When wrong feels so right

by Mia Ford

  Walking inside, I headed to the kitchen as I listened for voices. It was quiet, and I assumed that Ella was still sleeping. I wanted some cold water, and I strolled into the room, taken by surprise by Nathan standing by the sink and looking outside.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked softly as he turned to look at me. How could it be possible that he was more gorgeous at this moment? I froze in place as he held up an iced coffee.

  “I needed a pick me up to get some work done. I’m tired myself after that lunch.” Nathan smiled crookedly, and I felt lust burning between my legs.

  “Nothing wrong with you taking a nap. I’m here.” I smiled as he looked me over for a moment. “I’ll take care of Ella.”

  “I’m buried in projects to review or I might. I am going to have a busy day tomorrow.” I nodded. “I’ll still have breakfast with Ella. I think that’s an important tradition as she grows up.”

  “I fully agree,” I assured him as we smiled at one another. “I’ll make something for all of us. I like making big Sunday breakfasts as well. My mama did that when I was small, and I think it was the highlight of the week.” I smiled as I thought about her, trying to keep the joy in my face.

  “You miss her,” he noted as I nodded.

  “More than anything. I’m glad that I’m closer to my sister now because she reminds me so much of Mom. I might bring Ella over there sometime if you don’t mind?”

  “Of course not. I trust you.” His eyes locked with mine and I felt something between us for that second. It was strong, and I understood that it would be hard to ignore forever. Nathan swallowed and glanced towards the stairs. “I guess I should get back to work. Get Ella after her nap just to set a schedule for her but I’ll be downstairs in a little while.” He wasn’t giving me an order as much as a suggestion and I nodded.

  “Sounds great.” I watched as Nathan headed towards the stairs, hating that he was so desirable. I grabbed my water and headed into my rooms, turning on the monitor as I got some stuff put away. I looked out of the open windows at the ocean several times and laughed when my sister responded to my text.

  E: I am so jealous! That’s your backyard?

  R: It is. I just took my first walk.

  E: Alone or with the hot dad?

  R: Em, drop that! He’s my boss

  E: Your single, gorgeous boss.

  R: You’re awful but I love you. I’ll see you soon.

  I heard Ella over the monitor and I hurried through my house with my water, unlocking the gate at the top of the stairs. That was always up for her safety. I walked into her room with a bright smile and looked into her sleepy face. “Hi, sweetie. Did you have a good nap?”

  Ella grumbled at me, which was normal after a nap. I knew that she’d likely want a snack and something to drink with time to adjust to being awake. I smiled as I imagined Nathan listening to me and knelt by her bed.

  “Do you want to go downstairs and watch something with me? I’ll get a banana and some juice, and we can play in a while,” I suggested as her eyes lit up. I shoved the water bottle in my pocket as best as I could and reached my arms out. “Do you need to go potty?” I knew that she wore pull ups when she slept but was working on getting fully trained. She shook her head. “Let’s go then.” I picked her up and held her securely as she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck.

  I made my way through the gate carefully and headed downstairs. I asked her if she wanted to wait for me on the couch and she nodded as I set her down gently. I walked into the kitchen and poured some juice into a sippy, adding some water into the cup to dilute it. I sliced up a banana and got it into a bowl before going back to join her. Ella was holding her doll as she watched Frozen and I smiled as I handed her the juice.

  We ate the banana together before she wanted to play with her toys and I agreed. I looked to the top of the stairs to see Nathan watching us with a wistful smile on his face. I gazed at him for a second before turning to follow her, settling down to do a puzzle. Some people thought that toddlers were irritating, and they could be, but I looked at it as a new look at life. I tried to see things through their eyes and teach them as much as I could.

  Nathan showed up just as we finished, and Ella gave him a beautiful smile. She ran over to him and hugged him as I cleaned up, trying not to stare. There was something sexy about a man with a kid, showing his soft side. I imagined that he got hit on all the time when he was with Ella. I pushed that thought away, not wanting to think about him dating anyone. He wasn’t mine, but I couldn’t think about it.

