Page 12 of The Housekeeper's Billionaire Boss
Carrie Anne’s expression was blank. “What?”
He sighed. “Never mind.”
By the wide-eyed looked Molly was giving him, Josiah knew he’d need to tell her what happened. “I’ll explain later,” he said, leaning in.
“You’re so weird.” His sister yawned again. “Night. I’ll see you guys in the morning.” She slipped into her room and left Josiah and Molly in the hallway.
He knew his sister didn’t mean the little remark as a real dig at him, but it was late, and he was tired after driving.
He tipped his head toward the rooms down the hall. “I say we take those at the end of the hallway. It’ll keep down some of the noise.”
She nodded and walked with him. “Your sister put your brother on a dating website?”
As he reached the room on the right, he said, “Yeah, and he was ticked. It was one of those things that was funny as long as it wasn’t happening to you.” He paused. “Left or right?”
“Uh, right is fine.”
Josiah set his luggage down and took hers into the room, setting it on the chair near the window. “If you want, I’ll go make Ellie a bottle while you change her. I bet she’s hungry.”
“Actually, that sounds like a good plan,” Molly replied as she laid Ellie on the bed.
He slipped the diaper bag off his shoulder onto the bed and handed Molly a diaper before fishing out the formula and bottle. “I’ll put my stuff in my room and then be right back.” He smiled.
Molly touched his arm. “I don’t know if I’ve said this yet, but thank you.” She slightly lifted on her toes and kissed his cheek. “You’re a really great guy.”
Really great guy. The worst three-word combination ever, aside fromlet’s be friends. It wasn’t like he could say anything. She’d been clear, and he wasn’t about to challenge her on it. Ellie was priority, and he understood that. From Molly’s perspective, dating would be challenging. It wasn’t just her heart that could get broken anymore; it was Ellie’s too.
“Sure.” He smiled and walked out of the room.
At least now he had a picture of exactly what he wanted: a wife, some kids, and all the adventures that entailed. The only downside was that Molly pretty much fit his mold of perfect. Again, he’d just have to settle for friendship. Not great, but better than nothing.
Chapter 6
Resting her head against the back of the tub, Molly closed her eyes. She’d kissed Josiah on the cheek. It had happened before her brain even kicked in, but he’d deserved a kiss on the cheek. No, he’d deserved a real kiss for being…him.
He’d offered to feed Ellie and let her take a bath. As far as gifts go, this had to be her favorite. It had been forever since she’d taken a real, relaxing bath. Her babysitter was awesome, but Molly couldn’t justify paying for an extra hour just to be leisurely.
How was the man still single? He was kind and caring and compassionate. He seemed to use his whole heart when it came to people. She’d seen the little downturn of his lips when his sister had called him weird. If Molly hadn’t just met her or known she was family, she probably would have said something. Even if it was just being playful, it hurt him, and Molly didn’t like that at all.
The world needed more weird guys like Josiah. The kind who changed a baby’s toxic poopy diapers and let their moms take baths. All without complaint or begrudging the inconvenience. He just…offered. It was genuine and sweet, and her rule was being challenged every minute she spent with him.
Groaning loudly, she wiped her face with her hands. How many times had her mom cried when a relationship ended? Then she would pick up the pieces of her broken heart and start the dating process all over again. That wasnotgoing to be Molly’s life. It was definitely not going to be Ellie’s.
With the water cooling off, she decided it was time to get out. Once she was dressed, she walked across the hall and stopped in the doorway. Based on the soft snores she was hearing, he’d fallen asleep on the bed, and she guessed by the fact that he was now wearing a dark gray t-shirt and that his button-up shirt was piled on the floor next to the bed that Ellie had spit up on him.
She quietly crossed the room and peeked over his shoulder. A man had never been more attractive to her than in that moment. Josiah was curled around Ellie, and she was just as sound asleep with her hand wrapped around his finger. He’d changed her clothes, which confirmed her suspicion that Ellie spit up not only on him but herself as well.
Now she was in a quandary. Should she try to take Ellie and risk waking her or both of them up, or did she wait until Ellie woke up later, wanting to be fed? If she waited, the baby would wake up Josiah, so Molly leaned over as easily as she could and went to lift Ellie. The moment she tried, Josiah curled around her tighter.
She set her hands on her hips, chewing the inside of her cheek, trying to figure out a way to pick up Ellie without waking him up. Again, she leaned over, and Josiah stirred.
“Hey,” she said. “I was going to take Ellie so you can sleep. She’ll wake up in a few hours, wanting to be fed.”
“Oh.” He rubbed his eyes. “She’s okay. Why don’t you take the night and rest? I don’t mind getting up with her.” Like it was instinct, he looked back at Ellie and kissed her forehead.
It took work for Molly’s jaw not to hit the floor. It had been more than six weeks since she’d had the luxury of a full night’s sleep—encompassing the week leading up to Ellie’s birth and the entire time since she came home. “Are you sure?”
Without looking up, he took Molly’s hand. “You’re a great mom. You deserve some rest. I’ve got her, and I promise I won’t let anything happen to her.”
