Autumn Wish (10 page)

He bundled Ella into her coat and hat, and then made his way through both yards to Nikki’s porch. She answered the door and motioned him inside. Loud banging noises carried from her kitchen, along with a little voice calling,
“Mo oh’s, mo oh’s. Icky, mo oh’s.”

Curiosity filled her expression as she closed the door. “I didn’t expect to see you until maybe later.”

“I needed to talk to you and didn’t want to wait.”

“Well, I’m just making lunch, and as you can hear, Jeremy is a little impatient. Want to join us?”

Ella had eaten about an hour ago, but he hadn’t thought of anything for himself. “Sure. Thanks.”

In the kitchen, the noisy little boy took one look at him and stopped banging his spoon on the highchair tray mid-swing. Sam pulled out a seat at the table as the kid stuck his thumb in his mouth.

“That’s Jeremy, and this is Adam.” She indicated the baby who was a little bigger than his niece, also in a highchair.

“Hi, guys.”

Wide brown eyes shifted from Sam to Nikki, and back to Sam.

“If you don’t mind, sprinkle a couple more Cheerios on Jeremy’s tray,” Nikki instructed over her shoulder as she turned for the stove.

Shifting Ella to his other arm, Sam leaned forward and dumped some of the round cereal pieces onto the tray. Jeremy reached out with his thumb and forefinger for one, then lifted it to his mouth while watching Sam.

“It’s okay, buddy, they’re all yours.” The assurance did nothing to lessen Jeremy’s watchful gaze, so he glanced at Adam to find his hazel eyes fixed on him as well. He turned his grin toward Nikki. “Tough crowd you got here.”

“They’re just not used to your deep voice, that’s all.” She turned halfway to face him as she stirred a steaming pot on the stove. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I can’t find any local care for Ella. Every place is full.”

Dismay filled her expression. “I made a few calls, and the moment I mention I worked for Sunny Days, they’re no longer hiring.”

Sam frowned. “Can they do that?”

“I don’t know, but even if they can’t, it doesn’t help me out right now.”

“What if we help each other?”

Her hand stilled. “How so?”

“If you watch Ella, I’ll pay you the going rate for infant care plus the gas money I’d spend if I had to drive into Green Bay each day.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

“The time I’d save from extra driving is more than worth the gas money.”

She shrugged and nodded at the same time, giving him no clue how she felt about his suggestion.

“I realize that probably doesn’t come close to what you’ve been earning,” he continued, “but maybe these guys’ mom would consider hiring you. And maybe some of the other parents, too. Providing you don’t mind the idea of working from home.”

Her gaze shifted from Adam to Jeremy, then to Ella. He could practically see the gears spinning in her mind, but then she abruptly spun and reached to turn off the burner on the stove.

Disappointment flooded through him. “It’s just an idea. If you don’t want to, it’s fine.”

She carried the pot to the sink and dumped the contents into a strainer. While he reached to give the still-silent Jeremy a few more O’s, she faced him once again, steam rising from the sink behind her.

“I was doing the math for three, that’s all. The thing is, if I added a fourth child, I’d have to get licensed and submit to regular DCF inspections.”

“What is DCF?”

“Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. I actually looked into doing homecare last year, and while I don’t mind the rules and regulations, if I’d switched, I’d have lost all my benefits, so I stayed at Sunny Days.”

He nodded. “The benefits at Hansen Construction played a part in me settling in the area, so I totally understand.”

“I could get by with watching three kids for right now, though. Until my healthcare runs out in a couple months.” Her fingers drummed a rhythm against the edge of the counter. “A month or so would give us all some breathing space to look for alternatives.”

He allowed a hopeful smile. “It would.”

Nikki smiled back, appearing pleased at the prospect. “I’ll have to check with Lora when she picks up the kids, but I can let you know later, if that’s okay?”

“I’m good with that.”

“Good. Now, how do you feel about mac and cheese for lunch?”

“I’m good with that, too.”

***

Sam sat in his truck Thursday morning, amazed at the emotions tightening his chest. He couldn’t believe how hard it had been to hand Ella over to Nikki. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her completely, but he realized the moment the door shut, he was going to miss his little niece. Hell, even now, he wanted to rush back over there and hug her close one more time.

