The Lawyer's Nanny_A Single Daddy Romance

by Emerson Rose

  “You’re sure that’s okay? She’s older, you know? She might not have the energy for a baby.”

  “She insisted. Anything else?” He answered so quickly I scramble to remember what else I wanted to ask him. “What’s Fortitude?”

  “A new restaurant downtown. Their food is perfection, you’ll love it. Is that everything?”

  I don’t feel like arguing about him buying me clothes and picking them out so I say yes, and we disconnect the call when Faye starts to cry.

  “What’s the matter, baby cakes?” I bounce her on my hip and walk to the kitchen for a bottle. Alex forgot to tell me when she last ate, but I’m not calling him back again today. I scan the counter for her schedule and find it with two tiny jars of baby food on top and a note.

  This is what I want for lunch. I told my daddy, so he could tell you. I also need half of a bottle and a nap when we get home. Thank you for taking care of me, Olivia, I love you.

  I realize the note is supposed to be from the baby, but the last line makes me apprehensive. Why is he pushing so hard and moving so fast? All his wedding references and ‘L’ words are freaking me out.

  “Your daddy is pushy, Faye,” I say to her opening the jars of baby food and pulling out a pre-made half bottle of formula. “And prepared and organized, too.”

  She nuzzles her face into my neck, and her dark, wavy hair tickles my cheek. Poor baby lost her mama and doesn’t know what’s going on. My heart aches for her.

  I think she senses my sympathy and whimpers against my skin causing me to set down the baby food and squeeze her tight. “We will take good care of you. I’m not your mama, but I will do my best to make you happy.”

  I kiss her on the forehead and go about warming her food and feeding her. I don’t have a highchair, so I pull up a bar stool and sit her on the granite island in front of me. Things go okay until she tires of the baby food and reaches for her bottle while crying. I wipe her down before giving it to her, and that really pisses her off, but eventually, we crash on my bed and nap for an hour or so.

  I open my eyes and look at the clock. It’s almost time for the car to take us to Alex’s, and Jacob isn’t home yet. I wanted to tell him my plans in person, but it looks like a phone call will have to do. He won’t be happy. He doesn’t like living alone, that’s why we moved to Seattle together.

  I check my messages while Faye sleeps and find two from Marissa. She’s probably going out of her mind wondering what’s going on. I build a pillow and blanket wall around Faye and step into the hall to call Marissa.

  Fifteen minutes and a half dozen Oh my Gods and gasps later, she’s up to date on what’s happening and looking forward to meeting my potential temporary stand-in, Kevin. Marissa’s forever looking for a husband. She’s fussy and particular. No one has met her standards yet, but I admire that about her.

  I hear a squeak from the bedroom and peek around the door. Faye is sitting up in her nest of pillows looking around probably wondering where she is. “Hey, little one, I’m right here,” I say getting her attention and waving at her. She squints for a second and then smiles reaching her little arms out for me.

  “I think my heart just melted like butter. I have to go, she’s awake.”

  “Aw, I never thought of ya as a mum, but you sound like you’re in love. Maybe with more than one of the Wolfe’s, hmm?”

  I pick up the baby, and she screeches with delight. “You sound just like him. Talking about love and marriage, and we’ve been on one date and known each other for a week.”

  “What? Marriage? He popped the question already?”

  “Oh God, no, but he keeps threading it into conversation casually like he’s feeling me out.”

  “Don’t complain, it’s hard to find someone compatible. In my case, it’s damn near impossible.”

  “So you don’t think it’s weird?”

  “I never said that. He’s forward and presumptuous for sure, but he knows a great woman when he sees one, and that makes him good in my eyes.”

  “Thanks, Marissa. This is all so overwhelming, I really needed to talk to a friend.”

  “No worries, love. Now go hire me a hot helper and take care of your pack of wolves. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Okay, bye.”

  “Bye, bye.”

  I change Faye’s diaper and bundle her up to go downstairs and wait for our car. On the way, my phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s Alex calling. “How are my two favorite ladies doing?”

