Corporate Daddy

by Arlene James

  Logan snatched her up and tossed her over his head, pretending to scold her for pretending that Emily was her. Emily tried to move back into the chair, but he caught her hand with his and anchored her to his side. When Amanda Sue calmed down from her “scolding,” he sat her in his lap and explained that he had to take a little trip by himself but that Emily would take care of her until he got back.

  “Yeah, Mimly un Mana,” Amanda Sue said, as if this was nothing new to her. Logan looked at Emily with raised eyebrows.

  “I think her pronunciation is improving. She actually got the ‘L’ in Emily that time.”

  “Well, she’s a very bright little girl,” Emily said, fighting this feeling of belonging, of connection, of family, that so often enveloped her when the three of them were together like this.

  “Yes, she is,” Logan agreed, his forehead pressed to the little girl’s. Then he glanced at the clock over the mantel and sighed. “I have to get on the move.” He reluctantly passed the baby into Emily’s arms and got to his feet. “I’ve ordered a cab so you can keep my car. The keys are on my dresser. I want you to drive it instead of that old heap of yours. Promise me you will.”

  She couldn’t argue that it wouldn’t be safer for Amanda Sue, so she agreed.

  “I assume you’ll be staying here nights,” he said, “but it’s okay if you decide to take Amanda Sue to your place. I’ll call here first, but if I don’t reach you, I’ll call there. Remind me to buy you a cell phone of your own when I get back. Meanwhile, you can reach me through mine anytime you want.”

  Emily said, “We’ll be fine.”

  He nodded and turned toward the bedroom. In a few minutes he returned to the living room carrying his briefcase, suitcase and a heavy trench-style overcoat. He deposited them in the entry hall by the door and returned to the living room, where Emily had gotten up and moved to the couch, Amanda Sue with her. He sat down next to them and gathered both into his arms.

  “Is it just me or is her hair getting darker?” he asked Emily, stroking Amanda Sue’s curly head.

  “You know, it may be,” she said. “This is about the time it starts turning. Yes, I think you’re right. It’s not as brassy bright as it was, more brown.”

  “My mom will be heartbroken,” he said, chuckling.

  “Not for long,” Emily said. “Amanda Sue’s a strong personality, one of a kind. It’s appropriate that her appearance reflect that.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” he agreed, kissing his daughter on the top of her head. “I love you, ’Manda Mine.”

  “Wuv oo,” she echoed almost thoughtlessly, sliding off Emily’s knee and going after Goody, who had put in an appearance after disappearing for a time.

  Logan chuckled and shook his head. Leaning back, he pulled Emily tighter into his embrace. “God, I wish I didn’t have to leave you,” he said against her temple, “but at least I have you to come home to.”

  She closed her eyes, the emotions of joy and doubt and fear mingling in simultaneous bursts within her. Her throat was clogged with them, her lungs restricted, her heart shocked. A horn sounded in the distance. Logan sighed.

  “That must be my cab,” he said.

  Emily sat up. Logan got to his feet. Once more he picked up his daughter and kissed her.

  “’Bye-bye, Daddy,” she said unconcernedly, bending down to reach for Goody. With a laugh, he let her down again. “Walk me to the door?” he asked Emily.

  Nodding, she got up and followed him. The car horn blew again just as they got there, so Logan opened the door and waved at the driver. Then he turned back to Emily, his hands resting lightly at her waist. “I’m going to miss you,” he said. Smiling wanly, he added, “You’ve no idea how much I miss you every moment you’re not with me now.”

  She gulped, wanting to believe that, not daring to. He bent his head and kissed her tenderly, pulling away again only when they were both breathless.

  “I’ll call tonight.”

  She nodded and pulled open the door again as he gathered up his baggage. One more look and he stepped out onto the doorstep. Suddenly she couldn’t let him go without giving him something, some bit of what was in her heart. “Logan,” she said, and he immediately turned back. “I’ll miss you, too.”

