14 - Demoted

Dani arrived at work early and was ready to spend another day protecting the company from Kasper. She went to work on a reduction proposal, he would never agree to, but Baxter would.

She looked at the time and looked around. Why hadn't Kasper stopped by her desk yet? He greeted her every morning. It was typically the most pleasant moment between them each day. Women around the world dream of seeing his handsome face and it smiled at her each morning.

By nine-thirty, her ire was up. When would he learn work wasn't optional? Her anger grew as she dialed his phone number. Skipping work when Baxter was away.

"Shit!"

Then she heard "Sit," in the background.

"I never called. The nanny broke her arm. I'm the only one available to stay with the twins. I thought Baxter would have notified you."

She switched to her email. "I have an email. I missed it while I was looking for you." Or writing a plan that you'll hate.

"I'll be here all week."

"Baxter wants me to help you. All non-urgent work can wait. So the good news is you have a stay before the tough decisions."

"A stay of execution. Don't grab the toy from your brother. I have to go. I'm fine here. Don't fire anyone behind my back."

She held the receiver. What did he know about taking care of children? What did she know? Baxter wrote his father would be in the office every day and she could work from his home office to support Kasper.

Standing she walked over to Sue Ellen's desk. "Is Mr. Kane in?"

She nodded. "He's meeting with Joe over some construction decisions. Can I help you?"

With Philip in charge, she felt demoted. Dani liked when he came in for a few hours and walked around talking to people. He would never loop her into decisions. "Baxter asked me to work from his house to monitor Kasper."

"Philip said Kasper is in charge. Don't worry, we'll take care of everything on this end."

Babysitting wasn't in her career plans, but nothing was more important to Baxter than his son. His wife and sons. The driver was waiting in the garage to take her to Beacon Hill. Kasper opened the door with a boy on his hip. Her eyes took in his appearance, messy hair, flannel pants and bare feet.

"Come in. I left Jamie downstairs."

He turned and rushed down the stairs. When she reached the kitchen, both boys were playing in their pen while Kasper wiped juice off the floor. "The cup leaked."

She picked up the lid. "I've seen Ivy put something in here." She picked up a silicon piece near some upside down cups and lids. "Try this."

"Shit. I missed that."

"Sit."

Kasper frowned. "My brother's gonna kill me it he hears him."

She wanted to laugh, but sternly said, "Stop saying it. Is it pajama day?"

"We haven't gotten around to dressing yet."

Dani sniffed and made a face. "One needs more than clothes."

"It'll be Jamie. Jonny woke up with that present." Dani laughed. "It's not funny. Do you want to change him?"

"No, thanks."

"I didn't think so. Come on boys, let's go up."

They dropped their toys and ran to the elevator door Kasper held open. Dani didn't join them. It was too close for comfort. Instead, she went to Baxter's office to set up her laptop. She could hear their voices floating down. A part of her wanted to watch Kasper deal with a dirty diaper, but she didn't want to get sucked into the unpleasant job.

She was replying to her emails when Kasper called her. Climbing the stairs, she found the boys dressed in unmatching shirts and little overalls. They even had socks on.

"Can you stay here while I get dressed? We're going outside for some fresh air."

She sat in the rocking chair while the boys played around her. They chatted to each other in pseudo-English. She tried to figure out who was who without luck. Baxter said it was easy, but it didn't look easy.

He returned in less than five minutes in jeans with tamed hair. Obviously he hadn't showered, but he smelled fresh. Too nice, like he sprinkled himself with pheromones.

"Come on! Let's go outside."

"What will you do outside?"

He shrugged. "Play. Run around. It's fresh air. You should come."

She looked down at her suede heels. "I'm not dressed." Her legs would freeze.

"If you plan to hang out every day, I'd suggest jeans. We could raid Ivy's closet."

"No! I'm fine." She didn't mind being in her boss's home, even in the nursery, but she didn't want to go into his bedroom or wear his wife's clothing. Some lines needed to be drawn. "I'll work while you play."

His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Once back in the kitchen, he busied himself putting shoes, coats and hats on the boys. As she made her way back to the office, she stopped and watched them run around the little fenced in patch of grass. It was yellowish-brown because winter was on the way. Her eyes were drawn to Kasper's lips. She could see his breath and hear his laughter as he chased the boys. Smiling, she stood until he looked in her direction and then she rushed to the office.

At almost noon, she heard a commotion in the kitchen. It was crying, as her feet went faster. She paused. "It's okay, Jonny. Uncle Kasper will kiss it." Mwah. "You better not have a bruise or your M-O-M will K-I-L-L me."

She bit her lip, before stepping closer. "Where is he hurt?"

"His forehead. He fell into the stroller as I was lifting his brother out."

"Stroller."

He nodded. "We went past Nini and Poppy's house and said hello to Percy and Mrs. Moran. She gave us a cookie and lunch for us. It's still in the stroller. Then we went to Uncle Jimmy's house and peeked at cousin Mattie." He kissed Jonny's cheek. "Did we see the baby?"

