Nanny Next Door (10 page)

She glared at him as she refastened her shorts. “What’s the matter with
me?
Are you dense? I asked you to stop about five times.”

He looked confused. “Every girl says stop. That doesn’t mean she actually
wants
you to stop.”

Was he serious? “I actually wanted you to stop!”

“Why?” He was completely mystified. He honestly couldn’t believe she didn’t want him groping her. “What’s the big deal?”

She picked one of his tennis shoes up off the floor and threw it at him, nailing his right arm.

“OW! Lacey!” The other shoe went flying and connected with his left leg. “Lacey, stop it! What is your problem?”

“We are so done,” she said.

Disbelief played across his face. “You’re
breaking up
with me?”

“I’m breaking up with you.”

Shane pulled back his shoulders and puffed out his chest, which wasn’t all that impressive considering how skinny he was. It made Lacey think of the way Jordan’s tank top strained over all that muscle.

She should want her boyfriend to kiss and touch her, but when Shane did, she just felt…uncomfortable. And the whole time he was kissing her today, she was thinking about Jordan.

“I could name a dozen other girls who would come running if I snapped my fingers,” he sneered.

She picked up his shoes and shoved them at him. “Then start snapping.”

“You bitch,” he snarled, and for a second he looked as if he might hit her. She’d seen her dad look at her mom that way before. He’d never actually hit her, but there were times when she thought he’d probably come close.

So Lacey did what her mom would do. Instead of backing away, she stood her ground, looking Shane right in the eye.

If he’d been considering violence, he changed his mind. He grabbed his shoes and stormed down the hall toward the front door. “You’ll regret this.”

“I seriously doubt that,” she mumbled, following him. When he was out the door she shut it behind him, fell against it, and exhaled. Thank God that was over. Maybe she should have felt bad or guilty for wounding his pride, but all she felt was relieved. For weeks she’d been unhappy with Shane, but she hadn’t let herself admit it. Maybe she’d thought that a jerk of a boyfriend was better than no boyfriend at all.

Until she met Jordan. Until his voice sent chills up her arms, and she looked into his deep, dark eyes and felt all tingly inside. Of course, Jordan didn’t know she existed, but that was about to change. She would make him notice her.

She was good at that.

Lacey heard the side door open and had this sudden vision of Shane sneaking back in to beg her forgiveness. Then she heard her mom calling her.

“In here,” she answered.

Her mom appeared in the living room doorway holding April who was gnawing on a teething ring, drooling all over the place. “I just saw Shane leave and he looked upset. Did you guys have a fight?”

“We broke up.” She walked over to her mother and took April from her. April bounced excitedly, reaching for her hair and yanking it.

“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” Sydney folded Lacey in her arms until they were all bunched up in a three-way hug. Both she and April smelled like soap and baby powder.

“Actually, I’m fine. It was my decision.” She backed away and noticed her mother’s shirt was drenched. “Jeez, Mom, you’re all wet.”

“Huh?” Sydney looked down at her shirt. “Oh, I was giving April a bath. It’s like trying to wrestle an octopus. I came home to change. Why did you break up with Shane? He seemed nice.”

“Let’s just say he has hearing problem.”

Her mom frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He doesn’t listen when I say
no.
”

Her brows rose. “Oh. Well, good for you, then.”

“Besides, he was pissed about me getting a job and he would have given me a hard time about it.”

“You went to see Angie today?” She gestured for Lacey to follow her to the bedroom.

“I filled out an application.”

Her mom handed April over then she stripped down to her underwear, tossing the wet clothes into the hamper. “And?”

Lacey sat on the bed with April, who promptly tried to climb out of her arms. “She hired me.”

“Oh, honey, congratulations! When do you start?”

“Tomorrow. Early.”

“Do you need a ride?”

“They’re picking me up.”

Sydney nodded, then turned to her closet. She chose a loose-fitting blue sundress and pulled it over her head.

“Why are you wearing that?” Lacey asked.

“Because it’s comfortable.”

“But you have a really nice figure. You should show it off.”

Her mom gave her a look. “This coming from the girl who wears jeans three sizes too big?”

“Because I
don’t
have a figure.”

“And who am I showing it off for?”

Lacey shrugged. “No one in particular.”

“I’m babysitting, not looking for men.”

Well, with Daniel around she didn’t have to look far. She had to know that he was gorgeous, and even Lacey could see that he liked her. What possible reason could she have
not
to date him? It would be kind of cool to have a cop for a stepdad.

“Just so you know, Daniel’s working the afternoon shift tonight so I won’t be home until after eleven,” her mom said.

She shrugged. “Whatever. I’m probably going to bed early anyway.”

“I just didn’t want you to worry.”

No, she didn’t want Lacey to think she was over there playing tonsil hockey. “You know, I really like Daniel. And I can tell he likes you.
A lot.
”

Her mom shot her a stern look.
“Lacey!”

“What? He
does.
”

“We’re just friends.”

“Do you make out on the dance floor at Moose Winooski’s with
all
your friends?”

Her mom’s cheeks turned bright pink. “Who told you that?”

So it was true. “This is a small town, Mom. People talk.”

