When the tub was almost full, she shut off the water and dipped in a foot. Groaning softly, she eased her body into the warm water and slid under, letting it envelope her tired, stressed-out body. With her head back against the edge of the tub, she relaxed for the first time in days. Thank goodness her travelling companion was now a thing of the past. It didn't seem like it at the time, but he may just have done her a favor. Not that she wanted to think about thanking him any time soon.
How hard could it be to watch after a couple of kids out here? It wasn't like they could get lost in the city traffic or shopping malls. She just had to brave a couple of cooking lessons from Bluey and things should be sweet. At least, that was what she’d tell herself for now. The vision of the messy room when she’d walked in was pushed to the back of her mind. The image of the clean kitchen she had left just was much more appealing.
By the time the water cooled, the tips of her fingers were wrinkled but the stress had eased from her body and she yawned happily. After dressing, Del climbed into the bed and snuggled down under the soft blankets. Before her head was nestled down into the pillow, she was fast asleep.
Chapter 4
Del's nose twitched. She lifted a hand to brush against it, then she settled back against the pillow with a deep contented sigh to try and catch her dream before it drifted too far away. A damp, cool object touched her cheek, and she lifted her hand again.
A scream rent the air when her fingertips met with a cold slimy object as it latched onto her face. Del threw off the blankets and scrambled to get out of bed. Her heart pounded as her feet touched the floor. The sound of children's giggling calmed her enough to open her eyes and glance around.
Royce and Lilly were on the other side of her bed, scrambling to gather small green objects into a plastic tub.
“What the heck is going on?” Blake came running down the hallway, and stopped at the door.
“Um…I think the kids were trying to scare me.” Del stood with her hand over the thump of her heart in her chest. It beat harder when she remembered how revealing her sheer nightgown was, and tried to hide her embarrassment at being sprung, semi-naked, by Blake. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned on the edge of the bed, trying to keep her back to him.
“Right, you two, catch those damned frogs and take them outside, now.” He turned to her and stopped, his gaze travelling the length of her body.
Heat flared in her veins and she reached for the towel slung across the end of the bed, giving him a clear view of her full breasts before she could hold it in front of her.
“I'm sorry. One of their favorite tricks. Are you okay?”
Del glanced at him, trying to ignore the silky garment rubbing softly with each movement across her now pert nipples. She saw the look of unbridled lust in his eyes and pulled the towel tighter to cover herself, before stepping away to the other side of the bed.
“It's okay, I love frogs. Really, I do. I was just dead to the world and got a fright, that’s all. Is there any special reason for this behavior I need to know about?” Delilah tried to stand calmly as if having a conversation with her new boss so early in the morning, semi-naked, was perfectly normal. Somehow, I think the heat racing up my cheeks and the way my hands are trembling will blow my cover.
“I guess they don't like having other people take care of them, although they seem to have cottoned onto you okay. I don't have any choice though. Without the farm earning money, we would have no livelihood. Royce understands to a certain degree, but not so much Lilly.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Apparently it’s normal when you lose a parent. Denial or some such stuff, the counsellors said. I was kind of hoping they would take to you after last night, but now I'm not so sure.” He let his gaze drift down before glancing her in the face again.
“Don't give up hope, Blake. Now scoot and let me get dressed so I can go and see them. I'll give them as good as they get, believe me.” She grinned at him, and waited until the door was closed before dropping the towel and raising her hand to her flaming cheeks. That had to be the most embarrassing thing she had to deal with. How was she going to face him now when he had seen just about all her body, and her reaction hadn’t been one of indifference? Her bloody nipples had perked up and screamed look at me. There was nothing for it but to brush it off and pretend it hadn’t happened. At least that was what she was going to try and do.
Delilah lifted one of her suitcases onto the bed and looked for clothes to wear. Afterward, she could go and see the children…and the frogs. A shudder trembled over her skin but since she’d told the kids she wasn’t afraid of the amphibians, time for the big girl panties.
When she was dressed, Del walked out to the kitchen. The smell of coffee made her mouth water and she headed straight for the pot, pouring herself a mug and inhaling the fragrance before her first sip. The sound of children's laughter rang out and, with a drink in hand, she headed outside to find them.
“What the heck are you dressed like that for?” Bluey stood in the
