Page 96 of Boss of Me
“Of course. Especially babies,” I add with a grin. “There’s something downright irresistible about their pudgy cheeks, drooly smiles and chubby little thighs. And I love inhaling their sweet baby breath when they yawn. So freaking precious.”
A flicker of tenderness skates over Gunner’s features as he gazes at me. “Do you have a lot of experience with them?”
“With children?”
“Yes.”
“I do. I used to babysit the neighbors’ kids for extra cash. I was good with them, so my services were always in demand.” I tilt my head to one side and grin at him. “Why do I feel like you’re vetting me for a nanny job?”
His mouth curves faintly. “I was just curious.”
“So what about you? Do you like children?”
“I do,” he says warmly. “I have a godson named Walker.”
I smile. “How old is he?”
“He just turned three and he’s a bundle of energy.”
“Aww. He sounds adorable.”
“He is,” Gunner confirms with obvious affection. “His dad’s an old college buddy of mine. He moved back to California after graduation. You can meet him and his wife—and Walker—the next time they’re in town.”
“Looking forward to it.” I give him a teasing smile. “I’m gonna start calling you The Godfather.”
He chuckles, his lashes lowering over his eyes as he studies me. “Do you want children?”
“Eventually,” I say, smile softening. “I want to finish school first and get established in my career.”
“Of course,” he murmurs.
“What about you? You plan on siring any offspring?”
He nods slowly. “When the time is right.”
I find myself picturing him as a father. Stern but loving, overprotective but indulgent. I imagine him being hands-on, helping his children with their homework rather than relying solely on expensive tutors. I picture him down at the dock sanding one of his boats with his son, a miniature version of himself with messy black hair and beautiful blue eyes. I imagine him sitting by a crackling fire with his little girl on his lap, reading her a bedtime story about kickass warrior princesses and?—
“Hey.” His voice breaks into my thoughts. “Where’d you go?”
“Sorry.” I swallow an odd lump in my throat and force a laugh. “I was just thinking about how spoiled your kids are gonna be. They’ll attend elite private schools, wear designer clothes, have extravagant birthday parties and travel around the world. They’ll have the best of everything.”
“Maybe,” Gunner quietly concedes. “But all the material possessions in the world won’t matter if I don’t provide them with the most important thing.”
“What’s that?”
“A good mother.”
I stop breathing while his eyes hold mine. There are so many layers to his words, so many possible meanings. Could he be vetting me to see if I’d make a good mother? Is that what’s happening here?
My heart is suddenly beating too hard and too fast. I look away, first at a painting on the wall, then down at the carton of ice cream.
“Your midnight snack is melting,” I finally whisper.
“Give me one more taste,” he murmurs.
My hand trembles slightly as I scoop out a dollop of gooey chocolate and offer it to him.
He closes his lips around the spoon, staring at me as a burning heat spreads through my body.