It seemed a lifetime ago that he opened the door to a pretty blond standing on his front porch with a baby, and yet somehow, even as Ella robbed him of sleep each night, he’d become irreversibly attached in less than three days.

Starting the truck, he took a breath and reminded himself he’d be back in about nine hours.

He arrived at work fifteen minutes early, and as expected, his boss’s vehicle was already parked in front of the construction site trailer. A quick glance didn’t reveal quite how much work the crew had completed while he’d been gone the past two days, but he also knew they’d been working inside because of the rain.

His knock on the door received a call to come in, and Carter Hansen looked up with a smile as he stepped inside the portable office.

“Morning, Sam. Go ahead and grab a cup.” He lifted his coffee mug, gesturing toward the coffee pot before taking a drink.

Sam filled an insulated paper cup and added cream. On second thought, he ripped open one sugar packet and dumped it in, too. “I wanted to stop in and thank you for being so understanding when I called the other day.”

The man nodded and reclined back in his chair as Sam took a seat. “I take it you got everything sorted out?”

“I was having trouble finding child care, but my neighbor agreed to watch Ella until I can find something more permanent. I may need a bit of time here and there for an appointment, but I’m happy to make up the hours on other days.”

“That’s fair. I’ll let Eddie know to work with you whenever you need some flexibility.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem. You look wiped out, buddy. How’s parenthood so far?”

He laughed as he shook his head. “Make that Unclehood. Saying it’s an adjustment would be the understatement of the century. But Nikki tells me I’ll get used to everything.”

“I’m sure you will. Nikki’s your neighbor?”

“Yeah. In fact, you know her brother-in-law, Eric Riley?”

“Sure do. Good guy.”

Sam wasn’t so sure about that, but then again, he couldn’t really fault Riley for protecting his family. “He said the same about you.”

“We’ve worked together a few years now. His stuff is amazing.”

“I know. Nikki got him and his wife to borrow me one of the cribs he made. Grade A craftsmanship.”

Carter’s gaze narrowed in consideration. “You must’ve made quite the impression for this neighbor of yours to be borrowing a crib from her sister. Is she a looker like Marissa?”

“I haven’t met Marissa.”

“Then what about the first part of the question?”

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. The more he got to know Nikki, the prettier she became, and she’d been pretty damn gorgeous from the start. But he wasn’t gonna tell his boss that. Carter was a bit older, maybe forty-ish, and in the few months he’d been working for him, Sam looked up to him like the father he’d never had.

It was weird talking with him like this, so he settled for, “She’s attractive.”

“Single?”

Hell, he’d been doing his damnedest not to think of her as a sexy, single woman. Every time he saw her, he was reminded he wasn’t succeeding very well with that line of thinking, but he didn’t need his boss teaming up with his fantasies. “Don’t even go there, man. I’ve got my hands full with the baby.”

Carter laughed. “Judging by that response, I’d say you’ve been there yourself already. But all right, I’ll let it go.”

“Thanks.” He finished his coffee and got to his feet. “I should get out there and see where Eddie wants me today.”

“All right, we’ll see you later.”

Sam tossed his cup in the garbage and reached for the doorknob.

“Hey, Sam.”

He turned back, eyebrows raised.

“I know it was only two days, but you’ve been missed around here.”

His boss’s statement filled him with relief. It must have showed on his face because Carter laughed and sat forward.

“You’ve impressed me from the beginning, and your work ethic keeps the other guys on their toes. I like that.”

Sam shifted, again uncomfortable at the conversation. “I learned early on hard work is the only way to get ahead.”

“Well, the only way
worth
getting ahead, anyway.”

“Yes, that’s very true.”

“I meant to ask before, have you heard from your sister?”

“No.” He hesitated, then added, “I don’t expect to, either. Maybe someday, who knows.”

“I always wanted kids.” Carter rose to his feet. “I respect you for stepping up like you have.”

Sam couldn’t help but glance at the wedding ring on the man’s left hand. “Why haven’t you? Had kids, I mean?”

“My wife preferred a career.”

Pain darkened his expression, and Sam wished he hadn’t asked.

Carter glanced at his watch before reaching for one of the folders on his desk. “I guess we should both get to work.”

Sam stepped from the trailer and stood on the steps. Strangely, the longing and regret in the older man’s voice made him think of Nikki. If he kept her at arm’s length because he was worried about wanting her in his life for the wrong reasons, would he end up regretting it?

