THE KISS
826 Words
Amy picked up the next line immediately, standing on a stool so I could reach her back. "A kingdom of isolation, and it looks like I'm the queen!"
By the time we got to the chorus, we were both shouting the lyrics at the top of our lungs as I helped her into a clean dress.
"Let it go! Let it go! Can't hold it back anymore!" I sang, twirling her around.
"Let it go! Let it go! Turn away and slam the door!" Amy finished, striking a pose like Elsa.
I laughed and knelt down to button up her shoes. "You’re a very good singer, Amy. But we have to make sure we pick out the right socks. These ones with the ruffles, or the ones with the hearts?"
"The hearts!" she decided.
"Good choice," I said. "And remember, we have to be kind to our clothes. If we take care of them, they stay pretty. Just like how we have to be kind to people."
I was so lost in the moment, focused on smoothing out her curls and listening to her chatter about her favorite toys, that I didn't realize someone was standing in the doorway.
A throat cleared behind me.
I jumped, spinning around so fast I almost tripped over the stool. Kade was leaning against the frame, his arms crossed over his chest. He was wearing a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing the dark, intricate ink on his forearms. The top two buttons were open, revealing the strong line of his throat and the beginning of his chest.
My breath caught in my throat because damn, he looked... incredible. His jaw was so sharp it looked like it could draw blood, and his dark eyes were hooded, watching me with an intensity that made my skin tingle. I noticed the way the fabric of his shirt pulled across his broad shoulders and the way his jeans hugged his thighs. He looked powerful, dangerous, and overwhelmingly masculine.
Stop it, Amelia, I told myself. He bought you. You’re a nanny. Stop thinking about his chest.
"Good morning," I stammered, my face heating up as I snapped out of my thoughts. "I’m sorry, we were just... singing."
"I heard," Kade said, his voice a low rumble. He didn't look angry; if anything, there was a ghost of a smile on his face. He walked into the room and ruffled Amy’s hair. "You sound like a pack of seagulls, Amy."
"We’re princesses, Daddy!" Amy pouted.
"Is that so?" Kade looked at me, his gaze lingering on my face for a second too long. "You ready for breakfast?"
"Yes," I said, looking down at my hands.
"Good. Don't be late," he said, turning and walking away.
Amy and I finished getting ready and headed downstairs to the dining room. The table was covered in food, eggs, thick slices of bacon, fresh pastries, and bowls of berries. Kade was already sitting at the head of the table, reading something on his phone.
"Sit," he said, not looking up.
I sat down and started to serve Amy. When I finally took a bite of my own food, a piece of French toast drizzled with maple syrup, I couldn't help because it was so good, so rich compared to the dry protein bars I was used to, that a small, soft moan of pleasure escaped my throat.
I froze in place, mortified, Kade had stopped scrolling. He was looking at me, his eyes dark and burning with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.
I felt the heat rush to my cheeks. I bit my lip, looking down at my plate. "I'm sorry. It’s just... the food is amazing."
Kade didn't say anything for a long moment. He just watched me, his gaze heavy. "Eat as much as you want, Amelia. There’s plenty."
"Thank you," I whispered.
"We need to talk about Amy's school," Kade said, shifting his focus. "She starts her new term today at St. Jude's. It's an elite private school. You’ll be taking her and picking her up."
"I can do that," I said. "Is there anything special I need to know?"
"Just keep her safe," he said. "The driver is waiting outside. His name is Silas. He’s been with the family a long time."
We finished breakfast in a comfortable silence. Amy was chatting away about her teachers, and I found myself smiling, feeling like I was finally part of something. When it was time to leave, Kade stood up. He walked over to Amy and kissed her on the forehead.
"Be good," he said.
Then, he turned to me. He stepped into my space, and for a heartbeat, I thought he was going to say something cold. Instead, he leaned down and pressed a quick, firm kiss to my forehead. His lips were warm, and I could smell that sandalwood scent again.
"Take care of her," he said.
- Writer
