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CONTENTS

Baby Breeder 2

Breeding the Nanny

1.  Nathan

2.  Claire

3.  Keaton

4.  Claire

5.  Nathan

6.  Claire

7.  Keaton

8.  Claire

9.  Nathan

10.  Claire

11.  Keaton

12.  Claire

Epilogue

About the Author

BABY BREEDER 2

What better way to ring in the New Year than with babies? This January, join some of your favorite romance authors as they bring you Baby Breeder Session 2, a series all about making babies. Whether it’s a primal, biological need or something else driving these men to breed the women they love, what is guaranteed is these stories are going to be hot and messy. Every happily ever after doesn’t have to have babies, but these men want nothing less than their women round and glowing.

BREEDING THE NANNY

When Nathan Hart hired me to be a nanny for his newborn daughter, I did not expect him to demand that I move in right away. I definitely didn’t expect the newly single dad to take interest in me.

But the icing on his cake is that his brother seems to like me as well.

Now the question is, what am I going to do?

1

NATHAN

“L illy, you’re blowing Daddy’s eardrums out.” And if I don’t stop pacing the floor, I’m going to wear a hole in it. Not that it matters. My two-month-old daughter doesn’t care about things like eardrums and how many miles her father has walked within the walls of his own home. Endless hours, day and night. I don’t know how to make her happy.

Much like her mother.

“When did she eat last?” My brother sticks his head in the room like he’s being helpful by bringing up the obvious.

“She had a bottle an hour ago, remember?” I shake my head. “No, you were asleep.”

“Yeah, for the five minutes, she was quiet.” He yawns and leans his head against the doorframe while I continue pacing and patting the baby’s back. “Lilly, you really need to take a break. Why isn’t she tired yet?”

“How should I know? She probably is tired. That’s why she’s crying so hard. The poor kid just wants to go to sleep.” I know that feeling. My eyes are so blurry; it’s amazing I can see anything in front of me. And I’m supposed to be going back to work? I don’t see how it’s possible.

“The girl is supposed to be coming in a little while,” Keaton reminds me. “Let’s hope she brought earmuffs.”

I didn’t want to have to go to an agency and hire a stranger to take care of my kid, but after Keaton and I spent hours talking it out while trying to get the baby to sleep, it was obvious we didn’t have any other choice. It’s not like I can’t afford it—even though I took time away for the baby and everything that came after, business is booming. That part of my life is going well, at least. It’s everything else that went to shit when my wife decided barely a few days after Lilly was born that she didn’t want any part of this—me, a child, a family. And here I am, struggling to stay awake, to think straight, and feeling like I’m failing.

“Here.” He holds his arms out to take her. “You need a shower, or else this girl will think she’s working for some sicko who’s going to turn her skin into a lampshade.”

“You have such a way with words.” Though, I’m not going to argue with him. I can’t remember the last time I bathed, come to think of it. I’m usually too busy trying to catch a few winks to worry about cleanliness.

If it wasn’t for my younger brother stepping up to help me these past couple of months, there’s no way I could’ve made it. He’s the last person I would’ve expected it from, too. He couldn’t believe it when I got married. He swore he would never settle down like I was so eager to do. And it seemed to make sense—being a cop, his schedule can fluctuate, and he sometimes takes risks a family man might think twice about. It’s part of what makes him a decorated cop at such a young age. The willingness to do whatever it takes. He’s got nothing to lose, after all.

But something happened to him when Lilly was born. I can’t put my finger on it as I head over to the bathroom connecting the nursery and the master bedroom that used to belong to me and my wife but now is only mine.

How did I ever trick myself into thinking what we had was the real thing?

A few minutes spent under hot, steamy water awakens my senses and clears some of the fog in my head. A live-in nanny will be a godsend… I hope. I haven’t met the girl yet, but the agency assured me she has years of experience with kids. Young ones, too, babies like Lilly. All I know is if she can calm my daughter down, she’s got the job. The agency already checked out her background, and Keaton can dig around, too, which I’m sure he will. He doesn’t trust anybody but himself with that kind of task. Nobody’s good enough for his niece.

I grin to myself as I step out from the large, tiled shower stall before grabbing a towel and wrapping it around my waist. A waist that’s gotten thicker recently. Yet another thing that falls by the wayside when you have a screaming baby: diet and exercise. In a couple of months, my chiseled body turned into something decidedly flabbier. I officially have a dad bod. Maybe that’s another part of my life that can fall back into place once the nanny is settled in. I can start taking care of myself again, not only for myself but for Lilly.

It’s amazing how my priorities shifted in an instant. One second, I was me, and the next? Everything I did or said or felt tied into that little eight-pound six-ounce bundle of joy my wife found so easy to turn her back on.

I look a little more like myself by the time I’ve finished shaving the dark stubble from my face. Sure, my dark eyes are bloodshot, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I’m a father to a two-month-old. I’m sure it goes with the territory. The new nanny won’t run screaming when she sees me, and that might be as much as I can hope for right now.

Lilly is still whimpering fretfully when I return to the nursery. I’m just about to take her off Keaton’s hands when the doorbell rings, and the screaming starts again. “Jesus Christ,” I groan, patting the baby’s back.

“I’m just saying. If she doesn’t have a criminal record, hire the girl.” Keaton jogs down the stairs, and I follow behind while Lilly wails. I know he’s only kidding, but not completely.

“At least let me answer. It’s my house.” I nudge him aside halfway through the living room and open the door.

There’s an angel on my front porch.

It’s not exhaustion playing tricks on my eyes, either. The girl in front of me has hair so blonde it’s almost white and big, blue eyes that exude warmth and kindness. “Hi,” she chirps. “I’m Claire Peterson. The agency sent me.”

Claire Peterson is eighteen years old, according to the information the agency provided. What they didn’t provide is how fucking gorgeous she is, how her personality can draw a man in and make him wish all sorts of things. Like he was younger, fitter, and that he had never met the traitorous bitch who deserted him and his baby girl. How was I supposed to know something this exquisite existed?

When she blinks hard and goes from looking at the baby to staring at me, I realize I haven’t said anything yet. “Hi.” Yeah, that’s a great start, genius. “Thank you for coming over. Nathan Hart, and this is Lilly.” I practically have to shout to be heard.

“Hi, Lilly.” I step back to let her into the house. She smells like vanilla and sugar, and shit, I’m supposed to have her around the house all the time? I mean, it could be fun, something to look forward to every day. Seeing her, being around her. But I don’t know how long I can keep my hands to myself. As it is, I have to fight the impulse to bury my nose in her hair and inhale deeply. Granted, I’ve smelled a lot of shitty diapers and spit-up lately. Any change is appreciated.

“Oh. I’m sorry, and you are?” Her thick lashes bat innocently when she takes notice of my brother.

My brother who is looking at her like he’s thinking exactly along the same lines as I am. Right away, I bristle. He would set his sights on her, wouldn’t he? Well, why not? He’s already fucked his way through most of the city—I think he’s slept with just about every woman he’s ever met. He’s never had to try hard to find someone willing to warm his bed for the night.

And he might as well be licking his chops now, gazing down at the petite blonde. “Keaton Hart. Younger brother to this guy and devoted uncle.”

“Nice to meet you.” She doesn’t pay him much attention, and I can’t say it upsets me, especially when it’s because she’s too busy studying Lilly. “She sounds gassy.”

“Pardon?”

“The baby. May I?” She holds out her hands, smiling.

“I should ask you first how much experience you have with kids this small.” Sure, the agency told me she’s trustworthy, but this is my kid she wants to hold.

“I’ve been babysitting since I was twelve,” she explains with a patient smile. “From newborns to ten-year-olds. Believe me, I’ve seen it all.” Still, I exchange a look with Keaton, and he knows. He’ll dig deeper.

“Well, let’s see what you can do with this little one.” I hate handing her over to a stranger, even one as sweet and gorgeous as this girl. Claire’s smile widens as she lets Lilly settle against her shoulder. “Hi, little girl. We’re going to be good friends. First, let’s get some of that gas out of your tummy.”

All we can do is stand back and watch as she looks around, and then grabs a folded receiving blanket from the coffee table—I never did find time to put them away, but that’s sort of been at the bottom of my priority list. She spreads the blanket out on the sofa, then gently places Lilly on her back.

“Okay, girlfriend. Here we go.”

Keaton and I watch as she stretches the baby’s legs out, then pumps them back and forth in a bicycle kick. She moves them up and down, then stretches Lilly out before pressing her knees close to her stomach. Keaton and I burst out laughing when the most obnoxious sound imaginable explodes from my daughter’s tiny body.

“Lilly! Good God!” Keaton howls.

“It’s just gas,” Claire explains again before repeating the motions. I pay closer attention this time since I know they yield results. Again and again, Lilly releases the gas that was making her so miserable. By the time Claire is finished, Lilly is cooing peacefully, stretching and yawning.

“She’ll sleep now.” Claire picks her up and looks around. “Where is her crib?”

All I can do is stand back and point the way up the stairs. The girl truly is an angel.

It’s clear when Keaton shrugs that he’s sold. So am I. “When can you move in?” I ask.

She freezes, wide-eyed. “Wait a second.”

“Sure, you haven’t officially been offered the position yet.” Keaton rolls his eyes at me. “But I agree with him. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve got the job.”

“Thank you. It’s just that nobody told me it would be a live-in position.”

“Oh. I discussed it with the agency. I have plenty of room here at the house, and I’m going to have to go back to work full-time. I run a graphic design agency. I’ll be so busy that I need someone who can live here and take care of the baby. Does… that not work for you?”

I will offer this girl anything it takes. More money. Hell, I’ll pay her health insurance and set up a 401(k) if that’s what she wants. All I know is, Lilly is quiet. Content. I can hear myself think.

And I would do anything to keep Claire under this roof.

She chews her full bottom lip, and it’s all I can do to keep from growling at the sight. “Okay,” she decides. “If you’re offering the position, I accept.”

2

CLAIRE

I  must be dreaming. This can’t be real. Staying in this gorgeous house? Taking care of this precious baby?

Living with her hot dad?

Okay, that’s wrong. I shouldn’t think of him that way. I shouldn’t think about his brother that way, either. I need to be professional, especially if this job means getting off my friend’s couch and having a room of my own.

And once I put the baby down in her beautiful nursery, Nathan shows me the guest room across the hall. “It’s all yours,” he tells me as I admire the spacious, sunlight-drenched bedroom. There’s a queen-size bed, with a pretty flowered comforter, and a cute little dresser and nightstand. A big closet, too, though I don’t really need that much space. I don’t have a lot of clothes. I would pinch myself, but I’m afraid to wake up from this dream.

“This is so much more than I imagined,” I admit with a giggle. “I just thought I was coming in for a sort of nine-to-five position.”

“But you are willing to live here?” The anxiety in Nathan’s voice is hard to miss, and my heart goes out to him. Why is he here alone? I mean, his brother is here, but there’s no mother for the baby. He’s not mentioned her, anyway. I’m not going to ask in case it’s a touchy subject. What if she passed away? How tragic that would be.

And he looks exhausted, too. Both of them do. I can only imagine the stress they’ve been under if they didn’t even know how to relieve the baby’s gas. Poor little thing.

“Absolutely. I’m sure it will work out. Lilly is precious, and this room is beautiful.”

“You have free run of the whole house,” Nathan promises with a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. “And we can work in time off as you need it, as well. I mean, we can both tell you we know how challenging it is to take care of an infant.”

