Romancing the Nanny
Cindy Kirk

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my critique partners Louise Foster,

Renee Halverson and Melissa Green. Thanks for

your insightful comments, friendship and support.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Coming Next Month

Chapter One

It was lust, Amy Logan decided as she pressed the dough into the pie crust with extra fervor. Pure and simple lust.

After all, it would be unnatural to live with such a handsome man for three years and not have the occasional urge to see him naked.

Having no sex in years probably didn’t help, either, Amy thought, her lips twisting upward in a wry smile. Or the fact that this morning she’d slipped upstairs to get Emma her backpack and caught him just out of the shower.

Oh, he’d been perfectly presentable with a Turkish towel wrapped firmly around his waist. And she’d certainly seen him with his shirt off before.

Every summer he went to the pool at the country club with her and Emma at least a couple of times.

But there was something different about knowing that he’d been naked only moments before. Something about seeing the droplets of water clinging to his broad chest. Something about smelling that delicious mixture of soap, shampoo and clean masculine flesh.

Amy inhaled deeply. Even now if she closed her eyes, she could still—

“Got any coffee left?”

Amy’s eyes popped open and she stilled, grateful she faced the wall. Otherwise the object of her desires might think she was having a sensual experience with a pie crust.

Schooling her features into what she hoped was a nonchalant expression, Amy turned.

Dan Major stood in the center of the large modern kitchen wearing her favorite suit. The cut emphasized his broad shoulders and lean hips and the navy color brought out the brilliant blue of his eyes. Still damp from the shower, his short dark hair fell into a careless wave on his forehead.

He was an inch or two over six feet and easily the most handsome man she’d ever known. It only made sense that she’d want to see him naked. What didn’t make sense was why that desire had taken so long to surface.

She and the hunky widower had lived side by side for almost three years. Amy had always considered Dan a good friend. But over the past six months she’d found herself thinking of him in a different way, seeing him not just as her employer and friend but as a desirable man.

“Amy?”

His lips curved upward and she realized with a start that she’d been staring.

Without a word, she reached over and lifted the pot from the warmer. “Can I pour you a cup?”

“I can get my own,” he protested as he pulled out a chair and took a seat at the table.

Amy smiled. Dan was the quintessential modern man with one major exception. Despite being only thirty-four and having been raised in a progressive twoincome family, Dan rarely helped out around the house.

Unfortunately she had only herself to blame. She’d refused his offers of help so many times, he’d quit asking. The truth was she loved to pamper him and Emma. Keeping his house spotless and clothes laundered filled her with immense satisfaction. She prided herself on the fact that he could always count on a well-balanced, home-cooked meal at the end of the day.

A successful architect at one of Chicago’s largest and most prestigious firms, Dan alternated between working in the office or from home.

His schedule was so varied, Amy never knew if he’d be home, at the office, or out meeting with clients. It didn’t really affect her. Emma was in first grade this year and gone all day. The only difference was if Dan was home she’d make his lunch and maybe offer a snack in the afternoon.

After all, that’s what he was paying her for; that and taking care of his young daughter, Emma. And not only did he pay her, he paid her very well. With the extra money she saved by living-in, she’d been able to get enough cash together to start a small catering business.

Last year when she’d shown Dan her business plan, he’d been surprised, then concerned. He’d asked her point-blank if she was planning to leave. But when she’d reassured him that this was just something extra she wanted to do for herself, he’d been supportive.

Shortly after that he’d had the antiquated kitchen in the large older home remodeled. And best of all, he’d solicited her input and hadn’t batted an eye at her request for commercial-grade appliances.

For now she limited her efforts to catering small parties on the weekends and providing specialty desserts to a couple of restaurants. But she held high hopes for the future. One day she’d make enough so she could have her own home—

“I’d be happy to get my own coffee…”

Dan’s bemused voice broke through her reverie pulling Amy back to the present. She glanced down at the coffeepot she still held loosely in her hand. Ignoring Dan’s teasing comment, Amy quickly poured a cup and set the steaming brew in front of him. No need to ask if he wanted cream or sugar. She had his likes and dislikes memorized.

“Cinnamon roll?” she asked, appealing to his sweet tooth. “I made them this morning. Or I could whip up some bacon and eggs? It would only take a second—”

“I’m afraid this will have to do.” Dan glanced at the clock on the wall, took a hasty sip of coffee and pushed back his chair. “I have a meeting at the office at nine and I should’ve been gone by now.”

At the first scrape of the chair legs against the hardwood floor, Amy sprang into action. Grabbing the travel mug from the cupboard, she filled it with the rich Columbian blend that was his favorite.

By the time she was done he was already in the doorway. He turned. “I should be home early, around five-thirty.”

Amy let her gaze sweep over him, like it did over Emma every morning, making sure everything was in place. She frowned.

“Wait.” She popped the lid on the travel mug and quickly crossed the room. But instead of handing him the coffee, she placed it on the counter and stepped close. “Your tie needs some help.”

Grabbing the silk fabric, she loosened the off-center knot and with well-practiced ease, quickly retied it. But instead of taking a step back, she let her fingers linger.

Dan was in a hurry. He’d made that perfectly clear. Her head told her to step back, hand him the travel mug and send him on his way. But her feet wouldn’t move. The air surrounding them grew thick. It was as if an invisible web encased them. Time, which had been ticking onward with rhythmic precision, came to an abrupt halt.

The subtle scent of his cologne teased her nostrils. Heat emanating from his body washed over her.

She wanted to pull him close and press her lips to his, relieve this tension that had built up inside her. Instead she dropped her hands, placed them on her rounded hips and gave him a once-over. “Now you look presentable.”

Amy had learned long ago the perils of being foolish. And thinking that Dan—handsome, successful Dan, who could have any woman he wanted in the entire city of Chicago—was attracted to her would be the height of folly. He liked her, admired her, appreciated her. But any electricity she felt was definitely one-sided.

“Thanks.” The dimple in his left cheek flashed. He reached down and picked up the mug she’d placed on the counter. “And I appreciate the coffee.”

Somehow Amy managed an easy smile. “Anytime.”

She stood at the door and watched him get in the car. As he drove off, she lifted her hand and waved goodbye, then took a few steps and collapsed in a nearby chair. What in the world had she been thinking?

Dan wasn’t interested in her. And even if there was a tiny spark of something between them, there was no way she could compete with Tess Major’s memory and come out ahead. Other women had tried and they’d all failed. And that’s what Amy needed to remember before she did something she’d live to regret.

The smell of warm peach pie filled the large kitchen and Amy smiled as she wiped down the counters. Some women needed fancy clothes or trips to exotic ports, but all it took for her to be happy was a neat, orderly kitchen…

“Something smells good in here.”

Amy whirled. Dan stood in the doorway to the dining room, a lazy smile on his lips.

“You’re home early.” The minute the words left her mouth Amy wished she could pull them back. She’d made it sound as if he was unwelcome when nothing could be further from the truth.

It was just that she always liked to have everything ready and in its place when he came home. But it was only four-thirty and she hadn’t expected him for at least an hour. The table wasn’t set and Emma was still down the block playing at a friend’s house.

“Now that’s a warm welcome.” Dan smiled and that familiar dimple in his left cheek appeared. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t want me.”

