Matters of the Heart Read Free Page B

the liquid splashed onto his pants.
    “Geez, that
was careless of me,” he said.
    He grabbed a
napkin and tried mopping up the spill on his desk.
    “Oh no, let
me help you clean that up,” said Lucy.
    As she got
closer he could smell her perfume. It was light, flowery, and for some reason
made him think of spring, and that made him smile. They both reached for one of
the paper napkins at the same time and their fingers brushed. Brad looked at
her. Lucy’s face was mere inches from his. He could smell her minty breath and
see every line in those cute pink lips. He wanted to kiss her, and yes, he knew
it was insane.
    He’d promised
he wouldn’t fall for another woman as swiftly as he had Presley’s mother. He’d
been good all year long and now he was acting like his old self again.
    Maybe he
should tell her the position had already been filled. But no, he couldn’t do
that because he needed someone to take care of his daughter. However, this
woman would be living in his house, and under the same roof.
    Can I trust myself?  
    Sure he
could. He’d learned his lesson big time only a short while ago.
    “I’m sorry,
I’m being really rude. I’m Brad, and this is my daughter, Presley.”
    He extended
his hand, realizing it was still slightly wet with coffee, but it was too late,
hers was already greeting his palm. It was soft, delicate, and he liked the way
it brushed against his skin.
    “Hi Presley,”
she said lifting the baby’s fingers like she was shaking hands with her too.
Presley actually giggled at her.
    Brad pulled
up a chair. “Make yourself comfortable.”
    “Thank you.”
    She took off
her scarf and unzipped her coat before crossing her legs. They weren’t long and
skinny like Nevie’s had been but full, and the
muscles in her calves were outlined through the ink-black panty hose she wore.
    “Thank you
for coming all the way from
Helena
,”
he said, trying not to stare.
    “No problem.
I often come through this way on my way to the ski resort.”
    “So you’re an
avid skier?”
    She nodded
and he noticed how long her eyelashes were and the cute way they curled up at
the very ends.
    “Oh
yeah. I have been since I was five. How about you?”
    Brad shook
his head. “I know I live in ski country but I’ve never thought about trying
it.”
    “Next time I
go why don’t you tag along? I warn you, you’ll get hooked.”
    “Maybe.”
    The thought
of skiing with her, doing anything physical with her by his side, sent his
blood pumping. He decided to get back to the matter at hand.
    “Ms. Sutton
said that you’re a nurse.”
    “Yes, have
been for five years, but the hospital I’ve been working at had some budget
cuts.”
    “I’m hearing
that all the time around here. So now you want to be a nanny?”
    “Sure. I’ve
worked with lots of babies and children but just so you know, this wouldn’t be
a permanent thing for me. I wouldn’t just up and leave after a few weeks, but
eventually I’d like to look for another nursing position.”
    “Fine
with me. I need someone ASAP and it would give me a chance to find a
more permanent solution to being a single dad.”
    “Your wife…”
    He cut her
off right there. “No wife, just an ex-girlfriend who decided to dump our
daughter on a doorstep.”
    Shit, that
had rolled off his tongue without any censorship. Had it really made him sound
as bitter as he’d thought? He didn’t want to scare her thinking he was a
grouch, but at the same time it was best she knew the situation he was in and
the truth behind it.
    “I’m sorry to
hear that. Presley’s seems content with you. And she’s very pretty.”
    He smiled. He
was already feeling a father’s pride when someone said his offspring was cute.
    “She’s quiet
now but I warn you, she is sort of fussy. But then again, this is my first
experience with babies so maybe that’s their normal personality.”
    “She is
sucking her fist which could mean she’s teething. That can make