Page 26 of The Widower's Nanny

“I guess we don’t have a lot of options if it keeps raining.” This is an interesting development, and I need a moment to let it sink in. I get up and go to the kitchen and open a cupboard. “There’s plenty to eat. We won’t go hungry.”

When I turn back around, Preston is right behind me. I gasp, and he takes a step back.

“Sorry.”

“No. It’s fine. I just didn’t hear you get up.”

“If you’re not comfortable with this, we can bundle up Lilly and attempt to hike on out of here.”

“Of course not. It’s fine. Really.”

He looks at me for a moment. “Maybe it’ll stop in time for us to leave before dark.”

“Maybe.” I’d be lying if I said a part of me didn’t want it to stop. I wanted the three of us to stay in this cabin in the rain.

“We’ll see how it goes.” He steps back again, then crosses the room to the door. “I better bring in some more firewood before it gets too wet. I think the pile is catching some of the splashes from the rain on the porch.”

“Good idea. Just in case.”

He goes outside, and I go to the door so I can open it for him. I step outside, and he looks at me. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yes. It’ll make Lilly’s day of adventure into a night of adventure.”

He moves to the woodpile. “Well, I don’t know how adventurous it’ll be. Not a lot to do in there.”

“We’ll figure out something. Do you know any good ghost stories? Appropriate for a child, of course.”

He thinks for a moment. “I don’t think so.”

“Don’t tell me you and your friends at boarding school didn’t exchange a story or two.”

He grins. “Sure. But nothing I want to share with Lilly.”

“I’ll come up with something.”

“I’m sure you will.” He loads his arms with firewood, and I open the door for him.

As he goes through the door, I ask, “Do you want me to grab a couple more pieces?”

“Are you going to threaten me with them?”

I shake my head and smile. “You really need to let that go.”

He drops the wood by the woodstove. “I would, except you’re the only person who ever accused me of being an intruder. And you were prepared to run me off.”

“I wasn’t thinking, clearly. It was my first day! I was nervous and wanted to make a good impression. Then there was someone I hadn’t met yet just standing there…I guess I went into protector mode.”

“You made an impression all right.” He mutters while he returns to the chair and picks up his coffee. “I was wearing a suit. I’m pretty sure I didn’t look too much like someone who’d break into someone else’s house.”

“You were on the back porch with a big box in your arms.”

He laughs. “My back porch.”

“Yes. We established that.” I love how this trip has brought out a more playful Preston. He seems more relaxed and comfortable around me. That is a good thing, and it makes me quite happy.

Lilly jumps to her feet. “I know what we can do.”

Preston smiles at her. “What, Lillybug?”

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