Page 45 of The Baby-whisperer and the Brute
“Did you meet him there?” I asked.
“No, but they suggested him. I had him come to the house and put in the security system the next day. We got to talking and struck up a friendship. He’s a big sports fan, too. We’re gonna watch the Red Sox at Padraig’s Pub and grab some food.”
“Sounds like fun. You’re going to miss my cooking though,” I teased. “I’m making lasagna tonight.”
A look of genuine regret passed over Sully’s face. He glanced down at my bikini again and the look intensified.
“Yeah… well… save me some.”
Then he turned and walked to the house in long, digging strides that made me raise a hand to my mouth to cover the wide smile developing there. I didn’t have any experience with men, but there were some things a woman understood instinctively.
I’d wanted to prove something to Sully—and to myself, too. Judging by the look I’d just seen on his face it was a mission accomplished.
The only question now was… where did we go from here?
Chapter Thirteen
Hanson
Angelina
After that day at the pool there was a subtle change in our relationship.
Nothing I could point my finger at definitively and accuse him of pursuing me or even call inappropriate for a work relationship. Sully never said or did anything overtly flirty. In fact, he seemed to choose his words more carefully than before, being polite and respectful and solicitous.
It was more afeelingI got when we were together, a new sort of awareness between us and a heightened quality of attention he showed to my preferences and interests.
There were always vases of wildflowers in the house now. Whenever he brought home ice cream for the girls, he made sure to pick up a pint of my favorite flavor, chocolate chip, as well. He left notes on the counter almost daily thanking me for doing even the simplest things that frankly were just part of my job.
It was almost embarrassing, but I felt more appreciated—and more capable—than I ever had in my life.
And I felt needed.
For instance, the following weekend as Sully was dressing to attend the annual Charity Relief Foundation Ball, he texted me from upstairs and asked if I’d come to his room for a minute.
-I need help.
My response had been as bland as unbuttered toast.Sure. Be right there. Inside, though, my nerves were crackling. I’d never been inside of his room.
“Girls, let’s go upstairs and help Daddy, okay?”
My eager little chaperones and I went up the stairs and down the long corridor to Sully’s private wing of the mansion.
Claire and Skyla skipped ahead of me, calling out, “Daddy, we’re coming to save you.”
Reaching the double doors to his suite, they burst through them and ran to him, dancing around his legs in excitement.
“I like your pretty suit Daddy!” Skyla said.
“You look like a restaurant man,” Claire added, with obvious admiration.
“Thanks girls.” Sully turned to me wearing a sleek black tuxedo and an exasperated expression. Each of his hands gripped the loose ends of a bow tie.
“I don’t know what the fu—” His eyes darted to his daughters. “...fudge I’m doing with this thing. I wish they’d just sent a clip-on. Do you know how to tie a bow tie?”
“No. I’ve never had occasion to tie one. But I’ll figure it out the way I do everything else I’ve never done before.”
Pulling out my phone, I scanned through You Tube, finding and watching a short instructional video.
