweat roll leisurely between her shoulder blades. It was hot and humid today. August had arrived with a vengeance. She glanced over at her daughter, Josie, who leaned over an ornamental fishpond in the center of the garden.

Josie giggled as delightedly as only a seven-year-old could. “Mommy, their mouths look so funny when they eat.” She puckered her lips to make a fish face. “Like this.”

Tessa laughed. “That’s pretty good, honey. Keep it up and we’ll have to eat you for dinner.”

“Yuck,” Eric said. He was sprawled under a tree reading a book. “Josie would taste like a stink-fish.”

Josie glared at her brother. “I would not. Would I, Mommy?”

Grinning, Tessa said, “No, funny face, you wouldn’t.”

“See, Eric!” Josie turned back to splash the surface of the pond as Tessa resumed her work. The garden hummed with bees and the sweet call of birds in the trees. This was the life. Quiet, solitude and hard work to renew her soul. Why hadn’t her ex-husband, Colin, been able to understand how important this was to her? How she needed this?

Water under the bridge, girl! Enjoy the tranquillity.

For the next half hour she did. Then she became aware of how quiet it was. There were no sounds from the children, nothing except the twitters of birds and the buzz of insects. Tessa stood up, looking around, but there was no sign of her daughter.

“Josie? Josie, where are you? Eric?”

Then suddenly the silence was broken by the twinkling sound of glass breaking inside the house, followed by a yell. One of the French doors on the terrace swung open and banged against the house. A beautifully groomed white cat streaked out faster than heat lightning. Eric and Josie were right behind the animal, while an astonished Tessa stared.

The kids tried to corner the cat beneath a glass patio table, but the wily animal was too clever for them. The cat feinted right, then left, so Eric bumped into Josie, and in the process, the cat dashed into the shrubbery.

As her children started after the animal, Tessa ordered, “Hold it right there, you two! What were you doing in Mrs. Sherbourne’s house? And what was that crash?”

“I wanted to see the kitty,” Josie said. “He was sitting in the window.”

“I saw Josie go in and went after her. That’s when the cat saw the door and made a beeline for outside,” Eric explained.

“And the crash?”

“I bumped this big jar by the door and it fell over,” Josie confessed with a worried look.

“Oh boy,” Tessa breathed. Mrs. Sherbourne is going to freak. Tessa glanced around. “Eric, where is that cat now?”

Eric pointed at the shrubbery. “He went that way.”

“You’d better find that animal before it wanders into traffic or something worse.”

Eric plunged off the terrace into the green bushes, with his sister about to follow. Tessa stopped her. “Oh no, you don’t, young lady. Josie, when we get home, you won’t be allowed to do anything but go straight to your room.”

“Why?” Josie wailed.

“You know why. Didn’t I tell both of you to stay out of Mrs. Sherbourne’s house? You made a huge mistake going inside when I distinctly told you not to.”

Josie opened her mouth to speak just as Eric burst through the wall of clematis and climbing roses that separated the yard from the driveway.

Startled, Tessa lurched around, completely disturbing the plants she had just positioned. “What? Eric, what are you—”

“Grab him, Mom!” Eric pointed to a white blur leaping through the lavender bed.

Before she could move, Eric had followed the errant feline into the flower bed, his feet wreaking havoc as they flattened the delicate lavender blossoms.

“Eric, stop chasing that animal this minute,” Tessa yelled, closing her eyes as they both narrowly missed a collision with a flowering pink azalea.

“You told me to find him,” her son replied, looking wildly around for the cat as he skidded to a stop on the flagstone path.

“Eeeewww! He’s got a poor little mouse.” Josie scurried to head off the cat, which was making for a patch of yellow mums.

Tessa leaped up to run interference, but her move only caused the cat to swerve through the flower bed she had just planted, with Eric and Josie close behind, destruction in their wake. “My flowers!”

“We’ve got him now!” Eric shouted triumphantly…though too soon.

The cat raced for the fishpond. Tessa watched helplessly as her children stopped in time, but the cat misjudged the distance, slipped across the ledge of the pond and plopped into the water. Eric snatched up the furious feline, complete with a wet mouse dangling by the tail from the cat’s mouth.

Tessa glanced at the wet Persian cat, who finally dropped the mouse but now was in a snit, spitting, growling and lashing his tail. “Eric, be careful. He might bite.”

Inspecting the cat, Eric said, “He doesn’t look too happy.”

Tessa propped her hands on her hips. “That’s an understatement. What did you think you were doing, Eric Doherty, chasing that cat around through my flowers?”

“You told me to find him, Mom. Besides, I couldn’t let him eat the mouse.”

“Cats are supposed to eat mice. That’s their job.”

Josie tilted her head. “Did you want the little mouse to die, Mommy?”

“No, of course not, honey. But some laws of nature aren’t meant to be broken. Especially not on someone else’s property, and certainly not when that someone is paying me to landscape her garden.” Tessa studied the cat. “That animal is an absolute mess.”

Eric looked at the bedraggled white cat, his fur now streaked with mud and sopping wet, his tail twitching with temper. “He wouldn’t win any show prizes, would he?”

“Josie, run inside, find a bathroom and grab a towel so we can dry the cat.”

“You told me not to go into the house,” Josie complained.

Tessa exhaled, trying to keep her temper. “Now you can go into the house.”

Josie shook her head as she trudged toward the French doors. “Parents!” A few minutes later Josie emerged with a towel, but she wasn’t alone. Mrs. Sherbourne was right behind her.

When the woman reached the terrace she stopped as if she’d been shot. Her eyes darted right, then left before focusing on the squirming cat in Eric’s arms. “Prince Puff Puff,” she cried, “what have they done to you?” Mrs. Sherbourne rushed to snatch her cat from Eric’s arms. “Oh, my poor poor little man, you look like an alley cat.” She started to hug the animal but then stopped and held him out away from her while Josie threw the towel over her arm. Mrs. Sherbourne wrapped her precious pussycat in the yellow terry cloth before casting her stern eyes on Tessa.

“Mrs. Doherty, what is going on here? Not only is my cat dripping wet, my flower beds a mess, which I did not pay to have happen, I might add, but—” she paused dramatically “—but my Lalique vase is in pieces on the floor. Didn’t I tell you my house is off-limits, especially to children? If you are going to insist on bringing children with you, then I have no choice but—”

Tessa rushed to speak. “No, oh no. It’s just been the past few days until I can make other arrangements.”

