'I hate living like this. I despise having to suddenly distrust people I know and like. But most of all I hate having you in charge of my life.' Swinging around in her swivel rocker, Addy stared up at Nick. 'Get out of here and leave me alone. Okay?'
He hated the pleading sound in her voice, knowing how difficult it had been for her to gain her independence and what a struggle it was for her to keep Rusty from controlling her life. 'I'll check back in around lunchtime. Maybe we could go out for a bite.'
'I'm sorry, but I'm having lunch with the children today.'
'Then I'll join you and the romper room crowd. It's been years since I've eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.'
Addy's eyes widened. She hadn't expected him to invite himself to join her. 'Fine. Be here at noon.'
'You've got a date.' Nick smiled all the way out of the office, not once turning around to see the expression on Addy's face.
Damned obstinate man. Overbearing. Bossy. Of all the men in the world, why was Nick Romero the one who'd come to her defense and rescued her from a kidnapping attempt? And why did her father like and trust him so much that he'd handed her over into Nick's safekeeping? And why, dear Lord, was he the first man since her divorce who made her think about risking her pride, her heart and her body?
Five minutes later, Addy looked up from her desk to find Jim Hester standing in the open doorway. She'd been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't know how long he'd been watching her.
'Come on in, Jim.'
Closing the door behind him, Jim took a seat across from her desk. 'Mr. Romero is a very interesting man.'
'I imagine most people find him interesting.' Addy wasn't quite sure where this conversation was going.
'Women in particular, I guess,' Jim said.
'I understand he has a reputation. Why are you so interested in Nick?'
'Because you're so interested.'
'I am not… I— Is it that obvious?' Addy couldn't deny her feelings, not to Jim. He was too good a friend, too dear and kind a man.
'I had hoped that someday you and I— Well, Tiffany and I are both terribly fond of you and—'
'There's nothing going on between Nick and me. Daddy's hired him as my bodyguard until this kidnapping threat is over. I'm not Nick's type. He isn't interested in a permanent relationship and I can't handle a temporary affair.'
'Then you'd better watch out, Addy. That man wants you. And I'd say he's used to getting what he wants. I'd hate to see you get hurt.' Jim stood, then walked over to Addy's side, placing his arm around her shoulders. 'I admit that I'd rather not be on the receiving end of Nick Romero's wrath, but if you want to try to use me as a buffer, I'll take my chances.'
Addy laughed, thankful that Jim understood her so well. If only she'd fallen in love with him instead of the idea of being a mother to his child. 'Thanks. I—I don't think you'll be in any danger. I doubt if Nick would actually fight over me.' Then she remembered Friday night when he'd come to her defense against Gerald at her father's engagement party.
'Don't sell yourself short, Addy. The way that man was acting today, I'd say he'd do more than fight for you. I think he'd kill for you.'
'That's what Daddy's hired him to do, if it's necessary. But that's his job. It isn't personal.'
'Don't kid yourself. It's definitely personal with Mr. Romero.'
Janice Dixon rushed into Addy's office. 'Sorry to interrupt, but Brittany McKinney has thrown up all over the bathroom and won't let anyone touch her. She's crying for her mother.'
'Go take care of Brittany,' Jim said. 'I'll see you tomorrow when I stop by for juice with Tiffany.'
'Call Brittany's mother,' Addy said. 'She works in the secretarial pool. I'll walk Jim out and go see if I can calm Brittany down until her mother gets here.'
'Looks a bit out of place, doesn't he?' Janice whispered to Addy while the two women watched Nick Romero, who was sitting between a couple of three-year-old girls.
Addy's gaze moved over the big man whose very size dwarfed the small stool on which he sat. He had removed his jacket before sitting down to share vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches with the children.
'He doesn't seem too uncomfortable, but then he has the awed attention of two females.' Addy laughed, amazed that Nick could charm even preschoolers. His easy camaraderie with the children had surprised her, considering his background. She couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever thought of becoming a father. For one unguarded moment the thought of giving Nick a little girl of his own flashed through Addy's mind.
'He's looking this way,' Janice said. 'What's going on between you two?'
Addy fixed her gaze on Nick, then smiled and waved at him from her position at the table opposite his. 'He's teaching me how to play games.'
'What?' Janice choked on her iced tea.
Raising her voice, Addy called out, 'Are you enjoying your lunch, Mr. Romero?'
'The food's not bad,' he said. 'And the company is—entertaining.' He looked around the table where children of various sizes and sexes were munching on their sandwiches, slurping their soup and loudly sipping their milk.
'If you'd care to stay for nap time, I'll let you read them a story.' Addy couldn't help noticing how totally at ease Nick seemed, crouched there in the middle of so many toddlers. Many men, especially hard-edged military types, would have been nervous, even wary, around small children.
A little brown-eyed girl sitting beside Nick looked at him and smiled. When he smiled back, she held up her unopened milk carton.
'I can't get it open,' she said, handing the milk to Nick.
He took the carton, pulled apart the spout and returned the open container. 'Here you go.'
Just as the little girl's fingers tightened around the carton, the boy sitting next to her lost his balance on his stool and fell over on her. The milk sloshed out of the open container and splattered across Nick Romero's pale blue shirt.
Stunned, Addy watched the milk soak into Nick's clothing. She jumped up, rushing over to where the little girl sat crying.
'It's all right,' Nick tried to assure the child. 'It's just milk. It'll wash out.'
'I didn't mean to do it,' the child wailed when Addy crouched down beside her. 'It was Barry's fault!'
'Stop crying, honey. Mr. Romero isn't angry.' Addy motioned for one of her assistants, a heavyset, matronly lady, to take charge of the children at the table.
As soon as the assistant had lined up the three-year-olds and ushered them into another room for nap time, Addy turned to Nick. 'You'd better come into my office and get out of that wet shirt. Lucky for you we have a washer and dryer, so we can clean you up in a few minutes.'
'I take it by your calm manner that accidents like this are a daily occurrence.' Nick grinned when she gave him a you've-got-to-be-kidding look.
'Accidents like this are an hourly occurrence, sometimes more often than that. We're dealing with preschoolers here.'
Nick followed Addy into her small, cheerful office. She closed the door and turned to him. 'Take off your shirt.' She held out her hand.
He looked at her outstretched hand, then up into her sparkling green eyes. 'Just what I like, a forceful woman.'
Letting her hand drop to her side, Addy willed herself not to blush. 'Nick…'
He began unbuttoning his shirt, very slowly. Addy steeled herself against her body's reaction. She refused to look away shyly. Nick would know for sure that the sight of his naked chest excited her.
'I'm afraid I don't have anything large enough for you to put on while we're washing and drying your shirt. I could send someone over to Daddy's office for one of his shirts.' Addy tried to concentrate on Nick's face, focusing
