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Jake watched Nikki put the dishes in the sink, then he dropped the silverware and pulled her close, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’ve done a great job with her, Nikki. She’s smart and funny.”
“I’m glad you think so.” Nikki backed away. She was supposed to be focusing on her daughter, but with Jake this close, all she could feel were her wobbly knees and sweaty palms. After fifteen years, she should have developed some kind of immunity, but whatever pheromones he’d been blessed with made her crazy.
They weren’t touching. Not really. Not anymore. But the eight inches of air between them vibrated with deep emotion. She wanted him.
Did he feel the same urgency?
“I need to check on Emma,” she croaked. “Don’t worry about the kitchen. Make yourself comfortable in the living room. I have basic cable.”
His lips twitched. “Go, little mama. Look after your chick.”
The whole time Nikki supervised Emma’s drying off and choosing clean pajamas and picking a bedtime book, her skin quivered. Jake was in the next room. Waiting. He was staying to talk about Emma. She knew that.
Maybe Nikki was the only one in this house acting immature.
When Emma was completely ready for bed, Nikki kissed the top of her head. “Would you like Mr. Jake to read your bedtime story tonight?”
The little girl’s face brightened. “Sure. But I need to get a different book.”
Nikki glanced at the picture book in her daughter’s hands. It was a Caldecott Medal winner about Irish fairies and sliding down rainbows—one of Emma’s favorites.
“I don’t understand, sweetie. You love this book.”
“Yeah, Mommy. But it’s kind of girly. Mr. Jake is a boy, and he’s real smart. I’ve got other books he’ll like better.” Before Nikki could stop her, Emma was tearing through her bookcase, moving and tossing and stacking until she found what she wanted. “Here it is.”
Nikki frowned. “I thought we agreed that book was a little too hard for you to read right now. Maybe next year, Emma.” It was a thick, several-hundred-page volume about the solar system.
“But I’m not reading it, Mommy. Mr. Jake is.”
“It’s far too long, baby.”
“He can do just a few pages.”
Nikki knew when she was beaten. She followed her daughter to the front part of the house where Jake was sprawled on the sofa resembling the dangerous male animal he was. He hadn’t bothered turning on the TV. Instead, he was staring at his cell screen.
When they walked into the room, he immediately dropped the phone. “Hey, there.”
Emma walked right up to him and handed over the book. “Will you read me a story? I picked this one for you,” she said, beaming. “Because you told me you liked zubzertories.”
Nikki shot Jake a puzzled glance.
He smiled. “Observatories. And I’d love to read this to Emma.”
“Ah. Well, twenty minutes, no more, please.” Nikki needed to get Jake out of her house before her resolve cracked.
Even when she left the room, Jake’s low, masculine voice carried in the small house. It was impossible to ignore him, impossible to pretend she didn’t react to him strongly.
Fifteen minutes later, Nikki returned to her daughter’s room. “Time for bed, Emma.”
“Just one more chapter, please, Mommy.”
Nikki had played this game far too many times. “Now means now. Tell Mr. Jake thank you.”
Emma slid off Jake’s lap. “Thank you, Mr. Jake,” she said, her expression doleful. The sad-little-girl act sometimes won her five extra minutes, but Nikki held firm this time.
Nikki managed a smile for Jake, though she was nervous and jittery. “There’s beer and wine in the fridge. Help yourself.”
He gave her a slow, sleepy smile. “I’m good. Take your time.”
Emma yawned. “Can Mr. Jake tuck me in?”
Nikki froze. She was pretty sure Jake did, too. It was one thing for a visitor to read a book. Tucking in was for family members. “Um, no, sweetheart. That’s for mommies and little girls.” She picked up her baby,who was getting almost too heavy to carry like this. “I’ll be back, Jake.”
