ISBN-10: 1480052620
ISBN-13: 978-1480052628
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 4, 2012)
Description:
Sapphire has experienced a lot of financial difficulties and she feels as though she will not be able to support her mother or her younger brother Jimmy. When all hope seems lost she is offered a job as a nanny from a rich and successful owner of a photography magazine, Anthony Black. Sapphire should be excited, only she has never really liked Anthony, they have never truly gotten along and she had always been in love with Anthony’s twin brother Andre. So why instead of making her his nanny, had Anthony asked Sapphire for her hand in marriage, a marriage for a lifetime?
Excerpt:
“Sapphire!” Anthony’s voice reached her, drawing her back to the present.
She looked up and saw him then, the very image of Andre, but for his hair which barely rested on his shoulders. Andre always kept his short. Yes, that and the cool unfriendly expression he wore made them very distinctly different in their features. Andre was always laughing and smiling. It was a joy to be around Andre. How she missed him. For a slight moment, a mere second, Sapphire thought it was Andre who stood before her now.
Andre…Anthony was a handsome man. He had jet black hair and hypnotizing gray eyes. His skin was a warm sun-kissed color. His nose tall and straight. His lips were full, a pinkish brown sort of color. He had strong broad manly shoulders which where covered to perfection in a light gray, pin-striped suit. Anthony was a large, intimidating, sized man. He stood over a foot above her, a tall hovering being. His legs were slightly splayed apart, and Sapphire could see he was studying her as much as she was studying him.
Anthony was frowning as his eyes swept over her attire. No she hadn’t changed her clothes. Sapphire was still wearing what she wore to work that morning. She almost put on something different, but what else does a nanny wear than a pair of blue jeans, and a tee-shirt? She didn’t have on any makeup either, but Sapphire never really wore much makeup to begin with. Her wild red waves were up swept in a tight long ponytail. But it couldn’t be because of what she was wearing why he was looking at her like that. There was more, yet when he stared at her jeans she wondered if he saw the splash of finger paint she had used with the children during craft time. Sapphire wanted to sink into the floor. That is until he looked up at her with a mocking look in his eyes.
“So you have finally decided to come inside?”
She nibbled on her lower lip for a second, stopping when she realized her nerves were showing. Sapphire straightened her shoulders and gave him a challenging look. There was something else in his eyes then, a sparkle of laughter and it infuriated her that he could be laughing at her. So he was watching her when she sat in her car and was amused somehow by it.
“Yes, I am here now,” she said coolly.
Anthony’s eyes swept over her again. Sapphire tightened her lips, hoping he did not notice the dark circles under her eyes.
“You look so young…so fresh,” he said somehow out of the blue. She was taken aback by what he said even though it echoed the same sentiment as Jenny’s, but then Anthony refocused. “And as though you haven’t slept a wink in days. You’re not sleeping very well, are you Sapphire?” His eyes probed. “You’re not eating much either. You’re far too thin.”
Sapphire didn’t respond. She watched the muscle in his jaw tighten. Anthony didn’t like that she wasn’t responding.
“You didn’t have to stay outside so long. It’s very cold out there and I don’t believe your choice of attire is wise, or in the least bit flattering.”
He was watching her intently, waiting for what she didn’t know. She didn’t know why he said all those things, or why it should concern him. Why did he have to go on and on about everything? Sapphire hadn’t seen Anthony in such a long time, and how did he begin? By lecturing her!
“I’m fine really, the chill doesn’t affect me as much as it use to.” There was a double meaning to her words and he smiled. Anthony actually smiled, and it caught her by surprise.
“That is a comforting thought. I assumed you’d gone by the fire to warm up, but now I see it was for,” he paused, “another purpose.” Then he glanced at the photo in her hand.
Sapphire looked down at Andre’s picture and felt herself blushing. It was silly, really, the way she reacted. Andre was gone after all. Anthony knew how she felt about his brother, had known how much Andre meant―
“You still love him, don’t you?” his words sounded more like an accusation than a question.
Her eyes widened at his surprising declaration. Her hands were slightly shaking now and she placed the picture down in fear he would guess the extent of her emotions.
“I am sorry for your loss…Andre’s and Brigita’s. I wanted to be there but…” She swallowed as her heartbeat quickened in her chest. She was fighting back the tears now…so much had changed. Why couldn’t some things in life just stay the same? “As you know,” she smiled sadly, “I lost my father just before Andre’s accident.” It was surreal to Sapphire that the two men who meant the most in the world to her were gone now, four days preceding the other.
“You did receive the flowers my family sent?” Anthony asked with a softness to his voice.
She nodded. “Thank you.” Sapphire lowered her gaze.
“Your father was a good man, Sapphire.”
Was it concern and tenderness she heard in his voice? But when she looked up into his eyes again, they were as hard as steel.
“Would you like to have a seat?” Anthony gestured to the leather sofa beside her. Sapphire eyed the floral and stripe pillows on it. She took two small steps, then gently sat down. Anthony remained standing for a minute or two before sitting on the paisley covered accent chair next to the fireplace. He sat poised with his hands clasped together on his lap and a determined look on his face.
“Our families have each gone through a great loss in recent months.”
Sapphire nodded.
“When Andre and Brigita died they left Mya, my niece behind.” He looked thoughtful. “I have heard about the wonderful care you have administered in your day care. It’s the best child care business for miles. You and your aids are competent and highly skilled workers.”
“Thank you,” Sapphire said, surprised and a bit taken aback by the compliment.
“And so this is why you are here now, why I spoke to Edward about you,” Anthony spoke in a matter of fact tone.
“Because Mya needed a nanny,” she added lightly.
“No,” Anthony was frowning again and Sapphire didn’t know why. “I don’t need a nanny Sapphire.” He paused studying her again. “I need a wife,” he said this casually as if they were talking about the weather.
Sapphire was so glad she had been sitting at that very moment. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She couldn’t seem to make a sound. Never had she been this deeply shocked in all of her life. Who would have thought of all people, her very first proposal would be from Anthony Black. It was absurd.
“Since my brothers and his wife’s death Mya stayed with my parents for six months. We thought at first it was the best place for her, but it did not take my parents too long to realize they are much too old now to handle a child of two years of age,” he continued speaking in a business fashion sort of way. “She has been with me these last twelve months―
“Stop!” Sapphire put her hands up.
“Is something wrong?” Anthony asked again in a casual voice.
“Yes, something is gravely wrong. For starters you don’t even like me Anthony. We don’t get along. We are always at each other’s throats. I mean, I’ll be your nanny if you really truly need me, but I can never be―”
“Ne jamais dire jamais, Never say never.”
About the author:
Dallacey E Green writes clean romance novels with touching characters that will make you laugh and cry as you embark on their journey of love. She has been writing romantic stories since the early age of eleven. She is also a talented artist who illustrated the book The Bee and the Bear.
Dallacey E Green has published four novels, Second Best, Is It Worth It, For A Lifetime and Alone In My Memories. She is currently working on her fifth novel, An Independent Woman.
Dallacey E Green graduated from Andrews University with her BA in Architecture and a minor in Art. She also has her certificate in Interior Design.
She spent her early years in the Island of Antigua. From there her family moved to Miami, FL. Reading and writing did not come easy for Dallacey since she struggled with dyslexia, but when she began to read a new world opened up to her, and from then on she began to write stories that captivated her family and friends. She hopes to be an inspiration for children and adults who struggle with this disorder; to hold on to their dreams and never give up.
Dallacey lives in West Tennessee, which she thinks is the perfect setting to create her heartwarming tales.