  The smile that grew across his mouth also grew across her own. He stepped forward and kissed her hard on the mouth as the taxi driver blew its horn one more time. Then he was running down the sidewalk, coat flying out behind him. She stayed in the doorway until the taxi drove away. Only then did she fully face the fact that she was already in way over her head with Logan Fortune. She was crazy to try to make herself believe that she could hold herself back from him. Simply put, she was in love with him, so how did she keep herself out of his bed? Even if she could manage that feat, how did she keep herself from hoping for more from him than she knew he was capable of giving? Neither prospect looked good at the moment, but she knew that she would be less than she wanted and needed to be if she didn’t at least try.

  Ten

  Despite her cavalier attitude at his leave-taking, Amanda Sue missed her daddy more than Emily had expected. She monopolized every telephone conversation with him and continually asked for him whenever Emily wouldn’t give her what she wanted and at bedtime. It was no overstatement to say that both Amanda Sue and Emily were fairly sick of one another’s uninterrupted company by Monday afternoon, when Logan called to say he’d have to stay another day or two. So it was with genuine welcome that Emily later opened the door to Eden Fortune and her darling son.

  Eden stuck out her hand, a smile on her face. “I know we’ve met before, but I want you to know that I expect you to call me Eden.”

  “Logan told me you’d be stopping by, Eden,” Emily said, returning her smile and her handshake. “And this must be Sawyer.” She bent down to shake his hand, too, noting his ink-dark hair and big black eyes. Shyly, he hid his face against his mother’s leg, but not before smiling at Emily. “Amanda Sue will be so happy to see you, Sawyer,” Emily told him. “She talks about you all the time.”

  He looked at her with surprise rounding his eyes and mouth. “She talks?”

  Eden laughed, and Emily smiled, nodding. “Oh, yes. You probably can’t understand her, but she’s definitely talking. Believe me, she always knows what she’s saying even if we don’t.”

  “Yes, I’d say that’s a child who definitely knows her own mind,” Eden commented with a grin.

  “That she does,” Emily said with a chuckle. “Come on in and see her.”

  Amanda Sue was in the living room with Goody, lying on her tummy whispering to the cat as if it understood every word. When Emily walked in with their company, saying, “Amanda Sue, look who’s here,” she jerked her head up, calling, “Daddy!” An instant later, she popped up and ran at Emily with her arms open wide, as if frightened to find someone other than her father standing there.

  “Amanda Sue,” Emily said, “don’t you remember Aunt Eden and your cousin Sawyer?”

  Amanda Sue looked them over and nodded her head. Abruptly she kicked to get down again, and Emily let her slide down to the floor. She poked Sawyer in the cheek with her fingertip, then said, “Mon, Awya. See Gooey.”

  “Goody is the cat,” Emily explained, but Sawyer was already allowing himself to be led away.

  Eden shook her head. “I swear, that child’s mind works at lightning speed.”

  “Not to mention her legs,” Emily added, grinning.

  Eden chuckled. “Keeps you running, does she?”

  “I don’t mind,” Emily said, ready to play gracious hostess. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Oh, no, not just now, thanks. What I really want is just to sit down and talk with you.”

  Emily smiled and lifted a hand in invitation. “Let’s have a seat on the couch then.”

  Eden nodded and walked across the room, seating herself smoothly. She wore a forest-green, wool, A-line skirt, fringed loafers, a navy sweater set trimmed in gr
een-and-red plaid and opaque navy stockings. It was casual wear, but she still managed to look as though she’d just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine, her dark hair swept forward over one shoulder. Emily felt slightly dowdy in her faded jeans and black turtleneck, her hair rolled up on the sides and held in place with combs, her old running shoes on her feet.

  “My brother talks about you nonstop,” Eden said, her words knocking Emily back in her seat.

  “Oh, I…that is, he…uh…”

  Eden laughed. “According to him, you’re the world’s leading authority on child care, the most efficient assistant who ever lived, the smartest, prettiest, sexiest, most engaging—”

  “Please!” Emily said, her face burning with embarrassment.

  Eden subsided, studying her. “I just had to get to know this paragon of virtue who finally seems to have captured my brother’s heart.”

  Emily shook her head, even as hope fought for life inside her. “I’m just the baby-sitter, and temporary at that.”