  Ella chattered about the puzzle and other things as I picked up in the kitchen, aware that I could get used to this. It was a nice feeling to think about a husband and a kid or two down the line. I always thought that, but I didn’t search it out, working on myself as Mom always taught me to be. I needed a future for myself instead of just latching on to a man. This was perfect because I got to stay in an incredible house and watch a sweet little girl, but I had my own time after work. I opened the fridge and searched the contents for a few minutes before leaning back.

  “Do you like soup?”

  “Yeah. It’s great,” he replied as I smiled, starting the process of getting the vegetables out chopping them up. I warmed some organic beef broth in a pot as I rinsed and chopped almost everything that I found in the fridge. I added it to the pot as I moved along, lowering it to a simmer after seasoning it. My plan was to cook it all afternoon and use a potato masher on some vegetables to make it easier for Ella to eat. I’d heat up some bread to go with it and freeze the rest for small servings since it was perfect for lunch later.

  I learned so much from Mama. I dropped the paper towel that I wiped the counter with into the trash and looked around with a smile. It was a pleasure to take care of a house this nice. I glanced over to see Nathan and Ella in the living room having a tea party as I chuckled. He looked ridiculous sitting on the floor with such tiny little cups and plates, but he was smiling and laughing with her. Nathan was just the kind of father that I would want for my own kids and I leaned against the wall, looking on. I ran down the things that I should do with my free time as I checked off what he had other people for. I didn’t need to do anything other than pick up a bit and cook some food. “Take the down time,” I told myself in the room as I turned to give them some space. I went back to my room and set up a writing corner on a recliner that faced the window, placing a small table beside it as well as my Kindle. I typically read that in bed, but this was a perfect setting for it.

  I added a diffuser to each room and opened the windows wider. The breeze was wonderful, and I looked around with a content smile for a moment. I heard a small voice from my door and turned to see Ella walking in, looking around for me.

  “Hey, cutie. What can I do for you?” I walked over as she held her arms up, picking her up and hugging her. Someone filled the doorway, and I glanced up to see her sexy dad as he smiled at us.

  “She wanted you to come and have cookies with us. I think that she’ll want to spend a lot of time in here, just to give you a warning. I know how easily she ends up sleeping in my bed some nights. She’ll surely try the same to you.” Nathan smiled, and I blushed pink.

  “That’s okay with me. I won’t make it a habit or anything but maybe on a weekend. You probably don’t want a co-sleeping daughter in your future.” I headed to the door, getting closer as something crossed his face.

  “She already will be. I slept with her when her mom was sick just to feel like I wasn’t alone, and even after Brenda was gone. I needed to know that I had a reason to keep fighting and waking up with Ella did that for me.” Nathan shrugged and looked at me. “I guess I did what I had to. I paused right in front of him as he took in my face, pausing on my lips. I felt something wash over me as I drew my tongue over the lower lip nervously, watching as he sucked in his breath. Nathan stumbled aside and allowed us to pass, telling me that we could only fight this for so long. I took Ella into the kitchen and settled her at the table before get
ting some milk and a plate of cookies for all of us to share. I loved the chocolate chip kind and ate more than I should most of the time. I was surprised to see the same brand in his pantry when I was planning dinner.

  “Want some milk?” I asked Nathan as I poured myself a glass. He grinned and told me yes as I poured another and capped the container before returning it to the fridge. I brought the cups to the table and took in the amused smile on his face. “What is it?” I set his glass in front of him as he shook his head.

  “I feel like I can admit things like enjoying milk and cookies to you. That’s not always the case. You’re a breath of fresh air, Riley.” I blushed and smiled. “I thought that it would be like that when we had Ella. I thought it came with the package but that wasn’t the case at all. It is in the people before the baby.” He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment.

