“We’re playing dress up!” Skyler says, jumping up and down. “We’re princesses!”
“I’m so sorry.” Kiki backs away from me. “Skyler insisted I put it on.”
I shake my head, still unable to take my eyes off her. “It’s all right.”
“I thought you’d be working until dinner. I didn’t mean to?—”
“Kiki,” I say softly. “It’s okay. It’s just a dress.”
“Come play with us, Daddy.” Skyler grabs my hand and tugs me into her room. “We’re playing dancing.”
I smile at her. “I can see that.”
“Play dancing with us.”
I can do many things well. Dancing isn’t one of them. I don’t want to disappoint her, though, so I move my hips and fling my hands around a bit.
Kiki presses her lips together to stop herself from laughing. Skyler giggles and pushes me. “No, Daddy. You dance with Kiki. Like this.” She shoves me forward and I grab hold of Kiki so I don’t fall on her.
“You’re the prince. And she’s the princess.” Skyler turns up her little radio. “Dance!” she commands.
I slide my arm around Kiki. “Sorry,” I whisper.
“It’s fine,” she says taking my hand in the traditional slow dance posture. “Weareroyalty, after all.”
At least I’m not inept at slow dancing, so I start to move with the music. Kiki glides effortlessly with me. My hand splays on her back and my thumb grazes her skin. Sparks of electricity shoot through me, and my breath hitches. I haven’t held a woman like this since Courtney left me four years ago. My heart pounds so loud I’m sure Kiki can hear it.
I stare into her deep, blue eyes. I still can’t believe one dress could change a person so completely. Maybe it’s the hair, too, pulled up and off her shoulders. Or the color in her cheeks. Or the way she’s hiding a smile, like she has some secret she can’t share. My body becomes aware of every point of contact with her and the warmth I feel from her touch.
Noah passes by the door, and I jump back from Kiki, fully aware how we must look. He slides to a stop, takes a step back, and enters the room, his eyebrows raised. Kiki looks even more startled than I feel.
“I don’t think we’ve met.” A grin forms on his face. He’s in his police attire, and I assume he’s about to head off to his shift. He sticks his hand out to her.
Heat rushes to my face. “Kiki, this is my brother, Noah. This is Kiki Anderson. She’s Skyler’s nanny.” Noah works nights, and I still hadn’t had the opportunity to tell him I’d hired the woman from church.
Noah shakes her hand as his gaze travels down the length of Kiki, and it raises my hackles. What right does he have to look at her that way? I want to punch him in the face.
“Nice to meet you,” he says in a smooth voice, and this, too, makes me angry. Why is he coming on to her like that?
“Don’t you have a shift to get to?” I don’t mean it to come out so growly.
“Yes.” He drops Kiki’s hand but doesn’t drop his smile. “I’d better get going.” He takes a step back. “See you around.”
Noah leaves and Skyler grabs my legs. “Now it’s your turn to be the princess.”
She giggles as I pick her up, swinging her over my head. “No way am I putting on a dress.”
Kiki grabs her skirts and rushes to the doorway. “I’ll change.”
“You’re the princess now!” Skyler shouts at me. I swing her around a few more times, then tickle her sides. I love her high-pitched giggles. I love everything about her. She’s truly the light of my life, and even though I probably should’ve never married Courtney, I’m so glad I did because I wouldn’t have Skyler in my life if I hadn’t.
CHAPTER 5
KIKI EMMERSON
My fingers tremble as I unzip the wedding dress. I can’t get my heart to stop racing. I knew Tobias was handsome, but I had no idea he was so charismatic. My skin is on fire. I can’t catch my breath, and my knees are so wobbly I think I might fall down.
Standing there, in his arms, I thought I was going to faint. He looked too good in that white dress shirt. I take in a deep breath and scold myself. Why am I being this way? It was nothing. Skyler wanted us to dance. So what? Why am I acting like a hormonal teenager?
