Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“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 daughter and for 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 . . .”
“Graham crackers and milk!” Katie shouts.
“It’s a snack my mom made for us when we were growing up,” Jen explains. She holds out her hand. “I’m Jen, by the way. Thank you so much for helping my brother out.” She glances at him, forehead creasing. “He needs it.”
I take her hand. “Nice to meet you, Jen. I’m Maren.”
“Hey, I’m only moderately overwhelmed.” I do a double take at the teasing tone of Tuck’s voice. “Not nervous-breakdown-overwhelmed. Not yet.”
Jen grins. “Maren arrived just in time, then.”
Tuck looks at his daughter. “How about this, Squish? I’ll get you your special snack if you sit nicely with Miss Maren at the table.”
“Do we eat all our meals at the table?” I ask.
“We try to.” Tuck is still looking at Katie. “Apparently koala bears prefer to eat their snacks in the wild.”
I nod. “Common issue with koalas. They’re very curious, so they like to explore as they eat.” I hold out my arms. “I have an idea. Why don’t we put on our costume while Daddy makes the snack?”
Katie burrows farther into her dad’s chest, tucking her head into his neck. I am going to have to work to get Katie to warm up to me, but the fact that she’s clinging to her daddy like this shows me they have a very strong bond. I’d bet my life savings Tuck rarely, if ever, has sitters other than his mom and sister. When he’s not working, he’s with his baby.
He loves her. Deeply.
And she freaking adores him.
Longing unfurls inside my center. It suddenly feels several degrees too hot in the room. Really, is there anything sexier than a man who shows up for his kids? None of the guys I’ve dated were at all interested in interacting with kids, much less caring for or having fun with them.
But here’s Tuck, handling his four-year-old like a pro with a big smile on his face like he’s genuinely enjoying the interaction.
“You go with Miss Maren.” Tuck sets Katie down. “Remember we talked about this last night—being kind. She’s new here, so you have to help her out and show her where all your cool stuff is.”
“Like your koala costume.” Jen tilts her head toward the stairs. “I put it in your room.”
Katie finally looks at me. “Miss Karen,” she says.
Tuck laughs as he disappears around the corner. The sound is rich, a deep rumble in his chest. “It’s Maren, Katie, with an m. Like . . . Mimi. Or—”
“Mimosas,” Jen says.
Katie blinks. “What’s that?”
I hold out my hand again to her. This time, she takes it. “Something koalas can’t have until they’re twenty-one.”
“Eighteen if they’re naughty,” Jen says with a wink. “I think I’m going to treat myself to one before I catch my ferry this afternoon.”
“No ferry,” Tuck calls. “One of the guys will take you over to South Port. Riley’s got a couple boats free.”
Jen rolls her eyes, even as she grins. “He’s ridiculous,” she murmurs to me. “Kind, but ridiculous.”
“I heard that,” he says.
“Then you’ll hear this too.” Jen looks at me. “Listen, Maren, my brother’s all bark and no bite. So before he sends you screaming for the hills—”
“That was only once!” Tuck calls back. “And it was a misunderstanding.”