She Babysat for a Friend in a Pinch, The Millionaire Father Who Came Home Stayed for Her Heart
The Unexpected Favor and a Millionaire’s Mansion
The shrill ring of Renee Davis’s phone interrupted her concentrated study session, and she sighed heavily before checking the caller ID. It was her best friend Megan, whose panicked voice came blasting through the speaker before Renee even had a chance to say hello.
“Renee, I need you like desperately need you,” Megan’s voice cracked with anxiety.
“The babysitter just cancelled and I have this massive presentation in 30 minutes that could literally make or break my career.”
“Could you please watch Emma for a few hours? I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t absolutely desperate.”
Renee glanced at her textbooks spread across her small apartment’s coffee table. As a third-year nursing student, she had a pharmacology exam tomorrow that she’d been preparing for all week. But Megan had always been there for her.
This was especially true after Renee’s breakup last year when she’d practically lived on Megan’s couch for two weeks.
“Of course I’ll help,” Renee said.
“Text me the address and I’ll be there in 15 minutes.”
After throwing on a simple blue sweater and jeans, Renee grabbed her study materials and rushed out the door. Twenty minutes later, she arrived at an address in the most exclusive neighborhood in the city.
It was a sprawling modern mansion with manicured gardens and a fountain in the circular driveway. Renee double-checked the address Megan had sent, wondering if there had been a mistake.
“This can’t be right,” she murmured.
But before she could call Megan, the front door flew open. Megan appeared, looking immaculate in a tailored suit, her normally unruly hair smoothed into a professional updo.
“Thank God you’re here,” Megan said.
“Emma’s watching cartoons in the media room. I’ve already fed her lunch. Emergency numbers are on the fridge. I should be back by six at the latest.”
“Megan, whose house is this?” Renee asked, eyes wide.
She stepped into a marble-floored entryway that was larger than her entire apartment.
“Oh, I’m housesitting and babysitting for my boss while he’s in Tokyo,” Megan replied.
“He’s this crazy successful tech investor, Sebastian Thornton. You know, the founder of Thornton Innovations. Single dad, total workaholic. Emma is his daughter.”
Megan was already backing toward the door.
“Emma’s the sweetest four-year-old ever. You’ll be fine.”
“Wait, I’m babysitting for—”
But Megan was already gone, her car speeding down the driveway. Renee stood in the vast entryway clutching her backpack. Sebastian Thornton was practically a legend in their city, a self-made tech millionaire.
He had revolutionized home automation systems. His face occasionally appeared in business magazines, though he was known to be intensely private about his personal life. Following the sound of animated voices, Renee found her way to a home theater.
A small girl with dark pigtails and bright blue eyes was watching a princess movie on a screen bigger than Renee’s wall.
“Hi, Emma. I’m Renee, Megan’s friend,” Renee said.
“I’m going to stay with you today while your daddy is away and Megan is at work.”
The little girl regarded her solemnly for a moment before breaking into a gap-toothed smile.
“Do you like unicorns?” Emma asked.
Three hours later, Renee was sprawled on the plush living room carpet surrounded by coloring books, stuffed animals, and half-finished craft projects. She’d managed to squeeze in some studying while Emma napped.
Now the energetic four-year-old was teaching her the names of an impressive collection of toy unicorns.
“This one is Sparkleberry and this one is Princess Moonlight,” Emma explained seriously.
She placed a plastic unicorn in Renee’s hand.
“They’re best friends just like you and Megan.”
“They’re beautiful,” Renee said sincerely, amazed at how quickly she’d grown attached to this imaginative little girl.
“And what’s this one’s name?”
Before Emma could answer, the front door opened. Renee froze, expecting to see Megan returning early. Instead, a tall man with disheveled dark hair and piercing blue eyes, the same shade as Emma’s, walked in.
He loosened his tie and stopped abruptly at the sight of Renee sitting cross-legged on his floor amid a sea of toys.
“Who are you?” His deep voice was equal parts exhaustion and suspicion.
“Daddy!” Emma squealed, leaping up and running to him.
He caught her easily, his stern expression immediately softening as he lifted her into his arms.
“Hi, princess. I missed you,” he said, kissing her forehead.
He then fixed his gaze back on Renee, who scrambled to her feet feeling incredibly awkward.
“I’m Renee Davis, sir. Megan’s friend.”
“She called me when her babysitter cancelled and she had that big presentation today.”
Renee trailed off as his expression remained unreadable.
“She said you were in Tokyo.”
Sebastian Thornton adjusted Emma on his hip.
“The meetings concluded early. I caught the first flight back.”
He glanced around at the creative chaos covering his immaculate living room.
“Where is Megan now?”
“Still at her presentation, I think. She said she’d be back by six.”
Renee began hastily gathering up toys.
“I’m sorry about the mess. We’ll clean up right away.”
To her surprise, Sebastian’s serious face cracked into a small smile.
“Don’t worry about it. This is actually the most lived-in this room has looked in months.”
He set Emma down gently.
“Why don’t you show me what you and Miss Renee have been making, Emma?”
