Page 45 of Grumpy Player

My stomach ties into knots. This will make Nana happy so I don’t know why I feel so nervous.

“You should come with me,” I suggest. “We can take Syd. She loved it there last time.”

“Sure, maybe after my therapy session tomorrow,” he suggests.

“That works. I’ll let Nana know we’re coming.”

“Great,” he says with a crooked grin.

“Great,” I reply. “This is awkward. Is it always going to be awkward?”

“If our kisses are that hot it will be,” he says sardonically.

“Damn.”

Connor begins to back away. When I look down, I can see he is still hard.

I swallow and look up at him.

“This is going to be fine, Ellie. We got this,” he assures.

By the look of his hard-on I don’t think we do, but I agree anyway.

“We definitely got this.” My gaze accidentally drops to his hard cock and I blow out a breath.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Connor

I’m sitting in the recliner, trying to catch my breath while telling myself this is a good idea. I call Syd over. She comes running with a smile on her face and my heart bursts as I remember the day she was born. The moment I held her in my arms, it was love at first sight. I knew I would turn the world upside down to make her happy. To keep her safe. Now I’m being put to the test and I can’t fail her.

“Hi, Sweet Pea,” I say. “There is something I want to tell you.”

“Ellie,” I call out.

She comes sauntering out of the kitchen in a pair of cotton shorts and a cropped T-shirt. She seems to have this outfit in all kinds of different colors. Today it’s baby-blue shorts and a cropped mint-green shirt.

“What’s up?” she asks, wiping her hands on a towel. I give her a pointed look and she understands it’s time. “Okay,” she says and then she throws the towel on the dining table and walks over to the couch. I can see she is nervous. Truth is, so am I. I have never introduced Syd to a woman I was dating and, in this case, it happens to be her nanny.

“I have something I want to tell you,” I say carefully.

Syd climbs onto my lap and then with her soft hand she rubs my cheek.

“What is it, Daddy?”

I look over to Ellie and Syd’s little heart-shaped lips turn into a frown.

“Is Ellie leaving us?” she asks.

“No, Sweet Pea. It’s nothing like that,” I assure her, and I better get to the point fast because I can see the balls rolling in my daughter’s mind. “I’ve asked Ellie to marry me.”

My blurted words are followed by an air of silence. Ellie watches Syd. I’m watching Syd. Her light brows furrow.

I’m holding my breath.

“Are you having an affair with the nanny?” are her first words.

I choke on my own spit. “Excuse me?”

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