Page 3 of At Her Service (Club Velvet #2)

CHAPTER 3

“O h, sweetheart, there you are!”

Abby turned to see a woman dashing toward them, tall and lithe with deep bronze skin and long dark curls. Her arms outstretched, she swept Hazel up into an embrace, holding her tightly as she let out a deep sigh.

“I thought I lost you.” She looked Hazel up and down, her eyes falling on the band-aid on the toddler’s knee. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

Hazel shook her head. Abby glanced at the woman, who was so focused on her daughter that she barely seemed to notice Abby at all. The resemblance between her and Hazel was undeniable. She had the same rich brown skin and dark curls, which cascaded down her shoulders from under a wide-brimmed hat. Large sunglasses adorned her face, and she wore a fitted black dress and heels that were far too glamorous for a trip to the park.

But Abby couldn’t deny how striking the look was. It was like the dress had been stitched around each and every curve on her body. It was just short enough to accentuate her long legs while still looking professional, and the wide V neckline showed off her smooth, bronze shoulders and chest, allowing a glimpse of her full, luscious?—

Abby glanced away. But it was too late. The woman had noticed her.

She peered down at Abby. “And you are?”

Abby’s cheeks burned. Had the woman caught her staring? Her eyes were hidden behind her sunglasses, revealing nothing.

“Uh, hi,” Abby said. “I found her just over there. She’d fallen over and was crying, and she was all alone, so I figured she was lost. I just finished cleaning up her knee when you came over. Oh, I’m Abby, by the way. I’m a nanny. The kids I’m looking after are playing soccer over there…”

Abby clamped her mouth shut. She was rambling. The woman was so mesmerizing that she couldn’t help it. While her dark glasses hid her eyes, Abby could somehow feel the woman’s gaze on her.

Finally, the woman took off her sunglasses, folded them up, and slipped them into the V-neck of her dress. “I’m Valerie.”

Valerie. The way her name rolled off her tongue, melodic and firm and sensual , sent heat rising through Abby’s body.

“Would you like to get up?” Valerie said.

Abby glanced down at herself. She was still on her knees. Why was she still on her knees? No wonder Valerie was staring at her.

Valerie held out her hand. “Let me help you.”

Abby took her hand and rose to her feet, a shiver trickling down her back. Valerie’s skin was soft as silk, her fingernails short but manicured. This was a woman who was meticulous about her appearance. Her nails, her clothes, her deep red lips and perfect curls, not a single strand out of place. Even the perfume she wore, velvet smooth and honey sweet, was subtle but intoxicating.

Valerie released her hand. Abby hadn’t realized she was still holding it. She turned to the table and began packing up her first aid kit to give herself something to do.

“Thank you for finding my daughter,” Valerie said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I don’t know how she got out of her stroller. She’s never done anything like this before.”

“It happens,” Abby replied. “They’re little escape artists at that age. All that matters is that Hazel is okay.”

Valerie tensed. “Hazel?”

“Yeah, isn’t that her name?”

“Yes, it is.” Suddenly, Valerie’s voice was cold as frost. “But I didn’t tell you that.”

“No, she did. We had a nice little chat.” Abby pointed at Hazel’s knee. “She told me green is her favorite color, so I gave her a green band-aid.”

Valerie’s eyes narrowed. “She told you that? She spoke to you?”

Abby nodded. “It took a minute to get her talking, but once she got started, she wouldn’t stop. She’s a smart kid. Why?”

Valerie looked Abby up and down. “No reason.”

Silence fell over them. Still in her mother’s arms, Hazel reached out and grabbed Valerie’s sunglasses, clutching them in her small fists as she tried to put the oversized glasses on her face. But Valerie barely seemed to notice. Her eyes were locked on Abby again.

Abby’s heart thumped. Why does she keep looking at me like that?

Finally, Valerie broke the silence. “You’re a nanny?”

Abby nodded. “Yes.” Was that why Valerie was staring at her? Because she was suspicious of the strange woman lurking in the park who had found her child? “Here, let me show you.”

She pulled out her phone and brought up her profile on the Nanny Finder app. All the parents in Los Angeles used it to find nannies and sitters. The app verified nannies’ identities and credentials, so it was an easy way for Abby to prove that she was who she said she was.

