Page 7

I ’m so late. Shit.

Way to look like an incompetent adult to your nanny on his first full day, Mags. I rub my fingers against my temple to ease the growing headache. It’s been a long day, and all I want is to get home and cuddle Lily.

Her sweet hugs make even the worst day better.

The clock on the dash reads five-fifteen as I careen out of town. I told Viktor I would be home by late afternoon, not dinnertime. “Ugh. I hope everything is still okay.”

He’d been texting me updates all morning while they went on a nature walk. At least, that’s what Viktor called it.

To me, it looked like an excellent way to burn off Lily’s endless amounts of energy.

My phone sits in the cupholder, with no new texts since lunchtime. “No news is good news.”

Truth is, I’ve been busy running from one meeting to the next with several local grocers that I barely had time to react to any of Viktor’s messages.

But each little glimpse of my daughter beaming at the camera—or so engrossed in her drawing that she didn’t even notice her picture being taken—warmed my heart and calmed the wiggling nerves in my belly.

Each new picture was more proof that she’s in good hands with Viktor.

Viktor.

While I drive toward the orchard, my mind wanders to the oddly striking vampire who showed up at my door only a day ago.

He already seems to fit into our routine and our home. Making Lily laugh and smile. Making my stomach flutter with butterflies like it hasn’t since—

“Since Roman,” I whisper, eyes burning with tears as I navigate the familiar country roads.

Too bad my life is a mess. I’m drowning in debt, and my heart is still in pieces after losing Roman. I’m better off focusing on Lily, instead of opening myself up to more heartache.

Heartache that only happens from letting another man into my life.

Plus, Viktor is my employee. He’s off limits… No matter how gorgeous he is, with his tall, muscled stature. Or his pale, almost luminous skin and penetrating red gaze .

…And his hair.

The man could walk onto the set of any shampoo commercial, and they’d probably beg him to model.

Hell, I’m even jealous of his flowing, silky white locks.

This morning, those shiny strands were fastened into a sleek ponytail at the base of his skull, matching the rest of his polished exterior. Like yesterday, he was dressed in slacks, a button-up shirt, and that infuriatingly sexy vest. All tailored to perfection to fit his lanky body.

For some reason, I want nothing more than to tarnish Viktor’s perfectly manicured exterior.

Something lurks deep in his crimson gaze, telling me there’s a wildness hidden beneath the professional side.

I caught flashes of it yesterday when he thought I wasn’t looking.

Would he let me see that wild side?

The old wooden sign on the side of the road brings me back to the present. Scrawled in red paint, the name Sweet Orchard Dreams is barely legible on the worn wood planks.

When Roman and I bought this place, we’d talked about renaming the orchard, but we couldn’t come up with anything we liked better.

It only made sense to keep the name and avoid unnecessary paperwork and fees to change it.

Plus, we had a few diehard patrons come back during our first harvest. Even with the new ownership, they were all too happy to support us during our learning phase.

I sigh, scratching at the skin over my heart. The all-too-familiar ache builds in my chest like it does every time I think of Roman .

Now the name is a remembrance. A legacy. And I can’t bear the thought of changing it without Roman being here.

So Sweet Orchard Dreams we’ll remain.

But a new sign is a must this season. A rundown, barely legible sign won’t attract hordes of happy harvesters, which we need in order to turn a profit this year. A new sign is an expense I can’t really afford, but one I’ll have to grin and bear.

If luck is on my side—which it doesn’t seem to be lately—Cyrus can help me DIY a new sign to save money.

The melancholy washes away, like waves heading out to tide, when the two-story white farmhouse comes into view. Our bright red front door always has my lips stretching into a smile. It was one of the first things I changed when we moved in.

Moisture springs to my lash line at the thought of losing this place.

It holds the last memories I have of Roman, so I’ll do everything in my power to keep it.

Pulling into the garage, I turn off my car—and shut down my thoughts of my dead husband. After drying my eyes, I grab the to-go bag from the passenger seat and head inside.

“Hel—” The greeting dies on my lips at the scene waiting for me when I walk through the door.

Viktor’s back is to me, broad muscles stretching the fabric of his dress shirt. A tabletop ironing board is set up on the island with a light-blue dress shirt draped across it.

One large hand wraps around the handle of the iron, gliding it across the fabric. Like everything else, Viktor is meticulous, not missing a single wrinkle and creasing the collar and cuffs to perfection .

