The Nanny's Christmas Wish by Ami Weaver

Author:Ami Weaver
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-11-18T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

If anyone guessed how Josh spent his Saturday night, no one commented. Though of all his employees only Marta would say anything, and only then because Josh and her husband were such good friends. Still, she kept quiet and Josh hoped he’d gotten off the hook.

Though clearly knowledge of Maggie and speculation about their relationship was getting around town. He’d been urged by three of his patients today to give their assorted female relatives a call soon because she was such a lovely woman. He’d been hit on by one other patient—not on the level of Julie Henney, thankfully, but still a waste of time on his end and hers.

The one woman he wanted—and there was no denying it now—was the one he couldn’t have.

Marta breezed in. “Wow, you must really have made an impression with Maggie at the parade this weekend. We’ve got eligible women and their champions lined up all day. Tomorrow, too,” she added, giving him a grin. “They’re worried you’re going to go to an outsider.”

Josh leaned back in his chair, annoyance warring with humor inside him. “Like I’m the grand-prize pig at the county fair?” he said wryly, and Marta shrugged.

“You know how this works. They all want to be responsible for healing your broken heart.”

Josh thumped the chair legs back down on the floor. “Marta—”

She held up a hand. “I know the score, doc. But other than me and Trav? I don’t think anyone knows what things were like with you and Lucy. Does your mom even know?”

Did she? Josh never said in so many words, but he was pretty sure they’d been giving off bad vibes for the entire marriage. “I don’t know. She’s never asked. Or said anything.”

Marta shrugged. “It wouldn’t matter anyway. A commitment-shy widower is just as good as a heartbroken widower in the eyes of those who would save you. Maybe even more of a trophy,” she added, then grinned when his eyes narrowed. “Maybe you could compete with that grand-prize pig, after all.”

Josh choked on a laugh, because he knew enough about some female minds to know what Marta said held some truth. Senseless, but true. “Thanks, Marta. What would I do without you to keep my ego in check?”

She laughed, then sent him a pointed look on her way out the door. “Find your own woman to do it for you.”

Ah, the sticking point. Even though he was wildly attracted to Maggie, he couldn’t take what had happened any further.

But he wanted more. Much more. He wanted Maggie in his bed every night. He wanted the elusive commitment Marta was so sure he wanted to avoid. It wasn’t going to be. The sooner he accepted he couldn’t have Maggie, not now, not ever, the better off he’d be. Things could go back to how they were. Normal. Safe.

Somehow the whole idea rang hollow instead of being comforting.

When he got home that night, he found Maggie and Cody sitting down to decorate freshly baked Christmas cutout cookies.

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