She held her phone out to Valerie, who skimmed the screen, then nodded. But as Abby put her phone away, Valerie spoke again.

“What would it take for you to come work for me?”

Abby blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You’re a nanny. I need a nanny. Rather, Hazel does.”

“Are you… Are you offering me a job?”

“I am. There will be an interview, of course, and I’ll need to look into your qualifications and experience. But Hazel likes you. And she spoke to you, a complete stranger.” Valerie nodded at the first aid kit and other items from Abby’s bag, which were still scattered on the table. “You’re well prepared, which tells me you take your job seriously. And most importantly, you were the only person in the entire park to notice that Hazel was lost. You took the initiative, not just to help her, but to get to know her. That shows you care. And that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a nanny.”

“Wow,” Abby said. “I’m flattered. Hazel seems like a sweet kid, and you’re?—”

Beautiful? Commanding? Hotter than sin?

“—you seem like a great mom. But I…” Abby shook her head. “I already have a job.”

But her tone must have betrayed her.

“Are you happy with your job?” Valerie asked.

“I’ll be honest. It’s… not great. But I’ve been with the family for a few years now. I wouldn’t feel good about leaving them without a nanny.”

“Then I won’t try to poach you from a family who so sorely needs you. But if you decide you’d like a change, my offer stands. Come work for me, and I’ll make sure you don’t regret it. A full-time position, with benefits, generous paid vacation time and sick leave, your own room, use of the rest of the house, everything.”

Time off, and paid at that? Plus, her own room? She wouldn’t have to pay rent on the shoebox apartment she shared with Erin anymore.

“And whatever salary you’re on now?” Valerie said. “I’ll double it.”

Abby’s eyes widened. “Double? But you don’t even know how much I’m getting paid.”

“I don’t need to.”

“But that’s…” Ridiculous? This is ridiculous, right?

“Listen, Abby. My daughter is the most important thing in the world to me. So whoever I choose to help me take care of her will be well looked after. A good nanny is more precious than gold. When I find one, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her happy. Come work for me, and I’ll make sure your every need is taken care of. Come work for me, and I’ll make sure you’re treated right, just like you deserve.”

Abby’s breath caught in her chest. There was something captivating about the way Valerie spoke, her scarlet lips, her dark, piercing eyes, that compelled Abby to say yes …

She tore her eyes away, glancing at Connor and Owen. That was all it took to break the spell. She couldn’t quit her job. She couldn’t abandon them.

And there was no way she could work for Valerie when just being in her presence made her heart race.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I can’t.”

If Valerie was disappointed, she didn’t show it. “I understand. Let me give you my number just in case.” She shifted Hazel onto one hip and reached into her purse, withdrawing a small black business card. “It’s the number for my personal cell. If you change your mind, give me a call.”

Abby took the card from her. Hazel chose that moment to throw Valerie’s sunglasses to the ground. Then, realizing they were now out of her reach, she began to wail.

“Looks like it’s time to get Hazel home.” Valerie leaned down and picked up the sunglasses, handing them back to her daughter. “Thank you again for everything.”

Abby shook her head. “It was nothing. Really.”

Valerie gave her a nod of farewell and walked away.

It was only once she was out of sight that Abby realized she’d been staring again. She looked down at the business card in her hand. It was matte black and inscribed with gold text.

She traced her fingers over the gold lettering. Valerie Kane, the card read, followed by a phone number. Otherwise, it was bare.

Wait, Valerie Kane? As in, the Valerie Kane?

Abby’s hand flew to her mouth. She looked up again.

But Valerie was long gone.

She collapsed onto the bench behind her. She’d been talking to Valerie Kane , and she hadn’t had a clue. She should have guessed the woman was someone famous. She was stunning. Magnetic. And oh so commanding in a way that made Abby’s whole body sizzle.

And she’d made a fool of herself, getting all flustered and rambling about her job. Not that it mattered. There was no way someone like Valerie Kane would ever be interested in her. She was so far out of Abby’s league that she was playing a completely different game. That had been obvious even before Abby realized who she was.

But as she replayed their conversation in her mind, all she could think about was the way Valerie looked down at her when she was on her knees.

And the way the woman’s eyes smoldered as she did.