Page 26 of Bragg's Christmas

It is. He’ll learn soon enough. “Winter Falls is a small town. I’m perfectly safe walking home by myself.”

“But it’s dark out and raining.”

“There are those awesome observation skills again.”

“Don’t be a smart ass. I’m worried about you.”

Worried about me? I don’t think anyone’s been worried about me since my dad died when I was in ninth grade. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

“Maybe you should live here.”

“Why? I told you. It’s perfectly safe.”

He runs a hand through his hair and his bicep bunches with the movement. Why am I fighting moving in with him? I should be jumping at the chance to live in the same house with him.

“It’d be handy having you around at night in case Skye has a nightmare.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean in case Skye has a temper tantrum and you don’t know what to do?”

He sighs. “Yeah.”

I squeeze his bicep. “You got this, Damon. You’re a great father.”

He stares at my hand on his bicep and I force myself to drop it. Our eyes meet and the interest in his is clear to see. I bite my lip and his eyes flare. Oh yeah, I’m doing this.

I step toward him but he retreats until he’s at the bathroom door. What’s he doing? Does he want me to chase him?

“We should discuss this downstairs where tiny ears won’t hear us.”

Oh yeah. Skye.

Once we’re in the living room, I bite my bottom lip and peer up at him from beneath my lashes. “What do you want to discuss?”

“I’ll increase your pay by twenty percent if you live here.”

His words throw water on my desire. I guess we’re not doing this tonight. I clear my throat and wrangle my hormones into submission.

“What?” I ask since my mind is a bit foggy.

“I’ll increase your pay by twenty percent if you live here,” he repeats.

I quickly calculate. A twenty percent pay raise would mean I’d have enough money to repair the roof by January.

“You won’t be at my beck and call. You’ll have several evenings off and as soon as Skye starts school, you’ll have your mornings off as well. There’s a mother-in-law suite. You’ll have your own bathroom and sitting room.”

I consider all the angles. I smirk when an idea occurs to me. Once January comes around, I’ll have enough money to repair the roof. I won’t be in dire need of funds anymore. I can make a real pass at my boss and it won’t matter if things get awkward. I could walk away.

But if I walk away from Damon, I won’t see Skye anymore. I can probably babysit or visit her or something. I’ll figure something out.

All I have to do is keep my hands to myself until January. I’ve never been good at self-discipline but I figure Damon will be worth the wait.

“Come on, Nanny Love. You know you want to.”

“Make it a thirty percent pay hike and we have a deal.”

He sticks out his hand. “Deal.”

We shake and I enjoy the feel of his warm hand in mine. His hands aren’t full of callouses from manual labor but they’re not too smooth either. I bet they’ll feel wonderful gliding over my skin. I can’t wait to find out.

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