His gaze settled on her and she forced herself not to glance away. But it was hard. The intense look in his blue eyes sent a shiver up her spine. “Tell me something, Amy. Do you ever think of me when I’m not here?”

That same electricity charged the air and Amy moistened her dry lips. She shifted from one foot to the other, not knowing how to answer. This morning he’d looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.

This was another first. In all the years she’d worked for Dan, he’d never spoken to her like this before. There had always been a professional boundary that had never been crossed.

“Of course I think of you,” she finally managed to stammer.

He smiled and paused as if he expected her to elaborate.

But what else could she say? She certainly wasn’t about to bare her soul and confess her desire for some skin-to-skin action. Not to mention that her heart had lodged itself in her throat, making speech impossible.

Thankfully Dan didn’t press her for more. Instead he crossed the room, flung his suit jacket over a chair and loosened his tie.

Amy could feel her cheeks warm. She turned back to the counter and scrubbed a nonexistent spot with her sponge.

He stopped directly behind her, so close she could smell the spicy scent of his cologne and feel the heat from his body.

She turned and he was right there. Just like this morning it struck her how big he was, how tall. How overwhelmingly male in every way.

Her heart picked up speed.

His gaze lazily appraised her and his eyes darkened. “You’re so beautiful.”

The compliment rolled from his lips like warm honey. It wasn’t true, of course. The sprinkle of freckles across her nose and the extra twenty pounds she constantly fought made her wholesome, rather than beautiful. But suddenly, under his admiring gaze, for the first time in her twenty-eight years, Amy felt beautiful.

“Thank you.”

His lips quirked. “You’re very welcome.”

Could she be any worse at this flirting stuff? It didn’t seem possible.

She started to ask if his meeting had gotten canceled when he took another step forward and his body brushed hers. In that instant Amy forgot how to breathe, much less talk.

With the gentlest of touches, Dan slid his fingers into the warm silky mass at her nape, letting his thumbs graze the soft skin beneath her jaw.

Waves of chills and heat raced through Amy until she was nearly dizzy. He was going to kiss her; she could see it in his eyes. She tossed the sponge to the counter without shifting her gaze from him.

His lips lowered and she let her eyelids drift shut, anticipation coursing through her…

The front door slammed shut.

Amy jumped as if she’d been shot. Panic raced through her. Emma couldn’t find the two of them together. She raised a hand to push Dan away and found only air.

Her gaze darted around the room and after a long second it finally sank in…she was alone. There’d been no Dan and no almost-kiss. Heat rose up her neck. She’d had vivid dreams before, but never with Dan as the star player.

“Amy, I’m home.” Emma’s childish voice rang out from the foyer.

“In the kitchen,” Amy called back. She rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand. Though it had been only a dream, her lips still tingled.

“Is it ’bout time for dinner?” The petite six-year-old bounded into the kitchen, a streak of dirt on her cheek and a grass stain on one knee. “I’m hungry.”

Amy couldn’t help but smile. Dan often joked that the little girl’s stomach was a bottomless pit. Emma could eat and five minutes later be hungry. “Once your father gets home, we’ll have dinner. He shouldn’t be too late.”

Amy opened her arms and the girl ran to her. When Amy had been Emma’s age, hugs had been in short supply. She’d vowed when she had children, she’d make sure they knew they were loved.

Amy couldn’t imagine anything better than having a family of her own—a husband to love, a child to cherish.

Her arms tightened around Emma. One day she’d be a mother. But for now, she had Emma to love.

Emma laid her head against Amy’s chest. “I love you.”

Tears sprang to Amy’s eyes at the child’s sincerity. “I love you, too, pumpkin.”

Yes, for now this would most definitely do.

Chapter Two

Out of the corner of his eye, Dan Major saw a stylish young woman across the bar and realized he knew her. He smiled and she waved.

“Another Dan fan?” Jake Stanley’s lips curved upward. “How in the world do you do it?”

“Stuff it, Jake.” Dan grabbed some peanuts from the basket in the center of the table and popped them in his mouth.

Seeing old girlfriends only reinforced why Dan found it hard to date. He liked the companionship but women always seemed to want more. Bree was a perfect example. Though she’d professed to being devoted to a singles’ lifestyle, after a couple of months, she’d changed her tune.

Dan sighed and glanced around the bar. Although it was only Thursday night, the place was crowded with women from nearby businesses. He suspected that was why Jake had insisted on coming to this bar.

Looking for love in all the wrong places…

For some reason the words to the vintage song popped into Dan’s head. But the lyrics didn’t fit his life. The last thing Dan was looking for tonight, or any other night, was love.

Jake shot Dan a speculative gaze. “Speaking of Dan fans, how’s it going with Miranda?”

“Her name is Melinda.” Dan kept his tone deliberately offhand. “And we’re not seeing each other anymore.”

“Let me guess.” Jake lifted a finger to his lips and pretended to think. “You broke up with her.”

Dan grabbed another handful of peanuts, strangely irritated by the knowing look in his friend’s eyes. “What does it matter who decided to end it? The point is it wasn’t working.”

“It wasn’t working because she wanted more than sex,” Jake said conversationally, resting his arms on the table. “Things heat up, you back off.”

“You don’t know squat.” Dan’s tone was sharper than he’d intended but it had been hard losing Melinda. Just like Bree, she was a nice woman and he’d enjoyed her company. But he refused to promise more than he could deliver.

Jake placed his drink on the table and lifted his hands. “Whoa, buddy. I wasn’t saying there was anything wrong with playing the field—”

Dan ignored the envious look in his friend’s eye. The truth was Dan didn’t like being on the dating merry-go-round. But the longer he was with a woman, the more they seemed to want, the more they seemed to need. He’d yet to find a woman who was content to keep it casual. “I made it clear from the very beginning that I didn’t want to get married again. Why is that so hard for women to understand?”

“Because regardless of what they say, they want that ring on their finger.” Jake lifted a hand and motioned for the waiter to bring him another drink. “I know you’ve got this thing against marriage but I think you should reconsider.”

Dan took a sip of beer. Jake had it all wrong. He didn’t have anything against marriage. He’d loved being married to Tess. From the time he’d first laid eyes on the perky blonde, he’d known she was the one. When they’d said “I do” he’d happily planned on spending the rest of his life with her. His heart twisted.

“You’d have someone to warm your bed and that little girl of yours would have a mother,” Jake continued.

Dan shoved aside his memories and smiled at the thought of his daughter. Of all the things he valued most in his life, his six-year-old topped the list. “Emma is coping with the loss of her mother. Amy takes good care of her.”

Amy had been his daughter’s nanny for three years and Dan knew she loved Emma as if she were her own. She’d made the house a home for both of them.

“Which is all well and good,” Jake said. “Until ‘nanny’ finds a man and decides to get married and leave you.”

Amy wouldn’t leave me.

Dan bit back the words, shocked at the strength of emotion the thought evoked. He started to say Amy didn’t even date, but stopped himself again. There had been one guy recently…

He’d been surprised—stunned would actually be closer to the truth—when Amy had casually mentioned she was going to the movies with someone she’d met at her cooking club. In all the years she’d lived under his roof, Dan couldn’t remember her dating before. Amy just never seemed like the dating type.

