Page 6

W ith a plate of freshly baked muffins balanced on one hand, I poise the other to knock on Maggie’s front door. I woke up around four-thirty this morning, restless energy surging through my body.

And when I get restless or stressed, I bake.

When I’m happy, I bake.

When I’m sad, I bake.

Really, any emotion can be worked out with baking. A skill I acquired thanks to my mother, and something all my previous clients took full advantage of when I would stock their kitchens with homemade muffins, cookies, and breads—pretty much all things carby and delicious.

Every time I closed my eyes and willed sleep to fill my body, I was met with visions of striking light-green eyes, coils of dark-blonde hair, and the cutest spray of freckles dusting an even cuter button nose.

In less than twenty-four hours, Maggie Wilcox has consumed all my thoughts, especially in my sleep.

But I can’t act on this invisible force pulling me to her until I know more about her past.

Oh, and she’s my boss.

One problem at a time, though.

Eventually, I gave up on catching some shut-eye and whipped up a batch of chocolate chip muffins. If I’ve learned one thing over a lifetime of taking care of children, it’s that chocolate is the best way into even the most stubborn child’s heart.

Luckily, I had the foresight to explore the little town of Maple Ridge Hollow last night, making a pitstop at the local grocery store to stock my new home with food and any other necessities.

Before I have a chance to knock on the door, my ears perk up to tiny feet padding against the floor on the other side, followed by a soft giggle. The door swings in, and a wisp of a child collides with my legs.

“Oomph.” I manage to brace the plate with both hands before it can drop to the ground. Taking a step back, I stop Lily from sending me sprawling to the ground as well.

Good thing I’m a vampire with fast reflexes.

“Good morning, little one.” My voice is filled with laughter at her excitement. Now that the muffins are safe, I stroke one hand down the back of Lily’s curly hair, which is wrangled into a low ponytail .

She pulls back, releasing her death grip on my waist. A sunny smile lights up her whole face. “You’re here!”

“I’m here,” I confirm. Taking her hand in mine, she leads me into the house as Maggie comes down the hallway from the kitchen.

She smiles, wiping her hands on the dish towel she’s carrying. “She’s been waiting by the window since she finished her breakfast.”

My heart sings at Maggie’s words. Based on our first encounter, Lily seems to be a very outgoing and intelligent child. I’m not surprised she’s taken to me so quickly. Now, if I could only gauge her mother a bit more.

“What do you have there?” Maggie’s curious tone breaks me out of my thoughts, the eyes I’ve been dreaming about locked on the plate in my hands.

“Chocolate chip muffins. One of my specialties.” I pass the plate to her, and we venture farther into the house.

In the kitchen, Lily grabs one of the muffins, scampering off to the kitchen table, leaving me and Maggie standing awkwardly on opposite sides of the island.

“You didn’t have to bake us anything, but thank you.

” She picks up a muffin and takes a generous bite.

A moan slips out as her eyes flutter closed, and I nearly pop an ill-timed boner in front of my new employer—again.

That moan, sultry and smooth, will be on repeat in my brain for the rest of eternity.

Not the time, Viktor.

Totally oblivious to my lustful thoughts, Maggie runs her tongue over her bottom lip, chasing a rogue crumb, before sucking one finger into her mouth and licking it clean of chocolate.

How do I tell her I had to bake these muffins in order to distract myself from my thoughts of her? If I’m not careful, I’ll end up jerking off on a nightly basis to visions of her plump lips wrapped around my cock instead of her finger.

Clearing my throat, I turn so my rapidly hardening cock is wedged against the counter and out of sight. “It’s no bother. Baking is somewhat of a hobby of mine.” I plaster on a wide smile in hopes of covering up the hunger that’s raging beneath my skin.

“Well, these are amazing. And chocolate chip is my favorite.”

I tuck that little nugget of information away for later. “Thank you. So what’s on the agenda today?” Switching to a safe subject will surely get me thinking a little more with my brain and less with my dick.

Maggie slides the plate of muffins to the side before brushing her hands on the dish towel again. “I know it’s your first full day with Lily, but I need to go out for some meetings today. Will you be okay? I should be back after lunchtime.”

“This isn’t my first rodeo, country girl.” My wink sends a brilliant pink flush up Maggie’s chest and neck until it spreads across her supple cheeks. “You have nothing to worry about. Lily is in good hands.”

