Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“Don’t corral me, Ms. Lions.”
She shrugged. “It’s a habit born from spending too much time with children.”
I sighed, refusing to touch that attempt to goad me. “Lena is great. She’s bright and bubbly, but she’s also headstrong and determined to be the boss of her life.”
Her smile was beautiful as she listened. “Pushing boundaries. It’s to be expected, but nothing behavioral I presume?”
“No. Not even a fight over bedtime. Most nights.”
Lucy nodded. “Are there any particular subjects you want Lena to learn or skills to improve?”
“Good question. She’s a great reader, and I guess it’s too soon for math or science, so what I would like, is for her nanny to let her help with tasks that will teach her practical things, and encourage games that will do the same.” None of the other previous nannies had asked these types of questions, and I began to feel hopeful.
“Do you have a chef?”
My brows dipped. “Excuse me?”
Lucy smiled again. “I’m just wondering if there’s someone who might throw a fit if Lena and I were to make cookies or dinner. Cooking is an excellent way to teach basic math through counting and measuring, plus science.”
“Science? Really?”
“Baking is chemistry. Too much baking soda in cookies and you’ll have puffy, bitter cookies. Too much butter and they will spread too much and become globs instead of golden and crunchy. Science.”
Interesting. “Congratulations Ms. Lions you’re still in the running.” I stood from my seat and she mimicked my moves.
“So are you, Mr. Rush.” She laughed when I froze and glared at her. “Put that scowl away please, it doesn’t scare me. Are we off to meet Lena now?”
I nodded. “My scowl scares everybody,” I growled at her.
“I’m sure that at whatever high powered job you hold, people tremor when they see you coming. To me, you’re just a dad.”
I frowned. Whatever high powered job you hold. Did she not know who I was? Did I care? Not really. It was refreshing to be around a woman who spoke her mind and didn’t bend over backwards to please me. Even though I wouldn’t mind bending her over backwards. Enough!
“Lena, sweetheart, can you come into the sitting room please?”
“Coming Daddy!”
Chapter 5
Lucy
Holy hell, Dante Rush was even hotter when I wasn’t annoyed with him.
Okay, I was still annoyed with him, because seriously, who answered the door the way he did? The man was as rude and ornery as he was sinfully hot. Instead of the expensive suit, he was dressed casually in black jeans that hugged muscular thighs, and a mint green shirt that made his green eyes more intense. Today his hair wasn’t mussed from frustrated hands, instead it was perfectly styled, short on the sides with longer waves on top. The green shirt stretched across a broad chest and highlighted corded biceps.
Damn, but the man was gorgeous from head to toe, unfortunately, he was also rude.
“Who is caring for Lena while you’re in between nannies?”
My question interrupted his scowling, which only intensified his frown. “My housekeeper Dotty. She’s been here since Lena was a baby. Why?”
“Just curious.” I shrugged off his grunted question with a smile.
“Dotty is perfectly capable of look after her, she’s raised four children of her own.
“I have no doubt, Mr. Rush. It was just a question.”
“Didn’t feel like just a question,” he mumbled under his breath, but loud enough for me to hear.
A laugh bubbled out of me unconsciously. He was as hot as he was irritable, and was he ever irritable!
“Something funny, Ms. Lions?” His black brows dipped into a furious vee.
“Apparently I find you amusing.”
Small footsteps grew closer and closer until a little girl appeared with big blue eyes and wavy black hair just like her father’s. Her hair was twisted into adorable pigtails with a tiara perched on top. She came to an abrupt stop and smiled, clasping her hands behind her back and rocking on her heels. “Are you a princess?”
“Me?” I laughed lightly and shook my head. “Sadly I am not a princess, if so, I might have a fancy tiara just like yours.”
As if she’d forgotten about it, Lena touched the sparkly tiara and giggled. “I love princesses. And unicorns.”
“Me too,” I offered with a smile. “I’m Lucy, and I love unicorns because they fart glitter.” She giggled again and I leaned forward and whispered, “And my dream is to become a unicorn princess.”
Her blue eyes widened prettily and she gasped. “Me too!”
I held a hand out and she put her hand in mine and very politely introduced herself. “I’m Lena, nice to meet you.”
“It’s very nice to meet you Lena.”
She grinned and turned to face her father, whose expression had softened when he looked at his daughter. She scrambled around the desk and climbed into his lap to wrap her arms around him. It was nice to get a glimpse of the marshmallow underneath the hard grumpy exterior when he interacted with Lena. He held her gently in his strong arms, like she was the most precious of cargo.