Not that she was ugly or anything. Far from it. With her brown hair, green eyes and a smattering of freckles across her nose, Amy had that natural, all-American look that any man would find attractive. And she was smart. While she always had an opinion on the latest current events, she also liked to listen. Any man would be lucky to have her for a girlfriend or wife.

A tightness filled his chest. Jake was right. If she left, he’d be stuck. He’d never find another nanny like Amy. He might even have to do what Jake suggested and remarry. A chill traveled up Dan’s spine.

Since he’d been fifteen, Tess had been the only woman Dan had ever wanted in his life. His wife had been beautiful, smart and a rising star in the fashion world with her innovative clothing designs. For the first five years of their marriage, life had been wonderful. Their careers had flourished and the old house they’d purchased in Lincoln Park was perfect for a growing family.

But after Emma was born, Tess had decided there would be no more children. She loved her daughter but her pregnancy had been difficult and Emma was a fussy baby. And when her new line took off like a skyrocket, her career began demanding more of her time and energy.

Dan had reluctantly put away his dream of a large family, but he hadn’t given up completely. When Emma was two he’d convinced Tess to have one more, promising her a full-time nanny. That’s when Amy had come to live with them. But the second baby he’d wanted so much had died along with Tess.

Guilt washed over him, mixed with an overwhelming sense of loss. He’d give anything to be able to go back and tell Tess he didn’t care about having another child or a playmate for Emma, he only cared about having her in his life.

“Mark my words, it’s going to happen.” Jake, appearing to revel in his role as a prophet of doom, pulled Dan back to the present. “It’s just a matter of time.”

“Amy isn’t going to get married.” Even if he didn’t fully believe them, saying the words out loud made Dan feel better.

She couldn’t leave. He depended on her to keep his household running smoothly. And he really liked having her around. Over the past couple of years they’d become good friends. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like if she wasn’t there.

“She’ll get married.” Jake nodded his head to punctuate the point. “She’s hot, in a plump sort of way. If she lost some pounds, I might be interested in dating her myself.”

Despite knowing Jake’s penchant for women who were model-slim, the comment set Dan’s teeth on edge. Maybe it was because he knew how Amy struggled with her weight and how self-conscious she was about the few extra pounds that made her more curvy than pencil-thin.

“Amy doesn’t need to lose an ounce,” Dan said. “And even if you wanted to date her, I know you too well to let that happen.”

Jake just laughed.

“Can I interest you two in some wings?” The waiter leaned across the table and slid Jake’s second drink in front of him.

Dan’s stomach growled and he realized with a start that lunch had been hours ago. He glanced at his watch and swore. Reaching into his pocket, Dan brought out a couple of bills and tossed them on the table.

“I’ll take a plate of the barbecued ones,” Jake said to the waiter before shifting his gaze to Dan. He lifted a brow. “You’re leaving?”

“I’m late.” Dan grabbed his briefcase and rose to his feet. “Amy will have dinner on the table.”

“I forgot.” Jake sat back in his chair, an inscrutable look on his face. “Superwoman does it all—cleans your house, cares for your kid and makes your meals. If you could just get her naked, you’d have it made.”

Dan ignored the crude comment—and the hint of envy in his friend’s tone—and simply smiled.

It was true. Amy had breakfast waiting for him every morning and dinner ready every night. The house was always spotless and, when he entertained, she worked behind the scenes making sure every little detail was covered. Best of all, she cared for Emma as if the child were her own.

No, as long as Amy was in his house, all was well in Dan’s world.

“Dinner was fabulous, Amy.” Dan wiped the corners of his mouth with the linen napkin and heaved a contented sigh. “And that dessert—”

“It was good, wasn’t it, Daddy?” Emma’s blue eyes sparkled the way they always did when her father was in the room.

“It certainly was, princess.” Dan’s fond smile lingered on his daughter. “Amy is a great cook.”

Amy pushed back her chair and rose, unable to stop the warm flush of pleasure at the compliment. There was nothing she enjoyed more than trying new recipes. She hadn’t been sure how Emma and Dan would react to the citrus-glazed salmon, but she’d been fairly certain they’d love the sour cream peach pie with homemade ice cream.

She hadn’t allowed herself even the tiniest of bites. A Moment On The Lips, Forever On The Hips had become her new mantra.

“Can I get either of you anything else before I clear the table?” Amy’s gaze shifted from Dan to Emma.

“No, thank you,” Emma said.

Amy shot the little girl a smile of approval. She’d been working with Emma the last couple of months on her manners and it was obviously paying off.

“And how about you?” Amy’s gaze settled on Dan. She’d lived in his house for over three years and firmly believed she knew him better than he knew himself. Like now, she couldn’t help but notice the lines of fatigue edging his eyes. Lately he’d been working too hard…and socializing too much.

Last Friday night, she’d lain awake until 1:00 a.m. waiting for him to come home before she’d finally fallen asleep. She wasn’t sure what time he’d come in but the next morning he’d been at the table at eight, ready to take Emma to the zoo as promised. Saturday night he’d stayed in. They’d all gone to the park and had a picnic, then came home and played board games on the porch until it was time to go to bed.

Being home on a Saturday night had been just one of the signs that another of Dan’s relationships had come to an end. It hadn’t surprised her. Melinda had been calling a lot and trying to cozy up to Emma. Amy could have told her such behavior was the kiss of death. If a woman wanted to keep Dan Major’s interest, she had to act like she didn’t care. That’s why Amy had kept a tight lid on her burgeoning desire for him. As far as he knew, she didn’t feel anything more for him than simple friendship. She was his housekeeper, his daughter’s caregiver and his friend.

Occasionally he’d confide in her, knowing what he said wouldn’t go any further. She savored those times and the closeness she…

“Earth to Amy.” Dan’s voice broke through her reverie.

She looked up with a start to find Dan and Emma staring at her.

Emma giggled. “You were spacing out.”

Amy blinked and warmth crept up her neck.

“What were you thinking about?” Dan asked, a curious glint in his eye. “You had the most interesting smile on your face.”

I was thinking about you.

The words rose unbidden to her tongue and when Emma giggled again, for a second Amy feared she’d said them aloud. She searched for a plausible explanation. “I was thinking about Steven.”

“Steven?” Dan frowned. “Who’s that?”

“He’s her boyfriend,” Emma said. “Amy and Steven sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love—”

“You were kissing a man?” The shocked look on Dan’s face would have been funny at any other time. “In front of Emma?”

“Of course I wasn’t, I didn’t,” Amy said quickly, embarrassed warmth coloring her cheeks. She shifted her gaze to Emma. “And Steven is my friend, not my boyfriend.”

“You talked to him for a long time on the phone today,” Emma said. “And you were smiling when you hung up.”

“He’s my friend,” Amy repeated. She glanced at Dan. “I’ve told you about him. He’s the guy from my cooking club. We were exchanging lasagna recipes.”

Dan’s dimple flashed. “Lasagna recipes?”

“That’s right.” Amy lifted a brow. “You find that amusing?”

“Not at all,” Dan said smoothly. “I think it’s nice that you two have so much in common.”

Amy pulled her brows together, not sure if he was being serious or insulting.

“We both like to cook,” she said finally.

