Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Not that he had the right to spank her now or ever. And had his mind really gone there for the first time in over two years?
Just stop thinking about it, he told himself. Yeah, he’d get right on that.
And what was she looking at? She had stepped back toward him and was looking around the foyer, into the kitchen to her right, and the family room to her left. He did the same, picturing his home through her eyes. When was the last time he’d cleaned this place up? How had he not noticed that one of the lights in the foyer chandelier was out?
Truth be told, since the sudden passing of his wife two years ago, he’d been walking around in a fog. And if he was going down the honesty track, he might as well admit that he’d hired Sage for a reason. None of the other nannies had been effective with Rose, and Sage came with the highest recommendation from the Haven Agency, which he suspected meant she was the only one left. She was supposed to be a specialist in helping children catch up on their education while dealing with emotional wounds. According to them, she was exactly who Rose needed.
But that didn’t mean he had to be happy about it.
While he’d been lost in his thoughts, Sage had entered the family room where she’d discovered Rose sitting on the floor coloring. Sage sat right down beside her and pulled out a book from her shoulder bag. A dragon of all things graced the front cover.
Rose looked at Sage. Ever watchful, Grady held his breath.
With a smile, Sage asked, “Would you like me to read it to you?”
Rose glanced at the multicolored dragon with the big smile on the cover. Without a word, she nodded before returning her gaze to the floor.
Grady’s heart sank. He’d really hoped Rose would respond with words, despite knowing it would have been a miracle if she had. God knows he’d been trying for the past two years without any success. At least she’d responded. No matter what he thought about Rose’s new nanny, he couldn’t hold back the glimmer of hope that gave him.
Now look at him, he was smiling. He’d been determined to scowl the whole time Sage was there, but Rose’s one simple nod had done away with that plan.
Sage started reading with animated voices for each character and made silly faces to match what was happening in the book. Within minutes, a tiny giggle escaped his Rose. Grady blinked, a burning sensation in his eyes. Allergies must be coming early this season, or something.
It was unbelievable. Rose was smiling and leaning forward, completely captivated. Standing there dumbfounded, he saw Sage offering to read the story again. Incredibly, Rose gave a timid nod and scooted up onto Sage’s lap.
Sage took a breath between pages and seemed to notice she had more than one person in her audience.
Here it comes. Any minute now, she’ll throw me a know-it-all “I told you so” smirk.
Instead, she smiled at him with a twinkle in her eye and continued reading. He just stood there, entranced, unbelieving how much life she’d brought into Rose’s face within minutes of arriving at his house.
When Sage closed the book, Rose bounced up and down, clapping before tapping the book.
“Would you like to hear it again?” Sage asked Rose.
Rose nodded with a gigantic smile.
Sage looked up at Grady. “Well, Daddy? Can I read it again?”
Even though he knew Sage was only calling him “Daddy” because she was speaking for Rose, that word coming from her mouth made his cock throb. Down, boy, he commanded. Not that it did that much good.
Never let it be said he wasn’t man enough to know when he’d been wrong.
Try as he might, he couldn’t see this as anything but a good thing. He just needed to make sure his water tank was big enough to handle all the cold showers he’d be taking in the coming months. Bracing himself, he settled into his decision, praying his mother had been right all those times she’d commended his patience and self-control.
He crossed to a large leather recliner and sat. “She can read it one more time,” he told Rose before shifting his gaze to Sage. “And then I need to talk to Miss Sage.”
“It’s just Sage,” she said. “I’ll go grab my suitcases when I’m done.”
Seriously, who was this girl’s Daddy? Had he never taken care of her the way a Daddy should? No way was this Little girl lugging around heavy suitcases with him right there.
Trying his best to keep his scowl to a minimum, he said, “I’ll get your suitcases.”
The smile Sage sent his way made his palm itch. It was a smile much too bright to flash at a complete stranger. At least it told him he’d been successful in hiding his scowl.