Page 49 of Grump's Nanny

“No way!” Leann called back, overtaking him in seconds, with Katie bringing up the rear.

“Wait for me!”

James smiled and shook his head. “You’re doing a great job, you know,” he said, his arm brushing mine in a way that was clearly intended to seem casual, but in reality, was anything but.

“They’ve only done the one run,” I said. “We’ve spent most of the time learning how to stand and balance and how to get in and out of the skis.”

“That’s great,” he said with an indulgent smile. “But that’s not what I was talking about.” He nodded up the hill to where his kids were waiting for us at the top. I watched as Ben threw a snowball at Leann, and both she and Katie bent down to make ammunition so they could return fire.

“Then what did you mean?” I asked.

“I mean you’re doing a great job with the kids in general,” he told me, and I felt myself begin to blush again. “I can’t tell you how many nannies I’ve gone through in the last few years. None of them ever seemed to connect with the kids like you have.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Leann definitely had some trust issues at first, and she’s told me a little bit about one of her old nannies who would yell and shame her in front of the other kids.”

“She’s definitely had it the hardest,” James said, frowning and shaking his head. “I mean, she’s the only one who has any real memories of their mom, so while the other two don’t know any different, Leann remembers what it was like to have a mom.”

“That’s really understandable,” I said. “She definitely still hurts from it, and I think that’s the reason for all of the issues with her behavior. She’s just looking for someone to ‘mom’ her.”

“Well,” he said, “you’re doing great in that department. I mean…” Now it was his turn to blush as he looked away from me. “Not that you’re their mom or anything. Just that you’re helping her through it.”

“Yeah,” I said, leaning just a little closer so my shoulder was pressed against him. “She’s a good kid. Just hurting.”

“You’d never know right now,” he said, lighting up again. “Look how happy she is. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her like that.”

It felt nice to know that I had contributed to her life in some meaningful way, but just as nice to know that James saw the value in it. I didn’t want to depend on his evaluation of me toomuch, but there was something about him that made me want to make him proud of me.

Maybe it was because I wanted to see him naked, now that I knew what he was rocking under those snow pants.

But deep down, I knew it went beyond that. There was something special about James, about our connection.

And come hell or high water, I was going to explore it.

Chapter Twenty

James

If the kids were excited to have Haley join us for a “special” dinner, I was doubly so, almost to an embarrassing level. It was time for my father’s monthly visit to see his grandchildren and I felt like this might be the perfect time for Haley to see how it would feel to be in our family. I’d taken an hour just to decide what I wanted to wear, and once Haley returned to the penthouse from her visit with Anna, I greeted her with my invitation.

“The kids and I would love it if you took a break from your regular diet of pretzels and Chinese food and had dinner with us.”

At first, Haley looked surprised, then rolled her eyes. “I do not live off of pretzels and Chinese,” she insisted. “I drink Gatorade, too.”

After a quick check to be sure the kids were nowhere to be seen, I reached for her delicate hand, warming her cold fingers in my own.

“I hope this is all okay. I don't want you to feel any pressure.”

Haley shook her head, causing her blonde waves to bounce. “I don’t feel pressure. Not at all. I love the kids and I love—”

She stopped her train of thought even though we both knew where it had been headed.

“—spending time with all of you guys.”

My heart pounded with the happiness that perhaps she and I were at the same level of attraction if we could just push past that last barrier that remained between us.

There was no question to me about what I wanted. I wanted her. I wanted her to wear my ring and sport my last name. I wasn’t sure how I could know this all so quickly but I did. And the feelings weren’t going anywhere.

“Well, we love spending time with you, too. Which is why we want you to join us for a family dinner. My dad will be coming by.”

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