Dan’s finger traced the raised pattern on the lace tablecloth and when he spoke his tone was decidedly offhand. “You two have been going out for what—a couple of months now?”

“Something like that,” Amy said. She still didn’t think of Steven as a boyfriend since, until recently, most of the “dates” had revolved around cooking group events.

Something flickered in the back of Dan’s eyes but he remained silent.

Unexpectedly Emma lifted her gaze to Amy. “Do you love him like my daddy loved my mommy?”

The girl’s question took Amy by surprise and she answered honestly. “No, I don’t.”

“Do you think you could love him?” Dan asked.

“I don’t know,” Amy said when she realized Dan expected an answer. “I guess anything is possible.”

Dan tucked Emma into bed and reveled at this perfect child he and Tess had created. He loved her with an intensity that took his breath away and his heart ached at the thought of all the pain she’d had to endure in her short life. All because of his selfish desire to give her a brother or sister.

“Good night, princess.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek. She was his priority and nothing mattered more to him than ensuring her happiness. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Daddy.”

“Amy will be up in a minute to say good-night.” His stomach tightened into a knot. Usually he and Amy tucked Emma in together. But tonight, Steven had called and Amy had said to go on without her.

A tear trailed down Emma’s cheek and her brows pulled together. With her big blue eyes and honey-blond hair, she looked more and more like her mother every day.

Dan’s heart tightened. “What’s the matter, sweetie?”

The little girl’s bottom lip trembled and a few more tears fell. Though Dan wanted to make better whatever was bothering her, he forced himself to wait. He’d learned you couldn’t rush Emma. When she was ready, she’d tell him what was bothering her. Then he’d make it all better.

“Is Amy going to marry Steven?”

The words hit him like a punch to the chest. Dan didn’t like the idea of Amy marrying Steven, either, but somehow he managed to keep a smile on his lips. “She said he was just her friend. Remember?”

“But sometimes friends get married.” Emma pushed herself up to her elbows. “When Grandma Ann married Grandpa Hal she said he was her good friend.”

Dan’s mother had been widowed for many years when she and her old friend Hal had decided to tie the knot. Theirs wasn’t the romantic love she and his father had shared but they were content together. Even if Dan could explain it adequately, he wasn’t sure a six-year-old could understand.

“Daddy.” Emma’s voice trembled. “Amy’s not going to marry him and leave us, is she?”

Dan’s jaw clenched at the thought of his daughter enduring one more loss. But Dan knew it wasn’t just Emma who’d suffer. If Amy left it would leave a hole in both their lives.

“She’s not going to leave.” He pulled Emma close and planted a kiss against her hair. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

The resolve in Dan’s heart resounded in his voice. He didn’t care what the cost. He’d do whatever it took to keep Amy in his household…and Emma happy.

Chapter Three

After leaving Emma, Dan took the back stairs to the kitchen. He rummaged through the refrigerator for several minutes before he realized he wasn’t hungry or thirsty.

He grabbed the paper and headed to the porch. Perhaps reading about people with real troubles would help him forget his own.

Amy wasn’t going to leave, he told himself. He paid her well and she loved taking care of Emma. As far as that guy Steven was concerned, if he was truly interested in Amy he wouldn’t be talking about recipes with her.

Reassured by his logic, Dan opened the paper and turned to the financial section. He’d barely started reading when he heard footsteps.

Amy pushed the screen door open with her shoulder. “Thought you might like a snack.”

Dan jumped to his feet and took the tray from her. The faint scent of lilacs teased his nostrils. It was an old-fashioned scent but one that suited her. He glanced down.

A thin slice of lemon topped each glass of lemonade and the assorted cookies perfectly arranged on the decorative plate looked like they could have come from a gourmet bakery.

“These look fabulous,” he said.

Amy blushed a becoming shade of pink and took a seat in a wicker chair.

Dan placed the tray on the tiny table in between the two chairs, handed her a glass and took the other for himself.

Though he still wasn’t particularly thirsty, she’d gone to a lot of work and Dan wasn’t about to disappoint her. He lifted a glass to his lips and took a long sip. “Perfect.”

Satisfaction filled Amy’s gaze. “It’s always better when the lemons are freshly squeezed.”

“You squeezed these?”

She laughed—a pleasant laugh that reminded Dan of the tinkle of bells. “With my own two hands.”

Dan didn’t need to ask if she’d made the cookies. They were too perfect not to be hers.

“Snickerdoodle.” He filched one from the center of the plate. “My favorite.”

“I think I knew that,” Amy said with a teasing smile.

Dan returned her smile and decided he’d been foolish to worry. Amy was happy in his household. She wasn’t going anywhere.

She glanced at the paper. “Are you looking at the classifieds?”

Dan handed her the section and returned his attention to the stock quotes. They drank lemonade, ate cookies and read in comfortable silence. Dan never felt pressured to make small talk with Amy. If there was something to discuss, it was brought up. Otherwise, it was okay to just relax.

Dan wasn’t sure when he first became aware that Amy was doing more than just reading the Want ads. Maybe it was when he noticed the pen. Every so often she’d make a quick mark on the page.

What was she doing?

He could ask but he already felt like he’d gone over the line at dinner and didn’t want to overstep again. Amy was a private person and Dan had always subscribed to the notion that if she wanted him to know something, she’d tell him.

“Jake and I stopped for a drink after work.” Dan hoped if he started talking, so would she. “You’ll never guess who I saw.”

Amy lowered the paper to her lap. “Who?”

“Bree Northcott.” Dan wasn’t sure why he’d brought the woman up, other than she’d been one of the few women he’d dated Amy had seemed to genuinely like. “She was the blonde who—”

“I remember Bree,” Amy said. “And Kellycat and Todd.”

Dan paused. “Who?”

Amy giggled. “Her cats. A Scottish Fold and an Abyssinian.”

The words meant nothing to him. He only remembered one was furry and the other short-haired.

“Those Scottish Folds are so beautiful.” An almost dreamy lilt filled Amy’s voice and her lips curved upward. “But so hard to find.”

“I don’t know anything about cats.”

Amy’s smile vanished. “That’s because you don’t like them.”

“You’re right,” Dan admitted. When he’d been small, his neighbor’s Siamese had gone ballistic when he’d tried to pick it up. Ever since that day, Dan had given all felines a wide berth. “I don’t like them. And I’d certainly never want one, let alone two, in my house. Thankfully Tess and I agreed on that.”

Amy’s expression didn’t waver but her gaze shifted back to the paper.

He had the feeling he’d missed something. A sudden thought struck him.

“Emma hasn’t mentioned wanting a kitten, has she?” Though Dan would give his daughter the sun and moon if he could, he drew the line at a cat.

“Not to me.” Amy’s gaze remained fixed on the paper.

Dan heaved a sigh of relief. “Good.”

“She’d never ask because she knows how you feel about them,” Amy added.

Though she’d made the comment matter-of-factly, Dan could have sworn he heard an underlying hint of reproach. He frowned. “Are you saying Emma is afraid to talk to me?”

“Not afraid,” Amy said. “But—”

A loud boom of thunder split the air and Amy jumped. The newspaper on her lap went flying and the napkins on the tray flew off in a gust of wind.

