AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her eyes had gone dark. “You’re right.”
“It won’t happen again,” Nick vowed, putting the length of the sitting room between them and retreating toward the top of the stairs…then edging to the safety of his suite that lay beyond. “I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it—I certainly don’t intend to.”
Once he’d reached his own wing of the mansion, Nick made for the luxurious bathroom, where he stripped off the travel-soiled suit pants and unbuttoned the business shirt. He was wired now. All thoughts of sleep banished.
He spread his hands on the glass vanity slab. Lowering his head, he drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
In the past half hour he’d experienced swings of emotion that had badly rattled him. The vulnerability when he’d held Jennie, the realization as he fed her the night bottle that this little scrap depended on him for everything in her life. And the need to get the hell out of that nursery before the safety of his world cracked wide open.
Only to find himself over the edge of the precipice. Shuddering, he relived the torrential surge of desire that Candace had aroused. Had he walked away while he could? No, he’d acted on it.
Kissed her.
Double damn.
Bracing his weight on his arms, Nick raised his head and confronted himself in the wall of mirror above the vanity. He looked different from his usual tightly controlled, immaculately groomed self. Not outwardly—the swelling where the edge of the tin had connected didn’t show. It was in his eyes where the change lay. Instead of the customary cool calculation, they were filled with turmoil.
What had unnerved him? The sudden bond he found himself forging with Jennie? Or the angelic-looking nanny who’d woken the devil in him?
Nick wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
A sharp cry woke Candace.
After silencing the baby monitor, Candace sprang out of bed and ran along the carpeted landing lit by night-lights until she reached the nursery. Lifting Jennie out of the crib, she rocked the baby in her arms.
“Hush,” she murmured as Jennie’s head swung up and butted her chin.
The red numbers of the counter clock on the dresser glowed in the night. Two o’clock. Not yet time for a feeding. Jennie fussed in Candace’s arms. Walking silenced her momentarily, then the whimpers restarted. Candace laid Jennie down on the changing surface above the dresser, and reached for the thermometer in the first-aid kit on the shelf above. Talking a stream of softly whispered nonsense to Jennie, she deftly removed the diaper and inserted the thermometer.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I know you would’ve preferred a tympanic thermometer, but those ears might still be tender.”
A few seconds later the thermometer beeped. The reading was above normal, but far from dangerous. Quickly, Candace put on a clean diaper, then picked Jennie up and started to walk, Jennie grumbling incessantly.
Candace suppressed a sigh. “So much for not losing any sleep tonight, huh, Jennie?”
A flash of memory hit her of the wild pleasure that had pierced her when Nick Valentine had kissed her…and the flare of absolute panic that had followed.
She must’ve communicated her unease to the baby because Jennie let out a volley of wails.
Seconds later, the door to the nursery burst open.
Nick stood there, a dark silhouette against the shaft of light that spilled in from the landing. A rustle of movement, then a switch clicked and bright light flooded the room.
Candace blinked against the glare. Nick wore only a pair of hastily donned pants, the top button still undone. His chest was bare, his hair mussed.
He’d told her he had no intention of losing any sleep over the kiss they’d shared…and had expected her to do the same.
Yet the sight of him caused her pulse to thud.
She was a fool.
Candace looked away as Jennie wailed more loudly.
Nick advanced. “Let me see if I can settle her.”
Gut instinct caused her arms to tighten.
“Give her to me,” he ordered, his face closed, exhibiting no sign of the passionate man who’d kissed her with such ravenous hunger.
Candace took herself in hand. Forget about that kiss. This hard-eyed man was her employer. Jennie’s father. Soundlessly she surrendered the baby.
Nick took Jennie with more ease than he’d shown earlier. Instantly, Jennie’s cries stilled. Her eyes widened as she stared up at the man who held her. The sight of the baby bundled up against the muscled torso caused pain to splinter deep inside Candace.
When Jennie looked down from her father’s face and stared at the wall of chest in front of her with a puzzled expression, Candace’s throat closed. The baby reached out and touched a ridge of muscle, her puny fingers closed around a sprinkle of hair. She tugged.
