Page 4 of The Unexpected Nanny
Aiden
My eyes kept migrating to the rearview mirror. Skye was sitting in the backseat with Joy who was chattering away like a little bird. It wasn’t like my daughter at all to be doing that with anyone but me. She wasn’t even that comfortable with her grandparents.
I knew I shouldn’t be looking at the woman who was kind enough to go to lunch with my kid. But I couldn’t help but notice how her brown eyes had a ring of green around them. How her face was naturally beautiful even without any makeup on. Thick, dark lashes framed her soulful eyes. Her nose was turned up at the end, giving her a cute, slightly fairy-like look.
When Joy took a breath, I asked, “Do you have any kids, Skye?”
“Me?” she asked with a very high voice. “I’m just twenty-two. I haven’t even had a real relationship yet.”
“Oh,” I said then felt stupid for asking.
“Plus, I have work and my online school. Kids are a thing that might come for me in the distant future,” she added.
“What’re you going to school for?” I asked her as I looked at her through the rearview mirror.
“I want to be a nurse,” she said, and I found her smile sweet. “A pediatric nurse, to be more precise.”
“Well, you’re certainly a natural with kids. Let me tell you, Joy has never had this reaction to anyone before.” I tapped the steering wheel as a notion flitted through my brain. I’d need someone to help me with Joy so I could get back to writing. And the young lady in the backseat might be the one who could do that for me.
“I think you’ll be a great nurse and mommy,” Joy said as she played with a lock of Skye’s chocolate colored hair. “Your hair’s so pretty. I wish mine was like yours.”
I watched as Skye twirled her finger around one of my daughter’s blonde curls. “I love your hair, Joy. It’s much more beautiful than mine is. You’re one lucky girl with this head of hair you have.”
“Nah,” Joy said. “Yours is much better.”
“I think you both have gorgeous heads of hair,” I said, earning me a little blush from Skye. Which I found utterly adorable.
We pulled into the place my daughter picked for her birthday lunch. It wasn’t where I’d have chosen for her or take Skye to, but it wasn’t my birthday.
“Yeah! Nuggets!” Joy squealed.
After parking, I found Skye helping Joy out of her car seat. “So many buckles,” she said.
I got out of the car and opened the back door. “Let me do it. It’s complicated.” Our fingers touched as I reached in. I was a bit surprised to find sparks shooting through me. But I’d been celibate for over two years, I should’ve expected it.
“Okay,” Skye said then got out of the car.
After getting Joy out, we made our way to Skye who was waiting at the door for us. Joy rushed up to her and held out her arms, wanting to be picked up again. A thing she didn’t usually do, even with me.
Skye scooped her up with ease, and I opened the door for them, letting her walk in before me. “Thank you. What a gentleman you are, Mr. Cooper.”
“I’m only thirty, Mr. Cooper is hardly what I should be called. Aiden would make me happier,” I told her as my hand moved instinctively to rest on the small of her back.
Joy’s arms were wrapped around Skye’s neck, and I had never seen my daughter so happy.Not ever!“Nuggets for us both, Daddy.”
“Maybe Skye would like something else, Joy. Let her tell Daddy what she wants,” I said and watched Skye’s cheeks blossom into a scarlet color. “Oh, poor choice of words. Anyway, Skye, what would you like?”
“Nuggets are cool,” she said. “And a small soda. Any kind is fine with me.”
“I can afford to splurge today,” I told her as I chuckled. “How about a large drink?”
“Sure, whatever. I’m easy,” Skye said then her cheeks went even redder. “I didn’t mean… Oh, Lord. Anything is fine. Should I take Joy to the play area and get her shoes off so she can play?”
“That would be sweet of you,” I said. “Is that okay with you, Joy?”
“Yes, please take me to play. Oh, Daddy, fries too and ketchup!”
“Got it,” I said and watched them walk away.