Dan met Amy’s gaze and the concern in her eyes mirrored his own. “Emma.”

His daughter was deathly afraid of storms and the thunder had been loud enough to wake the dead, let alone a light sleeper.

“You go,” Amy said. “I’ll stay and pick up.”

The wind began to blow in earnest, ruffling the newspapers he held in his hands and threatening to topple the empty lemonade glasses.

“No,” Dan said. “She’ll want you, not me.”

Though it pained him to say so, in this instance it was the truth. During thunderstorms, it was always Amy who Emma clung to, not him.

Amy nodded and touched his arm. “Thanks.”

Another loud clap of thunder rent the air and Amy hurried off before he could ask why she was thanking him. After the door slammed shut, a few drops of rain plopped on the sidewalk and Dan didn’t have time to think. He’d lived in the Midwest long enough to know he needed to hurry. He rounded up the paper, grabbed the plate of cookies and empty glasses and headed inside.

He’d barely made it through the door when the rain began in earnest, the wind spraying droplets of water across the floor of the porch.

By the time Dan reached the kitchen, sheets of rain pelted the windows. He placed the cookies and glasses on the counter and dropped the wad of papers onto the table. The classifieds that Amy had been reading somehow ended up on top.

Though Dan told himself it was none of his business, he found his gaze drawn to the circled items.

An icy chill traveled up his spine. Real estate in the suburbs? The price range seemed a little out of her league, but it might be manageable, depending on the size of the down payment or if there were two incomes.

Steven.

Had she lied when she’d said the two of them were just friends? In his heart he didn’t think so. But she’d mentioned more than once how much she longed for a house of her own.

His fingers tightened around the paper. He couldn’t imagine this home without Amy. If she left, Emma would be devastated. But Amy wouldn’t leave, he reminded himself, because he was committed to doing whatever it took to make her stay. He’d learned long ago that most things could be had, for a price. He just had to find out what it would take to keep Amy in his household.

Amy leaned back in the rocker and sighed with contentment. Though she knew many would say Emma was too big or too old to be rocked, Amy enjoyed being close to the little girl.

Emma had run into her arms when she’d entered the bedroom. Amy had learned long ago she couldn’t talk Emma out of her fear; what reassured and calmed her most was to be held. So, she’d taken a seat in the wooden rocker and Emma had crawled onto her lap. For a long moment Amy had just held her close. Once Emma’s tears had stopped, Amy had started to sing. Her voice hadn’t been good enough to make Swing Choir in high school but Emma didn’t complain. These songs from past and present Broadway musicals were Emma’s lullabies.

Now Emma slept, her cheeks still showing remnants of the tears that had flowed so freely only minutes before. Amy stroked the little girl’s hair and wondered if Tess had ever rocked Emma to sleep and marveled at this perfect child she’d created. Amy liked to think so. She let her mind drift back to the time she’d first met Tess.

She remembered her vividly—the wispy blond hair, the pretty elfin features and the immense blue eyes. Tess had been a petite dynamo who could charm the socks off a complete stranger and bring her handsome husband to his knees with a single smile.

Tess had been three months from delivering her second baby when Amy had first come to live in the Major household. Even pregnant Tess had been cute and trendy, a fashionista on the cutting edge of the latest styles.

Emma had been almost three, a shy, sensitive child who reminded Amy more of herself than of her gregarious parents. Shortly after Amy had arrived Tess had confided that she found it hard to understand how a child of hers could have so many fears.

Perhaps because she’d been plagued with those same insecurities, Amy had felt a kinship with Emma. They’d bonded immediately, which was good considering Tess hadn’t been around much.

Tess had been launching a new line and all her time and attention had been focused on work. When Amy had casually asked Dan if Tess planned to keep up this pace after the baby was born, he’d just laughed and said Tess wasn’t happy unless she was going ninety miles an hour.

Amy wasn’t sure if Dan was kidding or not. Surely Tess planned to slow down and spend some time with Emma once the baby was born. But in the end, Tess never got that chance. The placenta had unexpectedly separated from the uterine wall and, despite a valiant effort by emergency personnel, she and the baby had died.

Even after three years the memory of that night still made Amy’s heart ache. It had been such a horrible time in all their lives…

“Is everything okay?” Dan’s voice sounded from the doorway.

Ducking her head, Amy shoved the memories aside. Though she knew Tess was never far from Dan’s thoughts, he never talked about that period and she never brought it up.

She leaned her cheek against the top of Emma’s head and gained her composure. “Emma was a little frightened, but she calmed right down.”

Amy sensed, rather than saw, Dan move across into the room. He squatted by the rocker and touched her arm. The feel of his hand against her skin took her by surprise and reminded her of her earlier daydream. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest.

“I was asking about you,” he said.

“Me?” Her voice came out as a high-pitched squeak and Amy nearly groaned aloud wondering what had happened to her normally unflappable composure.

“You haven’t been yourself lately,” he said softly. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

Amy met his gaze and her breath caught.

Something flickered in his eyes and she wondered if he felt the electricity, too. But when she looked again, only simple concern reflected back at her.

“I’m just fine.” Amy forced a bright smile. “Everything is great.”

“Is there anything you want?” Once again his gaze searched hers. “Anything at all?”

Dear God, it was like her fantasy had come to life. The spicy scent of his cologne wafted about her and something quivered deep in Amy’s belly. Perspiration dotted her brow.

His gaze locked with hers and Amy could feel herself being pulled into the blue depths.

“What is it you want, Amy?” he asked again. “Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”

Amy searched his face, looking for what she wasn’t sure.

I want you. The words hovered on the edges of her lips. Take me in your arms and kiss me.

But as much as she longed to say the words, Amy had learned the hard way what happens when you’re needy and demanding.

“It doesn’t take much to make me happy,” Amy said finally, not really answering his question.

His brows drew together and he appeared to consider her words. After a moment he rose to his feet.

“Let me take her,” he said. “The storm has passed. She should sleep all night now.”

With well practiced ease, Dan scooped Emma into his arms and lifted her to his chest.

Amy’s breath caught at the look of love on his face. She’d been scarcely older than Emma when her beloved father had been killed in a car accident. She’d never experienced such unconditional love since.

Emma might not have Tess, but she wasn’t alone.

Unexpected tears filled Amy’s eyes but thankfully Dan was too busy tucking Emma into bed to notice.

“I’ll see you downstairs.” Amy rose from the rocker and moved quickly across the glossy hardwood to the door. Dan believed she was a strong, practical woman and she didn’t want him to think differently.

Dan brushed a kiss across Emma’s cheek and turned to find Amy hurrying toward the door. “Hey, wait for me.”

He rose and followed her with his lengthy stride but she didn’t slow down. If anything, she increased her pace.

Then, like a scene from a slapstick comedy where someone slips on a banana peel, Amy’s feet flew out from under her. A startled cry sprang from her lips.

Dan responded instinctively. With his heart in his throat, he lunged forward and grabbed her from behind. There was no time to think. No time to consider where to place his hands.

Amy wore a bra, but the moment his hand gripped the soft mound of flesh, the contact might as well have been skin-to-skin.

Amy gasped and turned, her cheeks two bright spots of pink. He immediately dropped his arms to his sides and took a step back. Heat rose up his neck.