“Despite what we did or did not do at Moose Winooski’s, Daniel and I are just friends. End of story.”

“Well, Veronica said he looks like he would be a good kisser.”

“He’s a little old for Veronica.”

“Ew! Gross, Mom. She didn’t say
she
wanted to kiss him. She was just…speaking hypothetically.”

Which reminded her, she had to call Veronica and tell her she’d dumped Shane. Veronica would be happy, since she thought Shane was a narcissistic tool.

“I should get going.” Her mom took April from her. “You know where I am if you need me.”

Lacey got up and followed her to the side door. “Mom?”

Her mom stopped and turned. “Yeah, honey.”

“I don’t mean to nag about you and Daniel. I just…I want you to be happy. You deserve it.”

Her mom smiled. “Thank you, sweetie. And I want you to know how proud I am of you for standing up for yourself with Shane. For not letting him pressure you into something you’re not ready for. There will be other guys. Guys who treat you with the respect you deserve.”

“I know.” In fact, she was hoping she’d met one already.

This was the second time he’d been by today. He’d been by twice yesterday, too. In fact, he’d been by the house at least twice
every
day that week. As if he was keeping tabs on her or something. He’d said he trusted her, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Monday he’d had been gone only two hours when he came back home, claiming to have forgotten a form he needed to give his boss. She’d believed him, and even bought his excuse when he showed up again later that afternoon to “grab a soda since I was in the neighborhood.” Tuesday, he’d supposedly forgotten his wallet when she was almost positive she’d seen him take it with him in the morning. Then he’d stopped by around one “for a bite to eat.” But he’d mostly just played with April, and had barely touched the pizza Sydney had reheated for him.

Yesterday morning, he said he’d spilled coffee on his pants and needed to change them, and though there
was
a stain, she suspected he’d done it on purpose to have an excuse. Then, yesterday afternoon, she’d taken April grocery shopping and he had appeared in the parking lot as she was loading the van. He said he happened to be driving by and saw her, but she had the feeling he’d actually followed her there.

Maybe, being a cop, he just naturally mistrusted people. But it was beginning to get on her nerves.

Even so, it didn’t stop the warm, wistful feeling she got every time he walked through the door. It didn’t stop her from constantly second-guessing herself, and questioning her decision to keep their relationship platonic.

Every one of her instincts was telling her that even though Daniel said he didn’t want to settle down,
their
relationship would be different somehow. But she was also sure lots of women had thought that. Right up until the minute he broke their hearts.

What if she fell in love with him and ended up brokenhearted like all the rest?

And what if she didn’t? What if she was different? What if he fell in love with her, too?

Was it worth taking a chance? Worth the risk of being hurt?

What she needed was a sign. She needed proof that he was capable of changing.

She opened the front door and stepped into Daniel’s house. He stood in the kitchen, cell phone to his ear. She sighed softly, like she did whenever she saw him, imagining what it would be like to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him hello.

When he saw her he snapped the phone shut and said, “Hey, where were you?”

“Next door. I had to change my clothes. I gave April a bath and she got me all wet.”

He walked over and took April from her. “Hey, munchkin!”

April squealed happily as he gave her a big smacking kiss on the cheek. He may not have been ready for the responsibility of a child, but April was sure ready for him. She adored him. It broke Sydney’s heart to think of her being shuffled off to strangers. Especially when Daniel was such a good dad. To see them together, no one would guess he was anything but a loving, devoted father.

“I gave her a bath this morning,” Daniel said.

“I know, but she had rice cereal for dinner, and by the time we were finished she was wearing most of it.”

“How’s it going with the solid foods?”

“Good. But it’s getting hard feeding her in her bouncy seat. She tries to crawl out. You’re going to have to consider getting her a high chair. I’m sure you could find a cheap one at the resale shop in town.”

“It’s a lot to ask, but if I gave you the cash, do you think you could pick one up for me?”

It wasn’t a lot to ask, considering Sydney would be the one who benefited the most.

“Sure. I’ll go tomorrow.” She moved to the kitchen to wash the dirty dishes and bottles. “What are you doing here?”

“I had a few minutes and I wanted to talk to you.”

She tensed. In her experience, when someone said they wanted to “talk” to her, it was never good news. Maybe he was finally going to tell her why he’d been checking up on her.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

The question seemed to surprise him. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”

She shrugged, scrubbing the inside of a bottle with a soapy brush.

“I need to ask you a favor. And you are under no obligation to say yes.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Angie has this boyfriend, Jason—”

“She told me about him. He sounds really nice.”

“Yeah, well, he’s invited our family to his place on the coast for the weekend. Dee and Beth are both going, and I said I would, too, and I thought maybe I could talk you and Lacey into going with us. I could really use your help with April. I’ll pay you, of course.”

Sydney rinsed the bottles and set them in the drain board. “Why would you pay me to come when your sisters are going to be there to help you? You said they adore April.”

Daniel shifted, looking uneasy. There was definitely something he wasn’t telling her.

“Is there another reason you want me to go?” she asked.

He took a deep breath and blew it out. “The thing is, Dee and Beth are both bringing their boyfriends. And Angie will have Jason.”

