Surprised by Family: a Contemporary Romance Duet (33 page)

The lady’s reply held a note of snippiness that Nikki took immediate offense to. “Excuse me, but
I’m
not being investigated. I didn’t even know I was going to be out of a job until I showed up for work this morning.”

“I’m sorry,” the woman stated without any evidence of sympathy. “Surely you can understand our parents would be concerned if we hired suspected criminals.”

Her spine stiffened and her mouth dropped open. Before she could form a reply through her shock, a distinct click sounded in her ear.

Ella sucked on her pacifier, content to play with a toy as Sam cradled her in one arm, while his fingers clenched around his cell phone in the other hand.

One damn day too late.

With Nikki’s daycare closed, the few open spaces for infant childcare in Pulaski and the surrounding towns had filled up. The next places on the list were all located in Green Bay, the complete opposite direction of where he worked in Redemption. That would put his round trip at an hour minimum both morning and night, but at this point, what choice did he have?

Leaving his cell phone on the table, he carried Ella into the kitchen for a glass of water. He caught sight of Nikki’s house through the window above the sink. Hopefully, tomorrow she would have better luck than him as she searched for a job. He took a few swallows, then lowered the glass with slow consideration.

If he added gas money to the going rate for a week of childcare, would it be worth it for her to work for herself? Not with just Ella, of course, but combined with the two she was taking care of today...

He bundled Ella into her coat and hat, and then made his way through both yards to Nikki’s porch. She answered the door and motioned him inside. Loud banging noises carried from her kitchen, along with a little voice calling,
“Mo oh’s, mo oh’s. Icky, mo oh’s.”

Curiosity filled her expression as she closed the door. “I didn’t expect to see you until maybe later.”

“I needed to talk to you and didn’t want to wait.”

“Well, I’m just making lunch, and as you can hear, Jeremy is a little impatient. Want to join us?”

Ella had eaten about an hour ago, but he hadn’t thought of anything for himself. “Sure. Thanks.”

In the kitchen, the noisy little boy took one look at him and stopped banging his spoon on the highchair tray mid-swing. Sam pulled out a seat at the table as the kid stuck his thumb in his mouth.

“That’s Jeremy, and this is Adam.” She indicated the baby who was a little bigger than his niece, also in a highchair.

“Hi, guys.”

Wide brown eyes shifted from Sam to Nikki, and back to Sam.

“If you don’t mind, sprinkle a couple more Cheerios on Jeremy’s tray,” Nikki instructed over her shoulder as she turned for the stove.

Shifting Ella to his other arm, Sam leaned forward and dumped some of the round cereal pieces onto the tray. Jeremy reached out with his thumb and forefinger for one, then lifted it to his mouth while watching Sam.

“It’s okay, buddy, they’re all yours.” The assurance did nothing to lessen Jeremy’s watchful gaze, so he glanced at Adam to find his hazel eyes fixed on him as well. He turned his grin toward Nikki. “Tough crowd you got here.”

“They’re just not used to your deep voice, that’s all.” She turned halfway to face him as she stirred a steaming pot on the stove. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I can’t find any local care for Ella. Every place is full.”

Dismay filled her expression. “I made a few calls, and the moment I mention I worked for Sunny Days, they’re no longer hiring.”

Sam frowned. “Can they do that?”

“I don’t know, but even if they can’t, it doesn’t help me out right now.”

“What if we help each other?”

Her hand stilled. “How so?”

“If you watch Ella, I’ll pay you the going rate for infant care plus the gas money I’d spend if I had to drive into Green Bay each day.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

“The time I’d save from extra driving is more than worth the gas money.”

She shrugged and nodded at the same time, giving him no clue how she felt about his suggestion.

“I realize that probably doesn’t come close to what you’ve been earning,” he continued, “but maybe these guys’ mom would consider hiring you. And maybe some of the other parents, too. Providing you don’t mind the idea of working from home.”

Her gaze shifted from Adam to Jeremy, then to Ella. He could practically see the gears spinning in her mind, but then she abruptly spun and reached to turn off the burner on the stove.

Disappointment flooded through him. “It’s just an idea. If you don’t want to, it’s fine.”

