Finding Family...and Forever?

“Chicken, potatoes, vegetables. All in the Crock-Pot.” She folded her arms over her chest, an instinctively protective gesture. “It’s not fancy but should taste good.”

“Best offer I’ve had all day. I’m starved.”

Emma wasn’t sure, but she thought he was looking at her mouth when he said that. And there was something compelling and intense in his eyes, but probably that was just her imagination.

“It will be ready as soon as I thicken the juice for a gravy.”

“Lead the way. I’ll bring this guy.”

Emma was more than a little self-conscious as he followed her to the kitchen. She shouldn’t be; she was just the nanny. She’d started new jobs before and knew that this wasn’t the usual new-job nerves. Doing her best to ignore the feeling, she headed for the Crock-Pot sitting beside the cooktop.

Behind her he said, “There’s only one plate on the table.”

She finished putting meat and vegetables in small casserole dishes on a warming tray then glanced at him. “I thought you’d like alone time with Kyle.”

“And are you planning to eat?”

“Of course.”

“When and where?” he persisted.

“Upstairs. In my room.”

His eyes narrowed. “Except on her day off, Sylvia had dinner with us every night.”

“I know. But...” There was no way to put this into words that he would understand. In her interview, he’d been straightforward about the fact that he wasn’t looking for anything other than a nanny. To adequately explain why she wouldn’t eat dinner with him, she would have to confess her attraction. Other than throwing herself at him, that was probably the fastest way to lose this job.

Justin was staring at her. “It just feels wrong to me for you to segregate yourself. Too Upstairs, Downstairs.” He shook his head. “Or like you’re an orphan in a Charles Dickens book.”

That was ironic. Not only wasn’t she an orphan, she had more family than she knew what to do with.

He settled Kyle in the high chair then met her gaze. “Emma, I’d like you to have dinner with us.”

“Is that an order?”

“Of course not. It just feels...” He shrugged, as if he didn’t know how to put it into words either. “I’m trying to maintain as much family atmosphere as possible for Kyle.”

“I understand.” And she did. “Thank you.”

“I’ll set another place at the table,” he said.

“Okay. Thanks.”

She felt pleased yet awkward at the same time. And guilty that this extraordinarily nice man didn’t know the whole truth. A few minutes later the two of them were sitting in their respective places at a right angle to each other with Kyle in the middle. Emma cut chicken, cooked carrots and potato into pieces big enough for the baby to pick up with his chubby fingers but small enough so that he wouldn’t choke.

Justin filled his own plate and took a bite of meat. “This is as good as it smells.”

“I’m glad.” She spooned some of everything for herself and tasted a little bit of each, satisfied that it was all right. “It should fill you up.”

“A hearty meal for a cold night.” He glanced at his son, who was busy with his food, part eating part playing. “Kyle approves, too.”

“Do you like chicken salad?”

“Yeah.” He met her gaze. “Why?”

“I can make some with the leftovers. A little celery, cucumber. Maybe dill pickle chopped up?”

“Sounds good to me.”

She knew from her two weeks of orientation with Sylvia that he sometimes took lunch with him to Mercy Medical Clinic. “I can make a sandwich for you if you’d like. Maybe a piece of fruit and macaroni salad.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, that would be great.”

“I’m happy to do it.” Emma was being well paid for her work, but it didn’t feel like work because she wanted to please him. That’s what bothered her the most.

Justin chewed a carrot then glanced at his son, who had little orange pieces of vegetable all over his face. “Tell me what he did today.”

“He was an angel.”

“Don’t sugarcoat it. What was this scoundrel really up to?”

She smiled. “It’s the absolute truth. He’s practically perfect. And by that I mean perfectly normal for his age.”

“What you’re diplomatically telling me is that my son got into everything. Or tried.”

“Yes, he did.”

“So, how is that perfect?”

“It’s exactly what he should be doing. Natural curiosity in a child is completely appropriate. Exploring his environment is his job.” She smiled. “And he’s really good at it.”

“He kept you running?”

She nodded. “It’s my job to make his surroundings secure. If I had a chore to do, I set up an area with a safe zone for him. And he loves to help. Folding towels, for instance. Did you know he loves the laundry basket?”

“I didn’t.” He tousled the boy’s downy, light brown hair. “Way to go, buddy.” In answer, Kyle slapped the high-chair tray, splattering food.

“And anything that needed doing in a nonsafe zone waited until he was down for a nap.” She sounded like a walking baby textbook, but it was important that he know how his son was being cared for. “He took a long one this afternoon, but now he looks tired to me. I have a feeling he’s growing.”

“What makes you think so?”

“Look at the way he’s eating.”

Justin laughed ruefully. “It’s really hard to judge how much is actually going in.”

“I gave him quite a bit and he’s not wearing that much of it,” she said, smiling at the grubby boy. “Do you like it, Kyle?” He shook his head but was grinning. “Silly.”

“That’s my boy.”