  Eden cocked her head in a movement so reminiscent of Logan that Emily felt a spurt of intense longing for him. “Are you saying that you don’t care for my brother?”

  “No! I… That is, we’re—”

  “Never mind,” Eden said, leaning forward to pat her hand. Her smile seemed to say that she’d already heard everything on the matter that was required. “Tell me about you, now. Logan says you’re from a big family.”

  Emily let herself be pulled into this new topic of conversation and began to relax as it became obvious how easy Eden was to talk to. She seemed genuinely interested in Emily’s life story and freely shared tales of Logan as a child. Later, she told her own story, revealing that she’d never married Sawyer’s father. “I was a fool to believe him when he said he loved me,” she confessed, “but I can’t say that I regret anything I did. I have my son, after all.”

  Emily nodded, understanding how she could feel that way. “I know what you mean,” she said thoughtlessly. “I have to keep reminding myself that Logan is not the sort to settle down, no matter how much I might want him to be.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that,” Eden said, smiling thoughtfully, and only then did Emily remember that she was talking to his sister!

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound critical.”

  “Not at all,” Eden said. “If I were in your position, I’d feel the same way. But I know my brother, and I think you may be underestimating him in this. Amanda Sue has changed him, but I think that deep down he’s always craved a family of his own. He just hasn’t trusted himself to be a better father and husband than our father was.”

  “Whoa,” Emily said, “we’re getting far afield here. Logan and I are in no way discussing marriage.”

  Eden opened her mouth as if to argue the point, then seemed to think better of it and closed it again. After a moment she smiled and asked, “What are you and Amanda Sue doing for dinner?”

  “I was thinking of ordering in actually,” Emily admitted. “Care to join us?”

  “Pizza is Sawyer’s new favorite food,” Eden said suggestively.

  Emily laughed. “Pizza it is.”

  It was over dinner that Emily mentioned Ciara Wilde. Eden’s eyes grew large, and she sucked in a quick breath, motioning with a slice of pizza that she had something to say as soon as she swallowed. “You know, I’d get a real kick out of meeting her—uh, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble. I mean, she might not want to meet me, or you might not want me horning in on an old friendship. I’d understand, of course. No big deal.”

  Emily laughed because it sounded like a big deal to Eden. “No problem,” she said. “I’ll mention it to Cathy—I can’t help thinking of her as Cathy—and see how she feels about it, but I’m sure she’ll be glad to meet you. She’s really very sweet—and very beautiful.”

  Eden wrinkled her nose. “I was half hoping she’d look less stunning in person.”

  Emily shook her head. “Nope. More. It’s positively ego-bruising, but she’s so dear you’ll soon forget all about that, not that you have anything to worry about. You could be a movie star yourself.”

  “I wish!” Eden exclaimed.

  They giggled about that, like little girls, and much else. By evening’s end, they were fast friends.

  “I’m so glad I stopped by,” Eden said, ready to take her leave with a sleepy Sawyer in her arms.

  “Oh, me, too,” Emily said, readjusting Amanda Sue’s weight on her hip. “Amanda Sue and I are grateful for the company, and I know Logan will be glad she got to play with her cousin again.”

  “Yes, I want them to become close. Thanks for everything, Emily, for taking care of my niece and my brother and for a lovely day.”

  “Don’t be silly. I hope to see you again soon.”

  “You will. I promise.” Eden leaned in and kissed Amanda Sue’s cheek. “Goodbye, darling.”

  “Say ’bye-bye to Aunt Eden,” Emily coached her.

  “’Bye,” Amanda Sue complied, waving her hand, her eyelids at half-mast. She’d exhausted herself by playing busily with sweet, affable Sawyer that day. “’Bye, Awya.”

  “’Bye,” he mumbled against his mom’s shoulder. Then he suddenly lifted his head. “Hey, she does talk!”

  Emily and Eden laughed, for that wasn’t the first time that day Amanda Sue had communicated her thoughts to Sawyer, just the first time he’d realized it.

  “Good night, Em,” Eden said, opening the door. “You tell my brother that I said he’s a lucky slob.”