While Amy’s face gave nothing away, her hand trembled as she carefully straightened her shirt.

Guilt coursed through Dan. He captured her gaze, willing her to see by the look in his eyes that he was sincerely sorry. “Amy, I—”

“Daddy?” Emma’s sleepy voice sounded from across the room.

Dan whirled. But he’d barely taken a step when Emma snuggled into her pillow and her eyelids drifted shut. “Love you, Daddy. Love you, Amy.”

“Love you, princess,” Dan called softly, but the girl was already asleep.

Dan took a deep breath and turned back to Amy.

“Thanks for catching me,” she said, not giving him a chance to continue his apology. “I’m usually not so clumsy.”

“I’m usually not so rough.” Dan shoved his hands into his pockets. “I didn’t even realize where I was—”

“I was thinking of making some hot cocoa,” Amy said.

Hot cocoa? It was seventy degrees outside.

But the desperation in her smile told him all he needed to know. She preferred to pretend nothing had happened.

Dan returned her smile, relieved they wouldn’t have to have an awkward discussion.

Amy lifted her gaze, her tongue nervously moistening her lips, her eyes wide and very green. “Want some?”

It was a simple question but Dan’s body put its own spin on the words. Heat flowed through his veins like molten lava and he suddenly felt like a hormone-ravaged teenager. The intense feelings took him by surprise. But feeling crazy was one thing. Acting crazy something else entirely.

This was Amy, after all.

“Dan?” she prompted, her voice sounding oddly breathless. “Hot cocoa?”

He shook his head. “I’m not in the mood.”

Not for hot cocoa, anyway.

Amy met his gaze and her cheeks darkened to a deep rose. For a second he had the sinking feeling she could read his thoughts.

“Suit yourself,” she said with a slight smile. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you change your mind.”

After she left, Dan checked Emma one last time before heading for the stairs. This morning, he hadn’t a care in the world. Now, he was lusting after his daughter’s nanny and he had nothing but worries.

As he approached the kitchen, he could hear Amy humming. The Broadway show tune sung a trifle off-key told him more than words that he hadn’t completely screwed up. At least not yet.

The last remnants of tension eased from his shoulders and Dan decided that maybe he was in the mood for that cup of hot cocoa after all.

Chapter Four

“I understand you’re upset about your neighbor dying in that car accident,” Dan said in a soothing tone, his fingers tightening around the receiver. He’d been sympathetic for the first twenty minutes of his mother-in-law’s call, but his patience was wearing thin. For the last half hour she’d talked nonstop about George, her neighbor, and how he wouldn’t have died if he’d heeded her advice and not ridden his bike after dark.

It didn’t help that Dan had had a particularly crummy weekend. Amy had gone out with Steven on Friday night and Emma had been cranky.

Today he’d thought they’d all go in-line skating down by the lake after breakfast and maybe catch some lunch at Navy Pier, but once again Amy had plans with Steven. Dan couldn’t help but wonder if she was deliberately avoiding him…

“—Emma’s welfare.”

Dan realized with a start that while his thoughts had been wandering, Gwen had continued to ramble.

“What did you say about Emma?” He relaxed his hold on the phone. There was nothing he liked better than talking about Emma with her doting grandparents. In fact, he’d tried to steer the conversation around to Emma several times in the last thirty minutes but Gwen had been too focused on her neighbor.

“I said you need to make sure that your will names us as Emma’s guardians if anything happens to you.”

“Nothing is going to happen to me.” Dan forced a halfhearted laugh.

“We all think that,” Gwen said. “But George didn’t plan to die and neither did my daughter.”

Though Gwen had never come right out and said it, Dan knew she blamed him for Tess’s death. Tess wouldn’t have gotten pregnant a second time if he hadn’t been so adamant about wanting another child.

“I’ve already made provisions for Emma,” Dan said.

A moment of stunned silence filled the phone line.

“I’m surprised your mother would agree,” Gwen said. “What with having a new husband and all.”

“Actually my mother didn’t think she’d have the stamina for a young child.” Dan had been disappointed but he’d appreciated his mom’s candor. “A friend here in Chicago has agreed to raise Emma if something happens to me.”

After his mother had said no, Dan had approached Amy and she’d seemed touched by the offer.

“A friend?” Gwen’s voice rose. “Who is this person? Have I met him?”

Dan hesitated. Gwen had been wealthy her entire life and in her mind a nanny was a servant and as such would never be considered an appropriate guardian for her only grandchild.

“Emma belongs with family,” Gwen continued when Dan didn’t respond. It wasn’t so much what she said as how she said it that reminded him of Tess. Spunky Tess, who used to lift her chin and show him her stubborn face when they disagreed.

Some of his irritation dissolved in the remembrance. Gwen and Phil had loved their daughter and they loved Emma. Unfortunately they could be harsh and unyielding in their views and he had no doubt, given time and opportunity, they’d end up crushing Emma’s gentle spirit.

Even now, he had to monitor their interactions with his daughter. They compared Emma to Tess at every opportunity and Emma always came up lacking.

“My mind is made up,” Dan said. “I’m not going to change it.”

“Well, if anything happens, this friend of yours will have a fight on his hands.” His mother-in-law’s voice turned frosty. “We will not let our granddaughter be taken from us. And I happen to know that family is always given extra weight in custody issues.”

Dan’s knuckles turned white at her obvious disregard for his wishes.

C’mon, Dan. I know she can be difficult, but be nice to them. Please. For me.

The memory of Tess’s familiar plea stopped his sharp retort. Instead Dan forced a conciliatory tone.

“Gwen, it’s been great talking to you but I need to go.” He ignored her murmur of protest. “Be sure and tell Phil hello.”

Dan clicked off before she could get another word out. Though he had a thousand and one things to do, he didn’t move a muscle. He sat staring at the phone, cursing his mother-in-law’s high-handedness and wondering what in the world he was going to do now.

Dan sat at the kitchen table and tried to read the paper, but his gaze kept straying to Amy. She’d returned from her afternoon with Steven in a lighthearted mood. Her skin was rosy from the sun and her green eyes sparkled like emeralds. She looked, he thought, uncommonly pretty today.

When she leaned over to put the casserole in the oven, he found himself staring at her smooth thighs and the rounded curves of her breasts.

Dan inhaled a deep, steady breath. This had to stop. He really hated that his gaze lingered on those long, supple legs. And he didn’t like noticing the way her shirt clung to every curve or just how nice those curves were.

This was all Jake’s fault, he thought irritably. If he hadn’t mentioned Amy dating, Dan wouldn’t have looked at her in that way at all. For three years she’d been his daughter’s nanny. Now, all of a sudden, he’d realized she was a woman, too.

Oblivious to the turmoil her shapeliness was causing, Amy closed the lower oven door and turned. “Have I told you how much I love this double oven?”

Her cotton top accentuated her full, generous breasts, and for a fleeting moment Dan found himself wondering what she’d look like naked. His mouth went dry and it took everything he had to return her smile and concentrate on the question. “Only about a million times.”

She laughed. “I think you’re exaggerating just a bit.”

The sound of her laughter made him smile. Maybe he was exaggerating, but Dan had no doubt the reason she’d been so content in his household had a lot to do with the kitchen. Last year he’d had the entire area redone and Amy had supervised the construction. Since she used it the most, it had only made sense she should have input into the final product.

