yet?”
“Nope. Bring it.”
“And what will your excuse be this time? A bigger contract? Another account only you can close? When does it end? I’m done being left behind.”
“Come with me.”
A clatter of blocks banged together and saved her from answering. Gavin dumped out the rest of the bucket and Stephen dove in. She kept her attention on the toddler and hated the sudden racing of her heart.
“What do you think?”
She sneered and hoped she looked intimidating. “I think you need to nap, bad. Isn’t that when men promise the world?”
A laugh escaped his lips. “God, you’re stubborn.” He put up a hand when she began to protest. “Wait. How about I offer a truce?”
He ignored her disbelieving snort and continued. “I won’t make any moves on you. No touching, no flirting, no bringing up the past. I’ll be the perfect gentlemen this evening.”
“What’s the catch?”
His lips twisted. “If I promise not to nap with you on Andy’s carpet, you give me a fair chance. No looking for hidden motives. No insults or defenses. Have an open mind tonight. Deal?”
Suspicion laced her tone. “All you want to do is talk?”
“Talking is a first good step. At least you won’t pounce on my every comment.”
“I don’t pounce. You just keep making arrogant remarks.”
“See, you broke the deal. That’s considered an insult.” He pointed an accusatory finger.
She fought the sudden urge to laugh. Was she crazy to accept his offer? She should throw him out and forget he came back into her life. Still, her curiosity burned with the need to be completely satisfied.
The offer was safe. Her body always got her in trouble. Tonight, he’d only deal with her mind, and there’d be no way to slip through her defenses. Maybe after tonight she’d be free of him.
“Deal.”
Stephen gurgled and smashed the perfect tower. Brightly colored blocks flew in different directions and he screamed with glee.
Her ex-lover looked disappointed. “Darn, that was a good one. Is he usually this rambunctious?”
Miranda slid off the couch. “He’ll be up another hour or so. He usually passes out by eight and sleeps all night.”
Gavin scooped up the rest of the blocks. “Okay, buddy, let’s see if we can make Trump Towers and sell them before the market crashes.”
Stephen screeched in agreement.
…
Four hours later, Miranda collapsed on the carpet next to Gavin. A groan of pain escaped his lips. “I think I’m going to die.”
“No, you only feel that way because your head is pounding and your legs hurt from racing around the room. Wait till the aspirin kicks in.” Miranda tried to pull herself back up the couch but only managed to move an inch. One glance at her babysitting partner told her he had the same problem. They both lay stretched out on their backs and gazed up at the ceiling.
“You lied. You told me he sleeps all night and isn’t any trouble.”
“It’s your fault. You got him excited about those blocks and he couldn’t fall asleep.”
Gavin groaned. “How am I going to explain the crayon marks on the wall? I swear I took my eyes off him for a second.”
“They’re washable.” The image of the successful, smooth tycoon chasing a toddler flashed before her. A giggle burst from her lips.
“What?”
“You may be able to close a million-dollar deal, but I never saw such a look of fear when Stephen told you he did poop.”
“I think you broke our truce. That was definitely an insult.”
“Just an observation.”
“If I had any strength left I’d kiss you so we’d be even. Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you look with your hair spread out on the carpet?”
“You’re delusional.”
A comfortable silence settled between them. “I thought Andy had two kids.”
“His daughter is at a slumber party tonight. She’s at that stage where she thinks she’s too cool for a babysitter.”
“Have Andy and Elaine been married long?”
She turned her head to the right
“Nope. Bring it.”
“And what will your excuse be this time? A bigger contract? Another account only you can close? When does it end? I’m done being left behind.”
“Come with me.”
A clatter of blocks banged together and saved her from answering. Gavin dumped out the rest of the bucket and Stephen dove in. She kept her attention on the toddler and hated the sudden racing of her heart.
“What do you think?”
She sneered and hoped she looked intimidating. “I think you need to nap, bad. Isn’t that when men promise the world?”
A laugh escaped his lips. “God, you’re stubborn.” He put up a hand when she began to protest. “Wait. How about I offer a truce?”
He ignored her disbelieving snort and continued. “I won’t make any moves on you. No touching, no flirting, no bringing up the past. I’ll be the perfect gentlemen this evening.”
“What’s the catch?”
His lips twisted. “If I promise not to nap with you on Andy’s carpet, you give me a fair chance. No looking for hidden motives. No insults or defenses. Have an open mind tonight. Deal?”
Suspicion laced her tone. “All you want to do is talk?”
“Talking is a first good step. At least you won’t pounce on my every comment.”
“I don’t pounce. You just keep making arrogant remarks.”
“See, you broke the deal. That’s considered an insult.” He pointed an accusatory finger.
She fought the sudden urge to laugh. Was she crazy to accept his offer? She should throw him out and forget he came back into her life. Still, her curiosity burned with the need to be completely satisfied.
The offer was safe. Her body always got her in trouble. Tonight, he’d only deal with her mind, and there’d be no way to slip through her defenses. Maybe after tonight she’d be free of him.
“Deal.”
Stephen gurgled and smashed the perfect tower. Brightly colored blocks flew in different directions and he screamed with glee.
Her ex-lover looked disappointed. “Darn, that was a good one. Is he usually this rambunctious?”
Miranda slid off the couch. “He’ll be up another hour or so. He usually passes out by eight and sleeps all night.”
Gavin scooped up the rest of the blocks. “Okay, buddy, let’s see if we can make Trump Towers and sell them before the market crashes.”
Stephen screeched in agreement.
…
Four hours later, Miranda collapsed on the carpet next to Gavin. A groan of pain escaped his lips. “I think I’m going to die.”
“No, you only feel that way because your head is pounding and your legs hurt from racing around the room. Wait till the aspirin kicks in.” Miranda tried to pull herself back up the couch but only managed to move an inch. One glance at her babysitting partner told her he had the same problem. They both lay stretched out on their backs and gazed up at the ceiling.
“You lied. You told me he sleeps all night and isn’t any trouble.”
“It’s your fault. You got him excited about those blocks and he couldn’t fall asleep.”
Gavin groaned. “How am I going to explain the crayon marks on the wall? I swear I took my eyes off him for a second.”
“They’re washable.” The image of the successful, smooth tycoon chasing a toddler flashed before her. A giggle burst from her lips.
“What?”
“You may be able to close a million-dollar deal, but I never saw such a look of fear when Stephen told you he did poop.”
“I think you broke our truce. That was definitely an insult.”
“Just an observation.”
“If I had any strength left I’d kiss you so we’d be even. Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you look with your hair spread out on the carpet?”
“You’re delusional.”
A comfortable silence settled between them. “I thought Andy had two kids.”
“His daughter is at a slumber party tonight. She’s at that stage where she thinks she’s too cool for a babysitter.”
“Have Andy and Elaine been married long?”
She turned her head to the right
Similar Books