Jamie said, "Baby."

"Why is your mother Nini?"

Kasper laughed. "She's too young to be called grandmother."

Dani rolled her eyes. The woman had four grandchildren. The name was cute and nothing about Amelia Kane was cute, except her youngest son. With her rogue thought, she turned on her heels. "I'll get lunch."

She returned with a foil container, like it was takeout from a restaurant. Kasper was busy at the microwave. He nodded at the tray she put on the counter. "We can eat after they're in B-E-D."

She chuckled. "Once we had a dog, and we spelled words like treat and walk."

He looked at her when she spoke as if she were telling investment secrets. "You hardly talk about yourself."

She shrugged. "Not much to say."

He stared at her for a long moment. Then it was his turn to shrug. If only she could read his thoughts, hopefully he couldn't read hers or detect that she was lying.

He turned away. "Who is hungry?" He put each boy in their chair and gave them chicken nuggets and pieces of cubed avocado. Then he went to work cutting up grapes.

The boys ate the finger food with gusto. "They're hungry."

"They burned a lot of energy running around."

Before they finished their heads drooped. "They're crashing." The cleaning up caused fussing, but Kasper lifted both. "I can carry one."

"Okay." He let her take the small, but solid body. The boy looked up at her and pouted but didn't cry. Dani hadn't spent a lot of time with the twins. She came to Baxter's house to work, but that was about to change.

"Not again!" Kasper looked like a dog tied up outside when the rain started. "How often do you two shh, um, poop?"

"Poo poo poo."

"Nice answer Jamie."

"How do you tell them apart?"

"Personality?" A small smile crossed his lips.

"Seriously?"

"No, but kind of. Jamie does all the talking for their little boy band."

"Is that a problem?" Dani had enough to worry about.

Kasper shook his head. "Not for us. Not this week. Okay stink face, let's change you." He set the boy down on the changing table while she held the other. He handed her a diaper. "Make yourself useful."

"Where?"

"Put him on the floor."

She must have changed diapers before, but honestly she couldn't remember. The tired boy looked up at her and she smiled as she unsnapped his pants. Ripping off the old soggy diaper was easy, but she fumbled with the new one.

"You've got it. Simple right. Easier than this." He held up the offensive bundle.

"It's cold in here."

"Shhh-ap! I left the window open. The stink."

"Stin-yee."

"I need to wash my hands."

"Disinfecting them would be better."

One was busy taking clean diapers off the pile and dropping them on the floor. She tried calling him over to where she still sat on the floor, not an easy feat in a skirt. She left her heels in the office. The other one grabbed a little blue blanket with a stuffed bunny head on it and put his thumb in his mouth.

Kasper returned. "Jamison, what are you doing?" He scooped him up. "Oh, my God! Not you too!" Dani laughed. He glared at her. "Next time you laugh, you're changing it."

She stood ungracefully. "You said you could handle them."

His back straightened. "And I can."

By the time he changed the other one, the one with his thumb was almost asleep on the floor. He lifted him and settled him in his bed. The newly clean one was almost out and followed his brother.

Once outside the room, Kasper sighed. "It's easy, but it takes energy to keep up with them."

In the kitchen, they sat and ate the wrap sandwiches prepared by the Kane's cook. "Better than a restaurant."

Kasper nodded. "Good thing because I can't cook. She's sending over pasta later. The boys love it."

"They'll make a mess."

He laughed. "They always do. Then they'll shit and go in the tub. I'm afraid to feed them because every time they load up their diapers. Does Baxter start every day that way?"

She scrunched up her nose. "I don't want to know."

"Don't you want kids?"

"No. I like my career and I'm not a long-term relationship person."

Kasper studied her. "Have you ever had one?"

"Yes, but I have no interest in repeating it." And losing myself to a man.

"Obviously, you chose the wrong guy. My brother and sisters are happy with their commitment."

"Because a magical cross made sure they were in love. People fall out of love." My mother left.

Kasper shrugged. "I suppose. My parents aren't head of heels."

"But the cross?"

"My father said he didn't marry his true love."

"I'm not a romantic but that's sad for him and your mother."

Kasper shrugged. "Their marriage is strong." He chuckled. "They survived raising the four of us."

Dani had texted Sue Ellen about using the Kane's driver. She needed to change her clothes. "I don't think you should stay alone."

"Why? I was fine last night."

"What if something happens?"

"You don't think I can handle them."

"I don't know what bathing them involves, but it seems like a two-person job. Plus, if one gets sick."

"The nanny fell during bath time."

"See. I'll be back and we can work until they wake."

Dani took a deep breath when she stepped out of the house. What was she thinking? Baxter had asked her to help Kasper. Although he was doing remarkably well, child care wasn't a challenge to be won. Two children required more than two hands and hers were the only ones available. Any time Baxter traveled, the nanny came to stay. She didn't want to be the nanny, but she needed Baxter to know she put his children first.

As she watched the Boston streets scroll by it occurred to her like a hit on the head. She and Kasper got along fine outside of the office. Hopefully, that would continue.

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