Page 42 of Architect's Christmas Nanny

“I see,” he said, trying hard not to laugh.

“I mean, if I had an architecture degree, maybe I wouldn’t need so muchfrosting,” she joked.

“I think I can help,” he told her. “If you want me to, that is.”

“Yes,” she said. “Please, I would love your help.”

“Okay,” he told her. “Do we have plain white sugar?”

She nodded and headed to the cupboard while he grabbed a pan from beside the stove.

Working quietly together in the golden light of the kitchen felt cozy and right. Neither of them said another word, and Jillian watched as he conducted the experiment he prayed would impress her.

As soon as the sugar was melted and browned, he grabbed two of the walls and dipped the edges in the melted sugar, pressing them together afterward.

Sure enough, the sugar hardened almost instantly and fused the two pieces together.

“Oh, wow,” Jillian breathed.

He continued, putting the thing together until it was time for the roof.

“Do you want to try?” he asked her.

She nodded and got to work, dipping the two supporting sides in one by one, and then adding the roof panels when it was done.

“That’s… that’s incredible,” she marveled at the fully constructed house. “Is that like something you learned by building a real house?”

“I saw it on a BeeBop,” he admitted, feeling a little silly.

“A BeeBop?” she echoed, undoubtedly stunned that he was even on the social media app that was mostly dominated by teens and young adults.

“I’ve been following a lot of people with holiday content,” he told her. “I thought it would be nice to start some new traditions next year. When I found a lady making a gingerbread house, I watched all of hers. This is what she did.”

“I feel like I don’t even know you,” she giggled.

The bright sound sent a waterfall of happiness through his chest and he stared at her, lovestruck.

“I’m only teasing,” she said, misinterpreting his silence. “You’re such a good father, Brad. Josie will never understand how incredibly lucky she is.”

“It’s you,” Brad murmured stupidly, his eyes caught on hers. “You’re everything to her. I can’t believe you’re down here in the middle of the night. I can melt some sugar, but you’re literally holding our house together…”

He gestured vaguely at the little gingerbread house, though that wasn’t really what he meant. Jillian was holdingeverythingtogether.

Emotion washed over him, and when he turned back to her he could see there were tears in her eyes.

“Jillian,” he breathed, his hand moving to cup her familiar face. “Please don’t cry.”

All these years, he had longed to touch her. Her cheek was warm, and so soft under his rough hand, exactly as he’d imagined. Her eyes moved to his mouth and he felt a pull in his chest like his heart would burst if he didn’t bend to kiss her.

The air between them seemed to shimmer and buzz with magic as he leaned in, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

A sudden eruption of rough barking echoed through the air, and Jillian drew back quickly, her face pink.

“What in the world?” Brad asked, jogging for the living room to see what was wrong.

Moose stood on the sofa, his whole body stiff andquivering as he stared out the window as if the woods around them were full of danger.

Brad joined him on the sofa and had to smile when he saw what had surprised their canine companion. A family of deer stood on the edge of the trees, nosing the snowy lawn for grass. In the silvery moonlight, they almost looked like a painting come to life.

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