Alice complied.
‘It’s the day I finally said what I should have said ages ago.’
‘About Melissa?’
‘No. That I love you.’ Andrew moved and winced. ‘Yes…about Melissa, too. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. No more secrets.’
‘I don’t need to know anything else.’
‘Don’t you want to know how she did it? How she framed you so convincingly? The way she managed to bump into you that day and drop the ampoules right into your pocket?’
‘Maybe later.’ Strangely, Alice wasn’t even curious at the moment. ‘Right now, all I want to do is get you into the emergency department.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘I’m not going to believe that until someone who hasn’t had a bang on the head tells me.’
‘Don’t call an ambulance.’
‘Why not?’
‘I don’t need one and I certainly don’t want one. How are you going to hold my hand if you’re following behind in my car?’
‘Your car?’
‘We’ll need to get Emmy. After you’ve been satisfied that I’m still functioning normally.’
‘That’s a point. I guess if I drive and you sit very still, it would be okay.’ A tiny smile curled her lips. ‘You really want me to hold your hand?’
Andrew tried to nod but it was clearly painful. He gripped her hand very tightly instead. ‘Always,’ he said fiercely. ‘Don’t let me go.’
‘I won’t,’ she promised.
Alice helped him very slowly to his feet and it took a few minutes to make the careful journey to where he’d left his car.
‘I’ll go back and take Ben’s tack off and put Jake inside,’ Alice planned ahead aloud. ‘Then I can take you into Emergency for observation and go and collect Emmy.’
‘Alice?’
Andrew had stopped moving forward. The arm he had around Alice’s shoulders tightened and she turned towards him.
‘Are you all right? You’re not feeling dizzy or sick or anything, are you?’
‘I’m feeling…incredibly lucky.’
‘Because you got knocked out? Hardly lucky.’
‘Because you didn’t ride away and leave me. That maybe I haven’t left it too late to tell you I love you.’
‘It’s not too late, Andrew.’
‘I wanted to tell you weeks ago. When you were sick. Before that, even, but…’
‘I know.’ Alice smiled into his eyes. ‘It’s huge and some things are too scary to say out loud. I wanted to tell you about the baby before this.’
‘But you were scared because you thought I might think you’d planned it. Like Melissa did.’
Alice dropped her gaze as she nodded.
Andrew put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up again. She met his eyes and was instantly captured by the tenderness she could see. And the conviction.
‘You’re nothing like Mel,’ Andrew told her softly. ‘You never could be. You’re you. So special and so wonderful that I love you more than I can ever hope to tell you. I never expected to find this. I thought Emmy was all I had in the world. All I needed.’
‘Emmy is that special.’ Alice smiled. ‘I can understand that because I love her, too.’
‘We’re a family. Or we will be. Will you marry me, Alice?’
Alice smiled again and gently urged Andrew to keep walking towards his car.
‘Ask me that again when you’re not concussed.’
He did exactly that, as soon as the results of the CT scan Peter had insisted on came back showing no evidence of a significant head injury. Well after the wound had been cleaned and stitched.
Andrew waited only until Jo had gone, promising to fast-track his discharge summary.
‘I’m not concussed,’ he told Alice. ‘Or only mildly. Enough to give me a headache for a day or two but not enough to undermine my judgement in any way.’
Alice couldn’t resist teasing him a little. Perhaps because she knew what was coming and she wanted to draw this moment out for as long as she could to savour the delicious realisation of her dream.
‘You’re not supposed to drink alcohol or drive a car.’
‘I’m not talking about driving a car.’ Andrew caught hold of Alice’s hand. ‘I’m talking about what’s going to drive the rest of my life.’
‘Oh…’ Alice let herself be drawn closer to where Andrew was sitting right on the edge of the bed. Tugged right between his legs, in fact.
Andrew raised her hand, turning it over so that he could press a kiss to her palm. His gaze, however, remained locked with Alice’s.
‘I’m talking about you,’ he said softly. ‘The first, last and only woman I’m ever going to be in love with like this.’
Alice tried to swallow the lump that appeared like magic in her throat. She knew that conviction of having found ‘the One’. She’d known that for her it was Andrew and she’d known that for many years. How unbelievable was it to be standing here, like this? Being touched by this man? Hearing him say the exact words she wanted to say to him?
‘You and Emmy and our baby.’ Andrew folded her even closer so that Alice’s cheek rested against his and they were chest to chest. She could feel his heart beating against her own and she couldn’t distinguish which pulse was hers. She didn’t want to.
‘We’re a family, Alice. A perfect family.’
‘Mmm.’ The sound was a contented sigh.
‘So…’ Andrew pushed her back, just far enough to see her face properly ‘…will you marry me, Alice?’
‘Yes.’
Such a tiny word but it came with a smile mixed with tears and it was all she needed to say, judging by the exquisite tenderness of the kiss Andrew bestowed on her.
A very brief kiss, because they were mindful of the fact that Jo would come rushing back any second now.
Sure enough, she came in, brandishing a pink slip of paper. She noted how close Alice was to Andrew and her smile broadened. She gave an approving nod as she handed over his clearance as a patient.
