Page 16 of Secret Baby
"How do you know Miss Vicki, Dad?"
He continued to laugh. "She was Aunt Alice's friend when she was a girl."
"I told you, Clara." Vicki laughed as Colt placed the frying pan on the counter and continued to smile.
Clara said, "Doesn't mean she's not my mommy. No one said no."
Vicki pressed her lips together as they both stopped laughing. One day, Colt wouldn't know how to stop the boys that came to the front door. Their gazes met, and then he nodded to his daughter. "Vicki's your new nanny for now, sweetheart."
Clara's gaze searched the room as she asked, "So what's in your bag? Toys?"
Vicki couldn't believe that she was so easily distracted.
Clara walked and jumped up to the counter to look at the bag.
"That's mostly pictures and things I intended to show your father later." Vicki met his stare, and he stopped laughing. She swallowed, and then took the plates over to the table. "Let's just eat."
Colt followed with the rest of the plates. "Your new nanny and I are friends, Clara. She's here to play with you today, but she'll tell me everything if the schemes get out of hand."
Vicki shook her head at Clara, and her daughter winked.
"Pictures are boring."
Vicki took a seat at the table, smiled, and her heart beat fastened. She scooted her seat toward Clara, as Colt set down the plates. Her daughter smiled as Colt added food to her plate. "What are we playing today?"
What child games did she know? Vicki cringed until an idea hit. She hoped to fill her daughter in on as much as possible of her life. "I make and design wedding dresses now for a living. I also play a few instruments. I was always good at art and coloring."
"I want to learn how to make pretty dresses." Clara's voice went up an octave. "Vicki is already cooler than Belle."
Colt dropped his fork onto his plate. "Hey now."
Vicki coughed and deflected their attention. "What are you good at, angel? We can play whatever you want."
Colt stood and went back into the kitchen. "I need another spoon."
Clara had her father's devil-may-care smile. "Riding my horse."
"Not today, sweetheart. It's supposed to rain," Colt said from across the room. "Inside games."
His daughter's shoulders shook, and then she whined, "I know you said that, but—"
Vicki saw how both of them understood where to push and where to stop. She kept her hands in her lap.
Colt poured small glasses of juice and carried them to the table. He pushed a glass at Clara. "No buts."
Then he handed Vicki a glass.
Clara's mouth opened, and Vicki knew she'd argue. So instead, Vicki asked, "It's supposed to rain?"
His eyebrows lifted. "Remnants of a hurricane that the mountains in Puerto Rico broke up. Don't you pay attention to the weather?"
With a shrug, she sighed. "No. The news is boring, and someone usually mentions a hurricane. Besides, it's hot and sunny in Florida every day."
He stared at her, then shook his head and found the silverware. "My oranges need the water."
Needwas a word she'd not use near Colt. She sipped her juice and then placed the glass on the table. "So it's a bad rain today. I understand. I'm up for any inside games that Clara wants to do."
Colt nodded as he slid into his seat.
