AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not Kathryn Dear, Daddy, I’m Koala Bear!”
“All right, Koala Bear, come upstairs and get a special snack.”
A high voice singsongs back, “special snack, special snack.”
A little girl with long, blonde hair and smudges on her cheeks spills into the kitchen. Tuck darts across the room and scoops her into his arms, damsel-in-distress style. She screams with delight when he kisses her cheeks.
“Daddy! Daddy, that’s enough kisses.”
Tuck adjusts his grip so he’s holding her underneath her armpits, his face an inch or two from hers. “How about you give me some instead?”
“Koala Bear don’t do kisses.”
“What?” Tuck screws his face up in pretend shock. “But everyone does kisses.”
“Okay. Just two kisses, then.”
“Three? Pretty please?”
Katie does a fake grimace that turns into a smile when Tuck tickles her side. She lets out the most delicious giggle, then puckers her lips and gives him three kisses on his cheek. “Ew, Daddy, your yuckies hurt my mouth.”
I don’t mean to be a cliché, but how could my heartnotmelt seeing Tuck’s silly, sweet, side come out with his daughter? He’s completely transformed from the broody, grumpy guy who answered the door half an hour ago. His smile touches his eyes, making the skin at their edges crinkle.
That kind of joy is infectious. One of the thousand reasons I love being around kids. Not only because kids themselvesare bright little lights, but because they bring out the light in others around them.
Being around that kind of positive energy is refreshing. Kids Katie’s age are just so damn happy to be alive. It’s a feeling that’s sometimes hard to come by as an adult.
“Men have lots of yuckies.” He rubs his dark blond stubble on her shoulder. “That’s why you should stay away from them.”
For a split second our eyes meet. Why do I get the feeling that’s a message for his daughterandfor me?
Shoving the thought aside, I step forward. Tuck turns back to his daughter. “Katie, I’d like you to meet Miss Maren. She’s going to be your new nanny.”
Katie looks at me. She has the same green eyes as her daddy. They’re framed by long, lush lashes.
She’s a doll.
I smile. She frowns.
“I don’t need a nanny,” Katie says.
A woman—also with green eyes—steps into the kitchen, a toddler-sized unicorn backpack in her hand. This must be Tuck’s sister Jen. “Yes, Katie, you do. Auntie Jen needs to get back to her job.”
Tuck pouts, a pantomime of his daughter’s expression. “So does Daddy.”
“Hi, Katie.” I give her a little wave. “You said you’re a koala bear. Do you have furry ears?”
Katie just looks at me. Tuck gives her a little jiggle. “Katie’s koala bear costume has furry ears. Isn’t that right, Squish?”
I gasp, even as my heart literally palpitates at the adorable nickname. “You have a costume?”
Katie nods.
“I’d love to see it,” I say. “Here, why don’t we have your special snack, then you can wear the costume for quiet time?”
Jen tips her head at me. “You already know the schedule? You’re good.”
My chest glows at the compliment. Nice to feel like I’m decent at something again. School’s been kicking my ass that hard. “Thanks. Now if someone could just tell me what a special snack is...”
