Next-Door Nanny: An Age-Gap, Grumpy Single Dad Romance by Sophie Taylor

Author:Sophie Taylor [Taylor, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

My mood is noticeable at work and France and Micah tease me about it. I notice Edward in the background grinning at me, and it’s hard to not feel a little like I’m being dishonest with him.

“Everything okay?” he asks and clamps his hand down on my shoulder.

“Yeah,” I tell him and smile.

“I see that grin on your face,” he prods. “I recognize it as the smile of someone who might have met a special someone?”

I laugh heartily. “Nothing like that,” I lie. If I tell him the truth, he’ll just ask more questions. “I’m just settling into living here and my children are adjusting well, so that’s something to smile about, right?”

“That’s good to hear, man.” He pauses, and his face takes on a melancholy look. “After everything you’ve been through, I’m just glad things are working out.”

“Thanks, man,” I tell him, and he nods and walks off.

I get through my shift, and by the time I get home I am in desperate need of a foot soak. Bianca opens the door for me like she’s anxious to see me, and I consider giving her a quick kiss while I can. Alicia comes into view almost immediately after, and I wonder if she’s noticed anything.

“Hey, pumpkin,” I smile at her.

“Hey, Dad,” she says. “Want to see what I painted today? Marina showed me some really cool things I can do with oil-based paint.”

“Is that so?” I ask and eye Bianca.

“She and Marina got along like gangbusters. And Alicia has real talent,” she agrees.

“Come on,” Alicia coaxes me, and I end up in the basement looking at a swirling fountain of blue, white, purple, and orange that I imagine the Big Bang to have looked like. “What do you see?”

I tilt my head to the side as I try to form a description. “The Milky Way?”

She laughs. “I call it teardrop,” she says.

“Huh,” I muse and pinch my chin. “Like human teardrops?”

“Dad, it’s not going to look like an actual teardrop, it’s supposed to give you a feeling. That’s what abstract art is. Expression and imagination.”

“I can see you’ve got that in spades,” I say and make a sweeping gesture. “But seriously, this is great. Now we’re going to have to start entering you in art shows.”

She giggles and blushes. “Not yet. But I have so many ideas now,” she says and her eyes glow with earnest excitement.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” I laugh and head back upstairs.

“She’s amazing,” Bianca says to me. “I can’t believe how gifted she is. You should have seen the way she soaked up everything Marina told her. Marina thinks she’s a natural.”

“I could have told Marina that. Alicia’s been painting ever since she could stand upright for more than ten seconds,” I laugh. “Meanwhile, Evan is the one who’s taken a shine to the kitchen.”

“I know,” Bianca says excitedly. “I’m surprised at how well he can whisk eggs, and he’s wanted me to show him everything I’m doing. You’re lucky you have such talented kids with such artistic passion.

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