floor.
“You sure have a lot of amenities.”
“This one comes in very handy, like now, when you’re holding the baby. It’s safer than two flights of stairs.”
The elevator door opened, and Dan continued the tour. “In case you didn’t notice the other night, thethree bedrooms are all here,” he said. “Mine’s at the front of the house and you two are at the back. You’ll have your own bathroom.”
“I remember.”
He followed Alexis to the bedroom that would be hers and watched her absorb the surroundings. He would have just plopped on the bed or thrown his belongings down. But he’d been married long enough to know women were different, that Alexis would probably look around, touch things, organize herself. He also knew Alexis would probably like the room. Kim had had a flair for decorating and had given her attention to every room in the house. He watched as Alexis fulfilled his expectations and perused the place with interest.
“I didn’t take the time to notice anything when I was here before, but it’s pretty, Dan. I like the soft colors, the curtains and spread. The bookshelves are handy, and the corner desk is perfect for my laptop. It’ll work out fine for a few months.”
“If you need anything at all, just ask. I want you to treat the place—the whole place—as your own. I don’t want the new nanny to quit.”
Michelle started to squirm and cry. “Let me have her,” said Dan. “You’re probably tired after a full day’s work.”
“Not tired at all,” replied Alexis. “I used to work out regularly at a fitness club in the evenings—before Michelle came into my life.”
“Oh, okay. It’s just that Kim’s mind was stronger than her body, and I…Oh, never mind.” Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? Alexis didn’t want to hear about his past.
“Dan?”
He glanced at her.
“The baby needs a diaper change.”
And they needed a change of subject, as well. Michelle had good timing.
“She’s stinky,” said Alexis. “That’s what the squirming and crying were all about.”
No problem. Nannies changed diapers. “You know where her room is.” He pointed across the hall.
“Do you think she’ll be toilet trained in three months when I leave? It’s time for Daddy to step up to the plate.”
“The plate? Wrong game, Auntie. ”
She rolled her eyes. Laughing, he said, “Cute, Alexis, cute.” He reached for the baby, and they went to her room. Laying Michelle on the changing table, he started chatting to her as Alexis had suggested that day in her condo. “Let’s get you nice and clean.”
After disposing of the soiled diaper, he slipped a clean one under his daughter. “Now I need the butt paste,” he murmured to himself.
He awkwardly tidied his daughter with a couple of baby wipes, then found the powder and cream and applied both liberally. He’d just fastened one side of the diaper when he sensed Alexis behind him. “Want any help?” she asked, peering around his shoulder.
Before he could answer, she stepped closer.
“Holy Toledo, Dan! The diaper’s too loose. She’ll soak through everything. Close it tighter, like this,” she said, demonstrating with the tabs.
“No wonder the laundry’s piled up,” he said. “But practice is something I know how to do.” He dived intodiaper action once more. “I learned all about car seats, so I can learn all about diapers.” When he finished, he turned to his new mentor. “Satisfied, Coach?”
Her warm smile reached her eyes, and he found his gaze lingering.
“Oh, I like that new title,” she said. “But beware, I’m tough.”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Dan replied, then wanted to cut his tongue out. Sexual banter wasn’t part of the deal. He waited for her reaction, but she didn’t pick up on the remark. On purpose or not?
“Four months ago,” Alexis said, taking the baby from him, “I needed a coach myself. Roz came in handy.”
“It must have been tough…with everything
“You sure have a lot of amenities.”
“This one comes in very handy, like now, when you’re holding the baby. It’s safer than two flights of stairs.”
The elevator door opened, and Dan continued the tour. “In case you didn’t notice the other night, thethree bedrooms are all here,” he said. “Mine’s at the front of the house and you two are at the back. You’ll have your own bathroom.”
“I remember.”
He followed Alexis to the bedroom that would be hers and watched her absorb the surroundings. He would have just plopped on the bed or thrown his belongings down. But he’d been married long enough to know women were different, that Alexis would probably look around, touch things, organize herself. He also knew Alexis would probably like the room. Kim had had a flair for decorating and had given her attention to every room in the house. He watched as Alexis fulfilled his expectations and perused the place with interest.
“I didn’t take the time to notice anything when I was here before, but it’s pretty, Dan. I like the soft colors, the curtains and spread. The bookshelves are handy, and the corner desk is perfect for my laptop. It’ll work out fine for a few months.”
“If you need anything at all, just ask. I want you to treat the place—the whole place—as your own. I don’t want the new nanny to quit.”
Michelle started to squirm and cry. “Let me have her,” said Dan. “You’re probably tired after a full day’s work.”
“Not tired at all,” replied Alexis. “I used to work out regularly at a fitness club in the evenings—before Michelle came into my life.”
“Oh, okay. It’s just that Kim’s mind was stronger than her body, and I…Oh, never mind.” Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? Alexis didn’t want to hear about his past.
“Dan?”
He glanced at her.
“The baby needs a diaper change.”
And they needed a change of subject, as well. Michelle had good timing.
“She’s stinky,” said Alexis. “That’s what the squirming and crying were all about.”
No problem. Nannies changed diapers. “You know where her room is.” He pointed across the hall.
“Do you think she’ll be toilet trained in three months when I leave? It’s time for Daddy to step up to the plate.”
“The plate? Wrong game, Auntie. ”
She rolled her eyes. Laughing, he said, “Cute, Alexis, cute.” He reached for the baby, and they went to her room. Laying Michelle on the changing table, he started chatting to her as Alexis had suggested that day in her condo. “Let’s get you nice and clean.”
After disposing of the soiled diaper, he slipped a clean one under his daughter. “Now I need the butt paste,” he murmured to himself.
He awkwardly tidied his daughter with a couple of baby wipes, then found the powder and cream and applied both liberally. He’d just fastened one side of the diaper when he sensed Alexis behind him. “Want any help?” she asked, peering around his shoulder.
Before he could answer, she stepped closer.
“Holy Toledo, Dan! The diaper’s too loose. She’ll soak through everything. Close it tighter, like this,” she said, demonstrating with the tabs.
“No wonder the laundry’s piled up,” he said. “But practice is something I know how to do.” He dived intodiaper action once more. “I learned all about car seats, so I can learn all about diapers.” When he finished, he turned to his new mentor. “Satisfied, Coach?”
Her warm smile reached her eyes, and he found his gaze lingering.
“Oh, I like that new title,” she said. “But beware, I’m tough.”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Dan replied, then wanted to cut his tongue out. Sexual banter wasn’t part of the deal. He waited for her reaction, but she didn’t pick up on the remark. On purpose or not?
“Four months ago,” Alexis said, taking the baby from him, “I needed a coach myself. Roz came in handy.”
“It must have been tough…with everything
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