When his older brother told him that both of his children had really disappeared and that the nanny was furious because his son had stuck chewed gum in her hair, he truly panicked. First, because they were alone on the streets of Dublin, and second, because he was sure he would be sued.
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time. And at that moment, what mattered most to him was the safety of his little ones. For that reason, he didn’t waste any time rushing out of his large office and asking his secretary to cancel everything on his schedule for that day and the next while he headed toward the elevator, completely frantic.
He imagined his children might be scared. After all, they’d never been alone on the city streets before. It was dangerous—he’d always warned them about that, especially about people who might hurt them. And yet, even after he’d warned them time and time again, they’d left, and to make matters worse, no one at the apartment complex had noticed.
The neurotic nanny had gone to the hair salon, and that had infuriated him.
His children were alone on the streets of Dublin, and the woman who was supposed to be watching them was simply getting her hair done at that very moment. Yes, he was angry, especially because the lives of the people he loved most in the world were at stake in that dangerous city. No matter how wrong they’d been, she had no right to leave and abandon them alone on the street. She hadn’t even had the decency to warn him. If his brother hadn’t called to ask about his nieces and nephew, and whether he could pick them up for an outing, Liam wouldn’t even have known what had happened.
His footsteps could be heard as he hurried to the front desk and finally got his car so he could try to find the two little brats he loved. But he didn’t have to go far. The moment he reached the first floor, he was completely stunned to find his best friend standing near Thomas and Natalie, one child on either side of a woman with long, exotic pink hair and emerald green eyes. Even under those circumstances, he couldn’t help thinking, as he looked at her, how beautiful she was. Gorgeous. Incredibly beautiful. He was captivated by her. How long had it been since a woman had left him this dazed? He was surprised that he couldn’t stop staring at her for even a moment, despite having been worried about his “little angels” only moments earlier. It wasn’t that he’d never felt attracted to a woman since Lillie, but this was different. With the others, it had always been sexual attraction. Nothing more. He refused to fall in love with or trust another woman, afraid he might be betrayed again. And yet here he was, dazed by the pink-haired woman.
Seriously, what grown woman still dyed her hair pink? he wondered as he finally began walking toward them.
It was strange, but on her, it looked absolutely perfect. It highlighted her skin. And her eyes. That color suited her in a way it never could have suited anyone else. At least, that was what he thought.
Oh, that building. She knew it well. She’d been there before. Days ago. The most important company in the country had been hiring, but unfortunately, she hadn’t even made it past the interview. Someone else had already been hired. If she’d been faster, she wouldn’t now be trying to survive on what little she had left. Well, that was a lie. Her friends were helping her with a good portion of their own money. The rent on her house, the rest of her college tuition, which unfortunately she couldn’t continue paying, and even some necessities for her home. She felt embarrassed. And upset that she was still in that situation. And now she’d spent the last of what she had. Not that she regretted it in any way—it had been for a good cause.
She hadn’t had any luck for months. Ever since her father had married again, to a con artist she’d hated since she was ten—the day she’d truly met her—everything had fallen apart, especially after realizing that her father was always on the other woman’s side instead of his own daughter’s. That was why she’d lived alone since she was eighteen, but unfortunately, she’d been unemployed for more than two months. Her best friend, Luna Quinn, was helping her pay the fees for the apartment complex where she lived, and if it weren’t for her, she would already have been evicted.
The woman looked at the enormous building again after paying the cab driver who had brought her and the twins to Kavanagh. She’d discovered along the way that their names were Thomas and Natalie. Who would have thought she’d unexpectedly end up standing at the door of the most prestigious company in the entire country again—the one she knew because of its connection to her friends’ companies?
She entered the company with both children, each holding one of her hands. She noticed them exchanging glances and assumed they were afraid of what their father would say. After all, she hadn’t believed them when they’d said their father was waiting for them at the company. She knew a lying child when she saw one, and she’d known the exact moment she looked into little Thomas’s eyes.
“Thomas? Naty?”
They both turned when they heard their names.
“Uncle Ryan,” they said together, and the woman looked at the blond man with blue eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
“We came to see Dad. Can’t we?” Thomas crossed his arms.
“You look more like your father every day,” Ryan murmured.
“I’m sorry…” He drew the other man’s attention. “I came with them because they were alone.”
“Alone?” Ryan looked at the children. “What did you two do this time?”
“That’s a good question.”
The children shrank against the pink-haired woman, and she realized then that the dark-haired, dark-eyed man was their father.
“Dad.”
Just as she’d imagined, she thought, unable to miss how handsome he was.
“You’re in trouble.”
“It was that monster’s fault, Dad.”
Ryan started laughing, and Liam had to admit that he wanted to laugh too, but he held it in so he wouldn’t lose his authority with the children.
“Thomas, don’t talk like that.”
“She yelled at Naty.”
The boy’s father frowned, annoyed.
“She called me spoiled, Dad.”
The pink-haired woman, who had been listening closely, widened her eyes, imagining who could possibly hurt those two adorable children.
“And did you really need to stick gum in her hair?”
Once again, his friend laughed, and he couldn’t help noticing the woman’s wide eyes between his children.
“Your son impresses me more every day with his talent for being evil.”
Liam shook his head.
“She deserved it!” Thomas exclaimed.
Someone cleared their throat, and all of them looked at its owner—the pink-haired woman.
“Excuse me, but who are you?”
“She brought us here, Dad,” Natalie answered for the woman. “She didn’t want to leave us alone.”
“She even paid for the cab,” Thomas added after his sister.
Even though it was my last few dollars, she thought.
“And she’s taken care of us this whole time,” Natalie finished, looking at the pink-haired woman.
Liam was genuinely impressed, especially seeing how grateful both children were to the woman standing beside them.
“May I ask your name?”
“Mia. Mia Lafferty.”
She shook the man’s hand.
“Liam Kavanagh. And this clown is my best friend, Ryan Maher.”
“Clown? Is that how you treat someone who’s practically your brother?” he asked indignantly.
“Thank you for bringing my children here.”
“And he’s still ignoring me,” Ryan muttered, even more indignant.
The children laughed when they heard their uncle.
“Wait.” Liam suddenly frowned. “You came here for an interview, right?”
“I did,” she said, surprised that he remembered.
“I remembered your name from the résumé you sent us. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
“It’s okay.” She gave him a weak smile. “Well, I need to go.”
“Thanks again.”
“It was a pleasure.” This time, she smiled genuinely at the children.
“Thank you, Mia,” Thomas said, surprising his father and uncle.
The woman smiled at him before kissing Natalie’s cheek when the little girl hugged her in thanks.
“Wait.” Ryan ran after the woman when she’d taken a few steps away. “I’m heading home. Do you want a ride?”
“Oh, I don’t want to…”
“You brought my nieces and nephew here safely, so please accept,” he interrupted.
“Well, since you’re offering, I’ll accept, especially because I would’ve had to take the subway back.”
Liam watched them leave, imagining that his friend would spend the ride doing his job and researching everything about the woman’s life, simply because he was extremely curious and knew how to be annoying when he wanted to. He didn’t really mind, especially since she would have taken the subway after paying the cab driver to bring his children safely to him at the company.
His eyes fell on the children, who were staring fixedly at him.
“You’re both grounded.”
He saw them exchange a glance.
“Yeah, we were already expecting that, Dad.”
And this time, Kavanagh couldn’t hold back his laughter when he heard his son.