Mrs. Sherbourne looked down her nose at her, something Tessa thought was impossible, but the haughty woman had perfected the technique. “See that you do, please, or I’ll have to look for another designer.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Sherbourne, I’ll repair the garden. If you tell me the price of the vase I can arrange payments or perhaps free services if that would work?”

Mrs. Sherbourne gave Tessa and her children a frosty glance. “It was a family heirloom given to me by my mother-in-law.”

Tessa felt her heart sink at the news. “Oh…oh, my God, I’m so sorry.”

Mrs. Sherbourne unbent enough to give her a chilly smile. “It’s your good fortune that I have always considered that vase hideous. As for the payment, we’ll discuss it later.”

Tessa stepped forward. “I can give your cat a bath if you’d like.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll call my groomer.” Mrs. Sherbourne headed for the house, but looked back over her shoulder. “You’ll have the repairs complete by the end of the day, I trust?”

Tessa nodded. “Absolutely.”

With a wintry smile Mrs. Sherbourne inclined her head and then disappeared inside the house, leaving Tessa to deal with her children.

“Wow, Mom,” Eric breathed. “I thought you were getting fired for a minute there.”

Tessa glared at him and then Josie. “No thanks to you two. Take your sister and go to the van. Get some towels and dry off. I’ll be right there.”

“Mom—” Eric began.

“Right now. And not through the clematis. Go around.” Tessa watched her children trudge through a gap in the hedge, then turned to survey the damage in the garden.

It looked as if a tornado had passed through. Uprooted plants lay drying in the sun beside gouges in the freshly turned topsoil. A whole pile of mulch was scattered over the flagstone walk, and the brick edging she had laid so carefully that afternoon was half out of the ground. Tessa passed a hand over her face, wondering how many of the expensive, imported fish were now floating belly-up. No wonder Mrs. Sherbourne was shocked. She’d been expecting her spacious backyard to be turned into a peaceful santuary, not a war zone.

Tessa glanced at her watch. Noon. If she skipped lunch maybe she could—On cue, her stomach rumbled, followed by an impatient honk from the van out front. Tessa sighed. She couldn’t get any more work done until she took care of her children. And she might as well grab a bite while she was at it. Hopefully, her best friend Rhonda would be free to watch the kids for the rest of the afternoon.

Just as Tessa stepped around the front of her dilapidated van, Eric pressed on the horn one more time. She jumped, then smiled ruefully, shaking her head at the two grinning children waiting for her. She knew they were good kids, really. It was just that kids and work didn’t mix.

To further prove the point, Eric and Josie seemed relieved when she suggested taking them to Rhonda’s, making Tessa wonder if they truly enjoyed going to work with her as much as they claimed they did. Had they been trying only to make things easier for her? Josie was too young to understand all the ramifications of the divorce, but certainly at twelve, Eric was aware that their financial situation had changed to a more modest lifestyle.

The van coughed and sputtered as she turned the key in the ignition and eased her foot down on the gas pedal. Sometimes it started right up, sometimes not. Tessa had planned to use the money she made on this Sherbourne job to have the van serviced. Who knew what would happen to her fees now and to her hopes of referrals.

As Tessa ground the van into first gear, a siren wailed in the distance, followed by the commanding blast of an air horn. Even though she couldn’t see the fire truck, Tessa pictured the huge red engine barreling to the rescue. Right now she almost wished someone would come to her rescue.

And take away your hard-won independence? Who are you kidding, girl?

Tessa halted the van at an intersection, releasing her shoulder-length hair from its ponytail and running her fingers through the damp strands. Since when had her conscience started sounding like Rhonda? She felt a tapping on her shoulder, and craned her neck to see Josie straining forward against the seat belt.

“I’ll help you fix the flowers tomorrow, Mommy.”

“Me, too, Mom.” Eric nodded with masculine certainty, though his voice broke with a change in pitch. “No more video games at work, no chasing in the garden even if a grizzly bear is chowing down on Josie.”

“Hey,” Josie protested.

Is this what I want? What good is independence if my kids suffer for it? Tessa turned a troubled frown back to the traffic as the light changed. She hated to see Eric and Josie looking so unhappy, just when it seemed they’d all gotten through the worst after Colin had left. On the other hand, she’d worked too hard to give up yet.

She’d just have to think of something. “Thanks for the offer, guys.” Tessa spoke over her shoulder as she moved the van back into traffic. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything without sacrificing Josie to a grizzly bear.” Brave words, she thought as Josie giggled.

All Tessa needed was a miracle.

Chapter Two

Tessa glanced at her watch for the third time, then tipped her head for a better look at the door of the restaurant. Eight-fifteen, and still no Rhonda. Her friend wasn’t usually late, but then the vague message about dinner tonight she’d left pinned to Tessa’s front door wasn’t Rhonda’s usual chatty style, either. Thank goodness Tessa’s elderly neighbor had been able to watch the kids for a few hours.

Come to think of it, this charming, out-of-the-way restaurant wasn’t Rhonda’s style, either. Tessa let her gaze wander. Rhonda preferred crowds and places that were ultra hip for their rare dinners together without kids. Mama Gia’s was quite the opposite. Worn paneling and intimate nooks lined the empty restaurant while small, cozy tables covered with red-checked cloths were arranged throughout the room. The heavenly aromas of oregano and garlic wafted from the kitchen behind her.

Tessa’s stomach growled. If Rhonda didn’t show up soon, she might have to nibble on the candle dripping down the empty wine bottle in the middle of her table. Why had Rhonda been in such an all-fired hurry to get together, only to show up late?

Tessa glanced once more at the wrinkled note. “‘An answer to your problem,’” she read aloud.

That told Tessa absolutely nothing. The number of problems in her life seemed to be multiplying like horny rabbits. But right now her biggest problem was the growing ache in her stomach. Even so, she couldn’t help wondering which of her other problems Rhonda had been talking about. Maybe Rhonda had discovered a way to uncover Colin’s hidden financial assets so Tessa could get the settlement she deserved after thirteen years of marriage without costing a fortune in lawyer’s fees. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Her stomach growled again. Maybe she should start on a salad without Rhonda. Or better yet, some of those mouthwatering buttered bread sticks she’d seen on a table as she’d come in. Tessa leaned forward, lifting her arm to summon the young waiter standing near the menu rack.

At that moment the door swung open and a man walked in. A good-looking man, she noted. He looked around quickly, his head turning her way at the very instant her hand shot up in the air. Tessa froze, forgetting to exhale when his gaze pinned hers.

She almost forgot her hand was stuck up in the air, until she saw his dark eyes widen, then crinkle at the corners. Tessa snatched her hand to her lap, tucking her chin down, but it was too late. He was already weaving his way toward her.

