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Her gaze darted around the room and after a long second it finally sank in…she was alone. There’d been no Dan and no almost-kiss. Heat rose up her neck. She’d had vivid dreams before, but never with Dan as the star player.
“Amy, I’m home.” Emma’s childish voice rang out from the foyer.
“In the kitchen,” Amy called back. She rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand. Though it had been only a dream, her lips still tingled.
“Is it ’bout time for dinner?” The petite six-year-old bounded into the kitchen, a streak of dirt on her cheek and a grass stain on one knee. “I’m hungry.”
Amy couldn’t help but smile. Dan often joked that the little girl’s stomach was a bottomless pit. Emma could eat and five minutes later be hungry. “Once your father gets home, we’ll have dinner. He shouldn’t be too late.”
Amy opened her arms and the girl ran to her. When Amy had been Emma’s age, hugs had been in short supply. She’d vowed when she had children, she’d make sure they knew they were loved.
Amy couldn’t imagine anything better than having a family of her own—a husband to love, a child to cherish.
Her arms tightened around Emma. One day she’d be a mother. But for now, she had Emma to love.
Emma laid her head against Amy’s chest. “I love you.”
Tears sprang to Amy’s eyes at the child’s sincerity. “I love you, too, pumpkin.”
Yes, for now this would most definitely do.
Chapter Two
Out of the corner of his eye, Dan Major saw a stylish young woman across the bar and realized he knew her. He smiled and she waved.
“Another Dan fan?” Jake Stanley’s lips curved upward. “How in the world do you do it?”
“Stuff it, Jake.” Dan grabbed some peanuts from the basket in the center of the table and popped them in his mouth.
Seeing old girlfriends only reinforced why Dan found it hard to date. He liked the companionship but women always seemed to want more. Bree was a perfect example. Though she’d professed to being devoted to a singles’ lifestyle, after a couple of months, she’d changed her tune.
Dan sighed and glanced around the bar. Although it was only Thursday night, the place was crowded with women from nearby businesses. He suspected that was why Jake had insisted on coming to this bar.
Looking for love in all the wrong places…
For some reason the words to the vintage song popped into Dan’s head. But the lyrics didn’t fit his life. The last thing Dan was looking for tonight, or any other night, was love.
Jake shot Dan a speculative gaze. “Speaking of Dan fans, how’s it going with Miranda?”
“Her name is Melinda.” Dan kept his tone deliberately offhand. “And we’re not seeing each other anymore.”
“Let me guess.” Jake lifted a finger to his lips and pretended to think. “You broke up with her.”
Dan grabbed another handful of peanuts, strangely irritated by the knowing look in his friend’s eyes. “What does it matter who decided to end it? The point is it wasn’t working.”
“It wasn’t working because she wanted more than sex,” Jake said conversationally, resting his arms on the table. “Things heat up, you back off.”
“You don’t know squat.” Dan’s tone was sharper than he’d intended but it had been hard losing Melinda. Just like Bree, she was a nice woman and he’d enjoyed her company. But he refused to promise more than he could deliver.
Jake placed his drink on the table and lifted his hands. “Whoa, buddy. I wasn’t saying there was anything wrong with playing the field—”
Dan ignored the envious look in his friend’s eye. The truth was Dan didn’t like being on the dating merry-go-round. But the longer he was with a woman, the more they seemed to want, the more they seemed to need. He’d yet to find a woman who was content to keep it casual. “I made it clear from the very beginning that I didn’t want to get married again. Why is that so hard for women to understand?”
“Because regardless of what they say, they want that ring on their finger.” Jake lifted a hand and motioned for the waiter to bring him another drink. “I know you’ve got this thing against marriage but I think you should reconsider.”
Dan took a sip of beer. Jake had it all wrong. He didn’t have anything against marriage. He’d loved being married to Tess. From the time he’d first laid eyes on the perky blonde, he’d known she was the one. When they’d said “I do” he’d happily planned on spending the rest of his life with her. His heart twisted.
“You’d have someone to warm your bed and that little girl of yours would have a mother,” Jake continued.
Dan shoved aside his memories and smiled at the thought of his daughter. Of all the things he valued most in his life, his six-year-old topped the list. “Emma is coping with the loss of her mother. Amy takes good care of her.”
Amy had been his daughter’s nanny for three years and Dan knew she loved Emma as if she were her own. She’d made the house a home for both of them.
“Which is all well and good,” Jake said. “Until ‘nanny’ finds a man and decides to get married and leave you.”
Amy wouldn’t leave me.
