Waters Run Deep by Liz Talley Page B

quest. And she couldn’t risk feeling any sort of interest in Nate Dufrene. Her assignment was to use whatever he could give her on the case. Not pin some deep-buried hope to feel something for a man who lived almost a thousand miles away from where she needed to be.
    Annie had to play things smart.
    She climbed the elegant stairway, which was deserving of more grand dress than running shorts and shirt, and went to her room. Spencer wasn’t there, but she heard him and Tawny laughing down the hall. After a quick shower, she went to the room where Spencer was supposed to sleep, pushed open the door and found Tawny tucking pajamas in a lovely maple dresser. Annie nearly keeled over in shock.
    “Hey, Annie. Spencer’s ready for breakfast. I told him maybe you’d take him for a walk afterward.” She turned to a sulky Spencer. “Sorry, birdie, I want to take you, but I’ve got to get on set.”
    Spencer buried his head in the fluffy pillows of the antique rice bed and said nothing.
    “Come on, baby. At least you’re here with mommy this time.”
    He lifted a tragic face to his mother but said nothing. His lower lip poked out a good inch.
    Annie walked toward the boy. “Spencer, sometimes moms have to work. Mine did when I was little, and I went to day care. I had to share my toys with a mean boy named Kyle.”
    “You did?” He tipped his face to her. “Why was he mean?”
    Annie sank onto the bed. “I don’t know, but he bit me once.”
    “He did?”
    She tugged him so he sat up. “Yep. But your mom loves you so much she hired me to be your nanny. And I won’t bite you. I promise. I’ll even share my toys.”
    Spencer grinned. “You don’t have toys. You’re a grown-up.”
    “Oh, yeah,” Annie said, scratching her head. “I guess I need some toys.”
    Spencer laughed. “You’re silly, Annie.”
    Was she? Silly was as foreign to her as flirty. She looked at Tawny, who watched them from the open doorway. The actress nodded and mouthed “thank you” before disappearing.
    Annie felt a flash of pleasure at the woman’s acknowledgment. Odd, she didn’t usually seek approval from anyone other than her boss. Of course, some would say Tawny was her boss.
    “Let’s get some cereal and then we’ll take that walk. You want a bath first?”
    He shook his head. “I want Fruity O’s.”
    “Of course, monsieur. Coming right up.”
    Spencer slid off the bed and pulled on his Crocs. Much to his mother’s dismay, the rubber shoe was Spencer’s choice of footwear. Didn’t really go with the hundred-dollar ripped jeans and trendy boutique shirt, but Annie had to give the boy props for choosing something easy to clean. “Annie, you’re good at fixing cereal. I think that’s kinda cooking, huh?”
    “I’m no Rachel Ray, but you won’t starve.”

CHAPTER SIX
    NATE SAT FEET CROSSED at the ankle, taking up space in his mother’s sitting room. Picou sat at her desk regarding him with solemn eyes as he traced the pattern on the brocade armchair. The air felt tight as a guitar string, but still he remained silent, waiting for Picou to find her footing after having been told about the woman asking questions about the past.
    She cleared her throat. “We’ve had false alarms before.”
    “I read the report. This deputy is a friend of the woman’s and he provided a physical description along with a description of a stuffed animal she said she’d had since she could remember—a pink blanket with a stuffed poodle attached to it. The woman said she called it Dobby.”
    “But that’s not what Della called it. She called it her baby.”
    Nate quirked a brow. “I know, Mom. But think about what ‘Dobby’ is similar to.”
    “Darby,” Picou whispered.“Why are you telling me this time?” his mother asked from her position at the old cherry rolltop desk she’d inherited from a maiden great-aunt. Her hands shook as she twisted one of the loose brass knobs.
    “Because last time I didn’t tell you, you