She shrugged. “I walk. When I lost my job and had to give up my car, I learned to use the legs God gave me. But now—”
“Now you have a new job that comes with full medical and dental benefits and a membership to the Amherst Country Club. I take care of my employees, Michelle,” he said with a smile.
“I noticed that. I visited Mrs. Hayes in the guesthouse last night. It’s really nice.”
“Well, she deserves it. Come, sit.” He gestured toward the table. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Please.”
He took his empty mug to the coffee cart that Mrs. Hayes had been preparing every night for eight years. When Cassie was alive, after he returned from running, they would sit at the kitchen table and have coffee and read the newspaper together before he headed out to the hospital. Even after his wife’s death, Mrs. Hayes continued to put out two mugs. This was the first time in two years that Erik would share his early morning cup of coffee with another person. Holly was a late riser—something he’d been thankful for.
Erik poured a mug for Michelle and refilled his. He opened the drawer of the cart, took out a spoon and set them on a tray. “How do you like your coffee?” he asked.
“Just cream, thanks.”
He got the cream from the fridge, added it to the tray, and took it to the table.
She gazed up with a half smile. “You sure I’m not disturbing you? ‘Cause it looks to me like you had a private thing going here.” She pointed to the unfolded copy of The New York Times on the table. “Some people need their solitude to get them going in the morning. Me, I just jump right into the day and tackle whatever it throws my way.”
Erik grinned at her insightfulness. “It’s a welcome change,” he assured her, easing into the chair across from her. He watched as she picked up the jug and poured the cream into the coffee. He loved the way her slender brown fingers with the red painted nails enfolded the long white jug. Sexy fingers. He could just imagine them wrapped around his hard shaft.
“Did you sleep okay on your first night here?” He took a sip from his mug, grateful for the hot bitter sting to keep his thoughts from traveling down a salacious path. Everything about the woman made him think of sexual acts. He never realized he was this sexually deprived.
She shrugged. “I have to get used to sleeping in a strange house and bed, I suppose. You were out late,” she added. “I turned in around midnight, and you still weren’t home yet. That must be the longest running play in history.” She took a careful sip of coffee, closing her eyes briefly as she swallowed the hot liquid.
“Actually, the play ended around nine then we went for ice cream, and finally ended up at my mother’s.”
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“Does she live around here?”
“About fifteen minutes away. You’ll probably meet her soon,” he added with a hint of dread at that meeting. His mother wasn’t one to hold her tongue. She spoke her mind, and if she thought he and Michelle were perfect for each other, she’d come right out and say it. Come to think of it, Michelle was a lot like her. She’d probably make Michelle her new best friend, just to annoy him.
“Precious will probably sleep late,” he said. “You should wake her soon after I leave, or it would put a strain on her schedule today.”
“Is she in boot camp? Will she be court-marshaled for skipping duty? Lighten up, Erik. She’s only seven years old. It’s summertime. She really shouldn’t have a schedule. She’ll survive sleeping in one day. I was a kid once. Trust me.”
Trust her. He couldn’t even trust himself. “You know, I know nothing about you,” he said lightly. “Yesterday, I hired you to look after my daughter then I came on to you, for which, again, I deeply apologize. All I know is that you are good for my daughter.” And a damn good kisser.
“Isn’t the fact that I’m good for Precious enough?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“What else do you want to know?”
“Just the necessary facts.” Erik leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. His eyes assessed her softly. He wondered if she had a man in her life, and if she had sex with him on a regular basis, and in what positions she took him. Judging from the sexy sounds she made while he kissed her last night, he knew she could make a man forget everything but the softness of her delicate yielding body. Erik’s jaws tightened at the image of Michelle’s long legs wrapped around the waist of a nameless faceless man. Jealousy cruised through him.