  “I have nieces. I can’t help but to be this way,” I reminded him as Nathan smiled.

  “You were like this before that. I can tell.” He reached for one of the cookies and placed it in front of Ella before taking one for himself.

  “Maybe.” I took my own and dipped it into my glass before taking a bite. It was so good, and I moaned as the chocolate filled my mouth.

  Nathan made a sound across the table, pausing as he started to dip his. He gave me a heated look, and I played back the last minute or so before blushing. I might have sounded a little erotic with that moan and I chewed quietly. Looking down at Ella, I was relieved that she was young. She might notice some of this otherwise. It would be gone by the time she was older, assuming I kept the job at all. We finished our cookies in silence, listening to her sing and chatter in between bites. I wasn’t sure what was happening here, but it was powerful. It might consume me.

  I cleaned up the table as Nathan took her to the bathroom in the hallway by the kitchen. Rinsing the glasses and plates, I decided to add them to the dishwasher and run it when it was finally full. It would be hard to keep up on hand washing when I was trying to keep an eye on Ella. I heard them down the hall in her play room as I finished and closed my eyes as I leaned against the counter for a private moment. I needed to calm this down and soon.

  I let him have time with his daughter most of the day, keeping myself busy. I set up my laptop at the kitchen table to work on my project while dinner cooked so I could hear if I was needed. I had to admit that when I called about this position, I’d have more of a hands-on job. I never would have guessed the true circumstances or that he’d be such a great father, making him that much more appealing.

  I wrote some content for a website for a couple of hours, smelling the soup cooking throughout the house. I felt content despite the butterflies in my stomach and smiled as I came up with a great phrase. I finished the job in record time and submitted it, grateful for the money that the job would bring me. I was going to collect my final paycheck from the coffee shop as soon as I was nearby, and I was certain that she’d add a little to the amount, since Maura was an amazing boss. It didn’t need the money for rent of the typical bills any longer, but I felt better if I had some in my account.

  I checked through my other deadlines, knowing that I’d have to set some type of schedule to keep up with them. I knew all too well what happened when you procrastinated, and Ella was going to keep me busy when it was just us. I wouldn’t ignore her or set her up in front of the TV, so I could have some time to myself. He wasn’t paying me that much for me to do that as much as others might take advantage of him. I glanced around the room, expecting there to be cameras here. He wouldn’t do it to spy on someone as much as to keep his daughter safe. I couldn’t blame him.

  I started working on the soup when everything was cooked through, mashing it together gently. I put everything that was good for us into this soup and hoped that Ella loved it. Kids could be tricky when it came to food. I knew that my nieces were. I stirred it up again and added a handful of brown rice to the broth to thicken it, hearing someone come into the room.

  “That smells incredible,” Nathan told me as I smiled.

  “It will be done in about an hour. I am going to heat some French bread to go with it.” That was one of my favorite meals.

  “Ella fell asleep in the middle of her dolls. I think we wore her out today.” He came to stand beside me to look at the huge stock pot that the soup was in. “That’s a lot of soup.”

  “I can freeze it for another meal or even Ella’s lunch. You can take some with you to work if you’d like. I always make a lot of things like soup to store for later. It’s relaxing to me.” Nathan chuckled as I looked questioningly at him.

  “I can just imagine eating leftovers at the office. That might cause gossip.”

  “You have had a chef all this time. You don’t take her food to work?” I asked as he shook his head.

  “There is a lot of ordering in there when I don’t have boring lunches or dinners with potential clients. It is fast paced.” He said thoughtfully as I remained quiet. “Maybe I should change that.”

  “I will always make extra food. It’s better for you than eating out, though you seem healthy to me.” That was the understatement of the year. Nathan was in excellent shape and managed to work out on the regular.

  “I have a gym in the basement. I added it to the house immediately since I already knew how busy I was going to be. You’re welcome to it anytime, Riley. It’s my favorite pastime when I am wound up from work or whatever.” I imagined him there working out, sweaty and half-dressed. My body responded, and I blushed as I felt my nipples pebble underneath my camisole.