Leaving Daniel the odd man out. A position she was willing to bet he rarely found himself in.

That
made much more sense.

“When?”

“A week from tomorrow. We would leave after work and come back Sunday evening. I guess Jason’s place is right on the water. And he has a boat.”

“It sounds like fun. I’d love to go.”

His brows rose. “Seriously?”

“Sure. Lacey and I could use a vacation. And you don’t have to pay me.”

“Sydney, you have no idea how much I appreciate this. And don’t worry about Lacey being bored because my nephew, Jordan, will be there.”

“I’m sure she’ll have fun. And if you want, we can take my van and car pool. You and me and Angie and the kids.”

“That would be great. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”

For some stupid reason, the fact that she’d made him happy made her feel good.

“Well, I’d better get back on the road,” Daniel said, handing April over to her, seeming almost reluctant to let her go, to leave her alone with Sydney.

Ugh.

So much for those warm, fuzzy feelings. And though she hadn’t intended to confront him, the words just spilled out. “Is there a reason you don’t trust me?”

He looked genuinely perplexed. “What are you talking about? Why would you think I don’t trust you?”

She set April in her playpen and gave her a toy to amuse herself with. “You stop by home every day. You follow me to the grocery store. What am I supposed to think?”

“Sydney, if I didn’t trust you, I never would have asked you to watch April.”

“Then why do you keep checking up on me?”

“I’m not checking up on you. I just…” He let his words trail off, and dragged a hand across his afternoon stubble.

“You just
what?
”

“It’s stupid,” he said.

“What?”

“For weeks I was with April 24/7. Now that I’m back to work…” He shrugged, as if he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say.

But Sydney knew, and her heart climbed up and lodged in her throat. How had she not seen it before? “You miss her, don’t you?”

“Maybe. A little,” he admitted, looking so adorably confused she could have hugged him.

There was no maybe. For all his talk about not being ready to be a father, April had gotten under his skin. He cared about her. And if he couldn’t go more than a few hours without seeing her, how would he cope if someone took her away for good?

He couldn’t. Maybe he didn’t know it yet, but April was
his.
He wouldn’t be giving her up, no matter what he said. Sydney was sure of it.

Could this be the sign she’d been looking for?

She wasn’t certain how it happened, but one second Daniel was standing several feet away, and the next her arms were around him. And oh, it felt wonderful. Her eyes closed as she laid her cheek against his chest. She flattened her hands across his wide, strong back, breathing him in, wishing she could crawl inside his skin to get closer.

“Whoa,” he said, sliding his arms almost tentatively around her. “What’s this for?”

“Because I wanted to,” she said. “And because you looked like you needed it.”

“If you had any idea how tough it’s been not touching you this week, you wouldn’t be getting this close to me.”

His words thrilled and terrified her. And made it all too clear that this was exactly what she wanted. It just felt right. Besides, where was the fun in playing it safe? Hadn’t she been doing that long enough?

“Or maybe you get some sort of warped thrill torturing me,” he said. “In which case I might just have to retaliate.”

“Maybe I
want
you to retaliate.”

There was a pause, as if he was trying to decide if she was serious. “Maybe, or you do?”

“I definitely do.”

“You said you want a commitment. I can’t give you that. I don’t do forever.”

“I think what I really want right now is to have some fun. To feel like I’m getting on with my life.” It wasn’t completely true, but she knew it was what he needed to hear.

Another pause. “You’re sure?”

She gazed up at him, into the inky depths of his eyes. “Why don’t you kiss me and find out?”

This time there was no hesitation. He cradled the back of her head in his palm, making her tingle, and brushed a tender kiss across her lips. It was nice, but she could feel him holding back and couldn’t blame him. She’d been playing emotional ping-pong for days. But even if she tried to resist him now, she couldn’t. She wanted this too much.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled his head down and kissed him deeply, so there would be no question in his mind what she wanted. The message was received loud and clear. Daniel moaned and pulled her against him, taking command of the kiss, and though he was clearly calling the shots now, she felt a thrilling sense of power.

He kissed away her doubts and her inhibitions, until Sydney felt herself going limp with need. And she
liked
it. She wanted
more.
But she had to pace herself.

She broke the kiss, bracing her palms against his chest, so breathless she felt light-headed. “Wow.”

“Yeah. And for the record, changing your mind again is no longer an option.”

“I won’t. But I need to take this slow, Daniel.”

“I can do slow.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “It might kill me, but I can do it.”

She smiled. She couldn’t deny that it was a thrill to know he wanted her so much, it was going to be a struggle for him to keep control.

Daniel glanced up at the clock and cursed softly. “I’m on duty. I really have to go. What are you doing tonight around eleven-fifteen? You don’t have to rush home for anything, do you?”

Lacey had mentioned going to bed early, so really, there was no reason Sydney had to be at home. “Nothing comes to mind.”

“Maybe we could spend some quality time together?”

“We could do that.”

“Then it’s a date.” He gave her one last deep, mind-numbing kiss, said goodbye to April and headed out the door.

This would be their first date. And despite the fact that they couldn’t actually go anywhere, she had the distinct impression it would be a memorable one.