Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Kayden was the easiest little boy to take care of, even Hannah said so. Soon, she said, a routine will settle into place and things will get even better.
The first thing I did when I woke up at dawn was check in on Kayden. I’d left the door half open, so I tiptoed in. He must have been tired, because he was sound asleep half-covered by the comforter.
Shadow trotted to me from the other side and proceeded to lick my legs. He’d already given himself the role of Kayden’s bodyguard, following him all day.
I stroked Shadow for a few minutes, pulled the comforter around Kayden’s little body, and stood watching him sleep. With a smile, I left his room.
Hannah, it seemed from the sounds coming from her end of the corridor, was already up.
“Morning,” she said when I walked into the kitchen. She was dressed a lot differently from the way she had until now. A pair of tight white shorts and a crop top.
“Good morning,” I said, trying to figure out the appropriate dress code for nannies. No idea, but I was pretty sure that those shorts were not part of it.
“Coffee?” she asked with a smile that bordered in flirtation.
“Sure.” Maybe I was overreacting. It was Friday after all. A lot of people saw Friday as the beginning of the weekend. She poured me a cup of coffee and rather than slide it across the island, she came around to my side.
She brushed against my shoulder with the side of her breast. It wasn’t my imagination. The nanny was trying to seduce me. Fuck. How had I not seen this coming? I took a sip of my coffee and kept my face impassive. Under normal circumstances I would have gotten rid of her, but the last thing Kayden needed was more change, just when he had gotten attached to her. If I utterly ignored her unsubtle advances she would get the message, especially once I introduced Willow into the picture. Time would take care of her infatuation or whatever it was.
“I was thinking of taking Kayden to the park at lunch time,” Hannah said. “He’d like it if you joined us, even if just for an hour?”
“Fine. I’ll be there. Text me the time.” I drained my coffee and excused myself.
I peered into Kayden’s room just as he was waking up. He sat on his bed and rubbed his eyes.
“Morning, buddy,” I said, walking in. I lifted him out of his bed. His little body was warm from sleep.
“Morning, Daddy,” he said, melting my heart.
I still hadn’t gotten used to being called daddy. I wanted to hear it over and over again. Was it the same for all parents? For Kayden, our relationship seemed natural to him. As if I’d been in his life from day one. I kissed his forehead.
“I’m going to work now, but I’ll meet you and Hannah in the park.”
He beamed. “I like the park. Will you push me on the swing?”
“I sure will,” I said and ruffled his hair. Kissing him again, I left feeling as if I’d left a part of myself behind. I had no idea what kind of life he’d had with his mother and her man but I was going to provide for him the best lifestyle I could. He would lack for nothing.
“Morning,” I said cheerfully to Finn, as I slid into the car.
He turned to me in surprise. “Morning, Sir.”
It dawned on me that I wasn’t a morning person. Or I hadn’t been. Finn and I never spoke in the morning in the past. I grinned. One could not be grouchy with Kayden in one’s life.
He dropped me in the basement of the building. My usual steps were to take the elevator that took me straight to the executive floors. On a whim, I took the stairs to the first floor, wanting or needing to see Willow before I started my work day.
I ignored the stares that followed me as I cut across the open plan office to Willow’s desk. Her face was set in concentration, her eyes on the screen in front of her. I sat down and studied her. Today, she had worn her hair in a ponytail.
My fingers itched to undo the ponytail and thread my fingers through her hair. The background noise of typing fingers and muted conversation faded. All I was aware of was Willow. I caught a whiff of her signature perfume, reminding me of how she looked when she first woke up. I’d missed that.
Her gaze left the screen. She gasped and her hand flew to her chest. “Rex, you gave me a fright.”
I chuckled. “Sorry. I should have said something, but it was more entertaining to stare at you without your knowledge.”
She wagged a finger at me but she was smiling. “You’ve been busy.”