She’d been so thrilled with the results that when the last contractor had walked out the door, in a moment of pure joy she’d thrown her arms around Dan’s neck and given him a hug. He hadn’t given it a second thought. Afterward she’d been embarrassed, but he’d understood. She’d just been given her dream kitchen on a silver platter.

But it wasn’t really her kitchen, was it?

Maybe that was why Amy continued to date Steven. Amy was practical. The Lasagna Man might not make her heart beat faster—not yet anyway—but he could give her companionship and a permanent home of her own.

But so could I…

The thought surprised him. He shoved it aside but it immediately boomeranged back. This time he considered the idea. He and Amy shared many common interests and most importantly, they both loved Emma. In a way, he and Amy hooking up made its own kind of sense.

Dan glanced at his watch and headed to the back porch. When Amy got home, he’d be waiting.

Amy shifted her gaze out the window of Steven Mitchell’s lakeshore condo. The lights of Chicago blinked back at her. All evening she’d found herself mesmerized by the view.

Her lips curved up in a smile. It had been a wonderful evening, thanks to her very gracious host. She turned back to tell him that but before the words could leave her lips, Steven reached across his dining room table and took her hand.

She wasn’t surprised he’d gotten caught up in the mood. Though that’s not how it had been intended, the evening had taken a decidedly romantic turn. Crystal glittered in the candlelight and classical music in the background added to the ambience.

“Dinner was fabulous.” In the dim light, Steven’s eyes looked more black than gray. “You really outdid yourself.”

Amy resisted the urge to gently remove her hand from his grasp. It wasn’t that she minded holding hands with Steven, she just didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. After all, she’d meant it when she’d told Dan that she and Steven were merely cooking buddies. Though it was beginning to look like Steven might want more…

“Simply fabulous.” Steven breathed the words, his gaze riveted to her.

Amy forced herself to chew and swallow. She wasn’t sure why Steven was laying it on so thick but she couldn’t help but be flattered. Still she forced a nonchalant air as if having a handsome man flirt with her was an everyday occurrence.

“Beef tenderloin can be so boring.” Amy lifted the wineglass to her mouth with her free hand. “The secret is the parsley sauce with cornichons and capers.”

“You have just the right touch.” Steven’s thumb caressed her palm and Amy almost inhaled her Merlot.

What was happening? The stars definitely had to be in some kind of funky alignment. First, she’d found herself practically salivating over Dan and now Steven—who’d always respected the boundaries she’d set—seemed determined to push into new territory tonight.

Amy had the feeling she was partially to blame. Two weeks ago, when Steven had taken her to a fancy French restaurant, she’d happened to mention how tired she was of cooking the same boring meals that were Dan and Emma’s favorites. She longed to cut loose and try some fun, fancy recipes for a change.

Steven had immediately jumped on the idea. He’d suggested that every week they take turns making each other a meal of their own choosing. Last week Steven had treated her to a fabulous evening of Indian cuisine.

Tonight had been her turn to shine. But when she’d agreed to the plan, she hadn’t considered where she would prepare a meal when it was her turn. After all, she could hardly use Dan’s kitchen to entertain Steven.

When she’d said as much to Steven, he’d merely smiled and offered her the use of his place. Unfortunately the only night this week that worked for him was Sunday, a day usually reserved for Dan and Emma. But Steven was going out of town on business for two weeks and he’d insisted he couldn’t wait that long to see what treat she had in store for him.

“Amy.” Steven’s husky, deep voice broke through her reverie. “Have I told you how beautiful you look this evening?”

Amy lifted her eyes to find his gaze focused on the cleavage displayed by the silky black cocktail dress. Her face heated beneath his admiring gaze and she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Dressing up for the evening had been Steven’s idea. She’d been a bit hesitant, but had decided to go along with the suggestion.

It certainly had helped set the elegant, romantic mood. Of course, the fact that Steven’s condo overlooked the lakefront didn’t hurt, either. The first time he’d brought her up here, she’d been stunned. In class, dressed in blue jeans, he’d seemed like just another food devotee. Sure, she’d known he was an attorney, she just hadn’t realized he was so wealthy. Or so…attractive.

The tuxedo he wore emphasized his lean, muscular build. Like Dan, his hair was dark and cut short, but instead of being blue, Steven’s eyes were a piercing gray. She could see why he was so successful in the courtroom. Those eyes missed little.

“I’m flattered,” she said.

“You don’t believe my compliment.” His brows pulled together in puzzlement. “Why is that?”

This time Amy gave in to the urge and slipped her hand from his, nervously brushing back a stray strand of hair from her face.

She wondered if he’d be as impressed if he knew that the black cocktail dress she wore had been purchased at a consignment boutique. But even she had to admit the cut flattered her full, firm breasts while minimizing her curvy hips. She’d pulled her hair back in a loose, French knot and taken extra care with her makeup. At the last minute she’d impulsively added the pair of diamond earrings Dan and Emma had given her last Christmas.

“Amy.”

She blinked, realizing his question hadn’t been simply rhetorical.

“Beautiful?” Amy forced a laugh. “C’mon, Steven. Even you have to admit extra pounds and freckles place me squarely in the nice-looking but definitely-not-beautiful range.”

She made the observation without the slightest hint of guile. She wasn’t fishing for compliments. She was, quite simply, stating the facts.

Still, she half expected Steven to argue. Instead he laughed, the tiny lines around his eyes crinkling. “No wonder I like you so much.”

There it was again, a shift into the personal realm. And the smoldering look in his eyes told her if she didn’t shut it down now, things could get uncomfortable.

“Did I tell you Chez Gladines at Navy Pier has contracted with me to provide French pastries on a trial basis?” Amy couldn’t keep the note of pride from her voice. “Apparently their chef had been a real prima donna and an expensive one to boot. When she up and quit on them, they decided to give me a chance.”

While the restaurant manager hadn’t given Amy a long-term commitment, at least she had a foot in the door.

“Congratulations.” A smile split Steven’s face. “I wish I’d known earlier, I’d have taken you out to celebrate.”

Amy had waited to mention the news for that specific reason. She didn’t want to give him the chance to act like a boyfriend. He was doing enough of that already. Last time they’d eaten out, he’d refused to let her pay her share. If he were her boyfriend, she’d be all about letting him treat her. But they were simply good friends and that’s how she wanted to keep it.

She let her gaze linger on his handsome face. Steven was a great guy with all the qualities she was looking for in a man. Why couldn’t she like him as more than a friend? Why couldn’t she love him? What was holding her back?

Amy smiled and held out her glass for more wine.

After filling her glass, Steven leaned back in his chair and shot her a speculative gaze. “What did King Dan have to say?”

Amy rolled her eyes. Steven had never met Dan but he’d taken in a few of her comments and decided he didn’t like the guy. Like when she’d mentioned once in passing how much Dan liked to be waited on, she’d never expected Steven to take the funny, little incident and make a big deal out of it.

“Was he happy for you?” Steven pressed.

Amy shrugged and took a sip of wine. “I haven’t mentioned it to him yet.”

“Why not?” Steven lifted a sardonic brow. “Too busy making his coffee?”