Without making a sound, I place my purse and the food I picked up for dinner on the counter. I lean against the wall as my eyes wander over the muscles flexing in Viktor’s forearm with each swipe of the iron.

The man seems to make anything he does look sexy.

Sometime while I was gone, he seems to have lost a little bit of his stuffy outfit. His vest is absent and his shirtsleeves are rolled to expose the thick sinews of muscle lining his glorious forearms.

What if I could come home to this scenario every day?

I shake my head, dismissing the silly thought. He’s your nanny, not your boyfriend or husband. He’s here to do a job.

“And how many apples will you have if you pick two more?” The dark timbre of his voice has me taking a step closer, and a shiver rushes down my spine.

I hear soft shuffling, then Lily’s little voice answering from the kitchen table. “Four!”

Tipping his chin over his shoulder, I gasp when Viktor’s eyes meet mine, a grin curling up one corner of his mouth. Shit, I’ve been caught red-handed.

Heat rises on my cheeks, and I open my mouth to apologize, but Viktor places a finger to his lips and tips his head toward Lily.

Stepping next to him, his calming presence surrounds me. My daughter sits at the kitchen table, squirming in her seat. Her gaze is focused on a line of apples placed in a neat row in front of her.

“Enhanced hearing, remember? Can’t sneak up on me, country girl.” He taps his ear, and his smile grows wider .

Right. I gulp. Definitely forgot about his special qualities .

“I hope you don’t mind, but we picked a few that looked ripe this afternoon.” Warm breath fans the side of my face when Viktor leans close, whispering into my ear. He’s so close, the sweet notes of his cologne fill my nose with each greedy inhale I take.

And I take plenty, wanting his scent to overtake my lungs.

Turning toward him, I realize just how close we are when I notice the dark-brown and burgundy flecks scattered among the crimson of his irises. There’s so much dimension there. So much emotion.

Right now, they seem to glitter with adoration for Lily as they dart between me and her. “I figured it would make a good learning opportunity without her realizing it. That’s one of my favorite ways to teach at this age. Play can be such a vital tool when it comes to learning.”

My gaze drops to his lips, watching them curve and twist with each word he speaks, his fangs peeking out ever-so-slightly. Dumbfounded, I nod along with what he’s saying, like I’m paying attention to every word and not imagining what it would be like to have those fangs scrape across my skin.

Or, better yet, would it hurt if he sunk them into me and fed on my blood?

Unbidden, goosebumps trail up my arms, and I shiver.

“Momma! You’re home!”

Tiny arms wrap around my waist, and I tear my attention away from lusting after my nanny , focusing on my daughter.

I kneel and pull her in for a hug. “I missed you, Lily bug. Did you have fun with Viktor? ”

When we separate, her head bobs up and down, a wide grin stretching across her face. “He gave me a piggy bank ride!”

Eyebrows furrowed, I peer up at Viktor, mouthing piggy bank ?

“Piggyback,” he clarifies as I straighten to a stand.

Lily runs back to the table and puts the apples into the basket like a centerpiece.

“She was too tired to walk back to the house this afternoon, so I may have had her climb on my back and used my enhanced speed to get us here faster.” Color grows on his cheeks, his usual pale skin flushing a light pink.

Cute. “I hope you don’t mind. I wanted to get us back quickly since she was hungry and starting to get crabby. ”

I shake my head. “You don’t need my permission, Viktor. I think you’ve more than proven to know what you’re doing. If anything, I’m the one who owes you an apology.” I wince. “I’m sorry I’m so late. My meetings took longer than expected today.”

“Good news, I hope.”

Stepping around him, I grab the takeout bag before making my way to the table. “Amazing news! I landed contracts with three local grocers to start distributing our apples as soon as we have the first harvest.”

Cool, comforting arms snake around me, and I’m pulled into a hard chest. “That’s amazing, sweetheart! Congratulations!”

Sweetheart . Why do I like Viktor calling me that? Maybe even more than him calling me city girl . And why do I like the feel of his arms wrapped around me?

I let myself sink into the embrace for a second longer than I probably should before we both stiffen .

Viktor steps back. Clearing his throat, his eyes linger on the wall just above my head. “I should get going. I’ll let you two enjoy your celebratory dinner. See you in the morning.”

“You know—” Wiping my clammy hand on my jeans, I reach out and wrap my fingers around Viktor’s, halting his retreat. “There’s more than enough food… if you’d like to stay.”