by Bria Quinlan
“What was that?” he shout-whispered at me as he got to the crib in three long strides. “Is he okay?”
“Yes, he’s fine. I have no idea what that was, but even his heart rate is normal.” I turned to reassure Tim that everything was okay but instead ended up gawking.
He was in the same pair of men’s pajama bottoms, but this time missing from his evening ensemble was the white T-shirt. Instead, he stood there, shirtless, hands braced on the edge of the crib in a way that made each and every lean muscle stand out in relief.
I was definitely in danger of drooling.
“I...um…heard him—Gus, him—and came.” Good communication skills, Minx.
“Me too.” Tim turned to face me, his mouth open as if he was about to say something else, when I felt the sweep of his gaze along my entire body.
It was then that I remembered I wasn’t wearing much either. Just my sleep cami and boxer shorts.
“You’re um…” He stopped, cleared his throat, and looked away. “You’re not worried. He’s okay?”
I took advantage of Tim’s gentlemanliness to blatantly stare.
A girl has to take advantage of these situations when they appear, after all.
It was the first time I’d seen him without his glasses, and his eyes were an even richer brown than without the slight reflection on the glass. So deep and dark you’d want to sink right into them.
Instead, I kicked my own butt back into nanny mode.
“No. He’s fine. Maybe just a bad dream.” Which made me sad. Babies shouldn’t have anything bad to dream about.
“Okay, so.” His gaze came back down to meet mine. “I know you think I’m foolish, but I’m going to sleep on the floor in here tonight.”
“I don’t think you’re foolish. I think it’s cute…but unnecessary.” I reached out a hand to pat his arm, then thought better of it with all that arm-shoulder-chest nakedness going on. “You have a nanny, and she’s right through that door. Gus will be okay. Everyone has bad dreams, but look at him now.”
We both looked down at the little guy, who had no idea he’d caused so much commotion.
Part of me thanked him for his oddly-timed screams that lasted only until we got here—and then let me focus on Tim.
“Are you sure? I mean, maybe he’d gotten used to sleeping with me in the room. And, with his mom gone, maybe he needs someone here?” Tim sounded like he was the one who needed to be here.
“I think he’s okay. I think it’s really great you’re willing to be here, but I think tonight he’s done with the screaming. I see a peaceful night’s rest for him—and for you, if you go back to your bed. You have a commute tomorrow, don’t forget.”
He finally nodded and drew his gaze away from Gus—and let it fall along the outline of me.
“I have to go,” he said and turned and walked out, leaving me to watch his retreating shoulders and rear end as a very nice way to finish out the night.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TIM
When the phone rang, he thought about not answering it.
He couldn’t believe what an idiot he’d been. First accidentally forcing Minx to go on a date with him—including baby chaperone—without even asking her out. Then to gawk at her in that tiny, tiny pajama set she’d been wearing last night.
Curves? Understatement.
He’d just about forgotten how to think and had to make a hasty retreat to not do something stupid. Like grab her and kiss her right there in front of Gus…not that Gus would care, since he was asleep.
And a baby.
But, Tim was afraid he was letting his imagination—and lust—get the better of him reading into something that was maybe one-sided.
It was time to capitulate his good intentions. He needed to get Minx out of the house and one on one. Something where he could see if together—without Gus—they made sense.
He’d loved listening to her talk about her childhood and making decisions that got her out from under the control of her parents. He’d definitely seen a kindred spirit in her with that. He loved his mother… He tried not to add the but on to the end of that sentence.
From the kitchen, he could hear Minx puttering around with Gus upstairs. He’d really hit gold in the nanny department, too. Gus adored her, and it was obvious the feeling was mutual. If they’d sent him someone Gus hadn’t taken to, well, he didn’t know what he’d do, but it wouldn’t be keep her on.
Even if he was potentially falling in love with her.
He froze, his coffee halfway to his mouth, replaying that last thought.
He was falling in love with her?
No.
Minx’s laughter drifted down the hall as she carried Gus toward the kitchen, and he shook his head.
Yes.
Yes, he absolutely was. He stood, waiting for her to come into the kitchen so he could get his morning fix of Minx, and boy, did it deliver. Like a shot of adrenaline, rushing right to his heart.
She was freshly showered and wearing another one of her little brightly-colored T-shirts and a skirt. Gus was happily chewing on the ends of her hair…which, maybe he should buy her organic hair products…but…
He glanced at her again, and the only thing that came to mind was: Yes.
“Good morning.” She flashed him a smile before she turned to put Gus in one of his many, many swings. “We’re all better this morning after our nightmare. All slept off and happy. Isn’t that right, big guy?”
Was it his imagination, or was she not looking at him?
She walked around the counter, eyes on the cabinet with the mugs in it.
“I just need to make myself a to-go cup of tea, and we’re off to walk with Gus’s girlfriend.”
She still wasn’t looking at him. Maybe she was really upset about last night and the whole we’re-half-naked-in-the-nursery thing. But, nothing happened—except him retreating like a lunatic.