“Making the coffee pays the bills.” Amy kept her tone deliberately light and offhand, refusing to get sucked into rehashing something that had already been discussed. Still, it seemed no matter how many times she tried to tell Steven taking care of Dan and Emma was her job, he always tried to push her to think of herself, too.

“I know why you haven’t told him. You’re afr—”

“The opportunity hasn’t come up.” Amy spoke slowly and distinctly so there would be no misunderstanding. “But when I do tell him—and I do plan to tell him—I know he’ll be happy for me.”

“Don’t kid yourself.” Genuine concern filled Steven’s gaze. “If he had it his way, you’d never leave. Never go on to bigger and better things. You deserve your own dreams, too, Amy.”

The unexpected vehemence in Steven’s tone took her by surprise. But she just smiled because she knew he really meant well. He was wrong about Dan, though…and about her.

Chapter Five

Amy shut off the car’s ignition and leaned back against the seat, too tired to get out. The clock on the dashboard read eleven forty-five and exhaustion oozed from every pore. Her normal bedtime was ten-thirty and when she’d started to yawn while discussing the merits of using liqueurs, she’d known it was time to head home.

As she’d started toward the door, Steven had pulled her to him. Then he’d asked if she’d consider spending the night. The crazy thing was, for a second she’d been tempted. It had been so long…

But in the end she’d said no, frightened by the serious look in his eyes and her own ambivalent feelings. Besides, there was only one man she wanted in that way and he was waiting for her at home.

The garage door slid smoothly downward and, heaving a resigned sigh, Amy stepped out of the car and headed for the side door. Unlike Steven’s condo with its underground parking, Dan’s house had been built in the early 1900s when detached carriage houses were de rigueur.

But Amy didn’t mind the short walk to the house. The temperature had dropped slightly and the autumn coolness was a welcome break from the warmth of the car. She could feel herself begin to wake up.

How she loved the lush yard with its large trees and beautiful arbors and the way the fragrant smell of flowers mixed with the scent of freshly-cut grass. During the day squirrels chattered a mile a minute and birds chirped happily. But now all was quiet. She stopped just short of the house and inhaled, taking in the beauty around her.

Amy vowed that when she bought a house it would have a nice yard. She remembered all too well the tiny apartment she’d shared with her aunt after her mother had dropped her off and never came back. She’d had to play outside on the concrete…

Shoving the memory aside, she decided it was too nice a night to ruin with thoughts of the past. She should go straight to bed but the idea of sitting for a few minutes in one of the large Adirondack chairs on the back screened-in porch pulled at her.

It would be so peaceful, so—

“How was your evening?”

The familiar deep voice stopped her cold. Dan sat in one of the chairs on the porch. She could count on one hand the number of times he’d stayed up past ten-thirty on a work night. Concern rippled up her spine. She moved forward quickly, her heart picking up speed with each step. “Where’s Emma? Is everything okay?”

“She’s fine.” Dan rose and held the porch door open. “Went to bed for me without any problem.”

Amy exhaled the breath she’d been holding. “So nothing is wrong?”

“Why would you think something is wrong?”

“You’re up,” Amy said. “You’re always in bed by now.”

“You’re dressed up.” His gaze traveled the length of her body. Amy could hear the surprise in his tone and though she wasn’t a bit cold, she shivered.

He’d known she was going out with Steven. But he’d been upstairs when she’d left and he’d obviously assumed this had been a jeans and T-shirt evening.

“I made dinner for Steven at his place.”

“He made you cook?” Dan’s brows pulled together and she could hear the censure in his tone. “When you were dressed like that?”

Amy heaved an exasperated sigh and dropped into a chair. What was it with these men?

“He didn’t make me do anything.” Amy kicked off her heels. “We’re taking turns cooking each other dinner. Steven likes to dress up. Do things nice. He thinks it adds to the ambience.”

Even in the dim light, Amy could see the surprise in Dan’s eyes. He opened his mouth, then shut it.

She paused, waiting for him to disagree. After all, that seemed to be the pattern between the two men.

“I agree,” Dan said.

“You do?” Amy’s voice rose despite her best efforts to control it.

“Of course,” Dan said, his tone conversational and pleasant.

Amy let her shoulders drop and the last of the tension exited her body. Finally, here on this quiet porch, she was back on familiar footing and could relax.

Tonight had not been the evening she’d anticipated. Instead of being the kind, supportive friend, Steven had tried to play the boyfriend card. She’d hated to shut him down but she didn’t see that she had much choice. Not when her feelings for Dan were growing stronger. She slanted a sideways glance.

Dan had leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head in a relaxed pose. “Does Steven live close?”

“Not far.” Though it might not be very Emily Post, Amy brought her foot up and massaged her instep. The stiletto heels might look great but they were a killer. “He lives in one of the condos by the Pier.”

The words had barely left her lips when Dan scooted his chair to face hers. “Give me those.”

Amy widened her eyes. “Pardon?”

“Your feet,” he said. “Those kind of shoes take their toll. I used to give Tess a foot rub all the time. Put them here.”

Amy hesitated. While he wasn’t suggesting they get naked and jump into bed, what he was suggesting somehow seemed just as intimate. Before she had a chance to respond, he reached down and rested both her feet on top of his muscular thighs.

“Ah—” He began to gently massage her foot from the toes to the ankle and any words of protest died on a sigh.

“You are incredible,” she breathed.

The dimple in his left cheek flashed. “Well, thank you, ma’am. I aim to please.”

He shifted his focus to the sole of her foot, his fingers moving in circular motions from the base of her toes to the heel, the pressure of the circles steady and even.

Amy closed her eyes and let the waves of pleasure wash over her.

“I don’t believe you’ve ever told me what Steven does for a living.”

The question seemed to come from a great distance. Amy’s eyelids fluttered as he turned his attention to her toes.

“He’s an attorney.” Utterly relaxed, Amy leaned her head back against the chair. “I guess he’s handled some high-profile cases but I’ve never heard of them.”

Steven had told her more than once about his practice but she must not have been paying very close attention because right now, with Dan’s thumbs pressing into the arch of her foot, she couldn’t remember any details.

“What’s his last name?” Dan asked in a low, soft voice.

“Mitchell.” Amy moaned. “Oh, Dan, if I’d have known I was coming home to this, I’d have never stayed out so late.”

“That’s okay,” Dan said in a hypnotic tone. “Next time just remember…there’s no place like home.”

A loud buzzing sounded in Amy’s ear and she brushed at the irritation, her hand connecting with something hard and plastic.

It took only a second for her to realize she wasn’t on a far-off beach making love to Dan in the sand. She was in her bedroom with her new clock radio buzzing angrily up at her from the floor. Reaching down, she hiked it up by its cord, bringing the time into focus.

She gasped. It should have gone off an hour ago. The bus would be coming for Emma in twenty minutes and Dan, well, right now he was on his own.

Amy jumped out of bed, but stopped almost instantly, swaying slightly as her hand rose to her pounding head. She had only two or three glasses of wine with Steven, but after Dan had finished her foot massage, he’d brought out a bottle of Kendall Jackson and she’d had a couple more glasses.

Unlike her mother, Amy took responsibility for her own actions. She’d pay the price today. She’d never make Emma and Dan suffer.

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