From the corner of her eye she watched his progress through the restaurant with mounting embarrassment and a touch of curiosity. He had dark hair—a bit too long—and smooth olive skin with just a suggestion of five-o’clock shadow. His well-muscled body skirted tables and dodged chairs with graceful ease. An athlete, Tessa thought, keeping her head low. Or just one of those lucky hunks with all the right equipment in all the right places. A shade over six feet tall, he displayed a compact strength beneath a blue knit golf shirt and well-worn jeans.

Next thing she knew, his jeans were so close she could have reached out to stroke them. But as incredibly tempting as that thought was, courtesy demanded she look up instead.

“I’m sorry,” she said, offering a tiny shrug. “I wasn’t really waving at you. I was trying to order a salad.”

A wrinkle appeared between his eyebrows. “You mean you’re not Tessa Doherty? You sure look like you’re supposed to be.”

Her mouth dropped open, partly in surprise and partly at the thrill of hearing her name spoken in the sexiest baritone she’d ever heard. “Huh?”

“Never mind.” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked sheepish. “It’s my turn to apologize. I thought you were someone I was supposed to meet. I’ll get a waiter for you.”

“No. I mean…don’t do that.”

“You don’t want a salad?”

“No…yes…I do want a salad, but don’t call the waiter just yet.” Tessa sighed. She was beginning to smell a rat. “You may as well sit down.”

Confusion clouded his expression for an instant, then he smiled. Tessa almost bit her lip at the sight. Perfect, dazzling teeth nearly blinded her, even in the restaurant’s dim light. And was that a dimple? A small one, to be sure, but a dimple nonetheless. She had to hand it to Rhonda. She sure could pick ’em.

The gorgeous specimen pulled a chair out and sat down. “You are Tessa Doherty, aren’t you?”

She raised an eyebrow. “How ever did you guess?”

His grin widened as he reached across the table to take her hand. Apparently sarcasm was lost on him.

“Hi, I’m Danny Santori. Rhonda gave me a pretty good description, but you had me going for a minute there. Didn’t she tell you I managed to work things out so we could meet tonight?”

His hand was warm and calloused. His eyes twinkled with suppressed humor. A tingling awareness raced up Tessa’s arm, halting only when it reached the pit of her stomach. Good Lord, he was attractive! With that wavy dark hair and perfect tan, all he needed was an eye patch and cutlass and he’d be right at home on the set of a classic swashbuckling pirate movie.

“Rhonda didn’t tell me a thing.” Tessa withdrew her hand, shaking her head reluctantly. “She knows better.”

Her cryptic comment didn’t seem to faze him at all. He nodded and grinned. “She didn’t actually tell me much more than the bare bones of your situation. Only that you’re just about as desperate as me.”

Desperate? Tessa tried not to let her hackles rise. She was perfectly content with singledom. Only her interfering friends thought otherwise. “Look, Mr. Santini—”

“Santori, but I prefer Danny. I thought Rhonda was supposed to meet us here, but I guess she figured we’d work out the details on our own.”

“And what details might those be?”

He tipped his head sideways. One black lock fell over his brow. Tessa had the unsettling urge to push it back. For a moment she wondered if she might be a little hasty to let this one go.

His grin widened. “You know…details like when and where, your house or mine. I’ve definitely got more bedrooms, but if you’re not comfortable with that, we can always try your place.”

At that, Tessa’s mouth dropped open again. “What—what…” she spluttered. She stopped and pulled herself together. “Mr. Santori…”

“Danny.”

“Danny, I’m afraid Rhonda may have given you the wrong idea. I’m not really looking for anyone now.”

“You’re not?”

“Definitely not. And I have to tell you, I find this conversation moving a bit too fast for me.” She grabbed her water and took a quick gulp.

“I have a time crunch. I thought you did, too. I thought we could get business over with and then…”

At his statement, Tessa choked on her water. She started coughing.

“Hey, take it easy. You okay?”

Tessa waved him away. His face clouded over, though instead of diminishing his appeal, it gave him the dark, brooding look of a hero straight off the cover of a novel. Tessa wondered how any man so gorgeous could be desperate enough to agree to a blind date. Probably because his arrogant assumptions turned off every woman he met.

“Just dandy,” she gurgled around another cough.

His smile returned, not quite as bright as before but just as lethal. “So it isn’t a total waste, at least we can have some dinner and talk. The manicotti here is excellent.” He raised a finger to beckon a waiter. He winked at Tessa. “Who knows, maybe I’ll change your mind.”

Mindful of the other patrons, Tessa placed both palms on the red-checked tablecloth and leaned forward, saying in her most determined yet whispering voice, “Look here, pal, perhaps you didn’t hear me. I have enough to handle with two kids and a business. I don’t have time for a relationship or…whatever other kind of business you think we’re going to do.”

His eyebrows almost disappeared into the curls on his forehead. “A relationship?”

“That’s right.”

“Who the hell said anything about a relationship?”

“You just propositioned me.”

“The hell I did.”

Tessa wasn’t buying it. She crossed her arms and gave him her big bad mom stare. “Then what was all that bedroom stuff?”

Danny clenched his jaw, flushing to the roots of his hair, but whether it was embarrassment or anger, Tessa couldn’t tell. “I don’t need to proposition strangers to get them into bed. I need a babysitter.”

“Then why did you…What did you say?”

Danny overenunciated his words. “I…need…a…baby…sitter. Clear enough?”

Tessa’s chin almost hit the table for the third time before she recovered enough to snap her jaw shut. She wrinkled her nose in confusion. “I need a babysitter, too.”

“I know. That’s what Rhonda told me.”

“She did?”

“Yeah, isn’t that what she told you?”

Tessa shook her head. “Rhonda didn’t tell me anything except that she had the answer to my problem. She’s always trying to fix me up, so I thought she meant—”

“A date? With you?”

“Well, you don’t have to say it like that,” Tessa said, looking around to see if anyone was staring.

“I never accept blind dates. Too risky.” A sharp shake of Danny’s head emphasized his point.

Tessa crossed her arms over her chest, trying to seem secure and well in command of the situation, but positive she’d just made a complete fool of herself. “I agree,” she snapped. Just then the waiter appeared carrying a tray laden with a bottle of Chianti, two glasses, an antipasto plate and a basket of bread sticks. With a flourish he placed them on the table, then leaned over to uncork the wine. “How ya doin’, Danny? Put out any fires lately?”

Danny took a deep breath as he slid Tessa a look from under his lashes. “More all the time, Jorgi. How’s school going?”

