Page 27 of The Widower's Nanny

“We can make a fort!”

He looks at me and I smile. “I think that’s a great idea.” I stand and take Lilly’s hand. “Let’s see if there are some extra blankets in the trunk by the bed.”

The trunk has blankets and pillows in it, and I take a few of them out.

“Okay. Where should we build it?”

Lilly looks around the room. “We can use the couch and the kitchen chairs.”

“That’s perfect.” I glance at Preston, who is smiling at me. I return it, then look away. His smile is infectious and does things to my stomach. I’d felt butterflies a time or two in my limited experience around men. But this is a whole new level. The effect seems to be exaggerated now that we are in this small cabin with the prospect of spending the night here.

He gets to his feet. “What can I do?”

I hand him a blanket. “You can figure out how to attach this to the back of the couch.”

“Hmm. Okay, I went to Princeton. I should be able to come up with something.”

“Did you study engineering?”

He laughs. “No, business.”

“So, that probably won’t help you much.”

“I guess not.” He sets the blanket down. “But I know what might. I’ll be right back.” He goes to the door and takes a raincoat from a hook hanging next to it.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m accomplishing the mission you gave me.”

“And you need a raincoat to do that?”

He nods then goes through the door. A few minutes later, the door opens, and he is on the other side of it, soaked. He smiles and holds up a handful of clothespins.

I laugh. “Oh my gosh. Stay there. Let me get you a towel.” There is a beach towel in the trunk and I bring it to him. He takes off the raincoat and hangs it outside. Then comes inside the door and takes off his boots.

“You’re kind of crazy, you know that?”

He shrugs. “Just wanted to do my part.” He dries his face and hair. His shirt is dry because it has been under the raincoat. But his pants are wet from the knees down. He hands me the clothespins. “If you can handle this, I’m going to go stand by the woodstove for a bit.”

“Good idea.”Well, that was pretty darn cute.

Lilly laughs. “Daddy, you’re our hero.”

I have to agree with her.

8

Preston

Ihadn’t intended to get so wet when I went outside. But once I committed to it, I had to see it through. I stand with my back to the woodstove while I watch Rachel and Lilly construct the fort. They attach the blanket to the couch using the clothespins, then tie the two other corners to two of the kitchen chairs.

Rachel then hangs two more blankets over the first one to make the sides. She seems to be having as much fun as Lilly is. When they’ve built the structure, they fill it with pillows and blankets.

Lilly crawls inside. “Come on in, Rachel.”

“Hold on. I need to get the cookies.” She goes to the table and picks up the cookies. She takes one out and hands it to me. “Cookie?”

“Sure, thanks. Don’t you two ruin your dinner, now.”

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