Keaton clears his throat. “I’m still going to be around.” The brothers exchange a look I don’t quite understand. Is Nathan upset at that idea? I’m not. Keaton is as hot as his brother but in a sexier, almost dangerous kind of way. He’s got those bedroom eyes my grandma always talked about when she was swooning over her favorite actors. They promise a lot, those eyes, and when they lock on mine, a tiny shiver goes up my spine.

I need to get serious. I’m here as an employee, and I’m younger than both of them. If they’re looking at me funny, it’s because they’re both half dead on their feet. I’m glad to be able to help them.

“Then we’ll all work out a schedule together,” I suggest. The touch of tension in the air evaporates.

“You have no idea what a huge load off my mind it will be to have you here.” Nathan runs both hands through his thick, dark hair. It’s a little long in the back and on the sides, scraggly enough to tell me it’s been a while since he’s had a haircut. He really has been overwhelmed. I feel sorry for him. No wonder he’s in such a hurry to bring me on as the baby’s nanny.

“I’m really happy this is all working out.”

“I guess you’ll want to go home and get your things together. I mean, assuming the job starts right away.” Keaton looks at his brother and raises his thick eyebrows. “Right?”

There’s a little tension again. I don’t think Nathan likes when Keaton talks for him. “I’m ready to get started whenever is good for you,” I offer.

“I’ll walk you to your car.” Keaton is already on his way to the door.

“Excuse me. I can do that myself.” Nathan almost elbows him out of the way. It would be funny if it wasn’t so awkward and confusing. I’m not used to all this attention.

“Actually,” I pipe up, “I didn’t drive here. I took a bus—I don’t have a car.”

“I can drive you.” Keaton snags a set of keys from the small table next to the front door. “And it’ll mean having an extra pair of hands to help pack up your things.”

I don’t need an extra pair of hands because there’s not that much to pack, but I’m too embarrassed to admit that. He’ll find out once we get there.

Nathan’s face falls. “I guess that’s it, then. I can’t go while Lilly is asleep.” He sounds so disappointed. I guess he wouldn’t mind getting out of the house.

“It won’t take long,” I promise. “And then, when I get back, we can talk about schedules, and you can… you know, show me how to use the washing machine, I guess.” This is all so new, and I’m almost giddy with excitement. No, the house won’t be mine, but it will mean having more space and feeling like I’m earning my place rather than relying on charity. I hate that more than just about anything about my current situation.

The sight of Keaton’s black Lexus makes me whistle in appreciation. “This is a nice car.”

“I know.” His honesty makes me laugh, though I try to keep it to myself. I’m already starting to get a feeling for their personalities. He’s obviously the one who is a little more fun, a little more flashy, a little more flirtatious. Nathan is the serious one. He has all the responsibilities.

The thing about me is when I’m nervous, I talk a lot. “So, you and Nathan are brothers. Have you been staying with him to help with the baby?”

“Yeah. He needs help for sure.”

He hasn’t said anything about the baby’s mother, and I’m super curious. “Is… the mom in the picture? I’m not trying to pry, I swear. But if some random woman shows up, I should probably know in advance who she is.”

“She’s not going to be showing up anytime soon.” His voice goes deeper, tight, like I stepped on a sore spot. “You don’t have to worry about that. She pretty much gave up the baby a couple of days after she gave birth. They were married.”

Oh, that poor man. It must’ve hurt so much. Not to mention how overwhelmed he must have felt. “Poor thing.”

“I’d rather have no mother than a mother who doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.” He makes a good point. “Tell me more about yourself.”

“I love kids. I always have. I guess I sort of understand them.”

“Let me tell you, watching you calm Lilly was like watching a miracle.” He yawns wide before chuckling. “It’s been a long couple of months.”

“I’m sure your brother knows how lucky he is that he doesn’t have to go through all of this by himself.”

“Remind him of that when he’s pissed off at me for some stupid reason or another.” His charming grin makes my stomach flutter dangerously. Chill out. I really don’t need to be getting a crush right now. This job means everything. I can’t afford to lose it because I caught feelings for my boss’s brother… or my boss. I could see myself falling for one of them easily. Not only because they’re both handsome and obviously love Lilly. A man who loves kids and wants to do what’s best for them is always going to be a turn-on for me.

It was the funniest thing when I first walked into that house and held the baby. It was like I was meant to be there. Like I finally made it home.

Which, of course, is a completely stupid idea I need to get rid of right away.

After he follows the directions I give him, he pulls up in front of the apartment building I’ve called home for way too long now. It was only supposed to be for a couple of weeks until I got on my feet, but that was months ago. “This is me. You don’t have to come in,” I tell him before he can unbuckle his belt.

“I can help you.”

“I really don’t need the help. I barely have anything.”

“All right. Maybe I just don’t want to let you out of my sight because I’m afraid I imagined you, and you’re not actually real.”

I’m oddly touched. “Believe me. I’m real.”

“I’m trying to be a gentleman. I’m coming up with you.”

“Fine.” Because obviously, I’m wasting my breath by arguing. “Just don’t be disappointed.”

I’m glad Vanessa is at work. Not only because she is not really a great friend, even if she is letting me stay on her couch. I sort of got the feeling more than once that she was interested in my boyfriend, for starters. I wouldn’t want her flirting with Keaton. I don’t know why but the idea makes me grind my teeth as I use my key to unlock the door on the third floor.

“So, you can just up and leave out of nowhere?” He looks around, and there’s nothing on his face to give me an idea about what he’s thinking.

“This isn’t my apartment. I’m only staying here. I… sort of had a setback a couple of months ago, and my friend’s been letting me crash here.” I go to the closet in the hall and pull out the three suitcases lined up neatly under the coats and sweaters of Vanessa’s. “Here we go. This is me.”

“That’s it?”

I can’t help the shame that warms my cheeks. “Yeah. I don’t like to leave my things around, so I sort of use the suitcases as a dresser. I told you I wouldn’t need any help.”

“I can at least carry these.” He takes a wheeled suitcase in one hand and carries the other by its handle. “Can you get that yourself?” He nudges the smallest of the three with his toe.

“I got them up here.”

“No wonder you were in such a hurry to accept the offer,” he muses as I leave my key on the coffee table.

“You’re saying I only took the job because I was desperate?”

“No! No, don’t take it like that. I wasn’t trying to insult you. You deserve more than a couch in somebody else’s apartment.”

No, now I have an entire bedroom. It’s still not ideal, but it’s a step up. “I’m just glad I get to take care of that gorgeous baby. She’s so adorable.”

“She’s even cuter when she’s not screaming.” We reach the sidewalk, and he makes quick work of loading the bags into the car. “Are you hungry?” he asks as he opens my door.

I feel like Cinderella stepping into a carriage. I only hope it doesn’t turn into a pumpkin. I don’t think I could take another disappointment. “I am, actually.”

“We can stop off and grab something to eat on the way back to the house.”

As much as I want to get back and learn more about the baby and the living situation, I like being with him too much to say no. It helps that my stomach is growling, and I’m more alert when I’m not hungry. “That would be nice. You really don’t have to go to the trouble, though.”

“Who said anything about trouble?”

When he grins my way and my stomach flutters, I get the feeling I’m already in trouble.

3

KEATON

N athan: Where the hell are you?

Nathan: It wasn’t supposed to take this long.

Nathan: I swear to God, if you’re trying to get in that girl’s pants, we’re going to have a serious problem.

Claire looks up from her chicken sandwich. “Everything okay?” She glances at my phone.

Everything is more okay than it’s been in way too long. I’m not going to say that to her, though. “Sure. I’m here with you. What could be wrong?”

Fuck. When she ducks her head and tries to hide a smile, I want to reach across the table and grab her. I practically have to sit on my hands to keep from making a big mistake. “You don’t have to say that. I already accepted the job.”

“I’m a little more interested in what happens during your off hours.”

Her full lips tighten in a smirk. “Uh, you should know by now. There’s no such thing as off hours when you’re taking care of an infant.”

She’s good. She’s also right. I can barely drag myself to work and back lately, and that’s while working fewer hours to help Nathan out. “No big parties or anything?” I tease. “We don’t have to worry about you inviting a shit ton of people over while we’re both out?”

She frowns like I just said the most ridiculous thing ever. “Uh, no. I don’t party.”

“That’s what they all say.”

“I mean it.” Her sweet voice is a little sharp. Message received.

My phone buzzes on the table, and I have to resist the impulse to throw it through the window. Now, he’s calling since texting hasn’t worked. “You can take that if you need to,” she offers before sipping her iced tea.

“Nah. It can wait.”

Her baby blues twinkle when they meet mine, then dart away. “What about you? There’s no ring on your finger. Is there a girl waiting for you to come back home now that Lilly is taken care of?”

“Nope. I’m as single as they come.” Until now, the idea of committing to one woman turned my stomach. The bullshit Nathan went through hasn’t helped. Sitting across from this girl, though? It’s a different story. This is a girl I’d want to see first thing in the morning. A girl I can imagine holding as we both fall asleep.

I swear to God, it’s like he hears my thoughts from across town. My phone buzzes again, and I take a quick look.

Nathan: Get back here. Now. There’s still a lot we need to go through before she gets settled in.

Nathan: At least let me know you’re still alive!

Nathan: Seriously. You had better not be doing what I think you’re doing.

“Your brother is probably wondering where we are.” She toys with the straw sticking out of the iced tea she’s been sipping, and I can’t help but stare as she nibbles the tip like she’s anxious. Her lips, her tongue—my god. Either I’m a hopeless pervert, or she is the most insanely hot woman I have ever met. Everything she does reaches out to me, grabs my attention, and makes me feel all tongue-tied and awkward because I know I have to keep this professional when it is the last thing on my mind.

“He probably is. But last time I checked, we don’t have to report to him.”

“I sort of feel like I do.” She winces and eyes the phone. The girl’s not stupid. She can guess at what’s going on. “I mean, he is my boss.”

“That doesn’t mean he owns every minute of your life.” Fuck, this really is desperate. Am I trying to convince this girl to spend more time with me? Is that how far I’ve gone?

Evidently, it is since throughout the drive back to my brother’s, I can’t take my mind off various ways to get her alone. To keep her for myself.

We’ve barely gotten the door open when Nathan storms at us—no, at me. “It’s about time! Is your phone broken?”

“Take it easy,” I implore while Claire stands off to the side, chewing her lip as she looks back and forth between us. “Do you wanna wake up, Lilly?”

The three of us look toward the stairs—right on cue, there’s a faint fussing sound coming from up there. “Congratulations,” I hiss, and Nathan glares at me in response.

“Can you help me get these upstairs?” Obviously, Claire has decided to overlook the argument going on between us. “I can’t wait to get up there and see her again. She’s so adorable. Don’t worry, I’ll calm her down.” She leaves us with the bags and practically skips up the stairs. I can’t help but admire her devotion, along with just about everything else about her.

“What did you do?” Nathan demands once she’s gone.

“Who says I did anything? Honestly, you’re exhausting.”

“No. You don’t get to pull that act on me. Like we’ve never fucking met. Like I don’t know you inside and out.”

“What the hell are you so upset about?” I take two of the bags and leave the biggest one for him before starting up the stairs. “I took her to get her things, and she was hungry. So we stopped off and got something to eat.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“Only you would take something like that and turn it into something bad.” I glance into the nursery and find Claire carrying Lilly to the changing table, whispering gently and stroking Lilly’s wispy, chocolate-brown curls.