  “That sounds great. Thank you. I was thinking that I’d at least like to take a walk on the beach before Ella gets up in the morning. I want to be awake when I am with her.” I laughed. “I will still make coffee every morning.”

  “I like to go into the gym when Ella’s asleep, with the monitor of course. I keep it close to me, so I can hear it above the music. Everything is secure here, so I don’t worry about that. I’ll be alerted to anything suspicious in any room in the house and on my phone. Don’t worry about that, okay?” I smiled. “You’re welcome to join me downstairs at any time, Riley. I have all the equipment that you could need.”

  “Perfect.” Riley told me with a beaming smile as she stirred the soup before turning towards the fridge.

  Chapter 8: Nathan

  I saw the flush to her cheeks and wondered if she was imagining us in the gym as well. I was picturing her naked on a weight bench as I tasted her, making her cry out my name and my cock jerked in my pants. I was horny as fuck but not for a woman at a bar. I wanted my nanny.

  That sounded like a book or a porn to me. She pulled out a loaf of French bread and sliced it into several pieces before arranging it on a cooking sheet.

  “Are you hungry? I could wait until she wakes up. I wasn’t thinking.” Riley chattered on as I touched her arm, feeling her heat.

  “It’s fine. Lunch feels like a long time ago and I’m sure that she’ll be up soon.” She nodded and smiled gently as if to herself. Riley turned on one of the ovens to heat up the bread and I watched her for a moment.

  Just checked on Ella to make sure that she was still sleeping, expecting that I’d pay for this later. I always let her sleep when she was tired, knowing that would probably stop in the next year. Let her sleep. I wished that I could more during the day. I tucked a blanket around her and returned to see if Riley needed any help in the kitchen. She was pulling the bread out and set it down before pulling some heavy soup bowls from the cupboard. She ladled the thick broth into them and I helped her carry them to the table before grabbing the bread and some butter from the counter. I glanced outside to see the sun would be setting soon and wondered if I should take her out back to watch it. I didn’t do that as much as I’d like to since things had been so hectic.

  I got some wine glasses after asking her if she’d like some, pouring a good white from the wine fridge. That was Carli’s idea, but I liked to relax at night sometimes myself. I t
ook them to the table where she was waiting for me and looked at her full lips, a deep pink in color. They made my pants tighten, and I clinked my glass to hers in a silent toast, vowing not to attack her yet. I took a piece of the bread and dipped it into the bowl, inhaling deeply.

  “You’re going to spoil me,” I warned her as she looked at me through her thick eyelashes.

  “I think you deserve that, Nathan.” I was hard as fuck in an instant and I took a bite of the dripping bread to forget about it. “Like it?”

  “Shit, this is delicious,” I said as I glanced around. “Oops. It’s really good.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” She laughed around her spoon and her eyes crinkled. “I make soup a lot. It’s my favorite comfort food.” We were alone for about twenty minutes before Ella wandered into the room, calling for both of us. I picked her up and snuggled her as Riley got her some soup to cool while she came back to life. She placed a piece of bread on the plate with the soup and returned to her seat to keep eating as she watched us. Eventually, Elle got into her seat and started to eat as I glanced through the window again. We had time to finish dinner and hit the beach.

  When we were done, Riley stood to clean up the table. I held up my hand as she looked at me.

  “Hold on a sec. Let’s take her down to the water to watch the sunset.” Riley smiled and nodded instantly, and I hurried to the closet to get a sweatshirt to put on Ella before we went down. Riley got her own, one that hung down to her hips and covered her gorgeous body. I zipped one up and we walked to the back door after securing everything in the front. Elle ran to the stairs as I told her to slow down and wait while Riley rushed ahead to catch her in her arms. She carried her down the stairs and then let her run as we both walked quickly to keep up with her.