Dan bit back the words, shocked at the strength of emotion the thought evoked. He started to say Amy didn’t even date, but stopped himself again. There had been one guy recently…
He’d been surprised—stunned would actually be closer to the truth—when Amy had casually mentioned she was going to the movies with someone she’d met at her cooking club. In all the years she’d lived under his roof, Dan couldn’t remember her dating before. Amy just never seemed like the dating type.
Not that she was ugly or anything. Far from it. With her brown hair, green eyes and a smattering of freckles across her nose, Amy had that natural, all-American look that any man would find attractive. And she was smart. While she always had an opinion on the latest current events, she also liked to listen. Any man would be lucky to have her for a girlfriend or wife.
A tightness filled his chest. Jake was right. If she left, he’d be stuck. He’d never find another nanny like Amy. He might even have to do what Jake suggested and remarry. A chill traveled up Dan’s spine.
Since he’d been fifteen, Tess had been the only woman Dan had ever wanted in his life. His wife had been beautiful, smart and a rising star in the fashion world with her innovative clothing designs. For the first five years of their marriage, life had been wonderful. Their careers had flourished and the old house they’d purchased in Lincoln Park was perfect for a growing family.
But after Emma was born, Tess had decided there would be no more children. She loved her daughter but her pregnancy had been difficult and Emma was a fussy baby. And when her new line took off like a skyrocket, her career began demanding more of her time and energy.
Dan had reluctantly put away his dream of a large family, but he hadn’t given up completely. When Emma was two he’d convinced Tess to have one more, promising her a full-time nanny. That’s when Amy had come to live with them. But the second baby he’d wanted so much had died along with Tess.
Guilt washed over him, mixed with an overwhelming sense of loss. He’d give anything to be able to go back and tell Tess he didn’t care about having another child or a playmate for Emma, he only cared about having her in his life.
“Mark my words, it’s going to happen.” Jake, appearing to revel in his role as a prophet of doom, pulled Dan back to the present. “It’s just a matter of time.”
“Amy isn’t going to get married.” Even if he didn’t fully believe them, saying the words out loud made Dan feel better.
She couldn’t leave. He depended on her to keep his household running smoothly. And he really liked having her around. Over the past couple of years they’d become good friends. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like if she wasn’t there.
“She’ll get married.” Jake nodded his head to punctuate the point. “She’s hot, in a plump sort of way. If she lost some pounds, I might be interested in dating her myself.”
Despite knowing Jake’s penchant for women who were model-slim, the comment set Dan’s teeth on edge. Maybe it was because he knew how Amy struggled with her weight and how self-conscious she was about the few extra pounds that made her more curvy than pencil-thin.
“Amy doesn’t need to lose an ounce,” Dan said. “And even if you wanted to date her, I know you too well to let that happen.”
Jake just laughed.
“Can I interest you two in some wings?” The waiter leaned across the table and slid Jake’s second drink in front of him.
Dan’s stomach growled and he realized with a start that lunch had been hours ago. He glanced at his watch and swore. Reaching into his pocket, Dan brought out a couple of bills and tossed them on the table.
“I’ll take a plate of the barbecued ones,” Jake said to the waiter before shifting his gaze to Dan. He lifted a brow. “You’re leaving?”
“I’m late.” Dan grabbed his briefcase and rose to his feet. “Amy will have dinner on the table.”
“I forgot.” Jake sat back in his chair, an inscrutable look on his face. “Superwoman does it all—cleans your house, cares for your kid and makes your meals. If you could just get her naked, you’d have it made.”
Dan ignored the crude comment—and the hint of envy in his friend’s tone—and simply smiled.
It was true. Amy had breakfast waiting for him every morning and dinner ready every night. The house was always spotless and, when he entertained, she worked behind the scenes making sure every little detail was covered. Best of all, she cared for Emma as if the child were her own.
No, as long as Amy was in his house, all was well in Dan’s world.
“Dinner was fabulous, Amy.” Dan wiped the corners of his mouth with the linen napkin and heaved a contented sigh. “And that dessert—”
“It was good, wasn’t it, Daddy?” Emma’s blue eyes sparkled the way they always did when her father was in the room.
“It certainly was, princess.” Dan’s fond smile lingered on his daughter. “Amy is a great cook.”
Amy pushed back her chair and rose, unable to stop the warm flush of pleasure at the compliment. There was nothing she enjoyed more than trying new recipes. She hadn’t been sure how Emma and Dan would react to the citrus-glazed salmon, but she’d been fairly certain they’d love the sour cream peach pie with homemade ice cream.