He glanced around, looking for something to keep her home with him, even though she had plans and he had work. He was being ridiculous. But, a date—that was a good idea. He needed to ask her out, make it clear it was a date. Maybe take her somewhere outside the prying eyes of Nocturne Falls, because small-town living had already caught up with them, apparently.
He was trying to figure out what to say when the invitation he’d stuck to the fridge flew off and landed on the counter next to him. A little squeal caught his attention as he picked it up, and he could have sworn Gus winked at him.
Tim downed his coffee, realizing he might need to caffeinate more in the morning after baby emergencies.
Glancing at the invitation, he realized this was the perfect opportunity to ask Minx out. Women loved to get dressed up, right?
And it wasn’t as if he had a choice. It was a command performance, as far as his mother was concerned.
He turned toward her, where she stood staring at the kettle.
“Um, Minx?” He tried not to act like he was sixteen again, but his nerves were definitely jumping.
“Yes?” She slid a glance at him out of the corner of her eye, and he tried not to flex when her gaze slipped down his chest.
It was just the little bit of reassurance he needed.
“I have to go down to Atlanta Saturday night for an event.”
“Oh.” She turned and glanced at him, a little crease between her eyes telling him this wasn’t going the way he expected. “I guess Gus and I will just hang out here for the night.”
Tim tried not to frown at her as he tried to figure out if this was a polite dodge, or she was just assuming that of course she’d watch Gus. She’s the nanny.
“Actually.” He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d like to go. With me. As my date.”
“Oh.” She set her tea down and gave him her full attention. “You mean, with you-with you?”
“Yes.” He waited as she looked at him a long moment. “Unless you don’t want to. You don’t have to. It’s not like I’m your boss making you go out with me.
Although, it kind of sounds like it, doesn’t it—but it’s not. It’s just me, asking you if you want to go to this thing at my mother’s house. But if you don’t, that’s totally okay. No problem. No pressure…just, yeah.”
He faded out as he watched the smile on her face grow.
He was an idiot.
A big one.
“Yes,” she said, as he was turning away. “I’d love to go with you Saturday.”
He grinned down at her, loving the way she blushed and glanced away. Just a bit shy, even as she was completely sure of herself.
He sipped at his coffee as he watched her feed Gus and get them packed to go.
He’d never thought he could love his life as much as he did. But now he had Gus, and maybe, if Saturday went well, he’d have Minx, too.
Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MINX
The average woman spends over $100,000 on clothes in a lifetime.
“So, he just asked you out in the kitchen?” Calla grinned as she maneuvered Chalice’s carriage around a tree stump.
“Yup. I thought he was asking me to work Saturday, but he was asking me out.” I couldn’t believe it.
I’d woken up, afraid I wouldn’t be able to look at Tim without seeing him in just his pajama bottoms again…and that would lead to lust…which led to drool…which was just embarrassing.
But, instead, he’d asked me out.
Hopefully not because of the drool.
Calla stopped in the middle of the bike path, bringing her stroller to such a quick stop that Chalice looked up as if to say, What’s going on?
“Why are we walking?” She turned around, pulling a perfect mom-three-point turn to head back toward town. “We should be shopping. You need a dress.”
Crud. I hadn’t even thought of that.
“What type of party is this?” she asked as I fell back in step with her.
“Some fancy dinner thing his mother gives every year. I think it’s for a charity, because he mentioned hiding his checkbook.”
“Okay.” Calla veered into town. “I know just the place; we’re going to make you gorgeous.”
“On a budget.”
She gave a sharp nod. “We’re going to make you gorgeous on a budget.”
One could only hope.
But, I had more things to worry about than a dress, if I was being honest.
“I think it’s a bad idea. I hate to leave Gus alone for the night. I mean—he’s just getting used to us. And how would I find a babysitter in one night?” I looked down at where Gus and Chalice baby-babbled to one another, the smile creeping on my face undeniable. “I could bring him, right? I mean, he’s Tim’s nephew—but maybe Tim’s mother wouldn’t like that.”
I didn’t want to go into the private details, but seeing as Tim and Willow’s dad had passed away and Tim’s mom was not Willow’s mom…maybe not the best plan.
There were too many unknowns here for me to guess.
“You’re seriously thinking about this?” Calla’s shock overrode my planning.
“Yes. It’s my job. I’m not sure how the nanny can go out with the boss.”
I wasn’t sure if the nanny should go out with the boss. Was I letting my wants override good sense?
“Of course you should go out with him! Just the way you guys look at one another is all buzzy and stuff. And I can’t believe you’re thinking of bringing Gus with you.” She leaned over and smiled at the kids. “Of course he’ll stay with us that night.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.” Even though now I really, really wanted to.
“You didn’t ask. I offered. And, Chalice offered, didn’t you, sweetheart?” She leaned over the front of her stroller as we rolled to a stop in front of a secondhand store. “We’ll have a great time, just us girls and our hottie, Gus.”
I laughed at the idea of that, although, with how women seemed drawn to the Johnson men, maybe that wasn’t so far off the mark.
“Gus and I thank you. As long as Tim doesn’t have any issues with it.”