We reach the spare bedroom, and Nathan slams Claire’s bag onto the bed. “You know what you’re doing,” he whispers, jamming a finger against my chest. “And I’m not letting you fuck this up for me.”

“Back up.” I fling his hand away and snicker. “What the hell does it have to do with you? The girl was hungry.”

“Do me a favor and stop acting like we just met. You took her out because you wanted to spend time with her when I wasn’t around.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

“Oh? I guess I’m imagining the way I saw you looking at her, too. Like you’re the big bad wolf in some old cartoon—tongue hanging out and eyes bulging.”

“Maybe you’re the one with the problem,” I whisper back. “You’re the one jumping to conclusions. Are you trying to fuck all of this up for yourself? Because that’s what you’re gonna do if you get all possessive of that girl.”

“There’s being possessive, and there’s making sure she doesn’t fall for any of your bullshit.”

“Fuck off,” I mutter with a shove.

“Maybe you should fuck off.” He shoves me back, and I stumble against the bed. “You know what? Now that she’s here, I don’t need you anymore. You can go. Thank you for your help.”

The idea sets off panic in my head. “You don’t get to show me the door after I’ve backed you up for two months. I’m not gonna walk away from…from Lilly.”

“Just from Lilly?” My whole life, he’s been giving me the look he is now. The know-it-all big brother. The one who sits on high and laughs at his fuck-up kid brother.

“Maybe you’re the one who needs to look at himself because, change the subject all you want, but you’re going to fuck up a good thing if you blur the lines here. And you know what I mean,” I insist when he rolls his eyes.

“I think I can handle myself.”

“Oh? Are you sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, you’re acting like a possessive creep, and it’s going to drive her away. Maybe you should think about that.”

“And maybe you should mind your own fucking business.”

“Oh? The way I bailed you out when you were alone? Was I minding my own fucking business then? Because you didn’t seem to mind very much, did you?”

In the next room, Lilly lets out a familiar cry. “Congratulations,” Nathan growls. “Now she’s fussing again.”

“She only started fussing because you started shit the second I walked in the door.”

“Maybe if it hadn’t taken you so long to walk through the door, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”

“Now, listen up.” I hear Claire before I see her rounding the open doorway. The wide-eyed, innocent girl is gone. The girl standing in front of us now with her arms folded and her eyes blazing isn’t the Claire I had dinner with. She looks at me, then at Nathan, scowling. “I don’t know what is going on here with you two, but I do know you upset the baby. And since I’m here to take care of the baby, I’m going to have to ask you to grow up and knock it off. Or else she’s never going to get any sleep, which means none of us are going to get any sleep. So, learn to work your stuff out without upsetting her, okay? Do you think you can handle that?”

How can I handle that when I can barely handle my reaction to her? And I thought she was tempting before this? There’s an erection stirring in my pants as I stand helpless and silent in front of her fiery temper. Nathan doesn’t say a word, either. For once, he’s at a loss for words.

“Yeah,” I murmur once I remember how to speak. “We can handle that.”

“Good.” We both get another dirty look before she goes back to Lilly, her voice now quiet and soothing.

I look at Nathan. Nathan looks at me. Neither of us says a word, but I don’t think anything has to be said. Certain things, we both understand about each other. When you’ve known someone your entire life, that’s how it goes.

And I know he is just as impressed with her as I am.

And he wants her just as much. Maybe even more than before.

We are both in so much goddamn trouble.

4

CLAIRE

I  honestly cannot believe I just did that. But for heaven’s sake, somebody had to speak up for the baby. Here she is, whimpering fretfully while a pair of grown men bicker like children.

She’s not fussing anymore, though, once I have her changed. She seems fairly content as I put her down in her crib. “A good night, sweet girl,” I whisper, stroking her surprisingly thick, dark curls. She must have been born with them. I can see myself getting very attached to this child.

And to the men in her life. It’s dangerous, no doubt—mixing business and pleasure is never a good idea. I might be young, but I know that much. What’s the alternative, though? Choosing one of them and forgetting about the other? I’m not sure I could do that.

What am I even thinking? So they’re both hot, and I’m attracted to both of them. It doesn’t mean anything. I need to get my head out of my hormones and focus on the job.

Rather than go to the bedroom, I head downstairs since I need to get an idea of the house, the formula, and everything else I should know about.

I find the brothers sitting in the living room, and my heart skips a beat. There’s a strange energy in the air—not angry, exactly, but tense. It’s not my job to repair anything between them, especially since I don’t know them well enough to understand where this tension is coming from. I’m not going to flatter myself by thinking it has anything to do with me. That would be stupid, not to mention egotistical. Delusional, even.

“She’s asleep,” I murmur, coming to a stop in front of the fireplace with the two of them sitting in front of me. “Can we go over her feeding schedule? Where can I find everything she needs?”

They exchange a look before Nathan sits up straighter and clears his throat. “There’s something I wanted to talk with you about before we get into that.”

Again, my heart skips a beat, but this time, it’s anxiety causing it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten an attitude earlier. I just feel really strongly about—”

Nathan waves his hands and shakes his head. “That has nothing to do with it—but now that you mention it, you were right to shut us up.”

Keaton nods. “Yeah, we were acting like assholes and upsetting the baby. We needed to hear that.”

I can breathe a little easier without a hand squeezing my heart. “Oh. That’s good to hear.”

“This is awkward.” Keaton looks at his brother, who shrugs. “Nathan doesn’t agree with me that you need to know this, but I feel like you do.”

This is it. This is where they’re going to drop a bombshell. I need this job so badly. I should’ve known it was too good to be true.

“We hope you don’t take this the wrong way… but we both… like you.”

Nathan winces, and all I can do is stand here, staring at them like I’ve never heard English before. I must be imagining things. Maybe there was something wrong with my food, and it’s messing with my brain.

“Personally, I didn’t think you needed to hear that,” Nathan mutters while glaring at his brother. “And I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“But you deserve to know,” Keaton insists. “If we’re bitching and bickering, that’s why. It’s not your fault.”

They were arguing because they like me? Is this a joke or a dream? Neither of them are smiling. If anything, Nathan looks like he’s practically in pain while Keaton rubs his hands together, fidgeting nervously.

Finally, when it seems like they’re waiting for me to say something, I offer, “I like you, too. It’s nothing to feel bad or weird about or anything like that.” When they both widen their eyes before exchanging a glance, I blurt out, “But that doesn’t mean we can’t still work together. And I really do need this job. Did you tell him?” I ask Keaton.

He shakes his head. “No.”

“I need somewhere to live. I need the money. And I really love Lilly already. I would be heartbroken if I had to leave now.”

“Nobody is asking you to leave,” Nathan assures me. “It’s more like we’re trying to make sure you can be comfortable here.”

“That’s fine. Really, it’s okay. I won’t be weirded out or anything.”

They look at each other and have a quick, silent conversation before Nathan nods. “So long as we’re on the same page.”

He yawns loudly and stretches before chuckling. “Sorry. It’s been a long… couple of months.” He quickly gives me the rundown on where to find the bottles he’s already prepared and left in the fridge, then yawns again.

“I guess I’ll get going.” Keaton takes his time, though, sort of dragging his feet. “But I’ll stop in tomorrow.” He pretends to ignore Nathan’s scowl before he leaves. Thunder rumbles in the distance before he closes the door. And that leaves the two of us.

“I guess I’ll go to my room,” I suggest. This is so awkward. I wasn’t prepared for this, and now I’m scrambling to get a handle on things. “I can always unpack tomorrow. It won’t take long anyway.”

He follows me up the stairs, and my heart beats a little faster with every step. “Make sure to let me know if there’s anything you think you need. Whatever it is, you’ve got it.”

“Thank you.” I’m a little too tongue-tied to say anything else. My face is flushed, and my chest is tight, so it’s good that he doesn’t follow me into my bedroom. We don’t need to make things complicated.

No matter how much I sort of wish he would.

IT’S the thunder that wakes me up. That, and the tiny but fierce wail that fills the air.

I scramble out of bed and rush to the next room, where poor Lilly is crying hard enough to break my heart. “It’s all right, baby.” I pick her up and rest her against my shoulder, where she whimpers and squirms at another clap of thunder paired with a bright flash of lightning.

That’s not what makes me jump, though. It’s Nathan’s sudden, wide-eyed appearance in the doorway. “Oh. You already have her.” He runs a hand through his messy hair before chuckling.

I’m a little too busy staring at his naked chest and torso to answer right away. His plaid pajama pants rest low on his hips, and a hint of dark hair peeks out from over the top of the waistband. He’s not chiseled, the way men are supposed to be to make you drool over them. I don’t care about that. He looks pretty good to me right now, all lit up by the lightning and still a little breathless after rushing out of bed. Because he’s a good dad, and he loves his little girl. I can’t think of anything more attractive than that.

A clap of thunder shakes the house, and even I jump. “It’s okay.” I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or the baby as he approaches, then runs a tender hand over the back of Lilly’s head. “It’s all right. It’s just angels bowling.”

“That’s what my grandma used to say.”

“Because it’s true, obviously.” We share a quick smile before a blinding flash of lightning signals another strong rumble coming up.

“Do storms scare you?” He’s not teasing or making fun or anything like that. He seems genuinely concerned, and all I can do is gently bounce Lilly and try to not stare too much at his chest and his arms. He smells dangerously good, too.

“I don’t love them.”

“Come with me.” He takes Lilly, and she curls up against his chest. Is it weird to envy a baby? I follow him to his room and notice only half of the king-size bed has been slept in. That strikes me as sad. I’m sure he never imagined life turning out like this.

When another crack of thunder echoes in the air, I jump and wrap my arms around myself. “Here,” he offers. “Why don’t you sit down with us? Everything’s fine.”

“I sort of feel bad,” I whisper while gently perching next to them since I don’t want to upset Lilly anymore.

“Bad about what?”

“You’re not supposed to have to get up with her. That’s my job.”

“I’m still going to be her dad.” He grins faintly. “But if it makes you feel better, you can hold her.”

There’s something really special and intimate about this. Being together in his room while the storm rages like crazy outside. Here, it’s just the three of us, and when Nathan pulls back the blankets on the other side of the bed, it feels natural to settle in with Lilly between us. The fact is, I don’t want to be alone. I’ve never liked thunderstorms, and this one is pretty extreme.

“I’m sure this seems unusual,” Nathan murmurs as he strokes Lilly’s incredibly soft cheek with a loving touch. “I hope you don’t mind. This is the first time I’ve ever been in a situation like this, with a nanny and everything. I don’t know what’s right and what isn’t.”

“It’s the first time for both of us. But I don’t mind this.” No, in fact, I like it. Maybe too much. It feels right, somehow. It would be too easy to imagine Lilly as our baby. I don’t know what it is about him. I just feel comfortable, like we know each other.

“Can I ask you something?” he whispers, looking from Lilly to me. I nod. “Is that really all you had? Just those three suitcases?”

I’m not exactly proud of the situation I ended up in, so it’s not easy to fess up. But he’s trusting me, right? I guess I can trust him with the simple truth. “I lost a lot of what I had. I was living with my boyfriend.” I notice the way his brows draw together. “He cheated on me. I don’t know who the other woman was, but I do know he took all the money out of my savings and even sold some of my furniture on Marketplace. He said it was partly his, too, even though I bought it.”

“You’re kidding. What kind of dick does that?”

“I guess the kind of dick I’m drawn to. So I packed up everything I could fit in my suitcases, which was pretty much just my clothes, toiletries, and stuff, and I was sleeping on my friend’s couch.”