The young waiter rolled his eyes. “Okay, I guess. Already I’m working on Mama’s books. But me, I’d rather be a fireman like you, so I can be a hero and have dates with beautiful women.”

Danny’s deep, resonant chuckle curled Tessa’s toes. “Trust me, Jorgi. There are plenty of days when I wish I were an accountant. And this isn’t a date.”

Jorgi flashed a brilliant smile that showed exactly what he thought of that. “It should be, man. What’s the matter with you?”

Danny gave him a stare that had Jorgi hurriedly asking, “You want the usual?”

“Maybe we should ask what the lady wants so we don’t have any more confusion. Tessa?”

Trying to regain some dignity, Tessa reached for her purse on the chair next to her. “I’m not very hungry, thank you. I’m just going to—” She started to rise, but her stomach chose that moment to let out a roar worthy of the MGM lion.

Danny sat back in his chair and lifted a quizzical eyebrow. “Not hungry, huh?”

Tessa sat down, placed her purse on the table and busied herself with her napkin to hide her mortification. “Maybe a few bites of something.”

“A few bites?” The dimple in Danny’s cheek deepened as he smiled. “Bring the manicotti, Jorgi. We’d better feed the woman.” The young waiter all but saluted as he sped away. “I hope that’s okay with you, or should I call him back?”

Tessa tried to give him a relaxed smile. “Sounds delicious.”

“It is and it’s Mama’s specialty,” Danny said. “Look, Tessa, we got started wrong. Let’s try again. We can sort this all out while we’re waiting. In the meantime,” he continued, “have a bread stick.”

Tessa threw up her hands. “I have no idea what’s going on here, Mr. San…uh, Danny. I thought I was supposed to meet Rhonda for dinner, and instead you show up talking about how many bedrooms you have. Then you say this isn’t a fix-up, which is probably good since the only thing we seem to have in common so far is we both have kids—”

“And we both hate blind dates,” Danny added solemnly.

“So what are we doing here?” She grabbed a bread stick from the basket he held in front of her and sank her teeth into the perfectly crusted dough. After chewing ecstatically for a minute, she perked up. “God, this is good.”

He shoved the antipasto plate closer to her. “You eat and I’ll try to explain before you decide to call the cops on me.”

As he took a breath to begin, Danny watched her with growing interest. He remembered that Rhonda had mentioned how attractive her friend was, but he hadn’t paid attention at the time because it wasn’t all that important to him. He sure was paying attention now.

Even though she was sitting down he could tell that Tessa Doherty was tall for a woman, and slender. Her face was tanned a golden hue and the blond streaks in her light brown hair reminded him of the sun setting through the clouds. Her eyes were a warm, true hazel. The unique mixture of green and brown made him think of the earth and growing things.

Except he’d never heard of a wood nymph putting away bread sticks quite the way Tessa did. She was already on her second one.

Danny couldn’t believe how fanciful he was getting. He took a bread stick of his own before they were gone. He cleared his throat. “Like Jorgi said, I’m a firefighter. I work out of Firehouse 173. I’m hoping to be transferred to another position in the fall, which would mean a change to more normal hours. Right now I work a twenty-four-hour shift, then have two days off before I’m on again. That’s why I’m having so much trouble finding someone to watch my kids. Not many sitters want an erratic schedule or to spend the night, you know.”

Tessa gulped down an artichoke and nodded. “I can imagine. You’re divorced?”

His eyes shadowed. “Widower. Until recently my wife’s great-aunt helped out with the kids, but she’s seventy-two and needs hip surgery. She’s with them now, but those long hours during my shifts are too much for her to manage. I need to make some other arrangements.”

“How old are your children?”

“Alison’s almost fourteen, Kyle and Kevin are ten and Emma is almost four.”

“Four kids?” She looked startled.

Danny squirmed. “They’re good kids. But…they can be a handful. Especially the twins.”

Tessa worked her mouth around a black olive. “Mine are twelve and seven. A boy and a girl. And even with two I’m overwhelmed half the time. I’m not sure how anyone can handle more than that.”

Her comment made Danny wonder if they were on the same wavelength after all. Maybe Rhonda had her wires crossed. He decided to try a different tack.

“Rhonda told me you own your own business.”

“Mmm-hmm. Landscape design.”

“Fooling around with plants and stuff, you mean? Do you work full-time?”

“As much as I can. I like to fool around with growing things.” She glared at him as she picked up a bread stick, broke off a chunk and popped it into her mouth. After a moment she said, “But this is in my busy season, or what should be my busy season. I’m hoping to increase my client list by word of mouth. Not that it’s looking too good at the moment. My most recent job was more difficult than I’d expected. I’m not sure my client is going to recommend my services.”

“Why not?”

Tessa drained her wineglass. “As a matter of fact she almost fired me over a slight garden mishap that my kids caused. It was really awkward.”

“I’ll bet.”

“She was kind of stuck because her daughter’s getting married in that garden and she’d already paid me part of the fee. I had to drop my price to satisfy her, though.”

“Tough luck,” Danny sympathized as he sipped his wine.

Tessa sighed. “I’ll say.”

“So who takes care of your kids while you’re working?” Danny watched her out of the corner of his eye as he poured them each another glass of the excellent house wine.

“I do—at least I have been since my babysitter moved into a retirement home last month. I can’t really afford a sitter right now, but Mrs. Carey and I had an arrangement. I did her shopping and errands and she watched the kids when I needed her, which was most of the summer, actually. Since she moved, they’ve been going along on jobs with me. That’s what caused my problem with Mrs. Sherbourne. No one else has objected but—”

“It’s not really working out anymore?”

“Oh, you could say that. Plus, I’d get more done if they weren’t around. I end up breaking jobs into two days when I might have finished in one. Still, what choice do I have?” Tessa hesitated, peered at him for a long moment, then muttered, “They were supposed to spend August with their father, but he decided to go to the Bahamas instead with his latest girlfriend—or maybe I should say his latest assistant.”

Danny took a slow sip of wine. Rhonda had mentioned Tessa’s difficult divorce. He wondered if that was why she insisted she didn’t want a relationship, or if, like him, she was simply too busy for the opposite sex.

“One thing about having kids,” Danny said as Tessa snagged another veggie, “you sure can’t plan too far ahead. They’re always coming up with somethi—Do you always eat like this?”

Her eyes widened, and she gulped down the carrot sliver she had just put into her mouth. “Like what?”

“Like a horde of locusts descending?”

Tessa dropped her gaze to the empty plate and breadbasket, lifted her stricken expression to his, then smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. It’s my metabolism. I burn it right off.”

