Daddy's Double Duty by Stella Bagwell

a comforting gesture. But for Vanessa, it was like flint striking stone. The friction was igniting a trail of tiny flames along her skin, making it difficult for her to breathe.
    â€œYou need help, Vanessa. You can’t continue to handle two infants alone. I’m sorry it’s taken so long for me to find a nanny, but things have been hectic in the office since you’ve been away.”
    She sighed. “I’m sorry I’ve gotten everything out of whack. I did call Fiona and thank her for filling in for me at the office. I hope the job isn’t wearing her out.”
    Conall chuckled. “Wearing Mom out? Not hardly. She thinks she’s still in her twenties instead of entering her sixties.”
    â€œShe had six children and I’m letting two wear me down,” Vanessa said with a grimace. “That makes me feel like a wimp.”
    â€œShe didn’t have two at once. That would wear anyone out. But today I think I might have found a nanny and if things go as planned she’ll be over tomorrow or the next day for your approval.”
    Her interest sparked, Vanessa asked, “Do I know this woman?”
    â€œI doubt it. Her name is Hannah Manning and she’s a retired nurse that Maura used to work with at Sierra General.”
    â€œOh. Well, if she’s a nurse, she ought to be qualified for the job. I’ll look forward to meeting her.”
    His hand was still on her arm, sending sizzling little signals to her brain, and she could only hope he couldn’t guess how much she wanted to touch him, kiss him again. In spite of her days and nights being consumed with caring for the twins, she’d not been able to quit thinking about the man.
    â€œI’ve stewed a pot of carne guisada for dinner,” she said, her gaze awkwardly avoiding his. “Would you like to join me?”
    â€œI’d love to,” he murmured, “but I’d like to do something else first.”
    She was wondering what something else could possibly be when his forefinger slid beneath her chin and lifted her face up to his. Their gazes clashed and Vanessa’s heart began to thud so hard she could scarcely breathe.
    â€œConall, this…is…not good,” she finally managed to whisper.
    His mouth twisted to a sexy slant. “How do you know that? We haven’t done it yet.”
    She groaned with misgivings but the sound didn’t deter him. Instead, both his hands came up to frame the sides of her face. The tender intimacy shot her resistance to tiny pieces and as his head lowered toward hers, she closed her eyes and leaned into him.
    This time the meeting of their mouths was not the fragile exploration they’d exchanged in Las Vegas. No, this time it was all-out hunger, and what little breath Vanessa had beforehand was instantly swept away by the crush of his hard lips.
    Instinctively her hands grabbed for support and landed smack in the middle of his chest. She gripped folds of his cotton shirt as the heat of his body infused hers with heady warmth and his hands began a lazy expedition against her shoulders.
    Certain she was going to dissolve in a helpless puddle if the kiss went any further, Vanessa frantically tore herself away and turned her back to him.
    She was fiercely trying to fill her lungs with oxygen, when his lips pressed against her ear and she closed hereyes as he began to whisper, “I’m not going to apologize for that, Vanessa. It felt too right.”
    She couldn’t argue that point. Until now, until Conall’s lips had touched hers, no man’s kiss had ever spun her away to such a fairy-tale world. And that was the problem, she thought desperately. Conall was a prince and he wasn’t looking to make her his princess.
    She swallowed hard. “I don’t expect you to apologize,” she said in a faint voice. “I’m just—” Stiffening her resolve, she turned back to him. “I don’t know