The Doctor's Secret Bride(50)

“No one got hurt and the old lady went away with a happy feeling in her heart. What’s wrong with that?”

“You’re giving me hope where there may not be any. This morning you admitted your physical attraction to me, but you also told me you weren’t ready for a commitment. Then just now before we were interrupted… What was all that about? Don’t set me up, okay? We don’t know what lies ahead for either of us. I don’t want to have my heart broken.”

“I’m sorry,” Erik said, picking up the cooler and basket off the quilt and placing them on the grass. “I didn’t mean to upset you. And I definitely don’t want to break your heart.” He gazed at her, trying not to think of how utterly sexy she looked. He would love to pull her behind a tree and kiss her. “Forgive me?”

“Just don’t do it again.” She picked up the quilt, folded it with two swift twists of her wrists, and headed for the car.

“Yes, Ma’am,” Erik said, following her.

“Is your father expecting me?” she asked as they put the items in the trunk.

“I told him I was bringing Precious’ nanny along.”

“He’s probably expecting some old lady with grey hair, a couple of missing teeth, and a mole on her nose. That’s the kind of nanny you were looking for, right?”#p#分页标题#e#

Erik laughed. “You’re no Nanny McPhee, Michelle Carter.”

She chuckled. “If he’s anything like your mother, he’ll probably take one look at me and draw his own conclusion, anyway.”

“How do you know what Felicia thinks about us?” He hoped his mother hadn’t told Michelle about Cassie’s wish for him to fall in love and marry again. Wanting to make love to Michelle was one thing, but thinking about marrying her was entirely different. He didn’t want Michelle harboring that kind of hope in her heart. Just moments ago, she’d expressed her wish not to have her heart broken. He could break it, quite easily.

“The day she met me and realized I was Precious’ nanny, she couldn’t stop laughing. I guess she thought you’d cornered yourself.”

“She’s a meddling old hag. Don’t let her get to you. My father is nothing like her. He minds his own business.”

“Good,” she said on a big sigh of relief.

Erik was about to close the trunk when he saw the stuffed rabbit crammed into a side pocket of Precious’ backpack. He glanced at Michelle, then back at the brown rabbit.

Michelle’s eyes followed his gaze. It was the tag bunny Precious had told her about this morning. The little girl had pulled it from the back of her closet and explained how she and her parents used it to play tag. Michelle hadn’t even realized Precious had brought it along.

“Oh, no, you’re not,” she said, backing away as he reached into the trunk.

He grabbed the rabbit and threw it at her. “Too late. You’re It.” He took off toward the pond and Precious, his laughter blending with the noise from the quacking ducks.

Michelle growled, picked up the rabbit, and chased behind him.

“Run, Precious,” he bellowed. “The tag bunny is coming. Run!”

Precious squealed, abandoned the ducks, and took off.

Love filled Michelle’s heart as she watched father and daughter running away from her. The carefree, playful family man Mrs. Hayes told her had disappeared after Cassie’s death was back.

Had she done that for him? Had she healed him?

***

As soon as Erik stopped the car Precious bolted out and ran toward the man descending a flight of stone cut steps leading up to a gorgeous hillside mansion.

“You grew up in this house?” Michelle exclaimed, her eyes popping as she took in the surrounding courtyards, gardens, and fountains. The views of lakes and mountains in the distance provided a magnificent backdrop to the estate.

“Yes.”

“Wow. I though your Amherst house was grand, but it looks like a woodshed compared to this.”

“Well, thank you,” he said.

“Oh, you know what I mean.” She slapped him playfully on the arm.

Grinning, he got out of the car, and walked around to her side to open her door.

Michelle felt suddenly uneasy as she watched Erik LaCrosse Sr. walking toward them, bouncing Precious in his arms. He was about an inch shorter than his son, with thin, firm lips and a high-bridged nose. His hair, the color of rich gold, was seasoned with silvery strands. His eyes were the same color of Erik’s, just not as piercing. She noted the light of approval on his slightly wrinkled face as he took a good look at her.

He set Precious on the ground before gripping his son in a bear hug, and kissing both his cheeks. “It’s good to see you, son.”