Page 93 of Taming the Boss

I nuzzled Owen, who was currently gripping the ends of my hair in his still-sticky fingers as he hid his face in my neck. He certainly felt like our child. And a pregnancy test was calling my name from the kitchen.

I wasn’t sure why it was stealing my breath all of a sudden. Just everything was zooming down on me all at once. I didn’t really have any words at the moment, but I tried to smile through my uncertainty.

Jude stepped across the threshold to lift his sister into a crushing hug. “I didn’t know you were coming in today.”

Her already huge eyes got even wider as she awkwardly patted Jude’s shoulder. “What’s gotten into you?”

Her demeanor reminded me of when Jude first came to town. How standoffish and stiff he’d been with Owen. Never with me, though. That little tidbit helped as nerves started bubbling in my belly.

Jude stepped back next to me and gave his sister a sheepish smile. “A lot has changed since we last saw each other.” He slipped an arm around me. “This is Maddie.”

One slim auburn brow rose. “The nanny?”

I glanced at Jude, but he was too focused on his sister. Didn’t he tell her about me?

“We have lots to talk about. If you’d reply to a phone call or a text more than once a month…”

“I know.” Sydney gave me a tight smile then aimed a worried glance at Owen.

I frowned. He was a kid, not radioactive.

She cleared her throat. “Mother made it impossible for me to get away before the Christmas line was locked in.”

“But it’s summer,” I blurted.

“Yes, I’d be happy to explain it all if I could come in.”

“Sorry. Come in, come in.” Jude ruffled Owen’s hair. “Owen, this is your Aunt Sydney.”

The chilly air Sydney brought in with her warmed slightly when she smiled at Owen. “You’re even more handsome than the pictures your father has sent me.”

Owen jammed his thumb in his mouth as he tried to burrow into my skin.

“He’s a little shy with new people.”

“Of course.” Her tiger eyes were somehow warm and cold at the same time. And altogether distant.

“Any bags? You’re staying here, right?”

“I…can. I assumed I’d stay at the Sherman. I think that was the name of the hotel in town.”

“We have five bedrooms in this house. You’re staying here.”

“All right. For now. My bags are in the car.”

“I’ll go grab them.” He brushed a kiss at my temple and disappeared out the door.

“You’re just in time for dinner. I’m sure we can add another seat to the table, no problem.”

“Oh, I’m really tired.”

“Jude will want to introduce you to his family.”

She lifted her chin and those eyes went flat. Like a wall came right up between us.

Then I realized what I said. She was his family—and from what he’d told me, they’d been each other’s everything for most of their lives. “I?—”

“It’s fine. I’m aware we have half siblings in town. Jude has told me about that.”

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