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  Cooper sat on the edge of Bella's bed and pondered London's statement about the future. He needed to play a more active role in the twins' routines. Be the dad he and Ashley had never had. Bedtime stories and tuck-ins. All of the rituals he knew to be stabilizing and good for kids but hadn’t had himself. Like London said, he couldn't allow the past to dictate the future.

  Ever since London's prayer about the twins, he'd felt more at ease. Maybe it was from relief that he'd told her the worst and she hadn't run screaming, but now… he felt more at peace with whatever the future held.

  His stomach growled and Cooper leaned over the bed to kiss Bella on the forehead, catching a hint of something on Bella's breath. Something… sweet but medicinal-smelling. He frowned, hoping the girl wasn't coming down with a cold. Michelle should've called him. Informed him if so.

  He felt Bella's forehead and the girl didn't move. No fever. That was good. Maybe just the sniffles?

  Cooper shifted between the twin beds to Harry's and bent to kiss his forehead only to pause, sniffing. Both kids' breath held the same scent.

  Both were sick?

  Kid germs tended to travel fast but something didn't feel right. He straightened and left the room, moving to Michelle's doorway, and knocked softly. "Michelle?"

  The door was ajar, a light on by the bed. The bathroom door was open. She wasn't there.

  He turned, listened intently to try to hear her if she was in another part of the house. Nothing. Surely she hadn't left the kids here alone?

  He kept his office door locked due to the sensitive information he sometimes worked with, so that left—

  Gut taut, he tiptoed down the stairs, glad Rocco was still outside and unable to raise an alert. A tread cracked beneath his weight and he grimaced but kept going, moving quickly past the door to the garage and the elevator door next to his apartment.

  He opened the door to his private room with a silent twist of the knob. The TV screen flickered, on but silent.

  It took a moment for his gaze to adjust to the dim interior, but he spotted Michelle asleep on his bed. Shock and anger filled him, but he had the presence of mind to grab his phone from his back pocket and hit the voice recorder app he used for work at times. Phone recording, he cleared his throat and flipped on the lights. "What are you doing?"

  Michelle gasped as she awoke, the book she held tucked to her chest falling to the floor. The couple on the cover was barely dressed, and the title splashed across the bottom reading something along the lines of being hot for nanny.

  "I-I didn't mean to fall asleep."

  "Obviously, considering you're in my bed."

  Michelle smoothed a hand over her hair, all remnants of sleep gone as she stared up at him. She blinked at him, her expression changing.

  "I was just— I mean…” She inhaled and shrugged, the wide neckline of the T-shirt falling off her shoulder and down her arm in response. “Why don’t you join me?"

  "Not going to happen." Now that the lights were on… "Is that my shirt?"

  Her lips parted before she gave him a coy look.

  "I spilled my drink on my pajamas and… I didn't think you'd mind."

  "I do."

  "Well, then I'll take it off."

  She shifted onto her knees, hands reaching for the hem, and Cooper held up his hand. "Leave it. Are the twins sick?"

  "No, why?"

  "Because I found the bottle and they both smell like medicine. You gave them some?"

  A guarded expression flickered across her face.

  "Just a little. To help them sleep. It's perfectly safe. It’s a little nanny secret," she said, shrugging like it was no big deal.

  His hands fisted at his sides, and even though he knew the recorder was on, he fought to control his temper. The digital file wasn't admissible in court, but it could keep someone like Michelle from taking advantage of an otherwise innocent situation. "You're fired."

  "What? Why?"

  "You're seriously asking why? You drugged them."

  "It's safe!"

  "They're not sick."

  "It's just to make them sleepy. It's not like they weren't on more in utero."

  Michelle's eyes widened when he took a menacing step toward her before stopping himself. "Come on. You're packing. Now."

  "But—"

  "You'd rather I call the police?" Odds were the police wouldn't take him seriously, and even if they did, he doubted Michelle would own up to it under oath. Things like that tended to happen in court, with people conveniently forgetting things they'd done wrong.

  "Cooper, I was just trying to help you. You keep leaving the house because of the noise. You aren’t getting your work done. I did it so you’d stay."

  "There is no excuse for doing what you did."

  "It’s harmless," she said, sliding off the bed to her feet. "Like I said, all the nannies do it at some point.”

  He jerked his head toward the door, and she rolled her eyes and swiped the book she'd dropped from the floor. She gave him a wide berth as she walked past him.

  Cooper followed her up the stairs, glad she didn't force him to get on the small elevator with her. In such close confines, he wasn't sure he could control his anger.

  He trailed her to her room and watched as she yanked a suitcase from her closet. Her expression changed, darkened as a sneer twisted her lips and her beautiful face transformed into something ugly. Why hadn't he seen that before? Had he been so blinded by desperation for a nanny that he'd ignored signs he should've picked up on?

  "You're going to regret firing me. Let's see how you do with those brats." She grabbed clothes and flung them into the suitcase before yanking on a pair of sweatpants. "I can't believe I liked you and wanted to hook up."

  He bit back a comment and let the digital recorder roll, knowing his attorney would be proud of his forethought under the circumstances. Once she had a suitcase and large duffle packed, Michelle grabbed her purse and computer and stood glaring at him.

  "Aren't you going to help me?"

  He narrowed his gaze on her, pulled out his phone, and booked her an Uber to a nearby motel. "Your driver will be here in three minutes. Let's not keep him waiting."

  Cooper kept the recording app running just in case, pocketed his phone, and moved into the room to pick up her luggage. "Take the elevator." He wasn't taking any chances and he didn't want her pretending to take a spill down the stairs and try to say he'd shoved her. If she was willing to drug kids, who knew what she was capable of?