“Oh. I see. No wonder it didn’t seem too complicated to get you here.”

“Pretty much.” And now that he knows that about me, I have a little more confidence when I clear my throat before asking, “Where is Lilly’s mother? You never mentioned her.”

He blows out a heavy sigh, and at first, I figure he’s not going to answer. When he does start speaking, he takes his time. “She is… out there somewhere. She’s not interested in being a mother or a wife, I guess. She made her escape not long after Lilly was born.”

It’s unfathomable. “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s her loss, isn’t it? I mean…” Pure love washes over his face as he looks at his daughter. “She’s missing this. I can’t imagine anything she could do right now that would be better than this.”

As all three of us slowly fall asleep while the storm rages, I can’t help but agree.

5

NATHAN

“L ook, Daddy.”

I look up from my MacBook to find a sight in my office doorway that warms my heart. Claire is holding Lilly, who’s blissfully peaceful and freshly washed, wearing a clean outfit. And I didn’t have to do any of it myself.

That’s not what matters most. What matters is the two of them together, looking like this is how they were meant to be. Claire is glowing, smiling from ear to ear. “All washed up and coming by to say see you later since it’s almost time for a nap.”

Suddenly, her smile slips. “Is that okay? I probably should’ve cleared it with you if it was all right for us to disturb you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I can’t think of a nicer interruption.” And I’m not talking about Lilly, not completely. These past few days of getting to know each other and falling into a routine have been like a dream come true in countless ways. I don’t have to go through this alone, for one thing. For another, Claire fits into this house like a puzzle piece, clicking into place and completing the image. It took no effort.

Is this the way it’s supposed to be? The entire time Monica and I were together, I spent my days running the gauntlet. Trying to keep her happy, to give her what she wanted. That became the purpose of my life for longer than I want to admit, even to myself. Now, I understand there was never going to be any keeping her happy or keeping her with me. Even the baby she claimed to want before she got pregnant wasn’t enough.

Claire takes Lilly to her room to put her down, and before I can get back to work, my phone rings.

Right away, I growl at the sight of the name on the ID. The woman has a sixth sense. Most of the time, Monica wanted nothing to do with me, but she could somehow tell when I was feeling happy and satisfied. She always made it her business to get in the way of that. Even now, weeks after the last time I set eyes on her, she is determined to piss on my parade.

I ignore the call because I know why she’s making it and don’t feel like listening to her bullshit. “Don’t like having a credit card closed, do you?” I mutter before letting the call go to voicemail. She can’t have it both ways, walking out on us but expecting me to continue paying her credit card bill every month. For all I know, that’s her sole means of existence right now. I fail to see how that’s my problem any longer.

I fail to see why I wanted anything to do with her in the first place, especially now that I have Claire. Claire who genuinely loves children. Claire who cares about family, tradition, and togetherness. We’ve had a few conversations during our quiet moments while she’s fixing bottles or folding clothes, and I am cooking dinner or trying to get a little extra work done. Raised by her grandparents, always wishing she could’ve had a big family. She’s the kind of girl who would rather stay in and watch a movie or read a book than go partying—the complete opposite of my ex-wife, who I’m fairly sure hasn’t read a book since graduating college. And even then, I’m sure she found a way around it.

What was I thinking? How did I convince myself there was anything real between us?

Probably because I had never met anyone like Claire. I didn’t know how things could be. Now, sitting at my computer with my concentration completely broken, I can’t help but ask myself why I couldn’t have found Claire before now. The answer is obvious, of course. She would’ve been too young. Just another example of fate being a real pain in the ass.

She wanders past my office again on her way to the kitchen, then backtracks. “Can I fix you something to eat?”

This isn’t the first time we’ve had this discussion. “You don’t have to do that. You’re here to take care of Lilly, and you already do a great job of that.”

“I want to be sure you’re not working too hard and forgetting about yourself.” She’s so sweet and sincere. There’s no doubt in my mind she means it.

“Were you going to fix something for yourself?”

“I was thinking about a grilled cheese sandwich.”

“That sounds pretty good. Maybe I could use one, too.”

The strangest thing of all happens, and it takes my breath away: she beams. She doesn’t roll her eyes like she wishes she hadn’t offered. Her smile widens. She’s satisfied. I still wonder if she’s real. I must’ve made her up.

I follow her to the kitchen, not because I need to supervise and definitely not because I have nothing better to do—the deeper I get back into my work, the deeper it pulls me in. But even with a to-do list that’s a mile long, I would much rather be in the kitchen with her. She’s a magnet, and there’s no resisting her. We don’t even have to talk. It’s enough to be in the same room, with her at the stove and me answering emails on my phone.

“Do you think you’ll be all right here for a little bit if I have to run into the office?” I hate asking the question, but I need to grab a few things I don’t have here at home.

“Sure, no problem. Everything okay?”

“Oh, it’s fine. I won’t be long, either.”

“She should be down for a while.” Claire flips a sandwich onto a plate—golden brown, sizzling. “And even if she’s not, I’m sure I can handle it. Part of my job is making sure you can do yours, right?”

As much as I resent the opening of the front door and the announcement of Keaton’s presence, maybe I should be glad he chose this precise moment to show up without warning. Otherwise, I might have done something unforgivably stupid, like tell the girl I love her. I must have been even more starved for sweetness than I thought if it’s so easy for her to crack open my heart the way she does.

“Want a sandwich?” Claire is all smiles and cheerfulness as she greets my brother once he saunters into the kitchen.

“No, thanks. I had something on the way over here.” She turns away, and he checks out her ass. I have to take a huge bite of my sandwich to keep my mouth full rather than tell him to keep his eyes to himself. Maybe he can be all easy-going and casual about us both being into her, but we are not the same. And he can say all he wants that it matters how things go here, with Lilly. But if everything ends up falling apart with Claire, it’s not Keaton’s life that’s going to be completely fucked. It’s mine.

“You got here just in time.” Claire plates her own sandwich and leans against the counter, munching on half. Completely innocent. “Nathan is heading out to the office.”

My brother’s eyes light up before I add, “Just to pick up a few things, then I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, Dad.” He holds up both hands in mock surrender as his eyes continue to gleam in a way that infuriates me. “We won’t have enough time to throw a rager while you’re gone. I get it.”

“Don’t you have somewhere you need to be?”

“Not right now.” My brother gives me one of his patented smart-ass grins while Claire isn’t looking. “And it seems like I got here just in time, doesn’t it?”

And there I was, wondering what it would be like to live through a pregnancy with Claire. To watch her grow and swell, witness the changes to her body and, bask in the joy I know those changes would bring her. Now, Keaton is in the way, like a pin jabbed into a balloon.

Once I’ve finished with my sandwich, there’s not much else for me to do but go. I wish I had never announced my plan. I cannot stand the idea of leaving them alone together.

“I won’t be long.” I catch my brother’s eye and nod, signaling for him to follow me. We need to get a couple of things straight before I go.

“You’re not going to lecture me, are you?” he whispers as we cross the living room, and I grab my keys from the table by the door.

“It’s not a lecture. It’s a warning.” Standing toe to toe, I’m grateful for the extra inch I have over him. It’s not a lot, but enough to count in moments like this. “Do not touch her. Got it?”

“Who gave you the idea you own her? And I thought the idea was for her to understand that we both like her. Why pretend otherwise?”

“You really don’t get it, do you?”

“I guess I don’t. Or maybe it’s you who doesn’t get it.” He backs away toward the kitchen, grinning in that insufferable way of his. “Lighten up. You might enjoy your life a little more.”

Since I don’t think kicking him out would earn me any points with Claire, I have no choice but to leave… and hope I get back in time before he has the chance to ruin anything.

6

CLAIRE

R ight away, Keaton bombards me with questions. “So, have you had any time to go in the pool yet?”

The idea makes me laugh as I wash the pan I used to make the sandwiches. When I look over my shoulder, though, he’s not laughing. He actually meant it.

“Do you think I’ve had time to go swimming? I’ve been taking care of Lilly, getting a feel for the house and where everything is. There’s not much room for goofing off.”

He leans against the counter, standing almost too close for comfort. Not that I mind. It’s just that I don’t trust myself with either of them when they get close and make my overwhelmed brain entertain thoughts that shouldn’t exist. I don’t want to ruin what’s turning into an amazing opportunity.

And, right now, the opportunity to move a couple inches closer to him is looking too tempting to resist.

“Come on. You can’t always have something to do. What about now while Lilly’s asleep?”

I blurt out a laugh, but he doesn’t. “Are you serious? No, I couldn’t do that.”

“Why?” He lowers his head and treats me to a wicked little grin that makes my body flush and my heart beat a little faster.

“Because I’m working.”

“And you can work outside.” He snags the baby monitor from the counter. “You can keep it out there, close to the pool. So as soon as Lilly makes a sound, you’ll hear it.”

The thing is, he makes a good argument. I can’t come up with another reason to refuse him. And it would be nice to go for a swim. It’s been so long since I’ve even had a reason to put on my bathing suit. “Are you coming with?”

“I don’t have trunks with me…” I swear, he’s trying to kill me. My heart can’t take it. “But I could borrow a pair of Nathan’s.”

The next thing I know, I’m standing at the edge of the pool wearing a black one-piece. My heart’s in my throat, and I’m not quite sure why. The feelings I have around Nathan aren’t exactly professional—especially after falling asleep with him and sharing his bed my first night here. I can barely breathe when he’s around.

But Keaton is different. Just as hot, just as tempting, but there’s sort of an edge to it. All of the nice, sweet, homey thoughts Nathan gets me thinking are replaced by sort of dangerous, naughty thoughts with his brother.

His brother who steps outside wearing a pair of blue swim trunks and looking like a dirty dream come to life. I guess being a cop means he has to keep in shape, and he definitely does. His tanned skin tells me he likes to spend a lot of time outside, too. My mouth is so dry all of a sudden.

“Are you getting in or what?” All at once, he jumps into the sparkling, inviting water. I’m still laughing when he surfaces, throwing his head back to fling wet hair out of his eyes. “What are you waiting for? It feels fucking awesome in here.”

I jump in with him, and I sigh happily as I let the water support me, floating on my back. He’s right. It does feel awesome. For the first time in much too long, I can let go of everything that’s been holding me down, making me feel heavy.

That is until Keaton swims underneath me and grabs me by my ankle, pulling me under. I’m sputtering and furious when I surface again. “You jerk!” I don’t even care if he’s my boss’s brother. “Are you trying to drown me?”

“Sorry, sorry. But don’t worry. I would have rescued you.”

The problem is, I get the feeling it’s him I need rescuing from, especially when he starts swimming toward me. I paddle backward, but it’s half-hearted, mostly for show. I’m a little too intrigued by the idea of what might happen if he catches me to actually try to get away.

When I reach the wall, there’s nowhere to go. He cages me in with his arms, then leans in close. “Ever made out with a cop?”

“Not recently.”

“Do you want to?” The way he’s brushing his lips over my cheek, it feels inevitable. And I want it, I do. Every part of me responds to him until there is nothing to do but give in and meet his kiss. He tastes like sweetness and danger and the promise of so much more. Dark pleasure way beyond anything I’ve ever experienced until now—because this is a man, not a boy. A man who kisses me slowly, deeply, until I melt against him and whimper helplessly into his mouth.

“What are you doing? Goddamnit!”

Keaton breaks the kiss but doesn’t back away from me as he smiles at his brother. “We decided to cool off.”

Nathan storms across the patio. His fists swing at his sides. “Yeah, it really looks like you are cool in there.”

