Read Online Nanny Next Door by Michelle Celmer - Free Book Online Page B

longest shower he’d had in a month, then shaved. He dressed in jeans, cowboy boots and a black PCSD—Prospect County Sheriff Department—T-shirt. He grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter and was heading out the side door when he noticed Sydney’s dish sitting there. He’d forgotten to give it to her yesterday when she came by. And remembering her visit, the way she had jumped when he touched her, made him grin. She’d more or less admitted she was attracted to him. But, attracted to each other or not, they seemed to have an understanding that a relationship would be a bad idea.
    He grabbed the dish and crossed the yard to Sydney’s side door. He knocked, and it swung open a few seconds later. But it wasn’t Sydney, it was her daughter.
    “Hi, I’m Daniel from next door. Is your mom home?”
    “Mom!” she called over her shoulder and held the door so Daniel could step inside. “The cop from next door is here!”
    She looked as though she was probably a cute kid under the dark makeup and green hair. She had Sydney’s wide blue eyes and upturned nose.
    “You must be Lacey,” he said.
    “My mom said you hired her to be your nanny.”
    He couldn’t tell if she thought that was a good thing or a bad thing. “Are you okay with that?”
    “Sure. Considering my tool of a father got her fired from her job.”
    He smothered a grin. Apparently Lacey’s opinion of her father wasn’t much better than Sydney’s.
    “Don’t call your father a tool, sweetheart,” Sydney said, appearing in the kitchen doorway.
    “Well, he is one,” Lacey mumbled, then a car horn blared outside. “That’s Veronica. Gotta go!”
    She slipped past Daniel and out the back door, and Sydney called after her, “Have fun, honey! See you tomorrow!”
    “Cute kid,” Daniel said.
    “Who obviously has issues with her father.”
    “I guess you can’t exactly blame her.” He held out the dish to her. “I forgot to give this back. The casserole was good. Maybe I can get the recipe?”
    She took the dish, eyeing him suspiciously. “You cook?”
    “I’m thirty-six and single. It was learn to cook or live on fast food and frozen dinners.”
    For the first time since Sydney had walked into the room, Daniel really focused on her face and realized her eyes were a little swollen and red-rimmed, as if she’d been crying. Had she had a run-in with her ex? He felt his hackles rise. “What’s wrong?”
    His concern seemed to confuse her. “Why would you think that?”
    “You look like you’ve been crying. Did your ex do something?”
    She laughed. “No, nothing like that. I was watching a movie on Lifetime. Friday is usually movie night for me.”
    “But it’s a gorgeous evening. You should get out. Have fun.”
    “The last time I did that, I was arrested. I feel safer staying home.”
    “Don’t you miss seeing your friends?”
    She shifted uncomfortably. “The truth is, I don’t really have any. Jeff got them in the divorce.”
    Then they were even stupider than the mayor. And it bugged Daniel that Sydney was afraid to go out and have fun. She deserved better than that.
    Before he could think what he was doing, he said, “Go get dressed.”
    She looked down at her T-shirt and shorts. “I am dressed.”
    “I mean, get dressed, I’m taking you out.”
    Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I told you, I don’t date cops.”
    “It’s not a date. It’s just friends going out for a drink. And you need to get out.”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “Trust me, you do.” He took her by the shoulders, turned her in the direction of the kitchen door, and gave her a gentle shove. “Now go. And wear something…sexy.”
    She shot him a look over her shoulder.
    “Trust me.”
    She reluctantly left the room, then he heard her bedroom door close. The reason, he figured, for her tendency to be nervous around him, was a complete lack of self-confidence. Which was totally unwarranted because she was a beautiful woman. Not to mention