Page 34 of The Unconventional Nanny
"Daddy!" Everly screams as she runs across the lawn. She’s met halfway by Ang, who leans down and scoops her up in his arms, reminding me why I'm falling in love with this man. His adoration for his daughters is certainly in the top running.
"Hey, baby girl. Are you being good for Gracie today?" Ang looks over his daughter's head and gives me a tantalizing smile.
And that right there is another reason.
There's something extremely attractive about a man who looks at a woman like he wants to devour her.
"Yes!"
I smile at Everly's enthusiasm, because she isn't lying. She has been great today. Sure, I got a fewnos,but there hasn't been a single tantrum, and I was even able to convince her to turn offBluey.
Ang holds my gaze like he's waiting to see if I agree with the little girl, so I give him a nod.
"Excellent." Ang's attention is fully back on his daughter as he bounces her once, which results in a fit of laughter. "You ready to take Gracie to our special place so we can show her our project?"
"Druck, druck, druck," Everly chants and bounces up and down. I'm so afraid she's going to fall out of her father's arms that I take a few steps forward.
If Ang notices my instinct to step in and save his daughter, he doesn't say anything. But he does give me a peculiar look.
I decide it's better to change the subject. "What is this druck she speaks of?"
Ang smirks. "You'll see. Get in." He nods toward the passenger door before carrying Everly to the back door to get her strapped into her seat.
As I climb in and put my seat belt on, Everly continues to chant in the backseat, and I'm more curious than ever as to where we’re going. Whatever this place is, Ang has obviously taken the girls and they love it. It makes me wonder what it means for us that he's willing to take me to a place that’s special to him and his daughters.
I keep quiet on the short drive and listen as Ang interacts with his daughter. He's asking her what we did so far and if she had fun.
Everly describes the cookies we made and how yummy they are. What she doesn't say, and what I refuse to acknowledge, is the mess we made that I still need to clean up. I let Everly mix the ingredients, forgetting that she's three and her fine motor skills aren't that of an adult’s. Needless to say, a lot of flour made it to the floor.
Well, that’s a mess for future me to manage.
It doesn't take us long to arrive at our destination. We pull up next to an old red barn with peeling paint and chipped window trim. The whole structure looks like it could use a little TLC.
Ang doesn't give me time to question why we’re there before he's hopping out and unbuckling a very excited Everly. I'm not sure what could possibly be in the barn, but whatever it is makes the little lady very happy. Curiosity has me following the two of them.
"You ready, baby?"
I'm not sure if Ang is talking to me or his daughter, but I nod my head anyway as Everly bounces on her toes where she's standing next to her father.
Ang swings open the heavy barn doors, and my eyes widen as they pan around the interior. The inside of the barn definitelydoesn't match the outside. The exterior doesn't look like it’s been updated in several decades, whereas the inside looks brand new. But it's the 1940s baby-blue truck sitting in the middle that has my mouth dropping open.
Now the word druck makes sense. Everly was saying truck.
"So what do you think?"
I can't take my eyes off the beauty in front of me. My father would've loved it.
"I'm jealous. Is this yours?" I ask as I take a step closer.
"It is. I bought it two years ago. It was in pretty rough shape. The girls and I come here to work on it. Mostly on the weekends when we don't have anything going on."
Damn! And there's a third reason.
The man is damn good with his hands.
How could this man be so perfect? He brings me to see his prized possession and takes the time to bring his daughters here to work on it with him. I’m starting to think the man has zero flaws.
"My father was a hobbyist. And, like you, he loved to share it with his kids. We would attend car shows every summer. The Chevy truck was always one of my favorites. And a favorite of other people as well. It's probably why it's used in so many Christmas movies."
