Falling for the Nanny by Jacqueline Diamond

repeated. Didn’t do as good a job of hiding it as I thought.
    He moved closer, his broad shoulders obliterating everything else, his thumb tipping up her chin. “This shouldn’t feel uncomfortable. We can still be friends.”
    She’d never been good at lying. “Like I told you, I’m the wrong person for the job.”
    â€œNo. You’re the right everything.” As if he couldn’t contain himself any longer, he lowered his head until his mouth met hers.
    Slipping her arms around him, Patty tried to remember why she’d been so determined to keep her distance. And failed completely.

Chapter Eight
    The heat of Alec’s tongue, the softness of his hair beneath her palm, the hardness of his body against hers… Patty had forgotten how a kiss could rewire her entire system.
    As Alec gathered her close, her hands moved instinctively up his chest. She wanted to touch him everywhere, to strip off these annoying clothes, to brush her bare skin against his. In response, he stroked beneath her tuxedo jacket, and her breasts burst with sensation against his palms.
    The bed was so close. She had no doubt that, with Alec, sex would be all the things she’d heard about, read about, dreamed about….
    With a groan of self-reproach, Patty stepped back. Held him at bay until her gaze cleared, and they stood staring at each other.
    â€œI didn’t mean to—” He broke off, breathing hard.
    â€œMe, either.”
    â€œPatty, let’s not let this come between us.”
    The irony of his words struck her. “The problem was that nothing did come between us. Except a few clothes, but we’d have tossed those off in, oh, about ten seconds.” Despite his earnest gaze, Patty put a little more space between them. “Let’s face it, we should be past this, but at some level we’re a pair of arrested adolescents.”
    â€œI need you. My daughter needs you.” Alec began pacing. “This is my fault.”
    â€œLike you wrestled me to the ground and forced me to kiss your face off?” she scoffed.
    â€œWhen we’re together, I forget that things are different now, that this isn’t just about you and me having fun,” he admitted. “But I won’t make that mistake again.”
    She shook her head. “Lost cause. I wish it weren’t, but even after all these years we’re still crazy together. You have to find someone else to protect your daughter. I’ll explain to my boss.”
    Patty didn’t look forward to that conversation. How was she going to admit she had an embarrassing weakness for an old flame? She hated to think of Mike gazing at her with a disappointed expression that reminded her of Grandpa.
    But it could be much worse. What if she accepted this job and blew it because she couldn’t focus one hundred percent on protecting Fiona? Her boss might decide she wasn’t as qualified as he gave her credit for. And she’d have let everyone down.
    Gripping her notepad tightly, Patty strode into the hall. Halfway across the living room, she heard a key turn in the lock.
    Should have left five minutes ago.
    She paused, holding steady as the door opened to reveal a birdlike woman. More wrinkles lined her inquisitive face than when Patty had last seen her, but the blue eyes remained just as penetrating.
    Darlene Denny blinked in surprise. “Patty Hartman? My goodness.”
    â€œHello, Mrs. Denny.” Patty broke into a smile as a tiny figure pushed past her grandmother and ran over. “Good to see you, Fiona.”
    â€œHi, Patty!” How could anyone resist that eager grin?
    â€œYou two have met?” A penciled eyebrow rose.
    â€œI told you! The lady in the market. She has chocolate bars for dinner.” Fiona jumped up and down. “Fried with sauce.”
    â€œIf anyone could fry a chocolate bar, I’m sure it would be Patty.” The woman sounded almost affectionate. Or