“Would you relax? Why does everything have to be such a big deal?”

“Guys, guys.” I blow out a whistle that shuts them up. “There’s a very simple way through this.”

“Oh? What’s that?” Nathan doesn’t look angry with me, but I can tell he’s feeling disappointed. Maybe even neglected.

Which is why I offer, “Why don’t you join us?”

“It doesn’t look like there’s a lot of room in there.” He waves a hand at us. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt anything.”

“Jump in.” Because why not? They both look terribly surprised, but I don’t see why. They are the ones who already told me they both like me. Is it still wrong for me to like both of them?

Nathan slowly strips down to his shorts before joining us in the water. I can sense his apprehension, so I reach for him, then wrap an arm around his shoulders once he’s close enough.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, wrapping my other arm around his neck until our bodies touch. This feels good. More than that, it feels right, and I know it shouldn’t. There is something happening here. Something big. But not so big that it scares me—no, what scares me more is the idea of either of them walking away and deciding they don’t want any part of this.

As soon as I touch my lips to Nathan’s, he lets out a growl and pulls me closer, almost crushing me against him as his tongue invades my mouth. But I welcome him. I welcome all of him, finally letting myself take what I’ve wanted for days.

When he comes up for air, he looks a little dazed and overwhelmed, but he doesn’t try to stop me when I turn my head to kiss Keaton again. We take it slow, the three of us exploring something new together. By the time Lilly’s cries ring out from the monitor, they’re both rock hard, and I’m hot and wet and absolutely aching for more.

But Lilly takes priority. I get out of the water first and head inside, wrapped in a towel. I’m dried off and changing Lilly’s diaper when the guys return and start getting dressed. None of us say a word about what just happened, but that doesn’t mean anybody can forget it. In fact, the mood around the house is totally different by the time they start cooking dinner together. I’m happy to sit back and watch while playing with Lilly, and the energy in the kitchen is enough to make emotion swell in my chest.

Am I wrong for looking around and thinking this is exactly the life I want? All of us together, laughing and joking, sharing a meal. Sharing our lives. I’m happy—it’s completely unfathomable and definitely unusual, but I’m happy.

I came here for a job but might have found a home.

7

KEATON

T  his has been a perfect evening. I don’t usually use words like that, but it’s the only one that fits. We finish cleaning up while Claire puts Lilly to bed. When she returns to the living room, Nathan and I are just settling in. I could go home, but it feels better to be here. He hasn’t asked me to leave, either.

And we haven’t discussed what happened out in the pool. I don’t know if that means he’s cool with it or what. He would’ve said something if he wasn’t, I guess, but sometimes there’s no telling with him. Right now, he seems relaxed and happy enough, so I’ll take that as a good sign.

Claire stands before us, tucking her hands into the pockets of her skimpy cut-offs. I wonder how she’s feeling.

Nathan beats me to it. “Everything okay?” he asks.

“Everything’s fine. That was a great dinner. I… really like being here. I want you guys to know that.”

“We’re glad you’re here,” Nathan tells her.

“So, do you want to watch a movie or something?” I ask, looking back and forth. “I’m sure there’s something we could all agree on.”

“Actually… I was thinking about doing something else.”

I notice how nervous she looks. “What did you have in mind?” I ask.

She bites her lip and damn, it is the most seductive thing I’ve ever seen. She’s a perfect mixture of innocence and sensuality. “Maybe I’m out of line, but I was hoping we could… revisit what we started out in the pool.” She looks back and forth between us, almost wincing like she’s afraid she went too far.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s no such thing. My cock starts to stir when I remember how her lips tasted. “I would be interested in that,” I agree with a glance at my brother. Please, don’t fuck this up.

His expression is unreadable at first. He looks at me, and I shrug. Live a little. What’s the harm? “Uh, all right,” he agrees. “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind seeing where that goes.”

The word joy comes to mind when she beams, and suddenly, she grabs the hem of her T-shirt in both hands and pulls it over her head all at once. Now, the body I only started to explore in the pool is in front of me—she went braless, and her full, firm tits bounce gently, practically calling to me. Begging to be touched, licked, and fucked. “I do like a direct woman.”

Nathan, meanwhile, can only sit in silence, staring at her. She lets out a nervous giggle. “Do you see anything you like here?” she asks in a shy little whisper.

“Yeah, you could say that.” To my surprise, he pats his legs. “Come over here.”

She bites her lip but does as she’s told, settling in his lap. I watch as he runs his hands over her tits, playing with them until she moans and closes her eyes. Her pink nipples go tight, and when he flicks them, she gasps. “That’s so nice.”

I’m close enough that I can reach out and stroke the incredibly smooth skin of her thighs. The little cut-offs she’s wearing give me plenty of access, and I take advantage of it as Nathan lowers his head and takes one of her nipples into his mouth. She runs her fingers through his hair while, with her other hand, she reaches out for me.

“Stand up,” she implores, and I gladly oblige, standing in front of her with my erection jutting out. She licks her lips, and the sight makes me groan before she ever reaches out to stroke my bulge.

“Fuck, yes,” I groan. “Take it out. Lick it. Be a good girl.” I don’t know where that came from—this isn’t like me, none of it is, but I can’t pretend I don’t want it. Neither can Nathan, who’s sucking like his life depends on it as Claire moans and writhes in his lap.

He has to release her so she can take hold of me, leaning down to give my head an experimental lick that sets my body on fire. “So big,” she moans softly before taking me into her mouth as her ass wiggles and grinds against Nathan’s crotch.

Pretty soon, there’s not a sound in the room but that of our moans and whispers. “That’s right. Just like that.” I close my eyes, lost in bliss, as she works me with her tongue and her hands, moaning around me while Nathan continues fondling her and dry-humping her ass. She gasps suddenly, and I look down to find one of his hands wedged between her legs. Her moan sends vibrations running through me, and I have to stop myself before I unload down her warm, wet throat.

“You’re going to make me come,” I mutter, pumping my hips, feeding my cock to her hungry mouth. “Do you want my cum? Is that what you want?”

She moans, her head bobbing while she sucks greedily, but I hold on. Not yet. Not until she gets hers.

She looks confused when I pull back, but I only shake my head. “He needs to feel how good you are,” I tell her, pulling her to her feet. “But first, let’s get rid of these.” Nathan and I work together, without either of us needing to say a word, running our hands over her tight, smooth body before lowering her shorts until she’s in nothing but a skimpy thong.

Nathan’s head darts forward, and even I’m surprised when he begins lapping at her covered mound, then pulls the fabric aside so he can fully taste her. She grips the back of his head in both hands, and I take pleasure in touching her, savoring her breathy moans, reveling in the way she melts against my body. She’s ours, totally ours, and the knowledge of it leaves me grinding my cock against her luscious ass and fondling her heavy tits while Nathan grunts and groans with his tongue halfway up her cunt.

“Oh… Oh, that’s it… Don’t stop, please, don’t stop…” Her breathless, needy moans get louder and louder until she finally howls and falls against me, jerking her hips while Nathan continues lapping up her juices.

“Quick. Lie down.” Because her scent is in the air, and my god, I need to taste her. Now. She’s barely flopped onto her back across the sofa before I’m on my knees between her creamy thighs and driving my tongue into her quivering folds. Her musky aroma envelops me until there’s nothing in the world that matters but giving her pleasure—working her ripe body into a frenzy. I could stay like this for the rest of my life and die a happy man. I know that much.

Nathan’s strangled groan makes me look up to find him fucking her face—gently, even tenderly, but with his teeth gritted. “Just like that,” he urges, holding the back of her head. She moans around him when I get back to work, teasing her, letting my tongue run in circles around her tight bundle of nerves. I’m dripping wet and dying to come, but not yet. Soon, but not yet.

“Fuck, you are good at this,” Nathan whispers, the strain in his words loud and clear. “I’m going to come. Fuck.”

It’s like her body flares to life in response, and soon she is grinding wildly against my face. “So good,” she gasps when she lets Nathan fall from her mouth, and I respond by taking her clit between my lips and sucking. She gasps again, going stiff before a rush of fresh juice coats my tongue, and her guttural moans fill my ears.

Now, there’s only one thing on my mind. Nathan is already frantically fisting his cock, and I get up on my knees to do the same to mine. Claire opens her eyes in time to find us both directing our cocks toward her tits.

“Yes,” she breathes, nodding eagerly. “I want you both to cover me with it.”

She is a dream come true. The familiar rush comes over me all at once, and I welcome it, watching as the first spurt from my head splashes across her heaving chest and makes her sigh in satisfaction. It’s quickly followed by Nathan’s explosion, then another spurt from me. By the time I come to, our mixed seed drips from her tits.

And she’s smiling—almost like she’s proud.

I think I could fall in love with this girl. I think I’m already more than halfway there.

8

CLAIRE

W ell. This is different. It’s also better than anything I could have imagined. And I’ve done a lot of imagining these past several days.

Nothing in my imagination could ever top the deep, warm satisfaction of being sandwiched between their bodies. I have never felt so completely protected and cherished—I didn’t even know it was possible to feel that way after the sort of things we did tonight. I always figured something was wrong with me for wanting to be a little dirty, a little nasty. But they liked it, and they rewarded me with two of the biggest orgasms I’ve ever had.

And now, lying awake in bed between them, I want more. I want them to take me as far as we can go, and then some. I’m still hungry for their touch. Their mouths.

Nathan is on his back, and the blanket barely covers his lower abdomen. The bulge under the blanket takes the hunger that was already starting to build and makes it explode. I’ve only had his big, thick dick in my mouth so far. I know it’s going to feel incredible once he’s inside me.

I get up on my knees and straddle him carefully, gently, and I’m about to guide him inside me when he stirs and opens his eyes. “What—” he manages to whisper before I lean down and plant a kiss on his lips. A kiss he responds to instantly.

“Glad I woke up for this.” I look over to find Keaton watching us. “Don’t let me stop you. You go right ahead.”

So I do, reaching between my legs and guiding Nathan inside me. I knew it would be good. It takes me a second to adjust to the blissful sensations running through me as he stretches my walls. I’ve never felt this full. I’ve never felt this alive, either.

“Ride my dick,” Nathan grunts as he takes me by the hips. “Let’s watch you ride.”

It’s like I’m putting on a show, and something about that excites me, gets me wetter and hotter. Any doubts I might have had dissolve before I begin to grind my hips, moving up and down, working my clit against his base.

“So fucking tight,” Nathan moans as his fingers dig into my hips. “Oh, my god…”

“I bet she is.” Keaton gets up behind me, running his hands over my body before taking my jaw in his palm and turning my head so his tongue can invade my mouth. Nathan’s hips jerk upward to meet my strokes—the sensation is incredible, indescribable, and a cry of something like joy erupts from deep in my core. For the first time in my whole life, I feel like I’m where I’m meant to be. There’s no question in my heart.

“I’m going to come inside you,” Nathan announces in a frantic whisper, fucking me furiously while his brother’s hands slide over my body. “I’m going to fill you up.”

Yes. That’s what I want. I want him to fill me up—both of them. And the idea of it makes me work harder, moving faster, until he groans and goes still. A rush of heat deep in my core tells me he is coming, and that’s good; it’s what I want, what makes pure satisfaction wash over me and leave me smiling.

I barely have time to recover before Keaton practically pulls me away from his brother and sets me on my knees. The first, sudden thrust makes me gasp in surprise, but there’s no time to adjust to his length and thickness before he is fucking me mercilessly, holding my hips in place with both hands so he can deliver fast, sharp strokes. Now, the deep, burning pleasure that was already building when Nathan was inside me explodes. It tightens my core and makes me whimper and moan and beg. “More… more! Harder!” I beg in broken sobs.