Chapter 11

Nikki grinned down at Ella as she sat up from blowing a raspberry on the little girl’s neck. Ella’s fingers curled around her thumbs, and she kicked her feet fast and hard. Her baby giggle further anchored the kryptonite hold on Nikki’s heart.

They’d had the entire day together, just the two of them. Lora Howell had jumped at the chance for Nikki to provide temporary care for Jeremy and Adam, but she couldn’t afford to pay her for the rest of the week without a refund from Sunny Days. She’d insisted on paying for Wednesday, and then after having arranged for a couple days of vacation, she’d bring the boys starting Monday.

The ring of the doorbell brought Nikki’s head up, then her gaze swung to the clock. Five-thirty-eight. That would be Sam. Her pulse sped up, sending her heart into her throat. Oh, boy, it was getting worse each time she knew she was going to see him. The anticipation, the excitement.

And yet, since that scorching kiss the other night, he hadn’t given any indication of wanting more. Not even the occasional suggestive comment she’d noticed prior to their half-assed plan to make Joe jealous. Granted, she’d agreed to that arrangement when she thought she wouldn’t have a reason to see Sam every day, and now she was watching Ella.

Maybe she needed to bring it up again, propose they go out tonight to a place she could claim her ex usually frequented. Of course, it wouldn’t really be one of Joe’s favorites. The last thing she wanted to do was see him again when she was with Sam.

She lifted Ella from the blanket spread out on the floor mat. “There’s your daddy—I mean, uncle.”

Yikes, she was doing it already.

Without bothering to move aside the curtain, she swung the door open with a welcoming smile—and froze.

Joe gave her a hesitant smile in return. Any type of uncertainty was so unlike him, all she could do was stand there and stare.

He looked good, as he always did. Impeccably dressed from the office, dark hair still carefully combed and styled even after a full day at work. His jaw was clean-shaven, the opposite of the stubble that’d perpetually graced Sam’s jaw since she’d met him.

His brown gaze took in the baby, then shifted back to her. “Hi, Nicole. I was hoping we could talk.”

“About what?”

“Us.”

She met his gaze in surprise, then ducked her head back a bit as Ella’s hand swung toward her face. “You said there was no us anymore.”

“I made a mistake.”

His low statement made her heart skip a beat, and yet the sight of Sam’s truck pulling into his driveway sent a rush of heat through her entire body.

She caught Ella’s hand a second before it hit her cheek. “I’m kinda busy right now. Working, actually.”

“I only need a few minutes. Please, just hear me out?”

Joe had never been much of an asker. What he had been good at was assuming what he wanted was what she wanted, which she guessed is why he’d gotten so upset and left when she hadn’t relented about moving their relationship forward. Had he expected her to beg him to come back? She wouldn’t have thought so when she’d seen him with Tanya, but now he’d claimed to have made a mistake. Had Sam been right about the jealousy?

The sound of a truck door drew Joe’s gaze, and Nikki saw Sam start across the yard toward them. She stood aside and motioned Joe inside. “Give me a minute, okay?”

He stepped past, his gaze not wavering from the rugged man crossing the yard until he passed through the doorway. Nikki waited on the porch with the baby, thankful for the lingering warmth of the unexpected Indian Summer day.

Sam took in Joe’s red Corvette, then mounted the stairs, one slow step at a time, his gaze fixed on hers.

“Hi.” Now her smile was hesitant. “How was work?”

“Good,” he replied shortly. “How’d everything go here?”

“Fine. Ella ate well. I gave her a bath. We played...it was a good day.”

“Great.”

She swallowed hard in the uncomfortable silence that followed.

Sam’s golden gaze shifted to the door hanging ajar behind her. “Joe’s here.”

“He wants to talk.” She lowered her voice. “He just got here. I didn’t know he was coming over.”

“I told you he was jealous.”

She shrugged, not sure what to say. She wasn’t even sure what she wanted to happen right now. The other night she was so sure she didn’t want Joe back. That part of her wanted him to leave. The other part, smaller, but there nonetheless, couldn’t help but remember the year she’d loved him with all her heart, and the future she imagined they’d have together. That part insisted she at least listen to what he had to say.