Page 35 of The Widower's Nanny

“What about me?”

“You’ve got me very confused. I seem to be drawn to you. And I don’t know if it’s because you’re so good with Lilly. Or the fact Lilly likes you so much. Or if it has nothing to do with Lilly and I…”

“You don’t have to figure it out tonight, Preston.”

He looks at me. “I never thought I’d want to spend time with another woman. Have fun. Enjoy myself. Get that stupid weird feeling in my stomach when you’re close to me.”

“Well, if it helps at all, I feel it too.”

His lips curve up into a smile. “Well, that’s good, I guess. It’d be just my luck to fall for someone finally, just to have her tell me she’s not interested.”

I turn toward him. “I’m interested, Preston. And I can wait until you figure out how you feel. And if you’re ready to feel that way and what that might mean moving forward.”

“And if it turns out, I’m not ready to go down that road, have I just ruined everything? Are you still going to be able to work for me and take care of Lilly? I really don’t want her to lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

We watch the lightning for a few minutes. He is still holding my hand, and it feels nice. He needs time to figure things out, and I’m going to give it to him.

He glances at me. “So, what about you? What’s your relationship history?”

I smile. “Pretty boring. A few boyfriends here and there. I never really found anyone I wanted to spend time with.”

He grins at me. “Until now?”

“Yes. Until now. But no pressure.”

“Right. No pressure.”

He stands and goes to the railing. “Why me? If I may ask. What’s the attraction?”

I lean back in my chair. “Wow. Um…let me think. I guess when you didn’t fire me on the first day when I threatened to clobber you with a piece of firewood, that was a good sign.”

He chuckles. “It never crossed my mind to fire you.”

“But I guess it’s because you love your daughter so much. Any man who isn’t afraid to show his undying devotion to his child is an automatic winner in my book.”

He grins again. “So it’s not because I’m so good looking?”

“Well, that’s just a bonus.” I get to my feet. “Actually, that’s the only reason. I just made all that other stuff up to impress you.”

“I figured.”

I go to the railing to stand next to him and take his hand again. “I’d love for this to be the beginning of something. But if you’re not ready or if I’m not the one, I can live with that. I’m here for you and Lilly, no matter how all this turns out.”

He looks at me for a moment. “How about another game of Sorry?”

“Are you going to be a sore loser when I win?”

“What makes you think you’re going to win?”

“Can we eat some more cookies?”

“Yes. And more chocolate coffee,” he says.

“You want more coffee this late?”

He squeezes my hand. “I don’t think I’ll be doing much sleeping tonight. I’ve got a lot to think about.”

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