Both men laugh softly before Nathan reaches out and cups my boobs. “Greedy girl. You only look sweet.”

“I don’t know. She feels pretty fucking sweet, too.” A sharp sting follows Keaton’s swift slap of my ass before he pounds into me again, giving me exactly what I want. They’re using me, and I want them to use me. I want this to be us, the three of us, something only we share. I want to give them everything, so long as we never have to stop doing this.

“Are you ready to come?” Nathan whispers in my ear before running his tongue over the lobe. “Are you gonna come on his cock?”

If I wasn’t ready yet, I am now when Nathan finds my clit and flicks a finger over it while his brother continues pounding me from behind. The sensations are too much; I can’t handle it. It has to end, but I hope it never ends.

And then it all explodes like fireworks in my head. I can’t think, I can’t speak. All I can do is shove my face against the pillow and scream or else risk waking the baby. Even now, I can’t forget about her. Even when sheer, all-consuming bliss threatens to tear my body to shreds.

It’s only when I fall to the side that I feel hot, sticky cum running down the insides of my thighs with every twitch of my muscles. And that’s good, too. It’s all so good.

Keaton collapses next to me, and now I’m sandwiched between them again. Both of them touching and kissing me, and each tender caress takes me one step closer to falling in love with both of them.

“Are you all right?” Nathan strokes my face and my hair, brushing his lips against my forehead before I rest my cheek against his chest.

“It sure felt all right when you were coming on my cock,” Keaton points out, chuckling against the back of my neck before kissing me there.

“I am definitely all right,” I agree with a weak laugh. “That was amazing.”

“It can be that way all the time,” Nathan offers in a soft voice. “I know that’s what I want. To fuck you constantly and get you pregnant.”

“Not if I get her pregnant first,” Keaton murmurs.

Pregnant. With Nathan’s baby or Keaton’s. Maybe both, in time. The idea should freeze me on the spot. It should freak me out and make me want to get out of this bed and even rethink this job.

So why do I snuggle a little closer to Nathan? Why do I turn my head so Keaton can kiss me? Why do I feel so… right? Like I’m exactly where I need to be?

It isn’t long before Nathan’s hardening dick pokes me in the hip, and he groans helplessly when I brush against it. “Maybe we could start trying right now,” I suggest, lifting my leg so I can wrap it around him and draw him inside me again.

9

NATHAN

A t first, I don’t know what wakes me. I open my eyes and find the bedroom only dimly lit with early morning light. I seem to remember Keaton getting up during the night to take care of Lilly while Claire slept soundly in the center of the bed. I fell back to sleep with a smile on my face.

Now? I’m not smiling—and soon, more pounding from downstairs clues me in on what woke me up in the first place.

And I’m not alone. “What the hell?” Keaton demands as he gets up and pulls on the jeans he was wearing last night before they ended up on the floor next to the bed.

“Whoever it is, they’re going to wake up Lilly.” Claire scrambles out of bed. Grabbing one of my shirts she pulls it over before heading to the nursery.

The banging is soon enhanced by the constant ringing of the doorbell. By the time I’m jogging down the stairs, Lilly is screaming in full force, and my eardrums are about to burst.

A glance through the window next to the door makes my heart sink like a rock. “Son of a bitch,” I groan.

“Nathan! What the fuck? Let me in!”

Keaton mutters something filthy under his breath once he recognizes Monica’s voice. “Is she serious?” he asks.

Right now, all that matters is making her stop with the fucking onslaught that is driving my daughter crazy upstairs. As much as I wish I could ignore my ex until she goes away, it’s not happening.

I fling the door open, asking myself what I ever saw in her. Compared to the angel upstairs, she is lower than dirt. She looks like shit, too, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she hasn’t been home since she went out partying last night. Her makeup is smudged, she reeks of beer, and her dress barely covers her pussy.

“Finally!” she shouts. “What, did you change the locks on me?”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I did. What the hell are you doing here? You have no business at this house anymore.”

“Maybe you should’ve thought of that before you decided to fuck with me,” she snarls. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was still drunk.

Keaton steps up behind me. “Do you want to maybe keep it down? It’s barely seven in the morning. Shouldn’t you be waking up on a stranger’s futon right now?”

“Shut the fuck up,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. “Do me a favor, and don’t act superior. Or maybe we should talk about the number of strange beds you’ve woken up in.”

“Regardless,” I interject, “it’s early in the morning, and you woke the baby with all this bullshit.”

“Whatever. Like I said, don’t fuck with me, and I won’t fuck with you.”

“Exactly what is that supposed to mean? How did I fuck with you?”

“Don’t act innocent. You cut off my card.”

“And the only reason I was able to do that is because the card is under my name. I was being nice by paying that bill every month. I’m not doing it anymore.”

“So what? You’re gonna leave me with nothing? That’s all I have!”

“I guess you should’ve thought of that before you walked out the way you did. Last I checked, you had a nice home with a big yard, a pool, and a credit card I never questioned. You also had a husband and a baby.”

“So you’re punishing me? Is that what I’m hearing?”

“You are out of your mind,” Keaton mutters before walking away with a laugh. I hear him heading for the kitchen, probably making coffee. Good thinking.

“I need money.” And like magic, she softens. Her hard, remorseless eyes fill with tears and her chin trembles. “I have nothing. Do you think this is easy for me, coming back here like this? It’s taking everything I have to admit I need help. And I wouldn’t have to come here if you hadn’t locked the card.”

Because, in the end, she’s always been good at making things out to be my fault. I always figured that’s just the way it was. I didn’t know any better because I hadn’t met Claire. I didn’t know how much better life could be.

“Stay there.” As much as it irks me to have to give her a cent, it’ll mean getting rid of her. I don’t need her hanging around, stirring shit up. My wallet is in the drawer next to the door, and I quickly count out the cash I have on hand. “This is two hundred bucks,” I tell her, shoving the bills her way. “And that’s as good as it’s going to get. Looks like you’re going to have to get a job if you want to support yourself because I’m not doing it anymore.”

She wants to turn me down. To call me names, to make me feel small. But she also wants the money. I watch her arguing with herself before finally, she reaches out and snatches the bills from my palm. “This isn’t nearly as much as I need.”

“Like I said. Get a job. The bank is closed.”

“Is everything okay?”

Shit. Instantly, Monica’s head snaps up, and her eyes narrow again as soon as she sets them on Claire as she walks down the stairs, now wearing her own clothes again.

“Who the hell is that?” Monica whispers.

“This is Claire. She’s Lilly’s nanny.”

As unfortunate and irritating as this visit has been, there is a slight positive. I get to watch Monica’s face turn beat red as she processes the information I just volunteered. “A nanny? You have a live-in nanny?”

“Yeah, that’s the thing. When a baby’s mother runs off, it sort of leaves an opening that has to be filled.”

She snickers. “I just bet there’s plenty of holes being filled.” I hear Claire’s soft gasp behind me, and all it does is take my irritation and turn it into something much more potent.

“Why don’t you get the hell out of here? You got what you came for.”

“So let me get this straight.” After all, why would Monica listen to me? She so rarely has in the past. “You cut off my card, but you can afford a live-in nanny? Something’s not adding up.”

“You see, there’s a difference. I’m giving you that money to get rid of you. I pay her because I need her here.”

“Oh, I bet you do. How old are you, honey?” she calls out over my shoulder. “Are you out of high school yet?”

“That’s enough,” I tell her with a growl. “You need to go.”

“Is this what happened to you after I left?” Monica blurts out a laugh and teeters on her stilettos. “What, you decided to bring some little girl into the house? This is pretty sad, you know that?”

“Why is she still here?” Keaton calls out from the kitchen.

It’s a good question. “Time for you to go. You got what you came for, and I’m not unlocking the card so you can drop that idea now.” She doesn’t put up a fight, only laughs as I close and lock the door.

Right away, I turn around to face Claire. She’s still standing on the stairs, having come halfway down. “I’m so sorry. I never expected that.”

She snorts softly. “So that’s her?”

“That’s her.”

She widens her eyes and blows out a soft whistle before finishing her descent. “What a piece of work.”

“That’s one way to describe her.”

“Well, at least I got Lilly to calm down.” Claire chews her lip, frowning at the closed door. “She never even asked about her, did she? She didn’t ask to see her or about how she’s doing or anything?”

“Like I told you, she’s not interested in any of that.”

“I guess I found it hard to believe.”

“Now you know.” I head for the kitchen, where a fresh pot of coffee is brewing. Rather than wait, I grab a mug and hold it under the filter basket to catch the coffee as it drips. I’m feeling a little impatient, to put it mildly.

“What are you going to do?” Keaton asks as Claire opens the fridge and pulls out a carton of half-and-half.

“First thing, I’m filing for a divorce today.”

The carton lands on the counter with a thud. “Wait a second. What did you just say?” Claire whispers.

“I’m filing for divorce today. As soon as the lawyer’s office opens.”

“But… I thought you already did that.”

My brother and I exchange a glance. He shrugs. “I don’t think I ever said anything about it. Only that she left.”

“I know. But…” She uses the scrunchy on her wrist to pull back her long, golden locks, then wraps her arms around herself. She won’t look at me anymore, I realize.

“Talk to me. What’s going on?”

“You’re still married to that woman? I figured you were at least in the process of getting a divorce.”

“I’m sorry. I guess we both made assumptions. But I’m getting it worked out now.”

“No, I understand.” Yes, but she still won’t look at me as she quickly throws together a cup of coffee, which she then carries out of the kitchen. “I’m going to take a shower. If Lilly gets up, I’ll take care of her when I get out. I won’t be long.”

Her rapid footsteps quickly fade to silence while my brother and I stare at each other. “She’s upset,” he points out as if I didn’t know.

“No shit.” It’s not even seven-thirty in the morning, and already, I have a headache.

10

CLAIRE

I t’s stupid. I know it is. Caring like I do. I haven’t even been here a week, and it’s not like anybody has made promises to anybody else. I have no reason to be this upset or feel betrayed.

And that’s the problem. I feel like he betrayed me. But he’s right—I made assumptions I shouldn’t have. Even so, he wasn’t completely honest. He’s still legally married to that woman, even if she is a complete monster, and I can’t imagine why he married her, to begin with.

Instead of jumping in the shower right away, I leave my coffee on the nightstand and stretch out face down on the bed. Last night… was it a mistake? It didn’t feel like it at the time. Things tend to look a lot different in the light of day. I can’t help but wonder what they think of me. And now, I don’t know if I can trust Nathan anymore. What else is he conveniently forgetting to tell me? Can I even trust him enough to work for him? Because, at the end of the day, that’s why I’m here. We sort of lost sight of that, I guess.

I must drift off to sleep at some point—it makes sense since I didn’t get very much last night. My sleep is troubled, full of ugly, unhappy dreams. Not quite nightmares, but nothing nice, either. By the time I hear a knock at my bedroom door, I’m damp with cold sweat, and the blankets are a mess.

“Are you okay in here?” It’s Nathan, tapping at the door again before opening it an inch. “Just checking on you. We didn’t hear the shower, and I was starting to get worried.”

A glance at my phone tells me I slept for more than an hour. It’s now closing in on nine. “I’m fine. I just fell asleep. I’m sorry if Lilly cried, and I missed it.”

“No, it’s all right. I’ve got it covered.”