She carried the pot to the sink and dumped the contents into a strainer. While he reached to give the still-silent Jeremy a few more O’s, she faced him once again, steam rising from the sink behind her.

“I was doing the math for three, that’s all. The thing is, if I added a fourth child, I’d have to get licensed and submit to regular DCF inspections.”

“What is DCF?”

“Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. I actually looked into doing homecare last year, and while I don’t mind the rules and regulations, if I’d switched, I’d have lost all my benefits, so I stayed at Sunny Days.”

He nodded. “The benefits at Hansen Construction played a part in me settling in the area, so I totally understand.”

“I could get by with watching three kids for right now, though. Until my healthcare runs out in a couple months.” Her fingers drummed a rhythm against the edge of the counter. “A month or so would give us all some breathing space to look for alternatives.”

He allowed a hopeful smile. “It would.”

Nikki smiled back, appearing pleased at the prospect. “I’ll have to check with Lora when she picks up the kids, but I can let you know later, if that’s okay?”

“I’m good with that.”

“Good. Now, how do you feel about mac and cheese for lunch?”

“I’m good with that, too.”

***

Sam sat in his truck Thursday morning, amazed at the emotions tightening his chest. He couldn’t believe how hard it had been to hand Ella over to Nikki. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her completely, but he realized the moment the door shut, he was going to miss his little niece. Hell, even now, he wanted to rush back over there and hug her close one more time.

It seemed a lifetime ago that he opened the door to a pretty blond standing on his front porch with a baby, and yet somehow, even as Ella robbed him of sleep each night, he’d become irreversibly attached in less than three days.

Starting the truck, he took a breath and reminded himself he’d be back in about nine hours.

He arrived at work fifteen minutes early, and as expected, his boss’s vehicle was already parked in front of the construction site trailer. A quick glance didn’t reveal quite how much work the crew had completed while he’d been gone the past two days, but he also knew they’d been working inside because of the rain.

His knock on the door received a call to come in, and Carter Hansen looked up with a smile as he stepped inside the portable office.

“Morning, Sam. Go ahead and grab a cup.” He lifted his coffee mug, gesturing toward the coffee pot before taking a drink.

Sam filled an insulated paper cup and added cream. On second thought, he ripped open one sugar packet and dumped it in, too. “I wanted to stop in and thank you for being so understanding when I called the other day.”

The man nodded and reclined back in his chair as Sam took a seat. “I take it you got everything sorted out?”

“I was having trouble finding child care, but my neighbor agreed to watch Ella until I can find something more permanent. I may need a bit of time here and there for an appointment, but I’m happy to make up the hours on other days.”

“That’s fair. I’ll let Eddie know to work with you whenever you need some flexibility.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem. You look wiped out, buddy. How’s parenthood so far?”

He laughed as he shook his head. “Make that Unclehood. Saying it’s an adjustment would be the understatement of the century. But Nikki tells me I’ll get used to everything.”

“I’m sure you will. Nikki’s your neighbor?”

“Yeah. In fact, you know her brother-in-law, Eric Riley?”

“Sure do. Good guy.”

Sam wasn’t so sure about that, but then again, he couldn’t really fault Riley for protecting his family. “He said the same about you.”

“We’ve worked together a few years now. His stuff is amazing.”

“I know. Nikki got him and his wife to borrow me one of the cribs he made. Grade A craftsmanship.”

Carter’s gaze narrowed in consideration. “You must’ve made quite the impression for this neighbor of yours to be borrowing a crib from her sister. Is she a looker like Marissa?”

“I haven’t met Marissa.”

“Then what about the first part of the question?”

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. The more he got to know Nikki, the prettier she became, and she’d been pretty damn gorgeous from the start. But he wasn’t gonna tell his boss that. Carter was a bit older, maybe forty-ish, and in the few months he’d been working for him, Sam looked up to him like the father he’d never had.

It was weird talking with him like this, so he settled for, “She’s attractive.”

“Single?”

Hell, he’d been doing his damnedest not to think of her as a sexy, single woman. Every time he saw her, he was reminded he wasn’t succeeding very well with that line of thinking, but he didn’t need his boss teaming up with his fantasies. “Don’t even go there, man. I’ve got my hands full with the baby.”

