Ami Weaver - The Nanny's Christmas Wish

No matter how unexpectedly attractive his father was.

“Of course he is,” Kerry agreed. “Did you learn anything about Lucy?”

Kerry’s question caused Maggie’s conscience to give her jab. “No. Not yet. I don’t feel comfortable bringing her up yet.” It seemed like Josh should be the one to start that particular conversation. Maggie wasn’t sure she could bring up Lucy and not blurt out the truth. Soon, but not yet. She wanted to let everything settle first and be sure it wouldn’t be too hard on Josh and Cody to tell them who she was. It wasn’t ideal, but she couldn’t see another way to protect them.

“It’s early,” Kerry murmured. “I’m sure you’ll get the chance. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for a good guy. Not all men are like Tony.”

Maggie thought of Brian, her best friend’s husband. “Of course they’re not. You’ve got a good one.”

Kerry laughed. “Oh, yes, I do. I really do. And we’ll get you a good one, too. Trust me.”

Maggie made a little humming noise. “We’ll see. I’m sure not going to find him here. Holden’s Crossing seems pretty small. I’m guessing the good ones are taken already. But I’m not in the market anyway.” After her marriage, it seemed prudent to avoid all things commitment-related.

“Maybe, maybe not. Don’t let Tony win,” Kerry ordered. “Make sure it’s because it’s what you want. If you give up on all this, on ever being happy or a family of your own, you’ve let him win. He doesn’t get to ruin your life.”

Again. The unspoken word echoed in Maggie’s head. She swiped at her now-moist eyes. “You’re absolutely right. He doesn’t. I’ll keep my options open.”

They chatted a few more minutes, then hung up. Maggie snapped her phone shut as Cody caught her attention, racing into the backyard with his dad behind him. Cody held a soccer ball, which he dropped on the ground and kicked toward his dad. His little-boy laugh floated in through the door. Josh kicked the ball back, then looked up. He waved. Caught, she couldn’t exactly duck out of sight so she fluttered her fingers back.

“You play?” he called, and Maggie opened the door farther so she could step out on the balcony into the wood smoke–scented twilight. She crossed over to the railing and leaned on it, the wood cool through her sleeves.

“Not in years,” she said as Cody gave the ball a solid kick. “Not since college.”

“You can kick it around with us,” he offered, and Maggie’s chest squeezed at the invitation. “Right, Code?”

Cody darted a glance up at Maggie, then to his dad. He nodded and zeroed back in on the ball as it flew off Josh’s foot. She was tempted, but she shook her head. “No thanks,” she said to the top of Josh’s head. No topside bald spot for him. “Maybe another time.”

He executed some fancy footwork with the ball, indicating more than a passing relationship with the game of soccer. “Sounds good. We’ve got to go in soon, anyway. Almost bedtime for someone.”

Cody’s head came up. “It’s not dark yet,” he protested and Maggie smothered a laugh.

“Not yet,” Josh agreed. “But it will be soon. Five more minutes, big guy, and it’s time to hit the shower.”

Maggie turned from the railing and walked back inside. While she could watch the two of them interact for hours, it probably wasn’t a good idea. Keeping a distance was the best option.

Still, she left the door open to hear their voices and laughter, the thunk of the ball, as the sounds all drifted in on the chilly evening breeze.

* * *

Maggie spent the next two weeks doing an admirable job of ignoring the physical attraction she felt for Josh. Part of that had been keeping a bit of an emotional distance, developing a routine that worked for Cody but kept her out of incidental contact with Josh as much as possible. She kept her professionalism front and center.

Except for today.

Somehow she’d been roped into a family dinner.

Still not sure exactly how Ellen had gotten her to accept the invitation, Maggie stared out the window of Josh’s SUV. The trees clipped by as she replayed the conversation in her head.

Dinner, Ellen had said. Love to have you join us.

When Maggie opened her mouth to decline she found herself accepting instead. An apparent disconnect of common sense and her tongue.

So here she sat with Josh and Cody on the way to Ellen’s. The whole thing blurred lines she’d been so careful to keep clear.

“Gramma has a dog,” Cody announced into the silence. Josh had been very quiet. Thinking maybe of Lucy? She certainly was never far from Maggie’s thoughts.

She half turned in her seat, grateful for the interruption. “She does? What kind?”

“A big one,” Cody said, his gaze on the back of Josh’s head. “Right, Daddy?”

“That’s right,” Josh agreed. He slid a glance her way. “Friendly, though. In case you were wondering.”

“I like dogs,” she said. “What’s his name?”

“Riley,” Cody said.

“That’s a good name.” She thought wistfully of Bear, the dog she’d shared with Tony. Bear had stayed with him. One more thing she’d surrendered to be free of the marriage.

“Are you okay over there?”

She blinked and looked over at Josh. “I’m fine. I used to have a dog,” she blurted.

“Really?” Josh and Cody said in unison.

She was in it now. “Yes. His name is Bear.”

“Where is he?” Cody asked.

“Well.” Here goes. “He’s with my, um, ex-husband.”

Cody’s eyes rounded and out of the corner of her eye Maggie saw Josh flex his hand on the steering wheel. A small ball of unease settled in her stomach. Had he known she was divorced? She’d told Ellen. She couldn’t remember if it’d come up otherwise.

“Don’t you miss him?”

She knew who Cody meant. “I miss Bear. I do.” She’d never really missed Tony, only what they never really had. In retrospect, it said so much about her marriage. “He’s a good dog, but an old one. We thought it was better for him to stay in his own familiar house.”

“Gramma will share Riley. Right, Daddy?”

“Of course.” Josh sent a quick smile her way.

Touched, Maggie smiled at each of them in turn. “Thank you. That’s so sweet.”

“You can meet him in a few.” Josh turned onto a gravel drive. “We’re here.”

They wound through the trees for a short distance before opening up to a large lawn and a low ranch house. A big dog of any number of breeds loped across the grass, barking and wagging his entire rear end.

“That’s Riley!” Cody cried as the SUV came to a stop. The little boy popped the seat belt on his car seat and jumped out the door to roll with the dog on the ground, the age-old greeting of little boys and big canines.

“Good thing it’s not wet out,” Josh commented as he and Maggie unbuckled.

“Would that stop him?” Maggie asked as she watched Riley lick Cody’s face.

Josh paused, then grinned over at his son. “Not likely,” he admitted. His keys slipped out of his hand and fell with a clank on the floor.

Since they landed on her side, Maggie leaned over and reached for them. Josh did the same and their heads bumped. She sat up. “Oh! Sorry.”

“My fault.” He leaned over and touched her forehead lightly. Her traitorous nerve endings gave a little zing. “You’ve got a bit of red mark here.”

For a heartbeat, their gazes locked and her pulse skipped, then kicked up as the teasing in his eyes melted to heat. Awareness sparked between them, a quick flare. She could smell the spicy soap he’d used, the detergent on his clothes. She curled her hand around her purse strap, as if it could keep her from leaning over just a little farther to see what he tasted like.