“Oh. Thanks.” I sit up and run my hands through my slightly sweaty hair. I must look a mess, but I probably still look better than Nathan’s wife. She was pretty rough this morning.

“I have an appointment with my lawyer in an hour,” he explains in a low voice. “I wanted you to know that. And I want you to know that, even without this meeting, and without my name on the paperwork, for me, my marriage is over. It’s been over since the minute she walked through that door and left me and our daughter. There is not a chance in hell of us ever putting things together again—and even if there was a chance, I wouldn’t want to try. Anything I ever felt for her has turned rotten, and frankly, I wouldn’t care if I never saw her again. I wanted you to know that.”

“Thank you.” But I’m not going to let him off that easy. I’m still hurting, confused, and sad. Last night might not have happened had I known he was still married.

And what a shame that would’ve been because last night was something I don’t want to ever forget.

“I’ll take Lilly with me to the lawyer, and I was thinking about driving her over to my office to introduce her to my team. They’ve been hinting at it for weeks, wanting to meet her.”

“Are you sure? I could—”

“You deserve a breather today. I’ve got it covered.” The hopeful, faint smile he gives me makes my chest ache. He wants so much for everything to work out.

But is that because he wants me or because he wants a nanny? Wonderful. Like I needed something else to question.

I make it a point to stay in my room until I hear Nathan leaving with Lilly. But there’s something I didn’t hear and expected to. There was no sign of Keaton leaving.

And not a minute after the sound of Nathan’s engine dies off, there’s another knock at my door. Rather than wait for me to respond, Keaton opens it and leans inside the room. “Hey. How are you doing?”

I look up from my phone, where I was mindlessly scrolling to avoid thinking about my life. “Fantastic, thanks.”

He chuckles at my lifeless joke. “Hey. You still want to take that shower?”

“Yeah, eventually.” Especially since I still smell like sex.

“Come on. I could use one, too.” For once, there’s nothing sexual or flirtatious about him. He only extends a hand, wearing a faint smile. What I need more than anything right now while I feel this confused and conflicted is a friend. It seems like he wants to be that friend. Frankly, I’m not in the mood to fool around—I hope he’ll understand that without me having to come out and say it. I’m not up to it, and besides, it wouldn’t feel right if Nathan wasn’t here. He might’ve hurt me by leaving out some inconvenient truths, but I don’t want to hurt him. I feel like I would if I slept with Keaton.

“Just relax,” he tells me when we step into the shower stall together. “Would you let me wash your hair?”

My mouth falls open in surprise. “Um, sure. That would be nice.” I dip my head under the hot spray while he pours shampoo into his palm.

His touch is magic. Immediately, my stress starts to melt from my muscles and joints. “I hope I’m doing this right,” he murmurs as his fingertips massage my scalp.

“You’re doing pretty good so far.”

“Thanks. I always figured if I didn’t graduate from the academy, I could go to cosmetology school.”

I laugh before I can help it, and that feels good. I don’t have to be unhappy, resentful, or upset. “You would have made an extremely successful stylist.”

“You think so?”

“Are you kidding? Ladies would be lined up for miles to get a little time in your chair.”

“I’m still young. It’s not too late for me to have a career change.”

“I would need a monthly appointment set in stone. I’m not letting some other women reap all the benefits of these magic hands without getting some for myself.”

“My hands can work all kinds of magic.” I should have seen that coming. Still, he doesn’t follow it up with any little hints or double entendres. He only gently guides me back under the water and rinses the shampoo from my hair. I instruct him on how to wring the water out, and then on where to apply the conditioner. “You don’t want the roots to get all greasy.”

“You learn something new every day.”

“Tell me honestly. Have you ever had a serious girlfriend?”

He frowns a little while soaking up a loofah. “That’s a sudden question.”

“I’m only curious. You know about my stupid, waste of time relationship.”

“Was that the only one you ever had?” He guides the sponge over my shoulders and down my arms.

“I’m asking about you, remember?”

He chuckles, and it’s a nice sound. Warm and rich. “I haven’t been serious about anybody since high school, to be honest with you. She broke up with me because she was going out of state for college, and that was it. I figured, what’s the point.”

“That’s all it took?”

“Let me put it this way.” He’s gentle and efficient as he washes me. There’s no lingering, no playing around to turn me on. “The way I saw it, she couldn’t have been all that serious about me if being one state over meant the end of our relationship, you know? We were each other’s first everything, and as far as I was concerned, we were the real deal. Now,” he adds with a chuckle, “I get it. We were seventeen years old, and what the hell did we know? But you don’t get over something like that. Not for a long time. It’s sort of shaped my whole view of relationships.”

“Well, I’m sorry there aren’t more women who can say they know what it feels like to have their hair washed by you.”

“Oh, there’s been plenty of those.” But he’s laughing, and I have to laugh with him. It’s impossible not to.

And I’m not trying to ruin a good thing, either. This shower is very much a good thing. By the time it’s finished, and he has quickly washed himself—almost as an afterthought—I feel renewed. Nothing that was bothering me only twenty minutes ago seems half as important now. Everything’s going to work out. I actually believe that.

He doesn’t stop at washing me, either. I stand still outside the shower while he rubs me down with a thick, soft towel. I close my eyes and lean against him, letting him support me. It is the nicest feeling. Only now do I realize how long I’ve been supporting myself—and not only in the literal sense. With my grandparents gone, I haven’t had anybody to lean against when times are tough. The best I could rely on was a friend I barely trusted. Now, there’s a sense of letting go, knowing everything will handle itself.

“How are you feeling?” He takes me by the hand and leads me to my room, where he sits me on the foot of the bed and takes my hairbrush from the top of the dresser.

“Much better.” Now this, I would never have imagined. Sitting here while he brushes my hair, taking his time to work out any tangles before I can get hurt. It feels natural to talk about ourselves—what we like in music, movies, and TV, our favorite foods, and even our favorite subjects at school. I can forget I was ever upset about anything.

More than that. For the first time in a long time, I feel taken care of by someone who is not a blood relation. He didn’t treat it like a chore he had to do to keep me happy. He wanted to take care of me, and it just so happened I needed to be taken care of.

I wonder what else there is to learn about him. I can honestly say I’m looking forward to the opportunity to find out.

11

KEATON

I  can’t believe it. I’m sitting here with this girl, watching some Sandra Bullock romantic comedy from way back in the day. Claire swore it was one of her favorites but fell asleep with her head on my shoulder within the first twenty minutes.

Not that I would ever complain. I mean, Sandra Bullock isn’t my first choice, but Claire is. Sitting here with her like this is a gift, one I will never take for granted. I finally get it. I get why somebody would basically hand their life over to somebody else. Their heart, their hopes, their future. I could never quite figure it out. Why take that risk?

Now, I know it’s easy to take the risk when you know it isn’t a risk. I mean, I’m not delusional. In my line of work, especially, I know how quickly everything can change. It takes courage to join your life to someone else’s when there’s no way to predict the future. Who knows if and when fate will decide to step in and throw a curveball?

But it’s still worth it to sit here with her and listen to her soft breathing and revel in her warmth and her sweetness.

She doesn’t stir when Nathan pulls up in the car, and even the sound of the front door opening doesn’t disturb her. My brother and I both hold a finger to our lips—Lilly is fast asleep in her car seat. Nathan frowns a little when he notices Claire sitting next to me but doesn’t say anything, heading straight upstairs to put Lilly down before quietly returning.

“How is she?” he whispers. There’s strain in the way his eyebrows pull together. I wonder how much of his day was spent worrying about Claire.

“She’s fine. It’s been a good day.”

“Oh. Good.” But he’s still standing there, wanting to say something and holding himself back.

I finally have to take pity on him. “We didn’t do anything. I kept her company. That’s all.”

He sits on the loveseat opposite the sofa, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

“I’ve never felt like this.”

“I assumed this was all about getting your dick wet.”

“It’s not.”

“You really care about her, don’t you?”

I don’t have to think about it. There’s only one truthful answer. “Yes. I do.”

He sighs heavily, watching Claire sleep. I don’t know what’s going through his head, but he’s not happy about it. “What’s on your mind?” I finally have to ask after minutes of silence.

“I was telling myself to do the right thing and back off. Do you love this girl?” I nod. “And you deserve that. I won’t stand in your way.”

“Hang on—”

He shakes his head. “You deserve your chance. I had mine, and I chose the wrong person. Something tells me you’ll have better luck than I did.”

“Don’t I get any say in this?”

We both flinch in surprise when Claire sits up and rubs her eyes. “No offense, but you guys aren’t quiet.”

“We didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s fine,” she assures me with a sleepy grin. “Here’s the thing. You weren’t trying to wake me, but you were making a decision for me. And I don’t like that. I want a say in this before the two of you decide my future for me.”

We were sort of trying to do that, weren’t we? Nathan sees it, too, wincing when our eyes meet.

“Well?” I ask. “What’s your opinion?”

“It’s not just a matter of opinion. It’s a fact. And the fact is, I care a lot about both of you.” She looks back and forth between us, shrugging. “I mean, I think I love you. Both of you. From the very beginning, I was drawn to you, but the more I’ve gotten to know you both? It only makes me want to know you better. Does that make me greedy?”

“It makes you perfect,” I tell her, rubbing her back. “But don’t feel like you have to say that just to make us happy.”

“That’s the truth,” Nathan quickly agrees. “You never have to do anything you don’t want to do. But I would be lying if I said it didn’t break my heart a little, telling Keaton I would step aside.”

She lets out a sympathetic noise as she rises and goes to him, sinking to her knees at his feet. “And that just makes me love you more because you would put him first. You’ve already been through so much. But you would still make that sacrifice.”

She looks back at me over her shoulder. “Well? Do you think you guys could both handle being with me at once? Because that’s what I want. I don’t want to choose.”

And she won’t have to.

Nathan takes her face in his hands and kisses her deeply while I get up and go to them, kneeling behind her. She reaches back, running her fingers through my hair, while I indulge in the curves of her body. Even knowing we have a future of this ahead of us doesn’t make it less exciting. If anything, it makes me want her more. It gets me more excited and more eager to put a baby inside her. Soon.

“I can’t wait,” I murmur as I run my hands over her tits, then down her flat stomach before dipping under the waistband of her shorts. “Watching you get bigger. Watching your tits swell. Knowing we’re the reason for it.”

Nathan grunts in agreement while Claire works his belt and fly. “So perfect.” He sighs.

“I want that, too,” she agrees before pulling his dick free and stroking it, making him moan and fall back against the cushions behind him. There’s something insanely erotic about watching her pleasure him, and for a while, it’s enough to observe while playing with her pussy, getting her wet and ready for us. She moans and arches her back while her stroking picks up speed.

She only lets him go to raise her arms so I can pull her T-shirt over her head and toss it aside. Her moans when I cup her tits leave me groaning helplessly, grinding against her ass. “I need to be inside you,” I grunt close to her ear, and Nathan moans his agreement.

“Both of you,” she decides firmly before looking back at me. “I want both of you at once. Can you do that for me?”

Can we? Nothing could stop me now that she’s given us the green light. Nathan pulls her to her feet and yanks down her shorts and thong so she can straddle him. She grips the back of the loveseat for leverage while he directs his swollen, dripping head and disappears inside her swollen folds.

“Oh, yes…” Her head falls back, and her blonde hair swings as she loses herself. Nathan buries his face in her tits, licking and sucking like he’s starved for the taste of her. I know the feeling.

I’m dripping precum in my shorts by the time I pull them down and free myself.

