Page 30 of Marrying the Nanny

But he had the service tomorrow and he’d been so obviously out of his league earlier. Awkward, yet intense, preparing a bottle like he was defusing a bomb. One false move and the world would end.

Emma had felt like she was trying to coax a tiger to jump through a flaming hoop. Maybe he’d do it; maybe he’d maul her to death. She’d never been so happy to go to bed and pull the covers over her ears.

Glenda wasn’t scared of them. She’d urged Emma to show them tough love. Give them a chance to fail. Fine for a grown man, but what about poor Storm?

Her cries were growing more insistent.

With a sigh, Emma threw the covers aside and sat up. As she did, she heard the creak in the ceiling that was Reid crossing to the door of his room. She continued to listen as his footsteps padded down the stairs and into the baby’s room.

When they’d tucked Storm in—after her suggestion he read her a story had had him staring with skepticism while he pronounced, “One fish, two fish”—she had given him the monitor and told him what to do if Storm woke in the night. Change her if she was wet, snuggle her back into her swaddle, walk her if she didn’t settle.

Privately, Emma thought Storm was ready to be done with swaddling. She kicked out of it a lot.

Reid’s subdued voice came through the closed doors of the bathroom that connected the rooms, but Storm’s cries grew in strength. Fearful. She wasn’t happy with a stranger showing up in the middle of the night.

Emma rolled away the pocket doors of the bathroom and strode into Storm’s room.

“I just picked her up,” Reid said defensively. “You said to check if she’s wet.”

“I know.” She took Storm and rubbed her back in reassurance. “It’s okay, baby. It’s been a lot of change for her. She lost both her parents, now these big, scary men are here. It’s going to take time for her to get used to you. You can go to bed if you want to.”

He hooked his hands on his hips. He wore boxers and a T-shirt and a shadow of stubble that was discernible even in the dim glow cast by the moon-shaped nightlight.

“I would love to, but is it going to get easier tomorrow night if I walk away now? Doubt it.”

True. She gave Storm’s nappy a squeeze before handing her over.

“It might be the tummy trouble that was bothering her the other day, but that new formula seems to sit better. I’m guessing teeth. Let’s get the ring and try some gel.”

They went down to the kitchen where the ring was in the freezer. Storm turned her head away when Reid offered it the first time, then gave it a cautious suck-bite. Cry, turn, try, quiet for a few seconds, lather, rinse, repeat. She reached twice for Emma and, when Emma only patted her and said, “You’re okay,” registered her anguish with an ear-piercing wail.

Reid rubbed some numbing gel on her gums and stiffened slightly when she bit down on the tip of his finger.

“I thought that was going to hurt,” he admitted sheepishly.

Storm calmed a little as she worked her tongue against the odd flavor and looked at him like maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. She wanted to chew on his finger some more, but he offered the teething ring. She leaned tiredly on his shoulder, little body still quaking with sniffles, tears on her cheeks.

“Now what?” he asked, glancing to Emma.

Now she mourned her barren womb. She was turned completely inside out by this strong man, weary and rumpled and concerned, patiently holding a teething ring to soothe his baby sister’s gums.

“Now you wait for her to fall asleep.”

“How long does that take?”

Storm set her tiny hand on Reid’s, giving little gnaws against the textured ring, eyes glassy, but not drooping.

“Five minutes? An hour?” Emma shrugged with apology and used the corner of the blanket to dry Storm’s cheek.

“I’ve heard so many new parents complain about not getting any sleep. How many times will she get up?”

Emma winced. “A good night is once. Two or three is not uncommon.”

“Awesome,” he said under his breath. “Go back to bed if you want.”

“I’ll stick around so she can see me. Would you like tea? I’m having a cup.”

“No, thanks.”

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