Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“You’re welcome, your highnesses. Figured mermaid princesses need proper food,” he muttered, voice gravel-rough. He reached out and gently ruffled Rose’s hair, letting his fingers linger for just a second longer than necessary. “Glad you like it, sweetheart.”
God, the smile on his daughter’s face. Had anything ever shone so bright? Before the emotion could choke him, Grady stood up fast, not wanting to risk saying the wrong thing.
Needing air.
Needing a minute to get himself under control
“Got to go check on the animals,” he muttered, already turning away. He strode from the room before Sage or Rose could say anything else, his boots heavy on the hardwood as he escaped through the front door.
Even though the midday sun heated his skin, there was still a cool breeze coming down from the mountains. It refreshed and calmed him. Retreating to the barn, he sat down on the bench closest to the door.
He replayed the sound of his daughter’s voice over and over, cementing it in his memory. He had never experienced joy and exhilaration like this in his life. His daughter had talked, and it was all because of Sage.
Sage might call herself a nanny, but to him, she would always be his Little miracle worker. She’d stood up to him and fought for his daughter, making him listen to her. And she’d done everything she’d promised and then some.
It only made it harder to resist her. If he wasn’t careful, she’d become someone he couldn’t see himself living without. Why was caring for her feeling less and less like a betrayal of his late wife?
Every time Sage looked at him with those mischievous, dancing eyes and accidentally called him Daddy, it became easier and easier to accept it. Was there a way to open his heart completely?
Did he even still have a choice? Something deep and rusty inside him was waking up and refused to go back to sleep.
And that scared the hell out of him.
Chapter Seven
Sage’s heart ached as the front door clicked shut behind Grady. Hopefully, he didn’t think she was some callous witch, unaffected by Rose’s breakthrough. She was as overcome with emotion as anyone at hearing Rose speak. Only her training and experience kept her from breaking out in tears. No other student had ever affected her like that.
Rose was different. She was special to her in a way Sage didn’t fully understand. She cared about every child she’d worked with, but not like this. Fortunately, her training had kicked in. She could only imagine what Grady was going through.
“He’s a good Daddy, isn’t he?” Sage whispered, voice soft and full of joy. Thanks to Grady, this had been an even more amazing morning than she’d ever dreamed it could be.
Rose nodded, smiling around a big bite of cookie, cheeks puffed out like a happy little chipmunk.
Sage picked up her own cookie. With the first bite, flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg burst on her tongue. These were no bagged cookies from the grocery store. Cookies this good had to come from Bread and Batter, the best pastry shop in Wilder.
Sage made a mental note to reach out to Juniper Morgan, the bakery owner, and ask for some tips on making cookies. She could just picture fun afternoons in the kitchen with Rose, baking cookies.
Together, she and Rose ate every single cookie. Strange, how comfortable it felt to sit here with this beautiful, cheerful little girl who, until a few minutes ago, stayed completely wordless. Rose’s voice was soft and melodic and beautiful. Sage couldn’t wait to hear it again.
After they finished their cookies, Rose helped Sage shake the rug out in the front yard to get rid of all the crumbs. Sage glanced around but didn’t see Grady anywhere. He must have gone around back. She led Rosie back to their mermaid wonderland, settling in for a few more learning games and reading. Soon, they were both hip deep in Legos, building taller towers and singing silly songs.
It was sheer luck that she walked into the foyer, which stretched all the way to the back of the house. That was the only reason she caught Grady outside the backdoor window.
He’d been coming in the front door all day. She waved, even as her Little kicked the back of her brain. She had the nagging feeling she’d forgotten something. But try as she might, she couldn’t remember what it was.
When the back doorknob squeaked, it hit her.
Oh no.
How could she have forgotten about the glitter bomb she’d rigged above the back door that morning? It was all part of her plan to add more fun to his life. She was thoughtful that way. The people on YouTube seemed to love glitter bombs.
Now, it no longer seemed to be the “best idea ever,” it had been when she’d set up the trap. Holding out a hand, as if it could stop him, she called out, “Wait!”