Several seconds passed as he perused the papers in his hand. My eyes were drawn to the long fingers and short clean nails of his hand that held the pages, then to his wrists. He wore a wide band stainless steel watch that glowed silver against his tanned skin sprinkled with dark hair. The scent of him danced elusively as I inhaled the sea air permeated with all the smells of the port. I breathed again deeply, trying to catch the thread of something that brought to mind worn leather, eucalyptus, and bad decisions. Was that what an honest-to-God pheromone smelled like?

He set the stack down, and I caught sight of my name amid upside down typed French. Then he leaned forward and clasped his fingers together. Blue eyes drilled me. “Why are you here?”

“Uh.” I blinked, my mouth drying. “To nanny for Dauphine.”

“Why?”

I didn’t feel like telling him I’d quit my job. It could make me seem flighty or temperamental. And frankly I didn’t want to relive the awkward experience. “I needed a change of scene. And you needed a nanny. It seems combined circumstance brought me here.”

His eyes flickered, and I imagined he’d expected the standard because I love children so much response.

Emboldened, I went on. “I haven’t worked for Tabitha’s agency before, and I am sure you’ve had more experienced nannies for Dauphine than I. But I am honest, I work hard, and I really need this job. If you want a better reason than that, then I don’t have one.” Holding his gaze, I tried hard not to let the forcefield of it cower me. The intensity level he emitted felt as though I was staring into the sun.

“You are attracted to me,” he stated.

A rush of heat hurtled up my neck to my cheeks as my mind stumbled to deal with the shock of his forthrightness. God, had I been that obvious? After only a handful of interactions? My family and friends always laughed that I wore my emotions on my face too easily. I tried to formulate a denial, but I wasn’t fast enough.

“I’m not interested,” he said dismissively before I could even form a response.

The heat that had come from embarrassment quickly seared to irritation. The arrogance! “Excuse me?”

“I said, I’m not interested. You are here for Dauphine and only her.”

My blood pressure rose as the tips of my ears burned. “I’m well aware of that fact,” I managed through stiff lips.

“Good. Then we understand each other.” He looked back at his papers as if the conversation was boring him. ‘“Unless you think it will be a problem?”

My blood pounded in my ears. “And just because you’re attractive, doesn’t mean I want to—that I would …” I stammered.

He looked up, an eyebrow raised.