Carter laughed. “Judging by that response, I’d say you’ve been there yourself already. But all right, I’ll let it go.”

“Thanks.” He finished his coffee and got to his feet. “I should get out there and see where Eddie wants me today.”

“All right, we’ll see you later.”

Sam tossed his cup in the garbage and reached for the doorknob.

“Hey, Sam.”

He turned back, eyebrows raised.

“I know it was only two days, but you’ve been missed around here.”

His boss’s statement filled him with relief. It must have showed on his face because Carter laughed and sat forward.

“You’ve impressed me from the beginning, and your work ethic keeps the other guys on their toes. I like that.”

Sam shifted, again uncomfortable at the conversation. “I learned early on hard work is the only way to get ahead.”

“Well, the only way
worth
getting ahead, anyway.”

“Yes, that’s very true.”

“I meant to ask before, have you heard from your sister?”

“No.” He hesitated, then added, “I don’t expect to, either. Maybe someday, who knows.”

“I always wanted kids.” Carter rose to his feet. “I respect you for stepping up like you have.”

Sam couldn’t help but glance at the wedding ring on the man’s left hand. “Why haven’t you? Had kids, I mean?”

“My wife preferred a career.”

Pain darkened his expression, and Sam wished he hadn’t asked.

Carter glanced at his watch before reaching for one of the folders on his desk. “I guess we should both get to work.”

Sam stepped from the trailer and stood on the steps. Strangely, the longing and regret in the older man’s voice made him think of Nikki. If he kept her at arm’s length because he was worried about wanting her in his life for the wrong reasons, would he end up regretting it?

Nikki grinned down at Ella as she sat up from blowing a raspberry on the little girl’s neck. Ella’s fingers curled around her thumbs, and she kicked her feet fast and hard. Her baby giggle further anchored the kryptonite hold on Nikki’s heart.

They’d had the entire day together, just the two of them. Lora Howell had jumped at the chance for Nikki to provide temporary care for Jeremy and Adam, but she couldn’t afford to pay her for the rest of the week without a refund from Sunny Days. She’d insisted on paying for Wednesday, and then after having arranged for a couple days of vacation, she’d bring the boys starting Monday.

The ring of the doorbell brought Nikki’s head up, then her gaze swung to the clock. Five-thirty-eight. That would be Sam. Her pulse sped up, sending her heart into her throat. Oh, boy, it was getting worse each time she knew she was going to see him. The anticipation, the excitement.

And yet, since that scorching kiss the other night, he hadn’t given any indication of wanting more. Not even the occasional suggestive comment she’d noticed prior to their half-assed plan to make Joe jealous. Granted, she’d agreed to that arrangement when she thought she wouldn’t have a reason to see Sam every day, and now she was watching Ella.

Maybe she needed to bring it up again, propose they go out tonight to a place she could claim her ex usually frequented. Of course, it wouldn’t really be one of Joe’s favorites. The last thing she wanted to do was see him again when she was with Sam.

She lifted Ella from the blanket spread out on the floor mat. “There’s your daddy—I mean, uncle.”

Yikes, she was doing it already.

Without bothering to move aside the curtain, she swung the door open with a welcoming smile—and froze.

Joe gave her a hesitant smile in return. Any type of uncertainty was so unlike him, all she could do was stand there and stare.

He looked good, as he always did. Impeccably dressed from the office, dark hair still carefully combed and styled even after a full day at work. His jaw was clean-shaven, the opposite of the stubble that’d perpetually graced Sam’s jaw since she’d met him.

His brown gaze took in the baby, then shifted back to her. “Hi, Nicole. I was hoping we could talk.”

“About what?”

“Us.”

She met his gaze in surprise, then ducked her head back a bit as Ella’s hand swung toward her face. “You said there was no us anymore.”

“I made a mistake.”

His low statement made her heart skip a beat, and yet the sight of Sam’s truck pulling into his driveway sent a rush of heat through her entire body.

She caught Ella’s hand a second before it hit her cheek. “I’m kinda busy right now. Working, actually.”

“I only need a few minutes. Please, just hear me out?”

