“Anything new with Bree?”
The question took him by surprise. Until he felt Amy’s hand tremble and realized she was nervous and merely making light conversation.
“Not really,” he said. “Unless you count the fact that her Scotland cat just had kittens.”
Scotland cat? It didn’t sound right, but he must have been close enough to be understood because Amy’s eyes brightened. “Kellycat’s a momma?”
“She had a whole bunch of kittens and apparently they’re ready to be adopted.” Dan couldn’t believe he was having a conversation about cats. But he’d talk about them all night long if it would keep Amy in his arms.
“I’d love to see them.” Amy’s smile brightened then faded. “On second thought, I’d better not.”
“Why not?” Dan tightened his arms around her. Dancing with her was heaven. Absolute paradise. There was no space between them, no way they could get any closer—at least not with their clothes on. He’d missed her so much…
“I’d want to take one home.” Her voice sounded sad and wistful.
Dan opened his mouth then shut it. The last thing he wanted to do during this brief time together was hear himself talk.
“Didn’t you used to have a cat?” Dan asked, moving his hand slowly down the bare skin exposed by the deep V of the back of her dress.
She quivered and his body responded immediately. But if she could feel his arousal, she gave no indication.
“Yes,” she murmured. “His name was Mittens and he was black and white and very beautiful. My father got him for me as a birthday present. But when I went to live with my aunt, he had to go to the animal shelter. I’m sure someone nice adopted him.”
Though her tone didn’t vary, Dan knew her so well he heard the pain beneath the matter-of-fact words.
“Losing him had to have been hard,” he said.
Amy’s eyes took on a distant faraway look. “I promised myself that when I grew up and had a place of my own I’d get another Scottish Fold—that’s the kind of cat Mittens was—but I’ve never lived anywhere that’s allowed pets.”
Dan had known she liked cats but he realized with sudden insight that if they’d married she’d still not have one. The knowledge filled him with shame. Too late, he realized he’d give Amy the sun and the moon if he could. Hell, he’d even give her a cat.
He stopped, startled. He’d never go to that extreme for someone he just liked. Only for someone he loved.
Was Bree right? Had he told himself he couldn’t love anyone but Tess because he was afraid?
It hardly seemed possible. After all, he’d never been a man to make decisions based on fear. But if he didn’t love Amy, why had he been so miserable without her? He’d tried to tell himself it was because he and Emma had grown to depend on her.
But her replacement did a wonderful job taking care of things around the house so it couldn’t be that. It was Amy he missed. Amy who made the house a home.
I’m in love with Amy.
The words echoed through his head and he knew, without a doubt that they were true. With Tess, love had hit him like a lightning bolt. With Amy, love had come softly. It had crept into his heart and taken up residence without him even being aware it had happened.
Now, all he had to do was to let Amy know how he felt…and hope it wasn’t too late.
“Emma.” Amy opened the door and called out. She’d tried the doorbell but no one came. It was the Sunday before Christmas and she and Emma were going to the mall.
The house was strangely silent. Sunday was Marjorie’s day off so she hadn’t expected to see the housekeeper. But she had expected to find Dan and Emma at home, especially since she’d just confirmed the five o’clock pickup time with Dan earlier that afternoon.
The call had been the first time they’d talked since the party. She’d worried it might be awkward but Dan had been in good spirits—asking her about her job and seeming genuinely pleased when she reported things were going well.
Maintaining a positive relationship was a good thing, she told herself. It was important for Emma that they be cordial. Wednesday night had gone a little beyond cordial. For a moment on the dance floor Amy had felt as if Dan might try to kiss her. And even worse, the way her body had been responding to his closeness, she had the feeling she’d have let him.
When she and Dan had returned to Steven and Bree, the two attorneys were seated alone at a large round table totally engrossed in a conversation about some legal case.
Dan hadn’t seemed to mind. He’d confiscated glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and pulled out a couple of chairs across the table from Bree and Steven.
Amy had been surprised when Dan brought up her job at Chez Gladines. It was the first time she’d discussed the position with him and, looking back, she was sure she’d bored him with way too many details. Sitting with him at that linen clad table had reminded her of all the times they’d talked over breakfast, all the discussions they’d had at the supper table.
It would be so easy to be drawn into the trap of equating interest with love. But she’d made that mistake once and she wasn’t going down that road again.
“Emma,” Amy called again, glancing at her watch. “We need to go. The mall closes early today.”
Still no answer.
Amy left the kitchen and headed for the parlor, where Emma loved to sit and read. But Amy only got as far as the dining room before she stopped. Though there was no food yet on the table, there was crystal and china and candles. And a fresh flower centerpiece.
Spider mums. Her favorite.
