Maid for the Single Dad by Susan Meier Read Free Book Online Page A

gone on vacation.
    Finally Mac said, “I’ll get it.”
    Ellie took a breath. “No. That’s okay. You change him. I’ll get the bottle.” She had to get out of this room! “By the time I return, you’ll be ready for it so you can feed him.”
    He nodded, and she walked toward the nursery door, but at the last second she changed her mind and headed for the door of her suite. She closed it behind her then walked through her sitting room to get to the hall. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him seeing her things. She hadn’t scattered her things about. She was a tidy person. It was more that there was something about both of them sleeping so close, with only a nursery to separate them. Something intimate was happening between them and she didn’t want him thinking about her any more than she wanted to be thinking about him.
    But she would.
    Damn it. She knew she would.
    What was it about this guy that drew her? Sure, he had beautiful blue eyes. Yes, he was perfect physically with his well-defined muscles that rippled when he moved, and shiny black hair that looked silky smooth and made her itch to run her fingers through it.
    But he was…unattainable!
    And she didn’t know him. Rich people always had secrets in their closets and this guy’s very demeanor screamed trouble.
    Plus, she didn’t want a relationship. Damn it. One day in his company and she’d almost forgotten every lesson she’d learned with Sam!
    At the refrigerator, she put her attention on preparing Henry’s bottle. Her mind back where it belonged, she got one of the pre-poured bottles of milk from the refrigerator. She heated it to room temperature as she’d been taught by several of the mothers at A Friend Indeed and returned to Henry’s room.
    Mac sat on the rocking chair with Henry on his lap, his towhead nestled against his daddy’s chest. Ellie’s heart squeezed.
    Fuzzy feminine feelings rose up in her and she suddenly understood why Mac was so appealing to her. No matter what his secrets, he truly loved his kids and somehow or another that hit her right in the maternal instincts. She’d always wanted children and if she’d met someone normal before she’d met Sam her life probably would have been very different.
    â€œHere,” she whispered, handing Mac the bottle.
    He glanced up at her. Their gazes caught for only a second, but it was long enough for Ellie to feel the sizzle again, reminding her that this attraction wasn’t one-side. And that was the problem.
    â€œThanks.”
    She took a step back. “You’re welcome.”
    Then she turned and all but ran back to her suite.
    Even if an employer felt an attraction for the help, most wouldn’t let it show. Mac hadn’t let it show all day. But being half-asleep, his guard had been down. Nine chances out of ten, he wouldn’t even acknowledge this in the morning.
    But what if he did?
    What if he liked her?
    What if living with him for a month was enough that their barriers broke down?
    He already had her stuttering and staring. If he made a pass at her, could she resist him?
    And what if she didn’t?
    No one knew better than Ellie that there were consequences to relationships.
    Especially relationships with bosses.

CHAPTER FOUR
    E LLIE awakened at four, dressed in a clean pair of jeans and yawned her way to the kitchen. To her amazement six-year-old Lacy was waiting for her.
    â€œLacy?”
    From her position on one of the chairs at the table, she peeked at Ellie. “Sorry.”
    â€œOh, that’s okay, honey,” Ellie said, walking over to the table where the little girl sat. She stooped down to make herself eye-level. “I’m just a little concerned about you being up by yourself.”
    Lacy leaned her elbow on the table and angled her chin on her fist. She wore pale blue pajamas covered in tiny pink hearts. The color brought out the blue in her