She hadn’t allowed herself even the tiniest of bites. A Moment On The Lips, Forever On The Hips had become her new mantra.
“Can I get either of you anything else before I clear the table?” Amy’s gaze shifted from Dan to Emma.
“No, thank you,” Emma said.
Amy shot the little girl a smile of approval. She’d been working with Emma the last couple of months on her manners and it was obviously paying off.
“And how about you?” Amy’s gaze settled on Dan. She’d lived in his house for over three years and firmly believed she knew him better than he knew himself. Like now, she couldn’t help but notice the lines of fatigue edging his eyes. Lately he’d been working too hard…and socializing too much.
Last Friday night, she’d lain awake until 1:00 a.m. waiting for him to come home before she’d finally fallen asleep. She wasn’t sure what time he’d come in but the next morning he’d been at the table at eight, ready to take Emma to the zoo as promised. Saturday night he’d stayed in. They’d all gone to the park and had a picnic, then came home and played board games on the porch until it was time to go to bed.
Being home on a Saturday night had been just one of the signs that another of Dan’s relationships had come to an end. It hadn’t surprised her. Melinda had been calling a lot and trying to cozy up to Emma. Amy could have told her such behavior was the kiss of death. If a woman wanted to keep Dan Major’s interest, she had to act like she didn’t care. That’s why Amy had kept a tight lid on her burgeoning desire for him. As far as he knew, she didn’t feel anything more for him than simple friendship. She was his housekeeper, his daughter’s caregiver and his friend.
Occasionally he’d confide in her, knowing what he said wouldn’t go any further. She savored those times and the closeness she…
“Earth to Amy.” Dan’s voice broke through her reverie.
She looked up with a start to find Dan and Emma staring at her.
Emma giggled. “You were spacing out.”
Amy blinked and warmth crept up her neck.
“What were you thinking about?” Dan asked, a curious glint in his eye. “You had the most interesting smile on your face.”
I was thinking about you.
The words rose unbidden to her tongue and when Emma giggled again, for a second Amy feared she’d said them aloud. She searched for a plausible explanation. “I was thinking about Steven.”
“Steven?” Dan frowned. “Who’s that?”
“He’s her boyfriend,” Emma said. “Amy and Steven sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love—”
“You were kissing a man?” The shocked look on Dan’s face would have been funny at any other time. “In front of Emma?”
“Of course I wasn’t, I didn’t,” Amy said quickly, embarrassed warmth coloring her cheeks. She shifted her gaze to Emma. “And Steven is my friend, not my boyfriend.”
“You talked to him for a long time on the phone today,” Emma said. “And you were smiling when you hung up.”
“He’s my friend,” Amy repeated. She glanced at Dan. “I’ve told you about him. He’s the guy from my cooking club. We were exchanging lasagna recipes.”
Dan’s dimple flashed. “Lasagna recipes?”
“That’s right.” Amy lifted a brow. “You find that amusing?”
“Not at all,” Dan said smoothly. “I think it’s nice that you two have so much in common.”
Amy pulled her brows together, not sure if he was being serious or insulting.
“We both like to cook,” she said finally.
Dan’s finger traced the raised pattern on the lace tablecloth and when he spoke his tone was decidedly offhand. “You two have been going out for what—a couple of months now?”
“Something like that,” Amy said. She still didn’t think of Steven as a boyfriend since, until recently, most of the “dates” had revolved around cooking group events.
Something flickered in the back of Dan’s eyes but he remained silent.
Unexpectedly Emma lifted her gaze to Amy. “Do you love him like my daddy loved my mommy?”
The girl’s question took Amy by surprise and she answered honestly. “No, I don’t.”
“Do you think you could love him?” Dan asked.
“I don’t know,” Amy said when she realized Dan expected an answer. “I guess anything is possible.”
Dan tucked Emma into bed and reveled at this perfect child he and Tess had created. He loved her with an intensity that took his breath away and his heart ached at the thought of all the pain she’d had to endure in her short life. All because of his selfish desire to give her a brother or sister.
“Good night, princess.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek. She was his priority and nothing mattered more to him than ensuring her happiness. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Daddy.”
“Amy will be up in a minute to say good-night.” His stomach tightened into a knot. Usually he and Amy tucked Emma in together. But tonight, Steven had called and Amy had said to go on without her.
A tear trailed down Emma’s cheek and her brows pulled together. With her big blue eyes and honey-blond hair, she looked more and more like her mother every day.
Dan’s heart tightened. “What’s the matter, sweetie?”