Amy’s heart twisted.
It didn’t take a genius to know that Dan had a romantic evening for two planned. Either he’d gotten back with Bree or there was someone new in his life. She wondered if he’d deliberately planned this date knowing Emma would be gone most of the evening? It wasn’t any of her business, of course. She was simply…curious.
“The brisket is in the oven.”
Amy jumped at the sound of the voice and turned to find Dan in the doorway. “It smells delicious,” she said. “Brisket has always been one of my favorites.”
It was a stupid thing to say and Amy regretted the comment the second it left her lips. After all, what did it matter what she liked. She wasn’t the one who’d be eating it.
She swallowed hard past the sudden lump in her throat. “Is Emma upstairs?”
“Actually—” Dan shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels “—there’s been a slight change in plans. Emma is spending the night at Rehn’s.”
Amy’s heart fell. “She was going to buy your Christmas gift tonight. I can’t believe she forgot.”
Emma had been excited about this day for weeks. Yet, she’d decided to spend the night with a neighbor? It didn’t make sense.
“She didn’t forget.” A rueful smile lifted Dan’s lips. “The only way I could get her to go to Rehn’s was to tell her you and I had plans for the evening.”
Amy stiffened. She couldn’t believe he’d lied to his daughter so that he could get together with his new girlfriend. “That’s not fair, Dan. You shouldn’t get her hopes up just because you want to spend an evening with—”
“With you,” he said, finishing the sentence. “I want to spend the evening with you. There’s so much I have to say.”
Amy glanced at the table. It had seduction written all over it. Okay, so he was lonely. And he’d probably missed having her in his bed. Goodness knows she’d missed holding him tight. But as much as she’d like to share that intimacy again, the physical closeness was no longer enough.
“I don’t think that’d be a good idea.” Amy’s fingers tightened around her purse. “Besides, what more is there to say? Everything’s already been said.”
Dan swallowed hard and took a step forward.
“I haven’t said I love you before,” he said softly. “But I do. Very much.”
He was surprised, once the words were out, that he should
feel so unmanned, and that tears should be stinging his eyes.
When she just kept staring at him, he turned away and continued.
“I know I haven’t been good to you.” He shook his head. “I’ve been selfish. I only thought about myself.”
“That’s not true.” A tiny catch sounded in her voice.
“It is. When I think back on it now, I’m so ashamed. I wish I could tell you how much I regret the way I treated you, as if you were just an employee.”
“Dan,” she said firmly. “I was your employee. If anyone was at fault it was me for foolishly believing that I was different, that you could love me.”
He felt her hand on his arm. “You were good to me. You made me feel like a part of the family. But that said, it was wrong of you to lead me on.”
“I love you,” Dan said.
“No.” She shook her head. “You love Tess. She’s the only woman you’ll ever love.”
“I love you,” he repeated emphatically.
“You don’t,” she insisted. “You told me over and over again that Tess is the only woman you’ll ever love.”
“I did love Tess,” he admitted, “but I love you, too.”
“Dan,” Amy said patiently as if speaking to a child. “I understand you need a mother for Emma and someone to take care of you and your house, but lying isn’t the answer.”
Amy turned to go but Dan grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, hugging her tightly.
“I was such a fool,” he murmured. “I know I hurt you. But listen to me, please. I won’t deny that I loved Tess. I won’t deny it because I did. But what I didn’t realize is that I’ve been afraid. And I didn’t understand anything about love. I thought I could decide my feelings—thought I could decide whether to love someone or not—but that isn’t how love works. It happens all on its own. I kept telling myself that I couldn’t love you, that I didn’t love you, but I did.”
Amy wanted to believe him. More than anything she wanted to believe his words.
“What about my career?” she asked.
“That’s another thing I regret,” Dan said. “I just assumed you’d want to start popping out babies. I didn’t even ask what you wanted. I think I was afraid if you had a career, our home life would come in a distant second like it did with Tess.”
“I’d never let that happen,” Amy said. “You and Emma would always be the priority.”
“I realize that now. And I know we can make it work,” he murmured against her hair. “Just give me another chance. I’ll show you how much I love you.”
Amy wanted to believe him. But she couldn’t forget his conversation with Jake. “How do I know you’re not just saying this because you need a mother for Emma? Because you’re afraid of Gwen and Phil getting her if something happens to you?”
Her words made Dan’s heart ache with remorse and sorrow.
“I spoke with my attorney and he said they could fight all they want but the courts would uphold my wishes. I also spoke with Gwen and Phil and made it clear that I wanted you to raise Emma.” Dan’s lips lifted in a rueful smile. “It was never an issue. I just thought it would be.”
