I rest my hips against the counter and scratch the back of my bare calf with my opposite foot. “What’s your schedule today?” I ask, glancing over at Sutton as the morning sunlight filters into the kitchen.
Sutton covers a yawn with the back of his hand. “Technically, eight to eight, but I sense some overtime coming this week.”
I lean over the paper planner I keep in the corner, and scribble down his hours. “Okay. Nellie has dance this afternoon, but that’s it until soccer starts next week,” I note, trying to keep track of everyone’s commitments.
Now that school is out, the schedule change has thrown us all for a loop. I no longer have my days free. I’m now a full-time, live-in nanny, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I get to spend my days with the best girl on the planet.
“What day is that again?”
I check the planner. “Tuesday. Ten o’clock.”
“Got it. I’ll be there.”
I glance up. “You’re going to her soccer practice?”
His smile is lopsided. “It’s the first one.”
I can’t lie. The doting single father thing is incredibly cute.
Sutton tosses back the rest of his coffee and rinses his mug in the sink. He runs his hands over his short, salt-flecked hair. “I have to get ready.”
“I’ll get started on breakfast,” I offer, already reaching for the pans.
His warm gaze flickers across my face. “Thank you.”
“I don’t know why you’re thanking me as if I’m not here every morning making your eggs.” The pans rattle as I dig out the biggest one from the cupboard.
“I’ve told you that you don’t have to do that.”
“I know. But Nellie needs to eat too, so it only makes sense.”
He dips his chin and finds my eyes. “Hence the thank you.”
I roll mine, fighting a blush. “You’re welcome, Sunny.”
He flashes me a rare smile and disappears down the stairs.
I fight my own smile as I duck my head into the refrigerator. The egg carton feels light as I pluck it from the shelf. There are only a few strips of bacon left in the package, and the milk is nearly gone. I guess I’ll be making a trip to the grocery store once Sutton leaves and Nellie wakes up.
The bacon spits and splatters in the pan ten minutes later when both Sutton and Nellie bound up the stairs. Her hair is a rumpled mess, flattened on one side and sticking up on the other. She rubs sleep from her eyes as she drops into a kitchen chair, lavender nightgown swishing around her ankles.
Sutton looks impeccable in his uniform. The deep blue fabric fits him perfectly, accentuating the strength of his muscular build underneath. This version of him always catches me off guard. He always looks good, but when he’s on duty, it’s as if I’m transported back to the first day we met, when I was unable to stop myself from mentally swooning over his mysterious, commanding presence in the back of his police cruiser.
Now I have a totally different reason altogether to swoon. I swear, if I lick my lips, I can still taste him there.
“Good morning, sweet girl.” I gently brush Nellie’s hair back from her face, moving away from my wayward thoughts. She leans into my hip. “Do you want some eggs this morning?”
She nods sleepily. “With toast,” she croaks, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I can do that. Do you want to come to the store with me this morning or should I bring you to Auntie Whitney’s house to play with Lucy?”
She tips her chin back, meeting my eyes. “Is it okay if I go play with Lucy?”
“Of course. I’ll give Whitney a call as soon as we’re done with breakfast.” I trail my fingers through her hair, untangling a few knots.
She smiles up at me and, in the softest voice, says, “Thanks, Mamma.”
I swear my heart stops, skipping a beat before it picks up in double time. “Oh, I-I’m not your mamma, honey.”
