Baby Lessons

spare moment the past few days compiling two lists—one detailing all the potential evidence that she was the writer behind the Queen Bee moniker, and the other outlaying all evidence to the contrary. He’d managed to come up with a solid argument for both scenerios. On one hand, it seemed entirely possible that she’d read Queen Bee’s letter to the editor, just like everyone else in Lovestruck, and had simply chosen the library books because they’d been recommended by an “expert.” On the other, she dressed like a runway model. Her stilettos alone were enough to convince him that she’d been responsible for writing “The Four Cutest Toddler Shoes for Fall.”
By the time her next scheduled night nanny shift rolled around on Tuesday evening, Jack was certain of only two things: first, he needed to learn more about the woman he’d hired to care for his children while he slept. Second, he needed to stop writing the letters. He needed to really stop—no more backsliding and certainly no more sending letters addressed to Queen Bee personally.
Done, he thought, swigging a cup of coffee as he glanced at the clock above the stove. Madison was due to arrive any minute, and he was as nervous as an awkward kid waiting to ask his crush to prom.
Pathetic.
He rolled his eyes at himself. There was no logical reason for his anxiety. His need to know more about Madison was purely professional.
His eyes rolled even harder. Okay, mostly professional. Either way, tonight would be a fact-finding mission. It was not as if he would have gotten much sleep, listening to her quiet footsteps and gentle murmurs while he tried not to imagine running his fingertips along the perfect pink swell of her bottom lip.
Plus, he’d already stopped writing the letters. He’d quit completely cold turkey, even though for some insane reason, the idea that Madison might actually be Queen Bee gave him an almost undeniable urge to pick up a pen and paper.
He closed his eyes and let out a groan. God, he had it bad, didn’t he? When Madison arrived, he should probably just let her in and make himself scarce like he always did, lest he act on his feelings—which would be absolutely crazy since he wasn’t entirely sure who he had feelings for. Madison was a mystery and trying to unravel her would be fraught with complications.
The baby monitor on the kitchen counter crackled to life, and he could hear one of the girls start to babble. They’d been doing that more and more lately, especially Emma. He knew it was probably too early to expect to hear a dada, but he still caught himself holding his breath every now and then, hoping for the sweetest brand of miracle.
He strode down the hall and lifted Emma gently from her crib, holding her delicate little form against his chest.
“You,” he whispered into her downy blond hair. “You’re the one. You and your sister.”
No one else. They were the most important people in the world, and they’d already been let down in the most painful possible way. Natalie had walked away without a backward glance. She’d even signed away her parental rights, even though he’d never asked for that as part of their divorce settlement. One day his daughters would grow up and find out that their mother had literally written them off as if they’d never existed. He was all they had now, and he owed it to them to devote himself to them wholeheartedly. He didn’t have room in his life for distractions.
Not even a distraction as lovely as Madison Jules...or Queen Bee...or whoever the heck she was.
The doorbell rang as he bounced Emma in the crook of his elbow and right on cue, Ella started crying. Jack scooped her up in his free arm, and the symbolism wasn’t lost on him as he strode to the door. His hands were both literally and figuratively full—too full to even let Madison into his home.
Or his life.
Even so, his rebellious heart pounded hard at the sight of her silhouette through the door’s frosted glass window. “Come in, it’s open.”
She pushed the door open and swept into the house like a cool summer breeze, all tumbling hair and smooth, sun-kissed shoulders. He did a double take when he realized she was wearing kitten heels for a change—strappy little sandals, paired with a gingham sundress that made her look like she was on her way to a picnic in the park rather than the shadowy halls of his home in the wee hours of the night.
He took a deep breath and tried not to think about how perfectly she’d tuck against him with her head nestled right beneath his chin. “Hello.”
“Oh.” Her beautiful face split into a wide grin at the sight of the babies in his arms. “Look who’s up!”
“Yeah, sorry about that.” He tipped his head toward Emma. “This one was babbling away in her crib, and as you know...”
“Once one twin is awake, the other is sure to follow.” She glanced from the babies to him, and when their gazes locked, her smile turned bashful around the edges. “See? I’m learning.”
Words in Jack’s own handwriting tumbled through his head. It’s puzzling to me why the author of the parenting column seems to care more about aesthetics than actual children.
He was ashamed to admit he’d written those words—and more—about anyone, but especially the woman standing in front of him. If he was right and Madison really was Queen Bee, she could never find out. She’d hate him for sure. It would certainly mean the end of whatever strange and wonderful friendship had begun to form between them, and he wasn’t ready to give that up. The thought of it made his insides twist into a tight knot of panic.
He swallowed hard. “As long as we’re all up and awake, I figured I could help you get the girls fed and bathed?”
Madison dropped her sweater and giant designer tote on the kitchen table