“Then it’s lucky for you the food’s here.”

The next several minutes were occupied with Jorgi removing empty plates and arranging steaming platters of pasta and more fresh bread sticks on the table. Tessa sampled the manicotti with a rapturous groan, obviously relishing every bite, while Danny ate more slowly. “I can’t imagine where you’re putting all of that food,” he said.

Once Tessa had slowed down to the point where conversation was possible, Danny pushed his plate away and leaned forward.

“Here’s the situation as I see it,” he began. “We both need dependable child care. If you’d consider watching my kids during my shifts, I can keep yours for an equal number of hours on the other days.”

Tessa looked skeptical. “Six children at once?”

“Why not?” Danny shrugged. “It’s not like either one of us isn’t used to kids. The more the merrier, my mom always used to say.”

“You have how many brothers and sisters?”

Danny grinned. “Five, now scattered all over the country. And my mom ruled us with an iron hand. Never a problem.”

From the impish twinkle in his eye, Tessa felt certain he was exaggerating, but she couldn’t help smiling back. “I’m sure that’s true. Still, six children…”

“Only for a day with two days in between—”

“And nights.”

“And nights. The other days I’ll watch them. What d’ya say?”

His expression was a combination of wistfulness and roguish charm. Tessa wasn’t sure which was more appealing, but she knew the intelligent thing to do was to give him an unequivocal no.

“Maybe,” she heard herself say, then wondered if it was the wine or the manicotti that had softened her brain. “Can you honestly trust your kids to someone you don’t even know?”

Danny frowned. “Of course not. But I trust Rhonda to vouch for you. I first met her at the E.R. on one of my hospital runs. I’ve known her for years. That’s as good as going through a child-care service or putting an ad in the paper. We’re getting to know one another now, aren’t we? Come on, ask me anything.”

Even though Tessa was immediately suspicious of so much undiluted charm, his guileless expression slipped beneath her defenses. A smile nudged her lips. “What do your kids think of this…possible arrangement?”

“I haven’t had a chance to tell them yet, since I only talked to Rhonda today. But it might be a good idea to let the kids meet each other before we firm anything up. How’s tomorrow?”

“Whoa!” Tessa leaned back in her chair. “I said maybe. I need some time to mull this over.”

“I suppose a maybe is better than nothing. How long do you need?”

His dark eyes captured hers, sending another wave of warmth spreading from her cheeks all the way down to the pit of her stomach, which made her uneasy. After Colin she’d sworn off men with charming smiles and dark melting looks.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”

Danny gave her a puzzled look. “You have to think about how much time you’ll need to think about it?”

Tessa stared at him. “No, I have to think about the consequences.”

“What consequences?”

“Are you always this pushy?” Tessa asked in a prickly tone.

“Sorry I’m late, guys.” Rhonda’s breezy greeting interrupted their conversation and was followed by a loud scraping sound as she dragged a chair over from a nearby table without missing a beat. “The E.R. was packed to the rafters when I left, and no one could figure out how to unjam the computer. I just might have to borrow your Eric someday for that, huh, Tess? Hey, you guys started without me!”

“Tessa was hungry,” Danny replied, eyes twinkling.

Rhonda snorted. “So what else is new?”

Since she owed her friend big-time for pulling this stunt, Tessa didn’t feel at all guilty about eating without her. “I didn’t think you’d make it,” she explained. “In fact, I wasn’t sure what you had planned for tonight at all. Your message was very brief. Unusually so.”

Her thorny comment caused Rhonda to smile crookedly. She spread her fingers through her hair, tousling her short red curls. “That’s ’cause I was late already, and only had time to give you the basics after I talked to Danny. No, thanks,” she said, waving Jorgi away as he approached with a menu. “I’ll just grab something at home.” She picked up Tessa’s untouched water glass. “The whole idea was just too perfect. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”

“Yeah, perfect,” Tessa muttered, eyeing the tray of cheesecakes another waiter carried past their table.

“You didn’t think of it because you didn’t know about my aunt’s surgery until I ran into you at the E.R. last week,” Danny pointed out. “But Tessa’s not sure she even needs child care.”

“What are you talking about, Tessa?” Rhonda flapped a napkin open on her lap. She picked at the parsley garnish which was almost the only thing left on the antipasto plate and turned to Danny, jerking a thumb in Tessa’s direction. “She told me she wished Eric and Josie didn’t have to go with her to work because they’re bored to tears, but they’d be worse off stuck in her dinky condo all day. She told me she’d give anything if they could go someplace where they had room to play and other kids to play with.”

A scowling Tessa pointed a finger at herself. “Sitting right over here, guys.”

“What else did Tessa tell you?” Danny asked solemnly. Only the humorous glint in his eyes and the twitch on one side of his mouth gave him away.

“She said she wanted them to be safe.” Rhonda turned to Tessa. “How much safer can they be than with a fireman? He’s a trained EMT, for God’s sake!”

“Oh!” Tessa gave an exaggerated jump. “Sorry, were you talking to me?”

“Did Tessa tell you how much she loves kids?” Rhonda asked, pointing at Danny with a piece of celery. “She used to be a den mother, and a volunteer at Josie’s preschool a few years ago. She’s great at organizing games and outings so that everyone’s happy. When you said you were looking for a new babysitter, the whole thing just clicked in my head. And now that you’ve met, everything’s settled, right?”

Her unhampered, unflagging optimism was one of the things Tessa loved about her friend. It was also one of Rhonda’s most annoying traits, depending on the day. Today it was annoying.

“It’s not as easy as that,” Tessa replied. “I have to—”

“Think it over, right?” Danny said.

His voice sent another shudder through Tessa’s midsection. No man deserved to be so sexy. This could definitely be a problem, she thought.

“So what’s the problem?” Rhonda asked, as if she’d read Tessa’s mind.

Danny looked at her in silence.

“There’s no problem,” Tessa insisted. She felt her cheeks warming beneath the double scrutiny. “I said I’d think it over and I will, but I’m not sure this is what’s right for my kids just now. Look, Rhonda, I appreciate your concern and the trouble you went to, but I am an adult and would appreciate it if you didn’t try to order my life or push me into anything. I’ve had enough of that, thank you very much. My ex-husband saw to that.”

For the second time that evening Tessa reached for her purse. She knew she was acting like a total idiot, rushing out like this, but she didn’t like being pressured into things too fast, because she always felt she made bad decisions when she did—and Rhonda knew that.

