Falling for His Nanny
Susan Hayashi is everything Sam Hinton is not looking for. Sheâs energetic, outspoken and spontaneousâthe exact opposite of what he would want in a wife. Yet the wealthy widower canât deny that the young teacher is great with his daughter, Mindy. In desperate need of a summer nanny, the small-town CEO hires Susan. After all, itâs only temporary. But Susan and her unconventional approach soon work their way into his and Mindyâs lives. His head says sheâs all wrong for them, but a part of him believes that this unexpected nanny might really be his Mrs. Absolutely Rightâ¦
Why was his hand still moving toward her hair?
Just in time, he pulled it back. That wouldnât do at all.
Sam was getting a little too interested in Susan. She was totally wrong for him in the long-term, even though she was turning out to be an amazing summer nanny. He needed to find Mindy a permanent mom. And he needed to do it soon.
Heâd make sure to get back on the dating circuit right away. He just needed to get himself motivated to do it. Heâd been too busy. But now that Susan was in placeâSusan, who was completely inappropriate for himâheâd jump back into pursuing that all-important goal.
He forced himself to take a step backward. âIf youâre interested in the extra job of planning my company picnic, Iâd appreciate having you do it. It would be easy, because youâre here in the house anyway. But if youâre not comfortable with it, Iâll find someone else.â
She studied him, quizzical eyes on his face. âI can give it a try,â she said slowly.
Sam tried to ignore the sudden happiness surging through him.
Chapter One
Sam Hinton was about to conclude one of the biggest business deals of his career. And get home in time to read his five-year-old daughter her bedtime story.
Heâd finally gotten the hang of being a single dad who happened to run a multimillion-dollar business.
Feeling almost relaxed for the first time since his wifeâs death two years ago, Sam surveyed the only upscale restaurant in his small hometown of Rescue River, Ohio, with satisfaction. Heâd helped finance this place just to have an appropriate spot to bring important clients, and it was bustling. He recognized his former high school science teacher coming through the door. There was town matriarch Miss Minnie Falcon calling for her check in her stern, Sunday-school-teacher voice. At a table by the window, one of the local farmers laughed with his teenage kids at what looked to be a graduation dinner.
And who was that new, petite, dark-haired waitress? Was it his sisterâs friend Susan Hayashi?
Sam tore his eyes away from the pretty server and checked his watch, wondering how long a visit to the menâs room could take his client. The guy must be either checking with his board of directors or playing some kind of game with Samâseeming to back off, hoping to drag down the price of the agricultural property he was buying just a little bit more before he signed on the dotted line. Fine. Sam would give a little if it made his clientâs inner tightwad happy.
Crash!
âLeave her alone! Hands off!â The waitress heâd noticed, his sisterâs friend Susan, left the tray and food where sheâd dropped them and stormed across the dining room toward his client.
Who stood leering beside another, very young-looking, waitress. âWhoa, hel-lo, baby!â his client said to Susan as she approached. âDonât get jealous. Iâm man enough for both of you ladies!â
âBack off!â
Sam shoved out of his chair and headed toward the altercation. Around him, people were murmuring with concern or interest.
âItâs okay, Susan,â the teenage waitress was saying to his sisterâs friend. âHe d-d-didnât really hurt me.â
Stepping protectively in front of the round-faced teenager, Susan pointed a delicate finger at his client. âYou apologize to her,â she ordered, poking the much larger, much older businessman in the chest with each word. She wore the same dark skirt and white blouse as all the other wait staff, but her almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones made her stand out almost as much as her stiff posture and flaring nostrils. Three or four gold hoops quivered in each ear.