Romancing The Nanny. Cindy Kirk
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learned long ago she couldn’t talk Emma out of her fear; what reassured and calmed her most was to be held. So, she’d taken a seat in the wooden rocker and Emma had crawled onto her lap. For a long moment Amy had just held her close. Once Emma’s tears had stopped, Amy had started to sing. Her voice hadn’t been good enough to make Swing Choir in high school but Emma didn’t complain. These songs from past and present Broadway musicals were Emma’s lullabies.
Now Emma slept, her cheeks still showing remnants of the tears that had flowed so freely only minutes before. Amy stroked the little girl’s hair and wondered if Tess had ever rocked Emma to sleep and marveled at this perfect child she’d created. Amy liked to think so. She let her mind drift back to the time she’d first met Tess.
She remembered her vividly—the wispy blond hair, the pretty elfin features and the immense blue eyes. Tess had been a petite dynamo who could charm the socks off a complete stranger and bring her handsome husband to his knees with a single smile.
Tess had been three months from delivering her second baby when Amy had first come to live in the Major household. Even pregnant Tess had been cute and trendy, a fashionista on the cutting edge of the latest styles.
Emma had been almost three, a shy, sensitive child who reminded Amy more of herself than of her gregarious parents. Shortly after Amy had arrived Tess had confided that she found it hard to understand how a child of hers could have so many fears.
Perhaps because she’d been plagued with those same insecurities, Amy had felt a kinship with Emma. They’d bonded immediately, which was good considering Tess hadn’t been around much.
Tess had been launching a new line and all her time and attention had been focused on work. When Amy had casually asked Dan if Tess planned to keep up this pace after the baby was born, he’d just laughed and said Tess wasn’t happy unless she was going ninety miles an hour.
Amy wasn’t sure if Dan was kidding or not. Surely Tess planned to slow down and spend some time with Emma once the baby was born. But in the end, Tess never got that chance. The placenta had unexpectedly separated from the uterine wall and, despite a valiant effort by emergency personnel, she and the baby had died.
Even after three years the memory of that night still made Amy’s heart ache. It had been such a horrible time in all their lives…
“Is everything okay?” Dan’s voice sounded from the doorway.
Ducking her head, Amy shoved the memories aside. Though she knew Tess was never far from Dan’s thoughts, he never talked about that period and she never brought it up.
She leaned her cheek against the top of Emma’s head and gained her composure. “Emma was a little frightened, but she calmed right down.”
Amy sensed, rather than saw, Dan move across into the room. He squatted by the rocker and touched her arm. The feel of his hand against her skin took her by surprise and reminded her of her earlier daydream. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest.
“I was asking about you,” he said.
“Me?” Her voice came out as a high-pitched squeak and Amy nearly groaned aloud wondering what had happened to her normally unflappable composure.
“You haven’t been yourself lately,” he said softly. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”
Amy met his gaze and her breath caught.
Something flickered in his eyes and she wondered if he felt the electricity, too. But when she looked again, only simple concern reflected back at her.
“I’m just fine.” Amy forced a bright smile. “Everything is great.”
“Is there anything you want?” Once again his gaze searched hers. “Anything at all?”
Dear God, it was like her fantasy had come to life. The spicy scent of his cologne wafted about her and something quivered deep in Amy’s belly. Perspiration dotted her brow.
His gaze locked with hers and Amy could feel herself being pulled into the blue depths.
“What is it you want, Amy?” he asked again. “Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”
Amy searched his face, looking for what she wasn’t sure.
I want you. The words hovered on the edges of her lips. Take me in your arms and kiss me.
But as much as she longed to say the words, Amy had learned the hard way what happens when you’re needy and demanding.
“It doesn’t take much to make me happy,” Amy said finally, not really answering his question.
His brows drew together and he appeared to consider her words. After a moment he rose to his feet.
“Let me take her,” he said. “The storm has passed. She should sleep all night now.”
With well practiced ease, Dan scooped Emma into his arms and lifted her to his chest.
Amy’s breath caught at the look of love on his face. She’d been scarcely older than Emma when her beloved father had been killed in a car accident. She’d never experienced such unconditional love since.
Emma might not have Tess, but she wasn’t alone.
Unexpected tears filled Amy’s eyes but thankfully Dan was too busy tucking Emma into bed to notice.
“I’ll see you downstairs.” Amy rose from the rocker and moved quickly across the glossy hardwood to the door. Dan believed she was a strong, practical woman and she didn’t want him to think differently.
Dan brushed a kiss across Emma’s cheek and turned to find Amy hurrying toward the door. “Hey, wait for me.”
He rose and followed her with his lengthy stride but she didn’t slow down. If anything, she increased her pace.
Then, like a scene from a slapstick comedy where someone slips on a banana peel, Amy’s feet flew out from under her. A startled cry sprang from her lips.
Dan responded instinctively. With his heart in his throat, he lunged forward and grabbed her from behind. There was no time to think. No time to consider where to place his hands.
Amy wore a bra, but the moment his hand gripped the soft mound of flesh, the contact might as well have been skin-to-skin.
Amy gasped and turned, her cheeks two bright spots of pink. He immediately dropped his arms to his sides and took a step back. Heat rose up his neck.
While Amy’s face gave nothing away, her hand trembled as she carefully straightened her shirt.
Guilt coursed through Dan. He captured her gaze, willing her to see by the look in his eyes that he was sincerely sorry. “Amy, I—”
“Daddy?” Emma’s sleepy voice sounded from across the room.
Dan whirled. But he’d barely taken a step when Emma snuggled into her pillow and her eyelids drifted shut. “Love you, Daddy. Love you, Amy.”
“Love you, princess,” Dan called softly, but the girl was already asleep.
Dan took a deep breath and turned back to Amy.
“Thanks for catching me,” she said, not giving him a chance to continue his apology. “I’m usually not so clumsy.”
“I’m usually not so rough.” Dan shoved his hands into his pockets. “I didn’t even realize where I was—”
“I was thinking of making some hot cocoa,” Amy said.
Hot cocoa? It was seventy degrees outside.
But the desperation in her smile told him all he needed to know. She preferred to pretend nothing had happened.
Dan returned her smile, relieved they wouldn’t have to have an awkward discussion.
Amy lifted her gaze, her tongue nervously moistening her lips, her eyes