Tessa opened her wallet and tossed a couple of twenty-dollar bills on the table to cover her share of the meal. Then she stood. “Look, my kids are waiting at home. It was good to meet you, Danny. I’ll let you know what I decide.”

Danny stood politely as she backed away from the table. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes. They glittered like polished stones, only warmer and softer. His head tilted slightly to one side, his expression a mixture of curiosity, appeal and unabashed interest.

She thought he might try once more to convince her, and braced herself. But only a little. With a jolt, she realized she wanted to be convinced.

Instead he only flashed her a grin. “It was nice meeting you, too, Tessa. Rhonda has my number in case you’re interested.”

Tessa smiled back, because she couldn’t help herself. He had that kind of smile.

“You can’t leave yet,” Rhonda said, throwing up her hands in disgust.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, Rhonda.” Tessa marched toward the exit, excruciatingly aware that Danny was watching her retreat. Rhonda’s incredulous voice followed her as she escaped through the door.

“I don’t believe this! She left without even having dessert.”

Chapter Three

Tessa pulled to the curb and sat for a moment trying to get her nerves under control. Though there’d been little traffic on the streets at this hour, her heart raced as if she’d just maneuvered through an obstacle course and her cheeks felt warmer than the early-morning temperature warranted. She gripped the steering wheel to stop the slight trembling in her hands.

Too much caffeine, she lied silently.

In order to calm down, she forced herself to study her surroundings—not a difficult task at all. She loved these old neighborhoods with their fake Tudors, and soaring Victorian monstrosities. The yards were large by any standard—an acre or more each—and the trees were massive. Old neighborhoods were definitely the best, she thought, exiting her van. Even when they were rather shabby.

Spotting the address Danny Santori had given her on the phone last night, Tessa walked up the path that led to a huge, wraparound porch with a welcoming double leaded-glass door set in the exact center. She stopped and stared.

Shaded by a pair of oak trees that allowed the sunlight to spill onto the yard in dappled diamonds, the Victorian home in front of her possessed that effortless aura of dignity and authority that upstart modern homes would never have. The paint had faded to a soft, uneven blue and the white window frames were flaking a bit, but that didn’t detract from the enchanting two-story bay tower that anchored one side of the house. Several high peaks on the roof looked made for a pair of mischievous squirrels to slide down on a frosty day.

“Oh, my,” Tessa breathed, delighted by the warmth emanating from the home. This was the kind of house she’d always wanted her kids to have. Forgetting some of the hesitation she’d felt earlier, she stepped forward, taking care not to trip over the weeds growing between the cracks in the walk. She stopped for a closer look, brushing her hand over the small green leaves nestled happily between two flagstones. Not a weed after all. She closed her eyes at the fragrance. Thyme. The herb had spread from the plants that bordered the sidewalk on each side.

She plucked a sprig and tucked it into her pocket before continuing toward the broad white steps of the porch. Glancing to either side, she was dismayed at the overgrown and neglected landscaping. Someone had once started to make a difference here, then allowed it to slide into a jungle. Her fingers practically itched to sort through the perennials. But first things first.

Tessa climbed the steps, her gaze wandering from the old-fashioned swing occupying one corner of the porch to the newer white wicker chairs and round table hugging the tower in the other corner. She reached for the dull brass knocker on one of the doors and lifted it, letting it fall with a ringing thud. The sound was so lovely, she tried it again.

The door jerked open beneath her hand.

Danny Santori stood before her, but she hardly recognized him as the same man she’d dined with the other night. His eyes were heavy lidded and his black hair stood off his head in tufts.

“Who…? Oh! What are you doing here?” He shoved one hand through his hair, making it stick up even more.

Tessa frowned, not so much at his abrupt greeting as to suppress her own reaction to his rumpled—but oh, so sexy—appearance. “You invited me, remember? When I called last night.”

“You said you’d stop by in the morning.”

“Right.” Tessa pointed to her watch. “That’s now.”

Danny grabbed her arm and peered at her wrist. “It’s only seven-thirty, for God’s sake. I expected you at some civilized hour, like ten, maybe.”

Tessa pulled her arm away, giving him the once-over. He must have rolled out of bed only a few minutes before. His face was shadowed with black stubble and his eyes were still at half-mast. A T-shirt was partially tucked into low-riding jeans so old and faded they seemed to be part of him. His bare feet hugged the floorboards.

Despite herself, she couldn’t resist a smug grin. “You’re not a morning person, are you?”

Danny rubbed a hand over his face. “What makes you think that?”

“Wild guess.”

He smiled then, a lopsided twist of his lips that made Tessa’s own lips automatically tingle. Maybe it was the dimple. Really, the guy could make money off that smile. How else could she explain her reaction?

“Uh…may I come in?”

Danny backed up, waving her inside. “Oh, yeah…sorry.”

Tessa stepped into a foyer that fulfilled all the house’s promise of welcome. Huge pocket sliding doors lined the ample rooms to the right and left. A grand staircase arched up to the next floor. Tessa eyed its sweeping lines, picturing a Victorian lady descending in flowing satin. She stepped forward to stroke the wide banister.

“It’s so smooth.”

Danny chuckled. “Not from polishing. More likely from the bottoms of all the kids who’ve slid down it over the years.”

Tessa considered the curve. “You’re right. It has the perfect width and slope.”

“Be my guest.”

She chuckled. “Maybe when I know you better.”

“That was the first thing my wife Laurie did when we bought this place.”

Tessa wasn’t sure what to say, so she said nothing. His voice held no bitterness—only a hint of amusement laced with tender longing. The moment passed quickly. He touched her elbow, indicating the dining room through the archway to the left.

“Sorry. Coffee, I’ve gotta have coffee. Want some?”

Tessa preceded him into the dining room and took a seat at the scarred oak table. “I’m not sure I should have another cup. I’ve already had two.”

Danny paused before the sideboard with a mug in one hand and the coffeepot in the other. “Really? When did you have the time?”

“I usually get up at five.”

“Good God,” Danny sputtered, nearly dropping his mug. “Why? I can’t even move much before eight.”

“That’s my time to think. Time to plan the day and get myself geared up to tackle it. But I don’t understand. You said you work twenty-four-hour shifts. How can you do that if you can’t get yourself going in the morning?”

He shrugged. “That’s different. That’s work.” He took a sip of coffee. “So does this mean you’ve changed your mind?”

Tessa blinked and realized she’d been staring at him. “About what?”

Danny gave her a strange look. “Are you sure you didn’t get up too early? After all, you called me.”

“Oh, right.” Tessa fought to keep from squirming. “I guess I’m willing to talk more about this arrangement, provided the kids are all okay with it and we can work out the specifics.”