I’ve dealt with my fair share of parents being apprehensive…

and some who had no qualms at all leaving their child with a stranger.

“Here,” I say, tugging my phone from the pocket of my slacks.

“I know you have a landline.” I nod toward the old, co rded phone mounted on the wall across from us.

“But direct contact may ease your nerves. Put your number in here.”

When she reaches for the phone, her fingers brush mine. I’m almost too caught up in the heat of her skin that I nearly miss the soft gasp that falls from her lips.

Almost.

But I don’t.

I also don’t miss the flare in her pupils as her eyes linger on our hands.

Or how she doesn’t flinch or pull away.

No . If anything, she leans a fraction of an inch closer, her hand seeking mine when I break contact.

My normally cool fingers tingle; it’s a sensation I want to experience over every inch of my body.

And there goes my dick again—springing to life and fighting against the zipper of my pants. Fisting my hand in front of my mouth, I fake a cough and angle my body away from hers.

From over my shoulder, Maggie snaps her mouth shut as her thumbs tap against the screen of my phone. “Okay, I put my cell number in here, along with Jean-Luc’s. He’s the orchard foreman, and you can use him as an emergency contact. Call me if you need anything .”

I nod as I take the phone back from her. Much to my dismay, Maggie plops it into my outstretched palm, avoiding any more physical contact. “I will.”

After a quick goodbye with Lily and grabbing her purse, Maggie heads out the garage door, an almost forlorn look pinching her features. The expression sours my gut, and I want nothing more than to tell her to stay here with Lily. With me .

But I’m not here to be Maggie’s white knight. I’m here to be her nanny.

Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I turn toward my little companion, who’s busy coloring a picture at the kitchen table. Chocolate smudges adorn her cheeks, and I can’t help but chuckle. We’ll be just fine today.

A n hour, and a wash of Lily’s face, later, we’re headed out the backdoor of the farmhouse. A pink backpack filled with snacks and drawing supplies is strapped to Lily’s back.

I need to get the lay of the land if I’m going to be here for the next few months, and what better way to do that than with a “nature hike.” At least, that’s how I explained it to Lily.

“Okay, little one. I want you to find a yellow flower. Then we’ll stop and draw it in your notebook. Sound good?” On my walk to the main house this morning, I passed by a patch of vibrant yellow wildflowers.

Her feet pound on the dirt path when she takes off toward the guest house.

Puffy white clouds float across the big blue sky overhead. They provide the perfect amount of shade for my sensitive skin.

Vampire lore has been skewed, thanks to Hollywood. We don’t burn to a crisp in the sun, but it isn’t exactly comfortable either. It’s a bit like how an extreme sunburn feels for humans. Unbearably itchy and painful .

Long sleeves, long pants, and a hat are necessary when venturing outside during daylight hours.

Pushing my sunglasses up the bridge of my nose, I wince when a stray ray of sun beats down on me. Unfortunately, I forgot my hat at my apartment in the city. I’ll have to make due until I go home this weekend.

We spend the better part of the morning on our exploration of the orchard. Me giving Lily random items to find on the grounds. Her scampering ahead to capture them and add them to her sketchbook.

Along the way, I snap pictures on my phone and send them to Maggie in hopes of easing her nerves. She responds to each one with a heart emoji or a thumbs-up.

By midday, Lily has devoured all the snacks we packed, and her pace has slowed. It’s time to head back to the house for lunch.

“My feet hurt,” Lily whines from my side, stumbling a step.

Stopping in my tracks, I tap my chin. “How about a piggyback ride?”

She giggles, but the sound cuts short, her eyebrows pinching together. “But I’ll get dirt on your fancy clothes.”

Glancing down, I brush a hand over my vest. I left the tie at home today, going for a more relaxed vibe. Shrugging, I kneel in front of Lily. “A little dirt never hurt anyone.”

Her eyes widen, ponytail brushing side to side with the shake of her head.

“Hop on, little one.” I hook a thumb toward my back. “Just don’t pull my hair. ”

With a squeal, she climbs onto my back, wrapping her slender arms around my neck.

“Hang on tight!” Then, we’re zooming through the rows of trees, past the few workers checking on the apples. A trail of Lily’s laughter bounces through the air behind us until we reach the deck on the back of Maggie’s house.