  “Well, aren’t you taking to the family life? We’re waiting for the car to go to your house.”

  “I’d like you to think of it as your house, too.”

  “Alex…” I say my voice filled with warning.

  “What?”

  “Too much, too fast.” I feel like I’m not even living my life anymore. Suddenly, I have a baby, a boyfriend, a puppy, and now he wants me to consider his priceless mansion my home. No, too much, too fast.

  “I want this, Olivia.”

  “What about what I want?”

  “You want this, too. You’re just too stubborn to give in and let it happen.”

  “I am not too stubborn. I’m trying to be realistic and reasonable, and I’m trying to hold onto the life I’ve built for myself. I can’t do this if you keep pushing me so hard. I just can’t.”

  “Okay, calm down. Nothing has changed in the past five minutes we have been on the phone. You’re getting all worked up for nothing. Go to my house and make yourself comfortable, interview Kevin, and play with Faye and Lady and the other dogs, and I’ll be there soon. Everything will be all right, you’ll see.”

  The car pulls up outside, and we disconnect the call with tension still between us. “Come on, Faye, your daddy wants us to go home,” I say to the unsuspecting blue-eyed beauty. “It’s time to set down some rules.”

  17

  Kevin was all Alex said he would be—kind, energetic, motivated, and knowledgeable about running a business. He is also beautiful, too bad for Marissa he’s gay. I have a feeling that was the key reason Alex chose him for me to interview first, however, being a good businesswoman, I couldn’t pass him up just to make a point. I now have a temporary stand-in that I feel good about.

  Since I saw Alex, I can honestly say I haven’t even noticed another man. Kevin was different. He was thrust into my face and my life so I couldn’t help but appreciate his rugged good looks. And then there’s Jacob, of course, but he’s my handsome brother from another mother, and he will never be anything more than that. Alex has nothing to worry about.

  When Faye and I arrived at the house, we no sooner get in the door when Greta takes Faye out of my arms and begins gushing over her. She talks on and on about how she never thought she would see the day Mr. Wolfe would have a baby in the house.

  I have a feeling Greta is more like a mother to Alex than his own mother is. After seeing her reaction to the baby and knowing the strain between he and his mother, I’m convinced. Greta is kind and round, and her eyes have crinkles around them like she’s spent a lot of time laughing. Faye loved her right off the bat, which was great for me because I had to focus on my interview with Kevin.

  Still unfamiliar with the layout of the house, I wander from the foyer where I just said goodbye to Kevin into the kitchen to look for Greta and Faye. They are sitting at the table, Faye in her sparkling new highchair that probably cost a fortune and Greta directly in front of her teaching her to patty cake.

  Faye claps her hands together, and Greta looks up smiling when she hears me enter the room. “She is so smart, just like her father.”

  “It looks like you two are having fun.”

  She addresses Faye when she speaks. “We did have fun, didn’t we? You’re such a good girl, aren’t you?” She continues to babble on to Faye about everything and nothing until I speak up.

  “Greta, I was wondering if you’d mind giving me another tour of the house. Alex showed me around on New Year’s Eve, but I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t thin
k knowing where things were was going to end up being so important.”

  “Oh, yes, of course. Mr. Wolfe called and said he would be early, but I think we can go through the house once before he gets here. Let’s go upstairs to your room first, Faye, how’s that sound?” She stands to unbuckle her from her seat and lift her out.

  Faye reaches for me, and I put her on my hip, and Greta leads the way.

  “The house is set up in an H format, that’s the easiest way I can explain it. We are in the center bridge of the H right now, and so is the foyer and the den. If you go up the stairs in the foyer, you can go to one side of the H or the other. One side is where Mr. Wolfe’s quarters are located, and now yours and Faye’s, and the other is where most of the staff lives. Downstairs there is a theatre, a gym, and an indoor swimming pool along with a wine cellar and a mini-spa. We need to have more security around the pool. I’ll have to talk to Bert about that.”

