Free Snowed In by Maria Piork Page B

Nina was with the chat, she needed to ensure that the boy wasn’t
misunderstanding the living arrangements.
    “But
why can’t you be boyfriend and girlfriend? You’re pretty and daddy likes you.”
He had looked her way then added, “And you like him too, don’t you?”
    If
Nina didn’t know better she would think the boy had been playing matchmaker.
    “Well,
of course, I like your father, Ian, but not like Mitch and Greta like each
other.”
    That,
of course, was a…lie. Nina really liked Dex, so much in fact that she was
having a time keeping her mind on business. “Your father and I have a business
relationship, Ian. That’s all.”
    And
really, that was all. Despite the fact that Nina liked Dex, he was only her
boss and she was only his employee; nothing more, nothing less.
    Seconds
later Ian had surprised her yet again by walking over to Callie and kissing the
infant on the head and saying, “I want Callie to have a daddy and if you and my
daddy were together then Callie would have one, no?
    A
cooing sound emerged from the infant and Nina was jarred out of her thoughts. She
pulled the doorknob and that time, the door creaked. Dex turned to look her
way.
    “Well,
look who’s here.” Dex spoke to Callie in a tone of voice that was adorably babyish.
    “Hey…”
Nina addressed Callie as Dex closed in to place the child in her arms. He took
extra care in accommodating Callie and as he did Nina picked up on the scent of
his cologne. The woodsy aroma was faint but arousing, her tummy stirred. “There
you are,” she said, ignoring the essence of him that instantly made her insides
turn to jelly.
    Callie
fussed as soon as Dex handed her over. “It’s okay.” Nina soothed. Callie was certainly
biased to being in Dex’s arms, wasn’t she? The child whined and Dex did his
best to set the baby in the crook of her arm. Then just as Callie’s protests
were winding down, Dex’s fingers skimmed the side of her breast.
    The
brief contact touched Nina like a heated caress and her pulse raced. Goosebumps
beaded her flesh. Desire, hot an insistent made Nina’s libido jump to overdrive.
    Callie
whimpered yet again and Nina was extremely glad for the child’s timely interruption.
    Dex
pulled away and cleared his throat. He fell back a couple of steps and said, “The
storm’s got Callie a little spooked.” His voice was hoarse and uneven. Had Dex
felt the same electrical jolt she felt when they touched?
    Nina
kissed Callie’s cheek. “Shhh, it’s just the wind, honey.” Nina shot Dex a
glance, “Actually, the storm’s got me a little spooked, too.” She admitted
wryly.
    “The
winds are really picking up.” He replied as a dimple appeared on his left
cheek.
    Oh
my! Not the adorable dimple…Nina licked her bottom lip in a nervous gesture and
said, “Thank you by the way,” She rocked Callie and added, “You know…for looking
in on her.”
    His
eyes searched her features then his gaze dropped to her mouth. Nina’s heart
skipped a beat. “Guess I’m a sucker for a lady is distress.” He joked.
    Nina
thought about that for a moment. Dex had been there for her when she needed
rescuing, so perhaps his statement was entirely true.
    Dex
jammed his hands in his front pockets then leaned against the door frame. He
studied her for a moment then he reached over and patted Callie’s back, “It’s
hard to believe that Ian was this little once.” His mouth curved into a half
smile. Seconds later he glared at her and she glared back. His eyes were dark,
hooded. Nina wondered what was going through his mind at that moment. Silence
stretched between them, and Nina struggled to come up with something to say.
    The
wind chose that moment to announce its brutal fury as tree branches jabbed against
the hallway window.
    “That’s
a wicked storm!” she croaked.
    Callie
whined and Dex quickly stroked the child’s cheek comforting her. A moment later
his attention was back on Nina. “I closed down the office for