Daddy Next Door by Judy Christenberry Read Free Book Online Page A

second his fingers brushed her skin, though, playful took a backseat to exciting. He pulled his hand away.
    “Yes, of course. I wanted them to have a pet.”
    She spoke matter-of-factly as if she was unfazed by the electricity sparking from his light touch. Didn’t she feel it? Was he the only one singed from the contact?
    Putting a leash on his thoughts, he asked, “Won’t he need more room? Dogs of this breed like to run a lot.”
    “He can run around the backyard. Diane is going to take the puppy and the girls outside and let them play.”
    “Who’s Diane?”
    “Diane, come meet your new neighbor,” Jennifer called.
    A woman approximately Jennifer’s age—late twenties—stepped to the door and Jennifer introduced Diane Black the upstairs neighbor living over Jennifer’s apartment.
    “Are you one of the flight attendants?” he asked.
    “No, they live in the apartment over yours. I work at a bank.”
    “Well, it’s nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy spending time with the girls and their new dog.”
    “We’re already off to a great start. Come on, girls, let’s take the puppy outside.”
    Jennifer and Nick watched as Diane took Annie’s hand and led the parade toward the back door.
    “I haven’t even had a chance to look out back. How big a yard is there?”
    “It’s good-sized. Are you ready to go?”
    “After you,” he said, and stood back so she couldclose the door and lock it. Then he asked, “What made you decide to get a dog?”
    “I thought a dog would help the girls believe this is their permanent home. They still have trouble believing they won’t be split up again.”
    “I think you can understand that.”
    “Of course I can. But I’m doing everything I can think of to settle their minds.”
    “Except find them a daddy?”
    She glared at him as she moved into the sunshine. “We don’t need a daddy!”
    “I’m convinced,” he said with a shrug. “Missy is the one you need to work on.”
    “It’s difficult when you’re encouraging her to call you daddy!”
    “Sorry, but she’s hard to resist.”
    With a sigh, Jennifer said, “Don’t I know it.”
    “Let’s take my car. I need to learn the way so I can go visit Grace on my own.”
    Jennifer stopped and looked at him. “You would do that?”
    He shook his head. “You are hard to convince.”
    “It’s not something most men would do on their own.”
    “Aunt Grace was good to my mother and helped her in the difficult times after my dad died. I kind of feel I owe her.”
    The explanation obviously satisfied Jennifer because she had no further comments. She got in the car and directed him to the facility.
    When they entered, she approached the front desk. “We’re here to visit Grace Windomere. Can you tell us her room?”
    “Yes, it’s 308, but she’ll probably be in the main room with the other residents watching television.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Aunt Grace never watched much television,” Nick murmured.
    “Maybe she enjoys it now,” Jennifer replied, moving down the hall after they got out of the elevator. They came upon a large room with a big-screen TV.
    “There she is,” Nick said, pointing across a sea of white hair. He approached her, sliding between the wheelchairs lined up in front of the television.
    “Aunt Grace, how are you doing?” he asked softly, kneeling down beside her chair.
    She turned to look at him. Then she squealed like a small child. “Nicky! What are you doing here? Is Mary here with you?”
    “No, Aunt Grace, Mom is dead, remember?”
    “Oh! Oh, yes, I forgot,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
    “It’s all right, Aunt Grace.”
    “But the babies!” she protested.
    “You mean the terrible triplets?” Nick asked with a grin.
    “Oh, yes, right. They were so adorable. Did they come with you?”
    “No, they’ve kind of spread out. But Jennifer, yourneighbor, came with me. You remember her, don’t you?”
    Jennifer bent over and hugged Grace’s neck. “How are