‘You know what to watch out for,’ she said to Alice. ‘Any sign that we might have missed something.’
‘You haven’t,’ Andrew assured her. ‘I’m good to go.’
But when Jo left them to it, he didn’t move.
‘Shall we go?’ Alice prompted.
‘Not yet.’
‘What about Emmy?’
‘She’s fine for a little while. She loves that after school play centre and I want to have another scan.’
‘What?’ Alice’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Why? Is your headache worse? Vision blurry? Can’t you—?’
Andrew pressed a finger to her lips. ‘Not for me.’ He was smiling. ‘For you. For us.’
He could see she was still worried and his smile faded. ‘You haven’t forgotten Laura, have you? The threatened miscarriage?’
‘Of course not. But…’ Alice stopped and held her breath. This was important. As important as everything else Andrew had been saying since the accident.
‘When I was giving her that scan to look for a foetal heartbeat, I had this image of it being us.’
Alice stared at him.
‘Nothing to do with any complications,’ Andrew added hurriedly. ‘I was thinking in terms of an ordinary confirmation of pregnancy kind of scan. I wanted to be beside you. Holding your hand and waiting to see that little blip on the screen. I want to see it now. Our baby.’
So that was what that intense look had been about. The one that had been so overwhelming, given the secret she’d been keeping from Andrew.
Alice felt the prickle of unshed tears.
‘Did I tell you that I love you?’ she whispered.
Andrew feigned an innocent expression. ‘I don’t think I remember. I do have a mild concussion, you know. Tell me again.’
‘Oh, I will, don’t worry. You’ll get sick of hearing it.’
‘Never,’ Andrew vowed and bent his head to kiss her again.
EPILOG
UE
THE small girl had a very determined expression on her face.
She stood up tall in her stirrups and then sat down in the saddle. Up and down, in perfect time with the stride of her pony, as they went around in a small circle on a lush green paddock that was bathed by early summer sunshine.
‘Perfect!’ Alice called. ‘You’re posting, Emmy. Good girl!’
‘Great stuff,’ Andrew added, a proud grin on his face.
‘You can stop now,’ Alice told Emmy. ‘Your legs must be getting tired.’
But Emmy kept going. Round and round, her face glowing with triumph.
Behind the fat, shaggy pony a large dog trotted. Riding shotgun to protect the child and keep her close to the rest of the family.
Leaning over the gate to this paddock was a huge black horse who looked as though he was dozing happily in the shade of the old tree but his ears flicked every time Paddington came nearer with his precious burden. He was watching just as closely as everyone else.
Alice stood with her back touching Andrew, who had his arms around her waist.
Or what used to be a waist. Currently, it was an impressive bulge. It was only a matter of weeks now until their son would be born.
‘Daddy! Are you watching me? I’m trotting!’
‘You sure are, darling. I’m very proud of you.’
His gentle hold on Alice tightened a little and the baby seemed to respond, moving beneath those loving hands. What an incredible sensation, being touched by people she loved from the inside and the outside at the same time. Alice let her breath out in a sigh.
‘You okay?’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy.’
‘You’re not missing being able to ride on such a gorgeous day?’
‘Ben’s enjoying his holiday and I’m way too busy to ride, anyway. There’s still a way to go to get the garden into shape for the wedding.’
‘It’s too much work for you,’ Andrew growled. ‘What were we thinking, trying to get the restoration work on the house and garden done before we got married? We should have just skipped off to the nearest register office.’
‘You know why.’ Alice twisted a little so she could look up at Andrew’s face. So that she could bask in the love she knew she would find there.
They’d decided to wait so that Emmy could be involved. Until after the baby was born. Because this wasn’t just about a commitment ceremony between a man and a woman who loved each other so deeply.
It was to be a celebration of a new family.
And it would be Christmas time and they’d agreed that this was the most amazing gift anyone could ever give or receive.
A family.
‘Look!’ Emmy called. ‘I can trot. Watch me, Mummy.’
Alice had to pull her gaze from Andrew’s to look back at Emmy, but she was still within the circle of his arms.
‘I’m watching, sweetheart.’
‘So am I,’ Andrew added.
They were. They would always watch over and love their children. And each other.
Because that was what families did.
Romancing
the Nanny
Cindy Kirk
CINDY KIRK is a lifelong Nebraska resident who started writing after taking a class at a local college. But her interest in the written word started years before when she was in her teens. At sixteen she wrote in her diary, “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be a writer.”
Not until her daughter was heading off to college did Cindy return to her first love—writing. Cindy wasn’t interested in newspaper or magazine articles, short stories or poetry. When she decided to start writing, she jumped feet first into book-length fiction. She loves reading and writing romance, and she believes in the power of love and in happily ever after. An incurable romantic, Cindy loves seeing her characters grow and learn from their mistakes and, in the process, achieve a happy ending.
She and her school sweetheart husband live on an acreage with two cats…one of whom loves to sit next to the computer and supervise her writing. Cindy loves to hear from readers. She invites you to visit her website at www.CindyKirk.com.
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
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.”
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