Page 62 of Mr. Wolfe's Nanny

31- Theo

“Ilove them.”

To love is to risk.

Yet Quinn, who still struggles due to what she lived through eight years ago, is unafraid to love. Openly and freely, she loves. She loves my children.

And, I love her. If I’m honest, I’ve been in love with her for weeks now.

My scarred heart has tried to avoid this. Some loves are unavoidable. A parent loves their children. I love my family. But to truly love a woman again, I hadn’t expected it.

What began as casual two months ago has changed. Or maybe I was fooling myself thinking it could really be casual. Our one-night stand was casual. She was already part of my family’s life when I took her to bed again in November. From that point on, it was never truly casual.

“Theo…”

I stare up at the amazing, beautiful, intelligent, complex and giving woman astride me when she whispers my name and decide the risk is worth it.

“Like that, sweetheart,” I coax her, setting the rhythm we both crave.

With our hands clasped, she leans over me, our eyes never straying from the other’s, joined in this intimacy which runs deeper than sex. She’s marked my soul as surely as I’ve marked her body tonight.

Mine. Hers. Us.

∞∞∞

The morning of our departure arrives and I absolutely hate it. The past few days of warm Pacific breezes, swimming and snorkeling with the kids, exploring the town and holding Quinn every night in my arms have been dreamlike.

Chicago in winter with its responsibilities waiting sounds wholly unappealing on a balmy morning in paradise. “We could just stay. Live like beach bums.”

“More like very rich beach bums,” Quinn corrects.

“True. We’d need to bring Marilyn down to be our beach dog.”

“I’d like that.”

“The kids would be fluent in Spanish before long.”

“Hmm. Education is vital. The kids want to know more about the local flora and fauna, too.”

“There you go. And, I might actually get the hang of surfing.”

“You do look good in boardshorts. No thongs necessary.”

“Definitely not for me. On you however…”

She laughs while we continue watching the children having one last romp in the sand.

I’m devoted to Wolfe Media and I’m looking forward to leading it in the coming years. But the time away with the children and Quinn was something I needed more than I realized. Maybe I can’t jet off every other weekend but balance between work and play is important. Quinn reminded me of that and this trip has proven it.

“Would you want to come back here next year after Christmas?”

She shoots me a coy look. “Are you going to give me another love bite to cover up when we get back home if I say yes?”

Her tone is playfully chiding but I’m completely unashamed. Nor am I deterred.

“Quinn, I’m being serious. I’d like to do this again, maybe sooner than next Christmas even. All four of us. And maybe a trip that’s just for us sometime.”

Her eyes widen and her smile turns tremulous. “Just us? A sexy get-away with the nanny or…” She’s not certain how serious I am. I’ll make myself clearer.

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