“The specifics?”

Tessa nodded. “I have several questions.”

“Okay.” Danny took a long swig of his coffee, then rolled his shoulders as if to loosen up. “Fire away.”

Tessa pulled a short list from her hip pocket. “First, I’ll need to know exactly which days you work so I can schedule my jobs around them.”

“No problem. I’ll give you my calendar. There could be a few things that fall outside what’s listed there, but we can work it out. What else?”

“Second, we work out a food budget. You shouldn’t have to pay for all the meals that my kids and I eat here.”

“We don’t have to—”

“Yes, we do.” Tessa lifted her chin a notch. She thought she detected a smile hidden behind his coffee mug, but accepted Danny’s nod of acquiescence.

“Third, we agree to give fair notice if either of us wants to change the arrangement. Say, two weeks?”

Danny swallowed and lowered his mug. “I have no intention of backing out on you.”

“I didn’t think you would, but you did say you’re hoping for a job change. Who knows what might happen then?”

“That’s true,” he admitted. “I’m hoping for that to come about when two of the guys in the department are offered an early-retirement package, though I’m not sure of the timing.” His mouth twitched. “Are you going to back out on me?”

“Of course not,” Tessa protested, tracing a swirl in the oak tabletop with one finger. “I just think we should understand each other, that’s all.”

Danny lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, I think I understand. But I’ll agree with all your rules. Anything else?”

“One more thing.” Tessa pretended to study her list while she avoided his eyes. “What are your plans for sleeping arrangements?”

He smiled. “Did you have something specific in mind?”

Tessa sent him a narrow look. “Are you flirting with me? There’s no flirting—that’s part of the ground rules.”

“Flirting? Of course not. I just figured that because you seemed so prepared…” He indicated her list.

“Hmm.” The glint in Danny’s eyes left Tessa wondering.

“Sleeping arrangements. Well, I’ve got one extra bedroom fixed up that you can use. Your kids can either sleep in the loft on the third floor or in with my kids if they want. I hope that’s okay. There are two more bedrooms that I use for storage, but they need some fixing.”

“Good…that’s fine. I mean, I guess that answers all my questions.” Tessa nodded. Risking a glance at him, she half expected to see that roguish grin she’d encountered at the restaurant, and was surprised to see a solemn expression. It was almost a disappointment.

Before she could examine that unexpected thought, a small figure bounced in through the doorway leading from the kitchen, tattered blanket trailing.

“Hi, Daddy.”

“Mornin’, punkin. You’ve already been into the peanut butter, I see.”

Tessa hid a smile as the adorable little girl in her peanut-butter-streaked nightie hugged Danny’s knees.

“You were talking to the lady, so I had to do it myself.”

He patted her tousled golden hair. “Why didn’t you eat some cereal?”

“’Cause Kevin wanted peanut butter sammiches for the camp.”

“What camp?” Danny pried his daughter from his legs. “Are your brothers up in those trees again, after I told them not to?”

“They’re not.” The little girl shook her head so fiercely, her lopsided ponytails—which looked left over from the night before—bounced. She put her finger in her mouth and stared at Tessa.

“Tessa, this is Emma. This is Mrs. Doherty….”

“Tessa’s fine.”

He smoothed Emma’s sticky hair. “She might bring her kids over and be your babysitter while I’m working. Can you say hello?”

Emma removed her finger from her mouth with a pop. “Hi. Where are your kids?”

Tessa smiled at the sweet round face. “They’re home eating their breakfast now.” She glanced up at Danny. “Eric’s at that age where he thinks he’s old enough to stay home alone. I’ve started leaving them for short periods once in a while. But I should get going soon.”

Danny nodded. “Alison doesn’t think she needs a babysitter, either, but I can’t see leaving her with all this responsibility yet. She’s not even fourteen.”

“I will be in a few weeks, Dad,” proclaimed a sulky voice from behind Tessa. “You keep forgetting that.”

Tessa turned to watch the teenager round the newel post on the staircase. Alison had the same golden sweetness as her younger sister, though her curves were beginning to show up in other places. She plopped onto a chair near her father and swung her long coltish legs over the arm. She fixed a suspicious glance on Tessa, obviously questioning her reason for being there.

“Dad thinks I’m still a child! But I’m not.”

“All fathers think that,” Tessa admitted, exchanging a warm smile with Danny before bringing her gaze back to Alison. “Mine does, even now.”

“I don’t need a babysitter. And we don’t need a babysitter for anyone else, either,” she said with a pointed expression as she glanced at her dad and then back to Tessa.

“Alison…” Danny’s voice sounded a low warning, but Tessa headed him off, recognizing the sense of ownership in the teenager’s eyes. She knew she’d have to tread carefully with her.

“That’s good to know. I was worried about whether six kids would be too many to handle. Five sounds a little better, and I could sure use your help.”

Alison hunched a shoulder and appealed to Danny again. “Dad, really, I think we should talk about this.”

Danny had picked up a paper napkin and was wiping peanut butter from Emma’s face. Instead of answering he changed the subject. “Alison, will you get your sister some breakfast? I’ll round up the boys so you can meet them before you leave, Tessa. But how about dinner tonight with the whole gang? We can talk more then.”

With a friendly smile at Alison, which was met with a perfunctory nod, Tessa stood. “Sounds good to me. Where?”

“McDonald’s,” Emma chirped.

“But I’m supposed to meet Bethany at the mall tonight,” Alison complained.

At that moment the room erupted as two boys burst through the kitchen door. “Hey, don’t we get a choice? We want pizza!”

Astonished, Tessa could only stare at them. They were as boisterous and identical as two blackbirds fighting over a crust of bread. They’d already been out in the dirt, she could see. And both had the strangest haircuts…. Tessa looked back at Danny and smiled. “They look like you.”

“I have more hair at the moment,” Danny muttered. Then he corralled the pair and made quick introductions. “So Kevin and Kyle want pizza, Emma wants burgers—what do your kids like?”

“That depends on what day it is,” Tessa replied. She glanced down at Alison, whose mouth was pursed in a sulky pout. “How about the food court at the mall? That way everyone can eat what they want and then play in the arcade afterward.”

“Yippeee!” The boys didn’t wait around for further discussion. Emma clapped her hands gleefully, and even Alison appeared happy with the decision as she led her younger sister into the kitchen.

“The mall it is.” Danny escorted Tessa to the front door. “Six o’clock?”

She stepped out onto the porch, turning back just in time to see Danny struggling to hide a yawn. She couldn’t resist teasing him. “Six is fine…if you think you’ll be completely awake by then.”

