Seven

      Nathaniel smiled, his expression deliberately bland. “Maybe yes, maybe no. I won’t be long.”

      In his office, he spread a blanket on the floor. He’d grabbed it up from the pile on Dani’s bed. “Play with your rattle, little one. I’ve got to wrap a package.”

      Reggie had proved to be quite accommodating when Nathaniel explained the situation. The overnight delivery had been signed for, and the doorman had sent up Christmas paper and tape. Unfortunately, turning out eye-catching packages was not in Nathaniel’s skill set. He’d been a Boy Scout, but tying knots was a long way from handling thick, glossy paper and recalcitrant ribbon.

      At last, he was satisfied. He held up the large rectangle and examined it. “What do you think, Peaches? I’m counting on this to win points with a certain prickly woman.”

      The baby gummed a pink-and-green teether from the drugstore enthusiastically, but didn’t endorse Nathaniel’s efforts. “I know,” he said glumly. “It’s probably too little, too late, but she deserves a merry Christmas, even if I am a Scrooge.”

      Since Peaches was in a mood to be cooperative, Nathaniel did a quick check of email, looking over his shoulder guiltily. There was more to life than work. He knew that. Trouble was, up until this particular odd Christmas, work was all he’d ever had on a day like today.

      Half an hour later, Dani showed up, flushed and bright-eyed. “Everything’s on the table,” she said. “Come and eat.”

      Fortunately, he’d hidden the box behind a tall wooden file cabinet. Even when Dani crouched to pick up the baby, the gift was out of sight. Timing was everything.

      In the kitchen, Dani had opted for casual, preparing two places at the granite counter island instead of in the dining room. The room smelled of cinnamon and yeast. “Wow,” he said, inhaling with enjoyment. “You went to a lot of trouble.” The mimosas were especially tempting, particularly since no one had to go anywhere.

      On the other hand, he needed a clear head to negotiate a peace treaty with his beautiful houseguest. He took a stool and held out his hands. “I’ll hold her while you eat.”

      Dani shook her head. “We can both eat. I think she’ll be happy in her carrier for a little bit.”

      Either Dani was a gourmet cook or Nathaniel was starving or both. The streusel-topped coffee cake was warm and fragrant and tasted like heaven on a plate. He was on his third piece before he noticed Dani watching him with a grin.

      He stopped dead, his fork halfway to his mouth. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “I did leave some for you.”

      Her sunny smile was the first open, uncomplicated one he’d gotten from her since their encounter in the middle of the night. “It’s quite all right. A cook likes to know her efforts are appreciated.”

      Deliberately finishing the last bite on his plate, he wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin, drained his glass and reached across the small space separating them to stroke his thumb across her cheek. “I appreciate the hell out of you, my little Christmas elf.”

      Dani turned bright red and busied herself with the baby. “A simple thank-you will suffice,” she muttered.

      “What shall we do between now and lunch?” he asked in his most genial Christmas host voice. “When Peaches takes a nap, all sorts of things come to mind.” He was treading a line between forcing Dani to remember the good parts of last night and hoping like hell she would overlook the bad ones.

      “I really need to talk to my parents,” she said, not taking the bait. “To see what the plans are for Tuesday. Perhaps you could entertain the baby while I do that. Afterward, I’ll feed her and put her down.”

      “Of course.”

      To his disappointment and dismay, Dani handed off the kid and disappeared into her bedroom. Had Nathaniel spooked her, or was the excuse a genuine one?

      He couldn’t exactly listen at the door. Since he was too jumpy to sit down for any length of time, he cleared the breakfast dishes with one hand and loaded the dishwasher. Fortunately, there was no one around to reprimand him when he sneaked a few more bites of cake.

      By the time Dani finally reappeared forty-five minutes later, the baby was getting fussy. Instead of handing her over, Nathaniel decided it was time for him to step up his game. “Let’s go to the den,” he said. “We don’t want to waste that world-class tree. I’ll feed the baby, and you can pick a movie. How’s that?”

      Dani seemed dubious, but she followed his lead. Nathaniel didn’t bother with the sofa. He picked the recliner and got comfortable with Peaches in his lap. The baby, as always, guzzled her bottle and conked out.

      Dani flipped through his Blu-ray collection and finally settled on one of the original Star Wars movies. He didn’t have a single one of the romantic comedies that most women liked, so it was a good thing his guest seemed to share his taste in classic sci-fi/fantasy.

      The opening credits had barely finished rolling before the second female in the room fell asleep. Nathaniel grinned wryly. So much for being a stimulating companion. He rubbed the baby’s head. “Were you awake a lot during the night, little scamp? Or is Dani tired for another reason?”

      His body tightened and his breath caught as lust roared in uninvited. His den was a far different place in the middle of the day than in the dark of night, but it was difficult not to remember holding a naked Dani in his arms and making love to her like a madman.

      Hell. Why hadn’t he stayed in the kitchen where the atmosphere was far less charged?

      He watched the movie, but he’d seen it half a dozen times. It was far more satisfying to study the woman sleeping a few feet away. To a stranger, this scene would have seemed perfectly normal. Only Nathaniel and Dani knew how very abnormal it was.

      She had made no bones about her plans to leave him. If memory served, Dani was using vacation days this week to spend time with her family. They certainly wouldn’t understand if, at the last minute, New Century Tech demanded her attention.

      No, work wasn’t the answer. If he were going to keep Dani here, he’d have to try something risky. Maybe tell the truth. He didn’t want to be alone this week. Not after he’d had a taste of what the holidays could be like.

      In the meantime, he’d be content with the status quo.

      Dani slept for half an hour and woke with a start. Her cheek was creased from the trim on the sofa arm, and her hair was mussed. “Sorry,” she said, adorably flustered. “What did I miss?”

      He laughed