with his. ‘Whoa!’ She grabbed him and steadied them both.
‘Melody never let us into Daddy’s office,’ he insisted.
Unluckily for your dad, I’m not Melody. She thought inwardly. I’m far more stubborn for a start.
‘I understand that,’ she said, holding his anxious gaze, ‘but I do things differently and I think your dad will want to say hello to you.’ She squeezed his shoulder. ‘Come on.’
Aimee raised an eyebrow and Zoe could read in her clear blue eyes that she thought their new nanny was making a mistake, but given Jasper had changed his mind and was now racing ahead, she shrugged and followed her little brother to the office door.
Zoe reached above their heads and knocked on it twice firmly, feeling sweat forming in the small of her back. It was so darned hot already. This suit was going to kill her. When there was no answer, she knocked again. After a minute, she lost patience and reached around Jasper’s head, grabbing the door handle and nudging the kids into the room.
Matt spun around in the ergonomic office chair, a scowl on his incredibly good looking face, the desk behind him a chaos of paper, pens, Post-It notes and gadgets.
‘Yep, what is it?’ he turned back to the Mac screen.
‘Aimee and Jasper wanted to say good morning.’
‘Sorry. I’m busy.’ He tapped a few buttons and rubbed the back of his neck.
‘I’m sure you can spare a minute.’ She kept her tone light.
‘Not really.’ He replied vaguely, moving the wireless mouse around. ‘I’m in the middle of something.’
She gritted her teeth. What the heck was the matter with him? Where was the kind, light-hearted guy from earlier in the kitchen?
‘They’re not sure you’ll find them to say goodbye before you leave,’ she explained in a gentle voice for the children’s sakes, ‘which I understand happens sometimes?’
As she said it, Aimee dropped her gaze to study the floor and Jasper started jiggling up and down on the spot.
‘Hmmm?’ Matt tapped some keys again.
‘Matt? Matt!’
‘Yes?’ He looked at her over his shoulder, eyes distant.
Maybe he wasn’t being rude, he was just caught up in what he was doing. She chose to give him the benefit of the doubt. ‘I know you’re not saying you don’t have time to say good morning to Aimee and Jasper,’ she stared at him meaningfully, ‘and I’m sure that if you need uninterrupted work time you’ll go to the office.’ She let that giant hint sit there. ‘It’s fine if you don’t want to speak to me about that other thing now,’ she said softly, giving him a way to make this quick, ‘so this will only take a moment. Kids, go and say morning to your dad. Give him a big squeezy hug.’
Jasper stared uncertainly from his big sister to his dad and back to Zoe, who immediately saw the tension in both children’s shoulders. Looking across the room she saw an equal tension in the set of Matt’s arms, and the way his jaw was clenched.
What was going on here? They never hugged? Zoe was utterly shocked, looking at her boss’s closed expression. What kind of family was this, so shut off from one another? And why hadn’t Melody told her how bad things were? They were young children for God’s sakes. They needed warmth, love and affection to build their self-worth, to feel secure and happy. Self-esteem was crucial to their development and the people they would become.
‘No. I mean, we don’t usually…’ Matt started saying, trailing off as Zoe shook her head slightly then nodded at Aimee to show him how his daughter’s chin was tucked tight against her chest, fingers twisting nervously in the hem of her top. She gestured with a small wave at Jasper, bopping up and down, green eyes wide.
Don’t push your children away, can’t you see what you’re doing to them? Zoe tried to communicate what she was thinking to Matt, looking at him with begging but determined eyes. Her tone was firm. ‘We’ll be out of your hair as soon as it’s done. Just a minute, I promise.’
Staring from one child to another, he tapped his fingers on his knee, shoulders hunched over. Zoe could see the pained indecision on his face, but after a brief hesitation while he studied Aimee’s pose, he conceded with a curt nod, face twisting with something she couldn’t peg.
Full of relief, Zoe smiled brightly at Matt and his mouth swung open, looking surprised. Bending over she peered up into Aimee’s face. ‘Go on,’ she encouraged. ‘Your dad’s ready for his hug now.’
Aimee frowned.
‘He is. Come on, look at him. Get to it!’
The girl gave Zoe a look of pure disbelief but cocked her head around her to look at her dad. He crooked his fingers at her, jaw flexing again.
Aimee bit her lip and threw her a look. If this goes wrong, it’s on you.
Zoe smiled bravely. Fair enough.
Shrugging her thin shoulders, Aimee wandered towards her dad, throwing a quick glance at her little brother, who was watching the action with interest, still jiggling away. Matt flushed as his daughter approached him, face still rigid, but moved forward in his chair, normally graceful movements strangely uncoordinated.
They wrapped their arms around each other hesitantly, and it was one of the most awkward hugs Zoe had ever seen, but then something in Matt seemed to unravel and he relaxed, muscular arms tightening around Aimee, eyes closing. He rested his head against her auburn hair, swallowing hard, and then opened his eyes and arms, inviting his son into their little circle.
Jasper sprang across the room like he’d been waiting for years, hurling himself at his dad and sister, his small face full of innocent joy as he snuggled into them. Matt scooped them tighter against his broad chest, closing his eyes again and Zoe melted a little as she saw his love for his kids. Why he wasn’t usually affectionate with them she didn’t know. He was a natural once he loosened up. And why she found him so extraordinarily sexy holding his children, her knickers melting along with her heart, she couldn’t work out. She fanned herself. It was getting hotter inside and outside.
Maybe it was a biological thing programmed in by evolution, the sight of a big, capable tough man protecting his children triggering a need to make more. It might explain why the famous Athena poster of a bare-chested man holding a tiny baby had sold so many millions of copies. God only knew, but whatever it was, she didn’t like the tender feelings racing through her. It was totally and utterly wrong. She started backing toward the door, intent on escape and happy to leave them to their private family moment. Maybe she’d splash her face with cold water to cool down.
‘Kids,’ Matt said huskily as he opened his eyes and saw her exit attempt, ‘can you go into the kitchen and sit at the table? Zoe will be there in a minute.’ He released them, standing up. ‘Close the door on your way out please.’
Oh, crap.
Both children smiled widely at her as they left the room, and Zoe smiled back with pleasure for them but a sinking feeling in her stomach. As soon as the door shut she stepped forward, needing to take control of the situation. Waiting to be bawled out was awful. ‘I’m sorry if I ambushed you, but I had no idea that’s the way things were,’ she was aware her voice was both apologetic and defiant, ‘and really you can’t expect me to let you reject your children by not hugging them and they’re bound to want to see you in the mornings, they’re kids, they need to know you love them. Also how would you feel if you didn’t see them and then something happened to one of them, you’d regret it and—’
‘Whoa! Slow down, Zoe! Wait a minute.’ Matt held up his hands, walking toward her, forest green eyes searching her face. He shook his head and blew out a long, slow breath, gathering his thoughts. ‘Look, I wasn’t pleased at the interruption when you first came in, I’ll admit. When I’m disturbed