“MAYBE SHE CHANGED her mind.”

Danny stopped scanning the crowd of shoppers surging past the food court and glanced down at Kyle, who squirmed impatiently.

“Probably she’s just combin’ her hair or somethin’.” Across the table, Kevin aimed a packet of ketchup at his brother and smashed it with his fist. Fortunately, the packet remained intact.

Danny intercepted the ketchup before his son could try again. “What makes you say that, Kev?”

“That’s why Alison’s always late.”

“Nope, I don’t think she’s comin’ at all,” Kyle repeated slyly. “I bet she changed her mind just like all those other babysitters. She took one look at that big zit on Alison’s forehead and ran screamin’ for the hills.”

“Little creep,” Alison muttered, slouching in a chair at an adjoining table in a vain attempt to pretend she was an only child.

“Daddy, is that true?” Emma’s eyes widened solemnly. “Did Tessa change her mind?”

“No, honey.” Danny patted Emma’s head with one hand and lightly cuffed Kyle with the other. “She’s just a little late, that’s all.”

“Well, I wish she’d hurry. I’m starvin’!”

Danny silently agreed with his son, though not for the same reason. The thought of seeing Tessa again made his pulse pound just a little faster than usual, not to mention the fact that keeping all four kids gathered in one spot wasn’t easy. Lifting his head, he peered toward the mall entrance.

“I think I see them,” he said a few moments later after spotting a woman Tessa’s size as she angled through a cluster of teenagers loitering in front of the music store. “Wait here. Alison, keep an eye on these guys, please.”

Danny covered the length of the food court in long strides, dodging a couple of boys as they raced toward the arcade. Halfway across, Tessa looked up. Her smile deepened, sending a shock wave through Danny’s gut.

“Sorry I’m late.” She stopped directly in front of him, allowing a group of ambling shoppers to move around them. A bright-eyed little girl skipped behind her. Tessa indicated a dark-haired boy, who followed more slowly. “I forgot that Eric had a baseball meeting.”

Danny smiled back at Eric, who was all arms and legs. “You play baseball?”

“Sort of. I’m not very good.”

Tessa put her arm around his shoulder. “You will be. I just need to find more time to practice with you, that’s all.”

Eric rolled his eyes and shrugged her arm away. “No offense, Mom, but you stink worse than me.”

“Nobody stinks worse than you, Eric,” his sister said in a matter-of-fact tone as she skipped just beyond her brother’s reach.

“Josie, don’t be rude.”

“Motormouth,” Eric countered.

“Hey, you two, put a lid on it.” Both kids pouted, but they obeyed. Hands on her hips, Tessa sighed dramatically. “Well, here they are.”

Josie butted her head around her mom to peer up at Danny. “Hi, I’m Josie.”

“Hi, yourself. You can call me Danny.” He leaned down to squeeze her hand. She was a miniature Tessa, from her honey-colored hair to the sun-kissed freckles dusting her cheeks.

Josie pointed past him. “Are those kids yours?”

Danny glanced over at his children, who were, remarkably, watching from the same place he’d left them. “Yep. Wanna meet them?” He was speaking to the air, however, because Josie was already skipping her way over to the table.

Tessa shook her head. “My extrovert. Now Eric, on the other hand…”

“Mom, don’t talk about me like I’m not here.”

“Sorry.”

Danny watched the boy blush, then reached out for a handshake. “You know, Eric, I played some baseball in college. Maybe I could give you some pointers or something.”

“That’d be great,” Tessa answered. “Wouldn’t it, Eric?”

Eric sent his mother a sidelong glance. “Maybe.”

“Why not—”

Danny stopped Tessa with a hand to her shoulder. He’d been a boy once, and knew what it was to be embarrassed about something and wanting a girl to stay out of it. Especially his mother. “It’s no big deal. If you’re ever interested, just let me know, okay? Let’s go meet the troops.”

“Okay,” Eric mumbled, looking relieved.

Danny led Tessa and Eric back to the table, where Josie was already engaged in conversation with Emma and Alison. Eric took a seat to one side, but the twins were not about to let him keep to himself. The noise level gradually increased. After allowing them a few minutes to get acquainted, Danny had to whistle to gain their attention. “Who wants what to eat?”

“Pizza!” the twins shouted in unison.

Eric shrugged. “That’s all right with me.”

“Me, too,” Josie chimed in.

“Me, too,” Emma repeated imitating Josie.

Danny turned to Tessa after Alison had also nodded in agreement. “We’d better get the pizza before they change their minds. Why don’t you help me play waiter?”

They left the chattering group and weaved their way toward the pizza counter. Danny glanced back once, but none of the kids seemed to notice they’d gone. “That’s funny. Emma’s usually shy, but she’s talking away to Josie.”

“As if she’d get a word in edgewise.” Tessa laughed. “Eric is shy, too, but he seems okay with Kevin and Kyle. It’s a good thing they’re not all shrinking violets.”

“You might wish they were in a few days,” Danny commented. “My house gets pretty noisy with my four around. But six might raise the roof. By the way, do your kids eat like you do?”

Tessa punched his arm playfully. “Not quite. You’re not changing your mind now, are you?”

“No…just wanted to know how many pizzas we need—eight or nine.”

“Two large pepperoni pizzas, please,” Tessa said to the waiting clerk with a smile. “I can always eat something when I get home.”

“Make that three large pizzas, then.” He grinned at Tessa. “I don’t want you to go home hungry.”

After placing their order, Danny watched Tessa gather napkins and straws onto a tray with quick, efficient movements. She moved with such easy grace and innate confidence that he found it hard to believe she was as unsure of herself—and as vulnerable—as Rhonda had implied. “Not worried anymore about handling six kids?”

“A little. Aren’t you?”

Danny shrugged. “I told you, it’ll be a piece of cake.”

“A piece of cake? Oh, you naive man.”

“Okay, a piece of very messy cake.” At Tessa’s chuckle, he added, “I hope you’ll give this arrangement a try. I think we’ll make a good tag team.”

Tessa gave him a quizzical look as the clerk slid three large boxes across the counter. Danny scooped up the pizzas while Tessa followed with the drink tray. They were met with a cheer. “Better stand back,” he added to Tessa as he placed the boxes in the middle of the table and flipped open the lids. “Here you go, troops. Dig in.”

“Talk about a feeding frenzy.” Tessa shook her head. “I didn’t realize they were all so hungry.” She slid into a chair near Emma and reached to help the little girl separate a piece from the rest without losing all her cheese.

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