Page 4 of Whiskey

That left Zane, Corinne, and me alone in the reading nook…and my heart racing. Searching for something to say, I blurted, “She’s a little young for reading time at the library, but it’s a good habit to form this early.”

“Didn’t come for the reading thing.”

Tilting my head to the side, I asked, “Did you just tag along with Elise and her husband?”

“Nope, I came for you.”

That was the last thing I expected him to say…but also something I easily could’ve fantasized coming out of his mouth. “You did?”

“I need a nanny, and I’m hoping you’ll take the position.”

3

WHISKEY

Igave myself a mental pat on the back for not giving in to my every instinct to turn into a possessive, obsessed Neanderthal.

Yeah, I was never gonna hear the end of it from my married brothers. And they would hear about it soon because there was no way Blade was gonna keep his mouth shut.

Ellery blinked, her long, thick lashes hiding her gorgeous hazel eyes for just a second. They were almost too big for her heart-shaped face but absolutely perfect for her and so expressive.

From the second I’d spotted her in the library, I’d been able to read her emotions in her eyes and face. That was all it took to know she was mine. But then my gaze had skimmed her body, and holy hell…she was a fucking knockout. The warmth I’d felt in my chest when I’d first seen her quickly spread to my core, then down to my cock—making me hard as a rock.

I’d quickly shifted Corinne’s baby carrier so I was holding it in front of me, hiding my obvious state of arousal.

Her full lips were made for kissing, and they were gonna look spectacular wrapped around my dick. Silky light brown hair hung in soft waves to just below her shoulders, some of it resting on big tits that nearly had my knees buckling. They would practically spill out of my hands, and my cock leaked a little precome when I pictured fucking those epic mounds.

As I’d continued my perusal, I smiled in satisfaction. She was tall—although I still towered over her. I’d licked my lips as hunger built inside me when I saw her thick waist, curvy hips, and solid thighs. Then she’d turned and bent down to talk to a little boy, and my mouth watered as I took in her round, ample ass. Fuck. She was so damn perfect.

I loved that she wasn’t skinny. Not that I had anything against slender women but they just didn’t appeal to me. I was a big guy, and I wanted a woman who fit me and wasn’t going to break when sex got rough.

The sound of a child laughing had broken me out of my lustful daze, and I remembered where I was. Shit. I needed to get myself under control before I scared the shit outta her and she took off.

I glanced down at my daughter and focused on her, taking a deep, cleansing breath. She was sleeping peacefully, her lips curled into a sweet smile. Love like I’d never felt swelled in my chest, and my mind had cleared of everything else.

“Nanny?” Ellery repeated, blinking her incredible eyes once more.

“Yeah, I need a nanny to help care for my daughter and”—I smiled crookedly—“hopefully teach a new dad about how to be…a dad.”

Ellery giggled, and the sweet, happy sound was like music to my ears. But then her head tilted, and she watched me with curiosity for a second before her plush lips turned down and her hazel orbs filled with disappointment. “I’m sure your wife will help you with that.”

“Wife?” I asked, taken aback. It took a second for me to realize that I hadn’t explained my situation clearly. “I’m not married.” Yet. “I’m single. Corinne’s mom was my sister, and she recently passed.” My gaze dropped to the baby carrier, and I smiled when I saw Corinne staring up at me with her lips pursed. “Now, I’m this munchkin’s dad,” I said proudly. I set the baby seat on the nearest table, along with the diaper bag, then unbuckled her and picked her up.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Ellery murmured.

“Thank you, but we weren’t close,” I replied distractedly. Corinne was getting fussy, and I searched through the diaper bag to find the stuff to make her a bottle. “Probably makes me sound like a callous basta—um, jerk—but we hadn’t spoken in years.” Corinne let out a wail of anger, and I bounced on my feet, hoping to soothe her until I could get what I needed.

“Let me help,” Ellery offered, her eyes soft as she watched me whisper to my daughter and rub her back. “Can I hold her while you make her bottle?”

I mentally smiled, knowing that once Ellery held this sweet baby, she wouldn’t be able to refuse my job offer. It was impossible to resist loving Corinne. I’d been her dad for forty-eight hours, and she had me wrapped around her tiny fingers—despite being severely sleep-deprived.

“Hey, sweetie,” Ellery cooed as I transferred Corinne into her arms. “I know you’re hungry. Daddy’s making you some food.”

I was mesmerized by the sight of my woman holding her future daughter, but Corinne’s angry cry snapped me out of it. I finally located the bottle and formula. After mixing the formula and water, I shook the bottle, then reached for my baby girl.

Inspiration struck, and I shifted her around, as if I wasn’t sure how to hold her while feeding.

“Here,” she said with another giggle. “If you hold her like this, it’ll be comfortable for you, and you can hold the bottle up higher so she doesn’t get air bubbles.”

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