Amy’s brows pulled together. “Why didn’t you check this out before?”
“I know it was stupid,” Dan said, a sheepish look on his face. “The only explanation I’ve been able to come up with is that it gave me a reason to marry you without admitting to myself that I loved you.”
Dan laced his fingers through her hair. “I’m not asking you to be my wife because I need to marry you. I want to marry you. Because I love you.”
An ache of longing raged through Amy. She closed her eyes and let her head rest against his chest. Would she be making a mistake by saying yes?
“Mew.”
Amy’s eyelids popped open. She shifted in Dan’s arms just in time to see a small furry head peer around the corner.
“What’s that?”
Dan smiled. “Your Christmas present. From me to you with all my love.”
He reached down and scooped the black and white kitten into his arms. “She’s a Scottish Fold. See how her ears flop over. And her eyes are more round than oval.”
Amy’s heart melted. Tears filled her eyes. “You don’t like cats.”
“But you do,” he said. “That’s what matters.”
She took the kitten from his arms and held it tight against her. “She even has four white feet, just like Mittens.”
“I’ll make you happy, Amy,” Dan said. “Just give me the chance.”
He appeared relaxed but she could see the tenseness in the set of his shoulders, in the tiny muscle that jumped in his jaw.
Amy leaned over and dropped the ball of fluff gently to the floor. While she loved her new kitten, she loved Dan more. And right now he needed her attention and reassurance.
“I love you, Dan,” she said very softly, “and I know you love me.”
He grabbed her, held her fast. “Thank you, God.”
His voice was thick with emotion, with relief. He kissed her again, this time so fiercely they almost tumbled into the table. And he kept kissing her.
“Will you marry me, Amy? Will you be my wife?”
She lifted a finger to her lips and pretended to think, but inside her heart had already started to sing.
“Say yes,” he said, kissing her. “Come on. Say yes.”
When she didn’t answer, he kissed her again, then again.
“Say yes,” he whispered against her lips.
“Mew.”
Tiny little claws dug into Amy’s ankle. She yelped and jerked back from Dan’s arms.
Dan’s brows pulled together. His gaze dropped to the black and white kitten that now sat staring up at them. After a moment his frown eased. His lips twitched. He grinned.
“See,” he said finally. “Even the cat thinks you should give me a chance.”
Amy could only laugh.
“I love you, Amy,” Dan said, taking her hands, his grin fading, his expression turning serious. “If you marry me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
Of that, Amy now had no doubt.
“Yes,” she said, nodding her head emphatically.
“Yes, you know I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy?” he asked cautiously. “Or yes, you’ll marry me?”
Amy’s heart overflowed with joy. She placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him full on the mouth. “Yes, to both questions.”
And, as Dan pulled her close murmuring words of love, Amy knew the fairy-tale ending was finally hers.
A man to love.
A child to cherish.
A cat to litter train.
It was all she’d ever wanted and more.
Dan was already downstairs when Amy woke the next morning. She stared down at the sparkling diamond on her left hand. Today, they’d get their marriage license. Tomorrow would be their wedding day.
Just in time for Christmas.
She would be his Christmas present and he would be hers. Dan had told her last night that having her as his wife was the only gift he wanted. Then he’d proceeded to show her again just how much she was loved.
Amy showered and dressed quickly, happiness bubbling up inside her. She gave the kitten a quick pat and a treat but didn’t linger. She wanted to be downstairs before Emma got home so that she and Dan could tell her the good news together.
She was outside the kitchen when she heard Emma talking to Dan. Amy paused to listen, her heart in her throat.
“Did Amy come over last night, Daddy?”
“Yes, she did.”
“Did you two kiss and make up?”
Dan’s cough sounded suspiciously like laughter. “Yes, we did.”
Amy’s skin warmed, remembering just how thoroughly they’d kissed and made up.
“Is Amy coming home today?” The childish hope in Emma’s voice tore at Amy’s heartstrings.
She couldn’t bear to wait a second longer. Before Dan could answer Amy
stepped around the corner. “I’m already here.”
Emma squealed and ran into Amy’s open arms, pressing her tiny body tight against her. After a moment, she lifted her head, her gaze anxiously searching Amy’s. “How long are you staying?”
Amy lifted her gaze to meet Dan’s, the promise in his eyes a reflection of what was in her heart. She smiled down at Emma. “Forever.”
ISBN: 978 1 472 04481 5
SINGLE DAD NEEDS NANNY
Sheriff Needs a Nanny © 2010 Teresa Carpenter
Nurse, Nanny…Bride! © 2010 Alison Roberts
Romancing the Nanny © 2007 Cynthia Rutledge
Published in Great Britain
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited
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