CEO Daddy (Crescent Cove 6.50)

Asher, I noticed, kept his distance. He’d certainly rushed in here fast enough. Was his worry so easily assuaged?

“She’s just so long. And is she crawling?”

Asher tucked his hands into the pockets of his suit pants and said nothing.

“Yes, she’s getting about pretty good. Not standing yet,” Bess added, as if anticipating my next question. “I’ve been working with her, holding out some of her favorite toys and having her make her way to me if she wants them. She seems advanced to me. Definitely more advanced than my Danielle was at her age.” Bess scooped her fingers through Lily’s wispy red curls before moving to the crib. “Guess that was what this was all about, huh? A bored, mischievous little girl.”

“Could’ve been the loud voices too.” I lifted my chin. “Unless she’s used to those.”

“What are you implying? That my—Lily is used to hearing arguments in her home?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.” Somehow I managed to keep my gaze squarely on his. “Do you argue a lot with her mother?”

It probably hadn’t been a strictly necessary question. I wasn’t taking the nanny job—was I?—and this situation wasn’t my business.

Too bad it was harder to convince my heart of that. Or my belly, which had been flip-flopping since the moment I’d laid eyes on Asher again this afternoon.

If I was being truthful, it probably hadn’t stopped since we’d met on New Year’s Eve. Every time thoughts of him entered my head, I was in trouble. No matter how I tried to keep them out, they were persistent. He was persistent.

Right now? He was pissed at me. Again.

I’d always thought I was a rather inoffensive person, but Asher seemed to have no trouble finding things to be irritated at me for.

So different from how he’d been that night. I supposed that made sense. What crazy woman would sleep with a stranger who wasn’t even friendly?

Me.

We were still strangers for all intents and purposes, but my skin was tingling and too tight and I couldn’t quite stop staring at his lips. And remembering what they’d done.

With relish.

“Her mother died during childbirth. So, no, I do not argue with her, nor would I if she was alive.” Asher’s flat hazel eyes pinned me in place as my breath stalled in my chest.

The silence that fell was so dense that even Lily stuck her little fist in her mouth, her inquisitive brown eyes now riveted on mine. It was so much easier to look down at her sweet, innocent face than to meet Asher’s accusatory gaze.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

I hadn’t known any of this. I couldn’t even blame him for leaving me in the dark on so much, as we’d agreed to just one night. But I also couldn’t help being envious of the nameless, faceless woman who had borne him this beautiful baby.

It wasn’t my place. Wasn’t my life.

Tell your green heart that.

“Gran, would you mind leaving Hannah and I alone for a few moments?” When Bess hesitated, he added, “Please.”

She nodded and walked out without a glance back.

I clung to the baby.

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His baby, whom I wasn’t in any hurry to return. God knows why.

“The mattress is too high,” I blurted as soon as Bess shut the door behind her and closed us inside.

Together.

Asher crossed his arms, straining the seams of his wrinkle-free white dress shirt. “Excuse me?”