And, I was really, really hoping he didn’t.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MINX
The recommended average first date is 1.5 hours long.
Butterflies.
They were beating an insane and desperate rhythm in my gut.
The dress I’d gotten from The Resurrected Hemline secondhand store felt more questionable when I didn’t have people (and babies) encouraging my purchase. I glanced down at my cleavage—which I’d never paid much attention to as long as it fit in my T-shirts—and wondered if maybe, just maybe, it was a little too much skin.
The downstairs bell rang, and the busy chatter of Calla hummed up the stairs. Before I knew what she was up to, she was in the doorway, baby-free.
“Um, where are the kids?” Since the entire reason she was coming over was to babysit, this seemed like a relevant question.
Tim had been okay with the situation, weighing the options carefully, interviewing Calla, and calling her references.
Calla had taken it all in stride, finding Tim’s overprotectiveness admirable instead of borderline annoying like I feared she might.
“Downstairs with Tim. I wanted to help you get ready.”
“I’m basically ready.” I glanced around, wondering what else there was to do. Dress was on. Shoes were on. Lip gloss was on. Hair was up… “Do you think I should put on a sweater?”
“In what world is a sweater going to go with a floor-length red satin gown?”
“In the one where my boobs are going to fall out and embarrass Tim in front of his family?”
“If Tim is any type of guy—and he is, even if he’s a bit dorky—embarrassed would not be his first thought if he saw your boobs.” She glanced down at where I had creatively bound my chest into a bra and some fabric tape, and grinned. “I don’t think it would even be my first thought.”
“Okay, that’s it—I need another dress.” I glanced at myself in the mirror, feeling like a short Jessica Rabbit, minus the va-va-voom.
“Too late, cupcake.” She pulled me toward the door, handing me the clutch she’d loaned me as we went. “You look great.”
“Are you sure I don’t look like a really expensive call girl?”
“If you do, then it’s really expensive. Like, men would have to pool their money to buy you.”
I stopped in the hall, wanting to turn back, but oddly more worried about what she’d just said.
“You know, that’s even more disturbing.”
“Yeah.” Calla nodded. “After it came out of my mouth, I thought, Not the best call, there, Calla. On the upside, Tim has already paid for you.”
“Again.”
“Right. I’ll stop talking. You look great.”
I wasn’t sure how reassuring Calla was, but she was right about one thing—there was no changing or backing out now. Hopefully I didn’t embarrass Tim by being absolutely overdressed.
I came around the corner into the kitchen, where he stood talking to both kids as they kicked in matching swings. My doubts about the dress vanished completely.
Actually, every thought in my head vanished as I caught a glance of him standing in front of the kids, running his hand over his usually floppy hair as he’d tamed it back with gel. Nothing too slick and un-Timlike. Just something that gave him a more sophisticated vibe—that went with his very sophisticated suit.
I couldn’t help but stare. He was the sophisticated businessman dressed for a night on the town.
“Don’t drool.” Calla leaned in and whispered. “It will stain the satin.”
Tim turned, catching our undertones of chatter, and froze, his gaze running down my red dress in a way that told me he had no problem with va-va-voom.
“You look amazing.” He stepped toward me, hand out as if he wanted to touch me, see if I was still me.
“You look pretty darn great yourself.” I winked at him, trying to lighten the moment because I t
hought I was going to keel over and faint with my inability to breathe.
He stuck his hands in his pockets, a move so negligent of the gorgeous threads he was wearing, that it made me wonder how often he got sucked into an occasion like tonight.
Just as I was about to cross the room, Chalice slapped her hands down and upended her yogurt.
“No!” Calla shouted as she rushed forward, waving her arms.
By some miracle, none of it landed on Tim. He ran his hands down his sides, checking the suit and grinned.
“Close call.” He winked at Calla, who was giving her daughter the evil eye. “Not her fault. I shouldn’t be playing with them as we’re walking out the door. I guess I was just lucky.”
“Yeah, lucky.” She laughed as she rounded the counter to grab a towel. “Or my magic fingers saved your night.”
Calla waggled her fingers at him, and I half expected her to say POOF.
“Sure.” Tim nodded, as if that’s exactly what had happened. “Thanks to you and your magic for saving the night.”
Calla gave him a funny look, and I was about to ask what was so funny, but—Tim smiled at me, and all thought was lost.
“Ready to go?”
I nodded. My grin was obviously dopey, because Calla gave me a not-so-subtle eye roll as we left.
The drive there was like a date unto itself. Tim entertained me, letting me flip through his preset buttons and judge him. He had country and classical and some talk station that was all about money and laws…which, no.
Then I made him listen to my favorites—all pop, because I wasn’t completely over rebelling against my rock roots.
Then we talked about anything that came to mind. It was the easiest conversation I’d ever had. Since I’d met him, I’d felt at ease with Tim. But this first date thing—I thought it would be nerve-racking, but it was pretty great.
So great that I didn’t realize nearly an hour had gone by as he started maneuvering down some back roads with ginormous houses.
When I say houses, I’m pretty sure a few were former plantations.
“We’re just cutting through here, right?”