Page 37 of Curvy Nanny for the Grumpy Single Dad

“It’s still raining,” Lena whined for the third time in less than thirty minutes.

I felt her pain. Nonstop rain forced us to stay indoors and limited the fun activities we could do. “I know it’s no fun to stay inside all day, but I was thinking of something interesting we could do.” I waited until I had the little girl’s full attention. “We can learn Spanish.” I tried to inject as much of an upbeat attitude as I could to make sure she was excited about it too. “Hola, mi nombre es Lucy.”

Lena’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “Hola,” she began and spoke a bunch of gibberish before she ended with, “Lena.”

I kept my laugh lighthearted, but her eager attempt was a good start. “That means hello, my name is. Ready? I’ll go slow this time.”

She nodded and rushed to my side with an adorable smile on her face. “I’m ready!”

We spent nearly an hour learning basic Spanish words and phrases, things Lena would use often and would be unlikely to forget. I figured it was Texas so learning a bit of Spanish would be helpful, and small kids loved to learn new languages. But as we passed the hour mark, Lena’s focus began to drift and I knew it was time to do something else, anything that wouldn’t remind me of the time I spent with her father. Naked. Sweating and panting. In the shower.

“Lucy, doorbell!” Lena gripped my forearm as if she’d been trying to get my attention for some time.

I looked around and didn’t see Dotty anywhere, so I assumed she was busy in some other part of the house. “Hold your horses,” I muttered under my breath as the bell rang again, and then again, even more insistently. I yanked open the door and froze, not just because the man with the dimpled smile was gorgeous, but he was also familiar. Very familiar.

“Alex Witter.”

His smile widened. “Very good. And you are?”

I blinked and gave myself a moment for the shock to fade. The running back for the Houston Highlanders stood just a few feet from me and I felt like a fan girl. Say something, dummy. “I’m Lucy, the nanny. I assume you’re looking for Dante?”

Alex nodded, a slightly amused expression on his face. “I am.”

I took a step back and motioned him inside. “He’s at work.” Alex Witter was here, and my first thought was that Toni would love to meet him. My second thought was less friendly. “You’re that Alex.” The one who was on the phone making fun of me with Dante.

“Hey,” he held his hands up in a defensive gesture. “I didn’t say anything. All I did was ask if you were hot.” His gaze raked up and down my body, and despite how drop dead gorgeous he was, I felt nothing.

Soon enough the sound of tiny sneakers on the floor grew closer and Lena squealed with excitement. “Uncle Alex!” She kept running and leapt at Alex who caught her easily—because of course he did—and scooped her up in his arms. “Holy smokes Lena, you’re a big girl now. No more diapers?”

She giggled. “No more diapers. I’m a big girl. Hola, Uncle Alex.”

“Hola Lena. Cómo estás?”

She looked to me with a confused stare and I smiled. “You say, Soy buena, I’m good.”

Lucy turned back to Alex with a wide smile. “Soy buena, Uncle Alex.”

“Very good,” he chuckled and pressed a loud kiss to her cheek.

“Daddy’s not here.”

“So I gathered,” Alex answered with a smile and carried Lena to the sitting room, obviously he was familiar with the place.

I followed behind and let it settle in that I’d slept with someone who knew Alex Witter personally. Oh wait, I’m pretending we didn’t sleep together, so no, I just work for someone who knows someone famous. Nothing more.

Dotty entered the living room just as we did and Alex perked up. “Dotty! How are you beautiful?”

The friendly housekeeper smiled, and if I wasn’t mistaken, a blush turned her cheeks pink. “Alex Witter. I hope you’re using those hands to catch balls and not more drama.”

“Aw, Dotty you wound me.” The smile on his lips said he enjoyed her semi-affectionate words. “I don’t catch drama, it just follows me. That’s part of why I’m here, a break from the spotlight.”

Dotty nodded. “I’m just finishing up lunch, so I hope you brought your appetite.”

“I take it with me everywhere I go, especially here.”

Dotty’s cheeks turned a deeper red and she rolled her eyes before returning to the kitchen.

Alex sat down and took up far too much real estate on the sofa with his big frame. He knew what he was doing, and when I saw the challenge in his eyes I kept my distance. “So, Lucy…”

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