  Emily told him just that when he called later. Logan only chuckled and said that he’d known Eden and she would get along. Emily gave him a detailed account of the visit, omitting only their discussion about her feelings for him. Logan recounted his own day, which had been dismally unproductive, and wished aloud that he was home.

  “Well, don’t worry about us,” she said. “We’re fine. Sawyer wore Amanda Sue out, though, so she went to sleep early.”

  “That’s okay,” he told her. “It’s nice to get to spend some time on the phone with you. Tell me, how did Amanda Sue like her first pizza?”

  Emily told him how his daughter had plastered a pepperoni slice on her cheek after she’d found it too spicy to eat, much to Sawyer’s amusement, and how she’d eaten the other toppings off the crust without ever allowing the crust into her mouth. They chatted on for some time, and before she knew it, they’d been on the phone for two whole hours! Logan only laughed, saying, “I can afford to pay my phone bill.”

  “But I wanted to take a long, hot bath before bed,” she complained. “I’ve hardly had time for a quick shower lately.”

  Logan groaned. “Are you trying to kill me? It’s bad enough that I can’t stop thinking about your beautiful breasts and delectable mouth, now I’ll be thinking about you floating naked in bubbles all night!”

  Emily was too shocked to reply. Logan took advantage of her silence to tell her exactly what he’d do to her if he were there to share that bath. By the time she could stammer some excuse and get him off the phone, she was trembling head to toe—and she didn’t go anywhere near the bathtub that night. But that didn’t stop her from thinking about all those wicked things he’d said. And it didn’t keep her from dreaming about them, either.

  It was going on 3:00 a.m. when Logan let himself into the house, seven hours earlier than expected and worth every moment of the sleep he’d missed by not waiting for the morning flight he’d originally booked. He was so glad to be home that he wanted to shout, despite the exhaustion nagging at his bones.

  The house was quiet, utterly silent. He paused in the hallway and let the peace soak in, but then he had to chuckle. It wasn’t the peace and quiet that he’d missed. It was the chaos of a willful urchin who had his heart wrapped around her little finger and another surprisingly willful female who made him ache to have her, all of her, in every possible way—and only her. He felt a little euphoric about that. If he’d needed proof of his feelings—and in all
honesty he had—he’d gotten it that weekend in New York.

  An old playmate had turned up unexpectedly. She’d invited him to join her for dinner, and since she was already seated and his name was way down on the list of those waiting for tables, he’d done so gladly. They had talked animatedly, mostly about Amanda Sue, but when she had asked him to accompany her back to her apartment for an after-dinner drink and “games,” he hadn’t felt the least compunction to go. For a moment he couldn’t quite figure out why. The woman hadn’t changed appreciably. She was still a beautiful, sexy, no-strings-attached player, just the sort he’d always preferred—until now. That’s when it hit him. He was committed to Emily, really committed. He didn’t want any woman but her. Now if only he could convince Em. He knew that his reputation worked against him in this, but he suspected, hoped, that her heart was already engaged to some extent.

  He needed to see her, but he felt compelled to check on Amanda Sue first. Dropping his baggage and coat in the living room, he bounded up the stairs, suddenly energized but aware of the need for silence. The door to his daughter’s room was ajar. He pushed it open and slipped into the dimly lit interior. A sudden hiss brought him up short as he moved toward the bed.

  “Well,” he whispered, finding the cause in the arched-back cat at Amanda Sue’s feet, “I see we have our very own attack cat. Looking out for my baby girl, are you?”

  Goody relaxed, hackles folding back into smooth, tiger-striped fur. The cat walked over to the bedside rail and put its paws up on the top edge. Logan put out a tentative hand, and a sleek head rubbed against it, a purr rumbling up from the bed. Logan turned his attention to his little daughter. It always amazed him that a human tornado could sleep so soundly, so still. She looked like everything good in the world, lying there on her stomach, her cherub face turned toward him, one little hand tucked up under her chin. He reminded himself to have pictures made of her soon. More than once these past days he’d started to pull out his wallet, only to remember that he carried no photos of his darling daughter.