“Am I the first man to be inside this ass?” I ask while I tease her puckered entrance with my thumb.

She shakes her head. “No, I’ve done it before. But he wasn’t as big as you are,” she adds in a breathy whisper before moaning when I breach her with my thumb. Right away, her muscles want to swallow me and draw me deeper. I use spit as lube, and that makes it easier to move in and out.

It’s like a dream come true, finding this woman. Listening to her blissful sighs, knowing she’ll belong to us. Only to us.

And she wants our babies. She’ll walk around in this world with our love for her growing for everybody to see.

That’s what is on my mind when I replace my thumb with my wide head, gently probing her while she moves up and down on Nathan’s cock. “Give it to me,” she begs. “Please, Keaton. Fill me up. Make me feel both of you.”

When I roll my hips and push forward, she arches against me and goes still. “Oh, my god,” she whispers, eyes closed, while I take her one slow, careful inch at a time until my hips are flush with her ass cheeks.

“Fuck!” Nathan groans. “Holy shit, that’s…”

I know what he means. I can feel him on the other side of the thin wall separating us. There’s something profound about being locked together with her between us, begging us for more.

And we give it to her. Working in tandem, all three of us moving as one. My tongue runs over her neck while Nathan goes back to worshiping her tits. “Oh my god…” she whimpers. “Oh, it’s so good… so good… don’t stop, please!”

Like we would. Like either of us would be capable of stopping now, moving faster, breathing harder, all three of us working for the same goal. The pressure builds in my balls, and her breathless gasps rise in pitch until they’re more like desperate little shrieks. “Yes… Yes, I’m going to come. You’re both going to make me come!”

And when she does, I let it go, giving in to the urge and emptying my balls deep inside her while my brother does the same, holding her still so he can fill her with his seed. I feel it running over my balls as I ease my way out of her tight tunnel.

“Oh, my god.” She’s trembling and whimpering softly, by the time she curls up in Nathan’s arms. “Tell me I can look forward to more of that, please?”

Just when I think she can’t get more perfect…

12

CLAIRE

“O h, look. I see you brought the little girl—sorry, I meant the nanny.” Monica rolls her eyes dramatically as she takes a seat across from us at the long conference room table in Nathan’s lawyer’s office. It took forever for her to finally agree on a meeting time that worked for her. Honestly, I think she was trying to delay the inevitable. Once the papers are signed, that’s it. And Nathan’s lawyer was very quick to get everything in order in only a few weeks. I’m sure Nathan told him what a hurry he was in to get the divorce finalized.

A pair of men follow Monica into the room. One of them wears a fancy suit and carries a leather briefcase.

The other one is somebody I didn’t think I’d ever see again, and definitely the last person I ever expected to run into today.

Immediately, my blood runs cold at the sight of Drake—my ex. I’m almost too stunned to put two and two together when he sits down next to Monica. When he takes her hand, and she gives him a smile, it finally hits me. What are the chances of them finding each other?

“Are you okay?” Keaton asks while bouncing Lilly on his knee. Monica won’t even look at her. She’s doing more than ending her marriage today, but you would never know it from the way she sits there and has a whispered conversation with my ex-boyfriend. I told myself these past few weeks that deep down inside, she had to know what she was missing out on. That somehow, it had to hurt, knowing someone else was taking care of her child.

Now, I understand. She really doesn’t care. Some people are built that way, I guess.

Nathan’s lawyer clears his throat. “As we all know, we’re signing the final divorce paperwork, along with the paperwork in which my client’s ex-wife will surrender her parental rights. Miss Claire Williams will formally adopt the child at that point.”

My own. My own little girl. I swear, I still feel like I should pinch myself—I won’t because I wouldn’t want to wake up from this incredible dream. I had no idea the day I first showed up on Nathan’s doorstep that I would end up with a family. The family I’ve always dreamed of.

I glance across the table at Drake, and it’s clear he’s surprised by this. I’m sure he knew Monica would be signing over her rights today, but he didn’t know I was the girl who would be adopting Lilly. I raise an eyebrow, silently challenging him to say something, anything. But he knows what he did, and I doubt he wants to force me to announce it in front of his new girlfriend. Nathan is granting Monica a generous settlement, even if she doesn’t deserve it. It’s worth it to get her out of my life, he had said, and I see his point. Drake wouldn’t want to miss out on any of that settlement money, would he?

I have to lean in close and kiss Lilly’s downy cheek to hide my satisfied grin. The two of them are meant for each other.

“Are you ready for this?” Nathan murmurs as his lawyer sets out the papers for all of us to sign—Nathan, Monica, and me.

Am I ready for it? “I’ve been ready for this all my life,” I whisper back, and the way he beams tells me it was the right thing to say.

“No offense, but can we get this over with? We have a lunch reservation.” No doubt Monica can’t wait to start spending her money. I have to wonder how long it will take for her to go through all of it. If Drake doesn’t take it all. What a miserable person.

“I assure you, we can get through this quickly.” The lawyers have a brief conversation while we wait, and when Lilly reaches for me, I’m happy to take her off her uncle’s hands. My daughter. She’s going to be mine. She already feels that way in spirit, but having legal documentation will certainly be a thrill. I feel Drake watching me, but I pay him no attention. To think, I imagined us being serious about each other. I imagined us having a child of our own. I should thank him for ruining my life since he also gave me my life in the process. He set me on this path.

We all sit up straighter when Monica’s lawyer clears his throat. “Everything looks to be in order.” Monica goes first, flipping through the pages and signing everywhere there’s a tab instructing her to do so. She gets through the divorce papers first, then signs away her parental rights like she’s signing the check at a restaurant. I should thank her, too. She’s giving me a gift even if she doesn’t know it.

“I would say it’s been fun…” She rolls her heavily made-up eyes before shoving the papers across the table so Nathan and I can sign our respective documents.

This is it. With Lilly on my knee, I pick up the pen and sign my name where indicated. Tears well up in my eyes, and I fight hard to blink them back. It wouldn’t feel right, crying in front of those two. They could never understand how I feel. I’m finally getting everything I ever dreamed of.

When it’s all over, I don’t feel any different. Not that I expected to. After all, Lilly’s been mine in my heart since the first time I looked into her wise, dark eyes.

“That’s it.” Nathan wraps his arms around both of us. The emotion in his voice obvious. “It’s over.”

I grin at Keaton and kiss the top of my daughter’s head before replying, “No. It’s just beginning.”

EPILOGUE

Nathan

Five years later…

A  hurricane comes tearing past, wearing a pink dress and white Mary Jane shoes. “Mama! Open this for me?”

Claire offers Lilly a warm smile before holding out her hand. “That is enough with the candy after this, young lady. You’re going to give yourself a stomachache.”

“Stomachache!” Tommy pulls up his shirt and points. “Stomachache!”

“You have the general idea…” Claire sits on the blanket Keaton spread out under a tree near where the kids just finished hunting for Easter eggs. “You’re good at anatomy for a three-year-old.”

“Mama, come run with us!” Lilly urges after sharing half of her candy with her little brother. That’s Claire’s influence, no doubt. She has raised a sweet, loving, smart little girl who can’t wait to be a big sister again.

“How about I watch from over here?” Claire suggests. “I’m awfully tired.”

“Come on.” Keaton springs to his feet and stretches like he’s preparing himself. The kids squeal and take off with him on their heels.

It’s a gorgeous spring day, the sort of day that promises new life. Like the life currently growing in Claire’s belly. “You feeling well?” I ask.

“Perfect. It’s a perfect day.” I have to agree.

It’s not long before Keaton collapses next to Claire with a weary groan. “These kids. Where do they get all this energy?”

“That’s a silly question. It’s from all the sugar they’ve digested so far today.” Claire unwraps a miniature peanut butter cup and closes her eyes once she pops it into her mouth. “I mean, not that I blame them.”

There are moments like this one when I almost can’t believe this is my life. Five years later, it’s still the three of us. Raising the kids and building a life together. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be on this adventure with. Keaton balances out my stern, sometimes grumpy tendencies, while I tend to balance out the ‘Fun Dad’ tendencies whenever he starts to go overboard.

But it’s clear who keeps us both centered. Claire is the heart of our family, of our home. If the kids squeal happily while running circles around the tree, it’s thanks to her. She has given them so much love and patience. She is exactly the sort of mother any child would be lucky to have.

It’s early afternoon by the time we take them home, and it’s no surprise that both kids are out cold when we pull into the driveway. “Careful with her dress!” Claire whispers while I lift Lilly from her seat.

“Aren’t all the festivities over now?” Keaton points out while taking Tommy from his car seat.

“That’s not the point. What if her sister could wear it in a few years?”

“You seem pretty sure that this baby is a girl.” I lift my eyebrow at her. “Do you know something we don’t?”

“No. I just feel it.” She runs her hand over her belly before unlocking the front door. Keaton and I take the kids straight upstairs, where we take off their Easter clothes before tucking them in for their naps. And, while we do, I hear Claire downstairs, getting lunch together.

There is nothing sweeter than this. The simple, everyday business of life. How easy it was for us to fall into a routine together. I kiss the top of Lilly’s head and inhale the sweet scent of her dark curls, then give my son the same treatment. Whether or not he’s biologically mine doesn’t matter, and we never bothered finding out for sure. As far as Keaton and I are concerned, the kids are ours, no matter who happened to father them. We are their parents, the three of us, and that’s all we care about.

The sight of Claire moving around in the sunny kitchen while she hums happily to herself is a gift. To think, I figured I had it all worked out before I ever knew she existed. I didn’t have the first idea of what life could be like. I didn’t know it could be this sweet and easy and fulfilling.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, stepping up behind her and stroking her swollen belly while nuzzling her neck. I can’t help but ask since it’s already been a long day, thanks to Lilly waking up the house before dawn, wanting to see if the bunny brought her a basket.

“Great. Happy.” She tips her head to the side and narrows her eyes. “I don’t hear anything up there.”

“Are you kidding? They’ll probably sleep until dinner.”

“Then they’ll be up all night,” she points out with a gentle laugh.

“And to think, I was the one who wanted to be up all night.” Keaton winks our way when he enters the kitchen.

All night? I’m not sure I can make it that long, not with her in my arms, not with her sweet scent and the feel of her lush, ripe body working its magic on me. I’m rock hard when I press against her ass. “I was thinking more like a little afternoon fun while the kids are asleep.”

“What about lunch?” She looks over the salad she’s been putting together, frowning.

“That will keep in the fridge.” Like magic, Keaton starts gathering things and putting them away while Claire laughs helplessly.

“What do you say?” I whisper in her ear, pinching her tight nipples and knowing how horny pregnancy makes her.

“I say…” She reaches behind her, between us, and wraps her hand around my bulge. “We should work up an appetite.”

That’s the thing she’ll never understand. When it comes to her, my appetite is never satisfied.

Thank you for reading Breeding the Nanny! Next in the series is Krista Ames with Bred by the Cowboy

Darcy Rose is a USA Today Bestselling author of steam novellas with a dark edge.

If you like your books short, taboo and kinky, then you have come to the right place. Darcy writes about shy and innocent heroines, to match them up with dark and intense heroes who have only eyes for one girl.

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Table of Contents

Full Page Image

Copyright

Contents

Baby Breeder 2

Breeding the Nanny

1. Nathan

2. Claire

3. Keaton

4. Claire

5. Nathan

6. Claire

7. Keaton

8. Claire

9. Nathan

10. Claire

11. Keaton

12. Claire

Epilogue

About the Author