Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
The sound of a child laughing had broken me out of my lustful daze, and I remembered where I was. Shit. I needed to get myself under control before I scared the shit outta her and she took off.
I glanced down at my daughter and focused on her, taking a deep, cleansing breath. She was sleeping peacefully, her lips curled into a sweet smile. Love like I’d never felt swelled in my chest, and my mind had cleared of everything else.
“Nanny?” Ellery repeated, blinking her incredible eyes once more.
“Yeah, I need a nanny to help care for my daughter and”—I smiled crookedly—“hopefully teach a new dad about how to be…a dad.”
Ellery giggled, and the sweet, happy sound was like music to my ears. But then her head tilted, and she watched me with curiosity for a second before her plush lips turned down and her hazel orbs filled with disappointment. “I’m sure your wife will help you with that.”
“Wife?” I asked, taken aback. It took a second for me to realize that I hadn’t explained my situation clearly. “I’m not married.” Yet. “I’m single. Corinne’s mom was my sister, and she recently passed.” My gaze dropped to the baby carrier, and I smiled when I saw Corinne staring up at me with her lips pursed. “Now, I’m this munchkin’s dad,” I said proudly. I set the baby seat on the nearest table, along with the diaper bag, then unbuckled her and picked her up.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Ellery murmured.
“Thank you, but we weren’t close,” I replied distractedly. Corinne was getting fussy, and I searched through the diaper bag to find the stuff to make her a bottle. “Probably makes me sound like a callous basta—um, jerk—but we hadn’t spoken in years.” Corinne let out a wail of anger, and I bounced on my feet, hoping to soothe her until I could get what I needed.
“Let me help,” Ellery offered, her eyes soft as she watched me whisper to my daughter and rub her back. “Can I hold her while you make her bottle?”
I mentally smiled, knowing that once Ellery held this sweet baby, she wouldn’t be able to refuse my job offer. It was impossible to resist loving Corinne. I’d been her dad for forty-eight hours, and she had me wrapped around her tiny fingers—despite being severely sleep-deprived.
“Hey, sweetie,” Ellery cooed as I transferred Corinne into her arms. “I know you’re hungry. Daddy’s making you some food.”
I was mesmerized by the sight of my woman holding her future daughter, but Corinne’s angry cry snapped me out of it. I finally located the bottle and formula. After mixing the formula and water, I shook the bottle, then reached for my baby girl.
Inspiration struck, and I shifted her around, as if I wasn’t sure how to hold her while feeding.
“Here,” she said with another giggle. “If you hold her like this, it’ll be comfortable for you, and you can hold the bottle up higher so she doesn’t get air bubbles.”
She showed me how to hold her, and everywhere she touched, I felt a spark that sent a streak of heat through my body.
“Thanks.” My expression turned sheepish. “See? I’m hopeless.”
“Not hopeless, you just need practice.” Ellery laughed and patted my arm, her hand lingering for a few beats before she dropped it and crossed her arms under her tits, pushing them up. My eyes strayed to the globes straining against her T-shirt, and I swallowed hard when her nipples pebbled, poking through her bra and shirt.
I tore my gaze away and thought about the least sexual things I could imagine until my cock softened slightly.
Clearing my throat, I looked back at her face. “You can see why I need someone to help me? I co-own a tattoo studio and have a huge waiting list, plus any club business that I’m needed for. And clearly, I have a lot to learn. Elise thought you’d be a perfect fit, and”—I grinned down at my girl—“I think Corinne agrees.”
I could see she wanted to accept, and I almost blurted out that it was a live-in position to keep her with us at night too, but I worried that would scare her away. After a little more time with me and Corinne, and Ellery wouldn’t be able to say no.
An idea formed in my head, and I had to swallow back a wicked smile. My apartment was no place for a baby, and I certainly wasn’t gonna raise my daughter at the clubhouse. But I didn’t want to pick out a house that Ellery hated since it would be her home too—forever.
I set down Corinne’s half-empty bottle and moved her to my shoulder so I could pat her back. Ellery’s expression was soft as she watched us, but there was also longing in her eyes.
“Can Corinne and I take you out to dinner?” I asked, giving her my most charming smile and enjoying the fuck outta her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink.