Page 1 of Breeding the Nanny

1

NATHAN

“Lilly, you’re blowing Daddy’s eardrums out.” And if I don’t stop pacing the floor, I’m going to wear a hole in it. Not that it matters. My two-month-old daughter doesn’t care about things like eardrums and how many miles her father has walked within the walls of his own home. Endless hours, day and night. I don’t know how to make her happy.

Much like her mother.

“When did she eat last?” My brother sticks his head in the room like he’s being helpful by bringing up the obvious.

“She had a bottle an hour ago, remember?” I shake my head. “No, you were asleep.”

“Yeah, for the five minutes, she was quiet.” He yawns and leans his head against the doorframe while I continue pacing and patting the baby’s back. “Lilly, you really need to take a break. Why isn’t she tired yet?”

“How should I know? She probably is tired. That’s why she’s crying so hard. The poor kid just wants to go to sleep.” I know that feeling. My eyes are so blurry; it’s amazing I can see anything in front of me. And I’m supposed to be going back to work? I don’t see how it’s possible.

“The girl is supposed to be coming in a little while,” Keaton reminds me. “Let’s hope she brought earmuffs.”

I didn’t want to have to go to an agency and hire a stranger to take care of my kid, but after Keaton and I spent hours talking it out while trying to get the baby to sleep, it was obvious we didn’t have any other choice. It’s not like I can’t afford it—even though I took time away for the baby and everything that came after, business is booming. That part of my life is going well, at least. It’s everything else that went to shit when my wife decided barely a few days after Lilly was born that she didn’t want any part of this—me, a child, a family. And here I am, struggling to stay awake, to think straight, and feeling like I’m failing.

“Here.” He holds his arms out to take her. “You need a shower, or else this girl will think she’s working for some sicko who’s going to turn her skin into a lampshade.”

“You have such a way with words.” Though, I’m not going to argue with him. I can’t remember the last time I bathed, come to think of it. I’m usually too busy trying to catch a few winks to worry about cleanliness.

If it wasn’t for my younger brother stepping up to help me these past couple of months, there’s no way I could’ve made it. He’s the last person I would’ve expected it from, too. He couldn’t believe it when I got married. He swore he would never settle down like I was so eager to do. And it seemed to make sense—being a cop, his schedule can fluctuate, and he sometimes takes risks a family man might think twice about. It’s part of what makes him a decorated cop at such a young age. The willingness to do whatever it takes. He’s got nothing to lose, after all.

But something happened to him when Lilly was born. I can’t put my finger on it as I head over to the bathroom connecting the nursery and the master bedroom that used to belong to me and my wife but now is only mine.

How did I ever trick myself into thinking what we had was the real thing?

A few minutes spent under hot, steamy water awakens my senses and clears some of the fog in my head. A live-in nanny will be a godsend… I hope. I haven’t met the girl yet, but the agency assured me she has years of experience with kids. Young ones, too, babies like Lilly. All I know is if she can calm my daughter down, she’s got the job. The agency already checked out her background, and Keaton can dig around, too, which I’m sure he will. He doesn’t trust anybody but himself with that kind of task. Nobody’s good enough for his niece.

I grin to myself as I step out from the large, tiled shower stall before grabbing a towel and wrapping it around my waist. A waist that’s gotten thicker recently. Yet another thing that falls by the wayside when you have a screaming baby: diet and exercise. In a couple of months, my chiseled body turned into something decidedly flabbier. I officially have a dad bod. Maybe that’s another part of my life that can fall back into place once the nanny is settled in. I can start taking care of myself again, not only for myself but for Lilly.

It’s amazing how my priorities shifted in an instant. One second, I was me, and the next? Everything I did or said or felt tied into that little eight-pound six-ounce bundle of joy my wife found so easy to turn her back on.

I look a little more like myself by the time I’ve finished shaving the dark stubble from my face. Sure, my dark eyes are bloodshot, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I’m a father to a two-month-old. I’m sure it goes with the territory. The new nanny won’t run screaming when she sees me, and that might be as much as I can hope for right now.

Lilly is still whimpering fretfully when I return to the nursery. I’m just about to take her off Keaton’s hands when the doorbell rings, and the screaming starts again. “Jesus Christ,” I groan, patting the baby’s back.

“I’m just saying. If she doesn’t have a criminal record, hire the girl.” Keaton jogs down the stairs, and I follow behind while Lilly wails. I know he’s only kidding, but not completely.

“At least let me answer. It’s my house.” I nudge him aside halfway through the living room and open the door.

There’s an angel on my front porch.

It’s not exhaustion playing tricks on my eyes, either. The girl in front of me has hair so blonde it’s almost white and big, blue eyes that exude warmth and kindness. “Hi,” she chirps. “I’m Claire Peterson. The agency sent me.”

Claire Peterson is eighteen years old, according to the information the agency provided. What they didn’t provide is how fucking gorgeous she is, how her personality can draw a man in and make him wish all sorts of things. Like he was younger, fitter, and that he had never met the traitorous bitch who deserted him and his baby girl. How was I supposed to know something this exquisite existed?

When she blinks hard and goes from looking at the baby to staring at me, I realize I haven’t said anything yet. “Hi.” Yeah, that’s a great start, genius. “Thank you for coming over. Nathan Hart, and this is Lilly.” I practically have to shout to be heard.

“Hi, Lilly.” I step back to let her into the house. She smells like vanilla and sugar, and shit, I’m supposed to have her around the house all the time? I mean, it could be fun, something to look forward to every day. Seeing her, being around her. But I don’t know how long I can keep my hands to myself. As it is, I have to fight the impulse to bury my nose in her hair and inhale deeply. Granted, I’ve smelled a lot of shitty diapers and spit-up lately. Any change is appreciated.

“Oh. I’m sorry, and you are?” Her thick lashes bat innocently when she takes notice of my brother.

My brother who is looking at her like he’s thinking exactly along the same lines as I am. Right away, I bristle. He would set his sights on her, wouldn’t he? Well, why not? He’s already fucked his way through most of the city—I think he’s slept with just about every woman he’s ever met. He’s never had to try hard to find someone willing to warm his bed for the night.

And he might as well be licking his chops now, gazing down at the petite blonde. “Keaton Hart. Younger brother to this guy and devoted uncle.”

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