  She leads me around, and her H description helps to keep me oriented. Faye’s bedroom is decorated the way I would imagine a royal princess’s nursery would be. He must have hired a professional decorator to come in and work some serious magic overnight.

  Mahogany built-in bookcases line two walls and hold stuffed animals, books, toys, and baby supplies. A chandelier hangs from the center of the room, and a gorgeous round crib, made of the same wood as the bookcases, is the focal point of the room. It has a canopy made up of sparkly fairy gauze hanging from a metal frame that gives the room a royal air about it.

  If babies could appreciate the way their room was decorated, Faye would love it.

  “Your room is right here, dear. It’s connected to Faye’s and Mr. Wolfe’s. The three rooms are all in a row. You can open the doors to all three rooms and see from one end of this wing to the other. Very convenient,” she says with a knowing grin that causes me to blush. “Don’t be bashful, dear. We are thrilled he found such a lovely and kind woman to be with. I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, especially in front of tender ears,” she says lowering her voice to a whisper. “But, Ms. Lilly wasn’t the easiest person to please.”

  “Did she live here, too?” I ask letting my curiosity get the best of me. I should be asking Alex if I want to know about his past, but I can’t resist.

  “Oh heavens no. My goodness, I think I would have quit if I had to deal with her fulltime. No, she was here a lot, but Mr. Wolfe made sure she went home at night during the week, and she only spent the night occasionally on the weekends when Alex, I mean Mr. Wolfe, was home. He travels quite a lot for work, you know.”

  “No, I didn’t know that. Greta, why don’t you call him by his first name after all these years? I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help hear you make a slip.”

  “Respect, he demands it of his staff. I’ve been with him the longest of anyone now. I used to call him Alex when he was younger, but since he’s had to hire so many other people to take care of this godforsaken haunted mansion, he decided it would be best for everyone to call him by the same name.”

  “I see. Where does he travel to so often?”

  “He likes to interview his clients face to face. He says it helps to be able to visualize his victims when he is fighting their case.” That makes sense, I guess. I hadn’t planned on him being gone often. How is that going to work when I go back to my shop? An uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach as I consider the possibility that I have been duped.

  “I think that’s it, do you think you’ll still get lost?”

  “Oh no, I think I’ve got it now.”

  “Well, just in case, I’ll give you my cell phone number, and you can call me anytime for directions if you get turned around. It’s easy to do, and then if you’re like me and you let your imagination run wild about the ghosts when you think you’re lost, it can be frightening.”

  “Are you trying to scare Olivia away already Greta? Shame on you,” Alex says entering the room looking delicious in a pair of navy slacks, a crisp white button-up shirt, and a gray suit coat. He moves to my side gracefully as the room fills with the superiority that follows him everywhere.

  “No, sir, just telling her not to panic if she gets lost, that’s all.”

  “How did your meeting go with Kevin?”

  “Great, you were right. I loved him.” I want to bite my tongue the second the words have left my mouth. Even casually using the ‘L’ word around Alex makes me feel weird.

  “Good, so he’s starting tomorrow then?”

  “Yes, I’m going in for a little while to show him around, and then I am all yours for two months.” His smile is undeniable as he leans in to grace my lips with a kiss.

  “I’ll just take the baby downstairs with me so you can get ready for dinner,” Greta says quietly taking Faye from my arms when he ends the kiss.

  “How has she been today?” Alex asks her.

  She looks at Faye with adoration. “Perfect, she’s perfect.”

  “Good.” He kisses Faye’s forehead transferring my lip gloss onto her skin. “I worry about her. I know she’s young and doesn’t understand what’s going on, but I keep expecting her to be more distraught.”

  “She’s dealing with things well, you’re right. I’ll keep a close eye on her, if I ever get to take care of her for more than a couple of hours, that is.”

  “I don’t want you to get burned out. Greta is here to help and so am I, of course.”

  “We could stay in and have dinner at home instead of going out.”

  “Absolutely not. I need this dinner with you tonight. I’ll explain better when we are on our way. You should start getting ready, so we don’t miss our reservation.”