Joe had never been much of an asker. What he had been good at was assuming what he wanted was what she wanted, which she guessed is why he’d gotten so upset and left when she hadn’t relented about moving their relationship forward. Had he expected her to beg him to come back? She wouldn’t have thought so when she’d seen him with Tanya, but now he’d claimed to have made a mistake. Had Sam been right about the jealousy?

The sound of a truck door drew Joe’s gaze, and Nikki saw Sam start across the yard toward them. She stood aside and motioned Joe inside. “Give me a minute, okay?”

He stepped past, his gaze not wavering from the rugged man crossing the yard until he passed through the doorway. Nikki waited on the porch with the baby, thankful for the lingering warmth of the unexpected Indian Summer day.

Sam took in Joe’s red Corvette, then mounted the stairs, one slow step at a time, his gaze fixed on hers.

“Hi.” Now her smile was hesitant. “How was work?”

“Good,” he replied shortly. “How’d everything go here?”

“Fine. Ella ate well. I gave her a bath. We played...it was a good day.”

“Great.”

She swallowed hard in the uncomfortable silence that followed.

Sam’s golden gaze shifted to the door hanging ajar behind her. “Joe’s here.”

“He wants to talk.” She lowered her voice. “He just got here. I didn’t know he was coming over.”

“I told you he was jealous.”

She shrugged, not sure what to say. She wasn’t even sure what she wanted to happen right now. The other night she was so sure she didn’t want Joe back. That part of her wanted him to leave. The other part, smaller, but there nonetheless, couldn’t help but remember the year she’d loved him with all her heart, and the future she imagined they’d have together. That part insisted she at least listen to what he had to say.

She handed Ella into Sam’s arms. “Here, you take her, and I’ll be right back out with her things.”

Inside, she saw Joe by her island counter, in full view of the door. He started to speak, but she held up a hand for him to wait as she grabbed the diaper bag and carrier.

Back on the porch, Sam accepted the diaper bag and slung it over his shoulder before taking the carrier in the same hand. Ella was swinging her arms again, and Nikki caught hold of one as she met Sam’s guarded gaze.

“Same time tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah.” He glanced past her shoulder. “Good luck.”

Her attempt to smile wouldn’t stick, so she resorted to a nod and turned away.

“Hey, Nik,” he called softly.

She spun back to face him and saw he’d set the carrier down. He stepped forward and leaned in, his body angled to hold Ella out of the way. His fingers threaded through her hair until he could urge her forward.

Resistance never even crossed her mind as his head lowered and he whispered, “Maybe this will help.”

His mouth covered hers in a slow kiss that ignited the simmering attraction from two nights ago. She braced her hand on his forearm, rising up on her tiptoes to increase the pressure. His fingers flexed for a brief moment against the back of her neck, then he lifted his head and let her go. His gaze locked on hers, his eyes the rich color of scorched caramel in the setting sunlight.

“Goodnight.”

He dipped to snag the carrier, then hurried down the steps and strode across her yard to his own. Nikki watched him, desperately trying to make herself breathe normally before facing the man she’d been prepared to spend the rest of her life with only one short month ago.

Maybe this will help?
How? Joe wanted to explain how he’d made a mistake by leaving, but after that kiss, and all she could think about right now was Sam.

“Are you sleeping with him?”

The accusing question jolted her attention. She took a deep breath as she stepped back inside and closed the door before facing Joe.

“No, I’m not sleeping with him.”

“Yet. He’s definitely aiming to get you in his bed, and using his baby to do it.”

“It’s not like that.” Irritation lent an edge to her voice as she picked up the toys from the blanket on the floor and carried them to the kitchen to wipe off. “I’m helping him with his
niece
, that’s all. We’re barely dating.” Even that claim was a major exaggeration.

He came to stand by the counter next to her. “You mean that’s not even his kid?”

“He’s taking care of Ella for his sister. She’s...working through some things right now. He hadn’t cared for a baby before, so I offered to show him what to do.”

“And you’re babysitting for him, too?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it, Nicole, can’t you see he’s using you?”

She dropped the toys in the sink and whirled around. “If you want to put it that way, then we’re using each other. I lost my job yesterday, and until I find another one, babysitting his little girl is my only income.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that.”

“And why would you? You’re not part of my life anymore.”

