Romancing The Nanny. Cindy Kirk

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СКАЧАТЬ like that,” Amy said. She still didn’t think of Steven as a boyfriend since, until recently, most of the “dates” had revolved around cooking group events.

      Something flickered in the back of Dan’s eyes but he remained silent.

      Unexpectedly Emma lifted her gaze to Amy. “Do you love him like my daddy loved my mommy?”

      The girl’s question took Amy by surprise and she answered honestly. “No, I don’t.”

      “Do you think you could love him?” Dan asked.

      “I don’t know,” Amy said when she realized Dan expected an answer. “I guess anything is possible.”

      

      Dan tucked Emma into bed and reveled at this perfect child he and Tess had created. He loved her with an intensity that took his breath away and his heart ached at the thought of all the pain she’d had to endure in her short life. All because of his selfish desire to give her a brother or sister.

      “Good night, princess.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek. She was his priority and nothing mattered more to him than ensuring her happiness. “I love you.”

      “I love you, too, Daddy.”

      “Amy will be up in a minute to say good-night.” His stomach tightened into a knot. Usually he and Amy tucked Emma in together. But tonight, Steven had called and Amy had said to go on without her.

      A tear trailed down Emma’s cheek and her brows pulled together. With her big blue eyes and honey-blond hair, she looked more and more like her mother every day.

      Dan’s heart tightened. “What’s the matter, sweetie?”

      The little girl’s bottom lip trembled and a few more tears fell. Though Dan wanted to make better whatever was bothering her, he forced himself to wait. He’d learned you couldn’t rush Emma. When she was ready, she’d tell him what was bothering her. Then he’d make it all better.

      “Is Amy going to marry Steven?”

      The words hit him like a punch to the chest. Dan didn’t like the idea of Amy marrying Steven, either, but somehow he managed to keep a smile on his lips. “She said he was just her friend. Remember?”

      “But sometimes friends get married.” Emma pushed herself up to her elbows. “When Grandma Ann married Grandpa Hal she said he was her good friend.”

      Dan’s mother had been widowed for many years when she and her old friend Hal had decided to tie the knot. Theirs wasn’t the romantic love she and his father had shared but they were content together. Even if Dan could explain it adequately, he wasn’t sure a six-year-old could understand.

      “Daddy.” Emma’s voice trembled. “Amy’s not going to marry him and leave us, is she?”

      Dan’s jaw clenched at the thought of his daughter enduring one more loss. But Dan knew it wasn’t just Emma who’d suffer. If Amy left it would leave a hole in both their lives.

      “She’s not going to leave.” He pulled Emma close and planted a kiss against her hair. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

      The resolve in Dan’s heart resounded in his voice. He didn’t care what the cost. He’d do whatever it took to keep Amy in his household…and Emma happy.

      Chapter Three

      After leaving Emma, Dan took the back stairs to the kitchen. He rummaged through the refrigerator for several minutes before he realized he wasn’t hungry or thirsty.

      He grabbed the paper and headed to the porch. Perhaps reading about people with real troubles would help him forget his own.

      Amy wasn’t going to leave, he told himself. He paid her well and she loved taking care of Emma. As far as that guy Steven was concerned, if he was truly interested in Amy he wouldn’t be talking about recipes with her.

      Reassured by his logic, Dan opened the paper and turned to the financial section. He’d barely started reading when he heard footsteps.

      Amy pushed the screen door open with her shoulder. “Thought you might like a snack.”

      Dan jumped to his feet and took the tray from her. The faint scent of lilacs teased his nostrils. It was an old-fashioned scent but one that suited her. He glanced down.

      A thin slice of lemon topped each glass of lemonade and the assorted cookies perfectly arranged on the decorative plate looked like they could have come from a gourmet bakery.

      “These look fabulous,” he said.

      Amy blushed a becoming shade of pink and took a seat in a wicker chair.

      Dan placed the tray on the tiny table in between the two chairs, handed her a glass and took the other for himself.

      Though he still wasn’t particularly thirsty, she’d gone to a lot of work and Dan wasn’t about to disappoint her. He lifted a glass to his lips and took a long sip. “Perfect.”

      Satisfaction filled Amy’s gaze. “It’s always better when the lemons are freshly squeezed.”

      “You squeezed these?”

      She laughed—a pleasant laugh that reminded Dan of the tinkle of bells. “With my own two hands.”

      Dan didn’t need to ask if she’d made the cookies. They were too perfect not to be hers.

      “Snickerdoodle.” He filched one from the center of the plate. “My favorite.”

      “I think I knew that,” Amy said with a teasing smile.

      Dan returned her smile and decided he’d been foolish to worry. Amy was happy in his household. She wasn’t going anywhere.

      She glanced at the paper. “Are you looking at the classifieds?”

      Dan handed her the section and returned his attention to the stock quotes. They drank lemonade, ate cookies and read in comfortable silence. Dan never felt pressured to make small talk with Amy. If there was something to discuss, it was brought up. Otherwise, it was okay to just relax.

      Dan wasn’t sure when he first became aware that Amy was doing more than just reading the Want ads. Maybe it was when he noticed the pen. Every so often she’d make a quick mark on the page.

      What was she doing?

      He could ask but he already felt like he’d gone over the line at dinner and didn’t want to overstep again. Amy was a private person and Dan had always subscribed to the notion that if she wanted him to know something, she’d tell him.

      “Jake and I stopped for a drink after work.” Dan hoped if he started talking, so would she. “You’ll never guess who I saw.”

      Amy lowered the paper to her lap. “Who?”

      “Bree Northcott.” Dan wasn’t sure why he’d brought the woman up, other than she’d been one of the few women he’d dated Amy had seemed СКАЧАТЬ