  The way he said he needs this dinner with me makes me wonder what he means by that. What could he possibly have to talk to me about now? And why must it be done in public?

  “Your tone isn’t exactly comforting, Wolfe.”

  His frown is immediate, and he stops to listen intently. “I don’t think you realize how that sounded.”

  “No, I don’t. How did it sound?”

  “Ominous, unpleasant, and bossy.”

  He looks away for a beat and then gives me a side glance. “I sound bossy because I am bossy, it’s my nature to be. Tonight will be pleasant in all ways, but I do have to warn you of some things that may come up over the next few days concerning Lilly’s funeral. I didn’t mean to sound ominous. Now, please go and get ready.”

  Well, that’s better than nothing, I suppose. “Okay, I’ll be downstairs in thirty minutes, is that soon enough?”

  “Perfect, yes.”

  I leave him and easily find my way to my room since it’s attached to his and Faye’s. I shower and take a little extra time with my makeup before slipping into the gorgeous silver gown he left hanging in my bedroom from the chandelier.

  I don’t do fancy, but this dress is the perfect blend of understated elegance. The dress is full length with a bodice that is fitted with spaghetti straps that cross over my bare back.

  My hair is down. I straightened it with the flat iron and applied a touch of makeup to my eyes and lips. I’m not much on painting my face unless it’s a special occasion, and this doesn’t feel like a special occasion although my dress and shoes would say differently.

  Standing in front of the full-length mirror in the walk-in closet of the bedroom I am currently occupying, I turn left and right not fully recognizing the woman reflecting back at me.

  I cross my arms around my waist and squeeze myself. “Who are you?” I whisper and jump when a low gruff voice answers me from behind.

  “The love of my life.”

  “Alex, you scared me,” I gasp and whirl around to find him leaning against the doorjamb with his hands in the pockets of his slacks and his ankles crossed. His pupils are dark and dilated, and his expression speaks volumes along with his weighted words.

  “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it, I was enjoying the view. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Come here.” He pushes off the door
with his shoulder, and I walk into his arms giving into my fears and accepting his compliment.

  “Now that’s more like it. I do believe that’s the first time I’ve asked you to do something, and you haven’t balked or questioned my motives.”

  I breathe in the masculine smell of his cologne and the clean scent of the soap he uses and allow his warmth to spread through my body. “I also accepted your compliment without a fuss. Did you happen to notice that also?”

  “I did indeed.” I tilt my head up to see him better, and he leans down to kiss me.

  “Wait, I’m all ready to go. You don’t want to smear my lipstick.”

  “The hell I don’t.” His mouth covers mine, and our tongues slip and slide against each other until I moan and melt against his chest. When my lipstick is good and ruined, he pulls away and attempts to fix it with his thumb. “I think you’re going to have to reapply.”

  “Yes, I’m sure I will.”

  His hand slides down my hip around to my ass where he gives it a gentle slap. I pop up on my toes and whimper. The sheer panties I’m wearing flood with wetness, and a lightning bolt plows through my core making me want him more than I ever have.

  “Meet me downstairs in ten minutes.”

  I sigh and poke my bottom lip out in my best pout learning right then and there how to get what I want with Alex Wolfe. He attacks my mouth again like a man possessed with need.

  He pushes me up against the wall next to the door and kisses his way down my neck frantically while crouching to gather the hem of my dress. He lifts it up and slides his hand between my legs at the same time he reclaims my mouth.

  Pushing the wet material aside, he slips a long finger inside me and groans into my mouth speaking against my lips without breaking the kiss. “My God, you’re so wet, so ready, you’re fucking irresistible.”

  My hands have been hanging limply at my sides, but his voice spurs them into action. I unzip his pants and free his thick, hard cock stroking it twice before he hoists me up under my thighs so I can wrap my legs around his waist. “God, I want you so badly. Every time we are in the same room together, all I can think about is getting you naked and pushing my hot cock deep inside of you.”