Page 26 of Curvy Nanny for the Grumpy Single Dad

“I asked, didn’t I?”

She shrugged. “People ask all kinds of things they don’t really want answers for. Like how’s it going, when you don’t really give a damn. Or asking about people’s kids when you don’t want to know about their latest lost tooth or potty training escapade.”

“What the hell is your point?”

“That you don’t actually want me at dinner but you’re here asking because you’re a good father and you want to make Lena happy.”

I blinked in confusion. “You think I’m a good dad?”

Lucy shrugged. “I think you love your kid a lot, and you show up for her, and that’s more than half the battle. You could stand to be a bit more present, but parents without your high powered careers have the same problem.”

“Is that so?”

She blinked and then patted my chest. “I already said you’re a good father, Dante. You want me to write it on a post-it note for you?”

“That would be great, actually.”

My words stunned her for several long seconds and then another laugh spilled out of her. “Funny.”

My scowl darkened and she laughed even harder. “Is that a yes to dinner?”

Her expression changed, her smile faded and the laughter in her blue eyes turned serious. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to decline your dinner invitation tonight.”

“Why?”

She arched a brow. “You really need to work on your tone, Mr. Rush.”

“I would like an answer.”

She rolled her blue eyes as her mouth tugged into a wide grin. “The answer is no, and the why is because I clearly ruined my appetite by eating one whole cooking before dinner.”

I stared at her, and her impish smile didn’t wither or wilt, instead Lucy stood a little taller, her shoulders squared and her spine straight, ready to take me on if I wanted to fight. “You’re a pain in the ass.”

She stepped in close, smelling like sugar and vanilla and something I was afraid was uniquely Lucy, and whispered in my ear. “Takes one to know one.” Then she erupted in a fit of giggles worthy of any adolescent slumber party.

Her mouth curved up into an exaggerated smile, the corners swung up to sharp points and her toothy smile was fucking gorgeous. My fingers itched to reach out and sift her hair through my fingers, run my palms down her spine, cup her ass and pull her flush up against me again. I wanted my mouth on hers once more too.

Lucy looked up at me and must have read something in my expression, because her laughter stopped abruptly. She pointed at me and took a step back. “Go away. Don’t take even one more step forward.” Her blue eyes widened almost comically and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You afraid of me, Lucy?”

“Ha! You wish. I’m not afraid, it’s called being smart, and one of us has to be.”

I took two more steps forward and Lucy took three steps backwards. “Do we?”

She nodded. “Yes. There’re all kinds of reasons…” she began and I half-listened as she listed them off, closing the gap between us.

“Lucy?”

She stopped talking and stared at me. “What?”

“Shut up.”

She sucked in a breath and her nostrils flared. “Of all the ignorant, pig-headed things…,” she began, but she couldn’t continue because my mouth was on hers, my hands roamed her body and I smiled to myself because I figured out the perfect way to get Lucy to shut the hell up for a few minutes.

She wasn’t exactly quiet, but she wasn’t talking, instead she moaned into my kiss and groaned when she pushed her body against mine. Those were sounds I could get behind. Then there was the little whimper she let out when my palm brushed over her hard nipple.

I cupped her ass with both hands and I lifted her in the air easily. Her lush legs wrapped around me automatically, the warmth between her thighs was so fucking perfect I growled at the rightness of it. Lucy’s ankles locked behind me and then tightened as her hands fisted in my hair and she deepened the kiss. She was determined to drive me wild, and I couldn’t walk away, couldn’t end the kiss.

---