He slid his hand across the counter to cover hers. “I’d like to be.”

The warmth of his touch sent a frisson of remembered awareness up her arm, but she pulled away from the unwelcome sensation. “Coming in here and acting like a jerk is not the way to accomplish that.”

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I just...I didn’t realize what it would do to me seeing you with someone else.”

She lifted her chin a notch. “Hurts, doesn’t it?”

His eyes darkened, and his hand fisted on the counter. “Seeing that guy kiss you drives me insane.”

He really
was
jealous. The confirmation triggered an emotion she wasn’t quite sure how to define. Happiness? A little bit, because he still wanted her. But mostly satisfaction. She kind of felt bad, but knowing he now experienced some of what she’d gone through made her feel good, as well as if a little justice had been served.

Remembering why she’d gone through all that pain tempered her joy. “You’ve got no one to blame but yourself, Joe. You left me, remember?”

“I told you, I realize now that was a mistake.”

“After you saw me with Sam.”

She was surprised when he ran a hand through his hair and left it messed up.

“What can I say? I’m an idiot. A jerk. I regret that I hurt you.”

He moved forward and took both her hands in his. His touch awakened memories of the good times they’d had the year they were together. He was a good man, and she’d loved him with all her heart until he broke it into tiny little jagged pieces that stabbed her chest with each breath.

Remnants of those shattered emotions stirred to life as his plaintive gaze held hers.

“If there is any way you can forgive me, Nicole, I’m begging you to give me a second chance. To give
us
a second chance.”

Wow. Joe Holder begging? She didn’t know what to say.

Actually,
yes
, she did. She pulled free once more and crossed her arms over her chest. “Tanya know you’re here?”

“I broke it off with her. We’d only gone on a few dates. It was nothing serious.”

“Did you sleep with her?”

Joe shifted back a half step, his averted gaze answering the question for him. Nikki turned her head to stare at the counter. Then she pushed past that stab of hurt and moved on to the main hurdles.

“Have you changed your mind about getting married?”

“I’m ready to talk about it.”

That was a huge step up from him walking out on her at the mention of
til death do us part.
She brought her gaze back to his. “And kids? Are you ready to talk about a family, too?”

His gaze faltered before locking steady again. “Down the road, yes.”

He was offering the possibility of what she’d wanted all along. She respected his honesty in being willing to talk about the issues instead of promising her everything right away. But she also knew after spending just a few days with Sam and Ella, she would settle for nothing
less
than everything.

She wasn’t willing to go down this road a second time with him if he was only going to break her heart again. Not after she’d just started to heal with her budding feelings for the man next door.

Thinking of Sam added another level of uncertainty and confusion. Was
he
the attraction, or did she love the idea of Ella and him and an instant family?

“What I want for my future hasn’t changed,” she warned Joe.

“I know. And you deserve to have what you want and be happy.”

“We both do. So if you’re not sure—”

“Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night,” he suggested. “No pressure, just a nice night out to see how things go.”

She warned him about being sure, yet here
she
stood, plagued by doubts. About him. About Sam. About herself.

The thing was, she had no clue where things were going with Sam, if they were even going anywhere. He kissed her like he meant it for himself, yet the original idea had been to make Joe jealous. Which they’d done. He might figure his job was done, and then where would she be? She hadn’t known him long enough to bet on any type of a future with him and Ella, so didn’t she owe it to herself to see if there was still a chance of one with Joe?

“Dinner sounds nice,” she agreed with caution.

Hope filled Joe’s expression. “Yeah?”

“Yes. But it’ll have to be Saturday. Tomorrow night is Savannah’s birthday party.”

“Maybe I could go with you?”

“No, I don’t think that’d be a good idea.”

“Why? Because of your brother-in-law?”

Joe’s mouth twisted in annoyance. He and Eric had never quite gotten past whatever differences they had, but neither would explain their dislike.

“It’s not just him.” Marissa’s comment earlier in the week about Joe taking her for granted surfaced, and she raised her voice in defense of her family. “You walked out on me, Joe. Do you expect they’ll welcome you back with open arms?”

“I expect I’ll have a lot of apologizing to do.”

And then some. If they even got that far again. She was impressed that he’d admit it.