  Once Michelle was safely on the elevator, he closed the door and said he'd meet her at the bottom. No way was he riding down with her. Minutes later he dropped her bags outside the house just as the driver pulled in. "I'll pay you for this week but that's it."

  Michelle glared at him and then told him off, and all Cooper could think of was that he hoped she hadn't used that kind of language around the kids. "Michelle?"

  "What?"

  "Be sure to put me down as a reference."

  As the car pulled away with Michelle inside, Cooper turned to face the house with the twins sleeping inside, dread, panic and no small amount of fear stealing the breath from his lungs.

  Now what?

  Chapter 11

  Saturdays were always busy days at the coffee shop whether in season or out. London worked the morning, but as noon approached and slipped right by, she started getting antsy due to the lack of communication from Cooper. They'd had some really good conversation, had opened up about emotionally weighty things. So… where was he?

  Finally her phone buzzed and his name appeared, but when she unlocked the screen, it was to find him apologizing.

  "Oh, I don't like that look. What's wrong?" Carolina asked. "It's something bad, isn't it?"

  "He's canceling."

  "What? Why?"

  "Fired nanny last night," she said, reading the text. "Long story. Can't go on our date. I'm sorry."

  "Oh, that doesn't sound good. I wonder what happened."

  Lo
ndon worried her lower lip between her teeth and set the phone down to untie her apron.

  "Are you going over there?"

  "Wouldn't you? I don't think he's… kid-ready."

  Carolina laughed at the statement. "Yeah, well, nothing like jumping in with both feet. Maybe you should let him handle things for a while. Just to let him get a feel for it."

  "Trust me, if he's been on his own all morning with two toddlers, he's got a feel for it, wouldn't you say?"

  "In man-world, yeah, that's probably true." Carolina grinned. "But you rushing over there just proves that you've got it bad."

  "Stop it."

  "Well, you do."

  "Cooper is… a wonderful man. He's extremely smart, capable, fun. But I get the feeling he's at a loss when it comes to the twins."

  "So go already. I've got this."

  "You're sure you'll be okay here? It's been really busy today."

  "Seriously? You doubt my coffee-serving expertise after how many years?"

  "Right." Carolina was a whirlwind of energy, and if she did get backed up on orders a time or two, it wouldn't be for long. Besides, this was one of a few rare days London had pre-planned to enjoy before Cooper had even asked her out so… "Call Ireland or Mama or even Frankie if you need a hand."

  "I'll be fine. Just go."

  "Okay, yeah, I'm gone. Oh, wait!" London quickly grabbed a couple of sandwiches from those her mother had Carolina bring with her as well as quickly made two basic grilled cheeses and headed for the door.

  She’d drive to Cooper's just in case she needed a vehicle later. Moments later, she pulled up to the only blue house on the street. It was nice. Really nice, actually. Big, like most of the newer homes here tended to be.

  A familiar bark sounded from inside as she made her way up the steps to the second-floor entry. Cooper had mentioned having the best view from his office on the third floor and how he'd taken the room by the garage both for privacy and security's sake, so she figured the twins tended to rule the second floor on a normal day.

  The door swung open right as she tackled the top step, and she saw Cooper on the other side of a screen door.

  "London…? What are you doing here?"

  She held up a bag of sandwiches and managed a smile despite her nervousness. "I thought you might not have eaten lunch under the circumstances. And… maybe you could use a hand?"

  Cooper leaned heavily against the doorframe and stared at her, looking every bit like a man in over his head and drowning. His shirt bore multiple stains, there was a smudge of something highly suspicious on his cheek, and she was pretty sure when he got up that morning he hadn't put on swim trunks with a polo shirt, which meant whatever he'd worn before had been trashed by something, probably whatever had stained his shirt so badly.

  "Are you sure you want to be here?"

  Now that London knew about his ex's ultimatum, she knew what Cooper was asking, and it wasn't as casual as he tried to make it sound. "Yeah. I am. That is, if you want me here. I can leave the sandwiches and go if you'd rather." That last statement was a little harder to verbalize but she managed it. She didn't want to push, because if she'd learned anything about him during their conversations, it was that Cooper was a man who had to think things through. Plan. Formulate. It's probably what made him so good at what he did for a living, but it spilled over into his everyday life as well.

  He stretched out a broad hand and pushed the screen door open for her. "Welcome to chaos."

  Chaos was a mild descriptive for what she saw inside. Toys were strewn everywhere, the television blared, sippy cups and dirty dishes were piled high in and around the sink. All of this in a little over six hours or so? "You've been… busy."

  "They won't eat. I've tried everything. I made eggs. Waffles. Toast."

  London spied the results of Cooper's cooking and struggled to keep a smile from forming. That was some well-burnt food.

  She turned when one of the twins came blazing through the room with a toy in his hand. "Harry?" The child stopped and stared up at her with wide eyes. "Hi, I'm London."

  The little boy blinked but didn't say anything. Movement caught her attention, and she spotted a little girl sitting in the corner, playing with a doll. "And you must be Bella. Are you guys hungry? I brought food."

  Both of them eyed the bag. "Do you like sandwiches? Maybe some grilled cheese, or a meatball sandwich?"

  "You don't sell those at your coffee shop," Cooper murmured, the words close by her ear as he'd walked up behind her to get a look for himself.

  "Mama sent them over this morning. Trust me, I don't normally share her meatball sandwiches, but for you, I'm making an exception."

  "Thank God."

  She laughed and pulled one of the specialty sandwiches from the bag and the fragrant smell filled the air. Cooper moved even closer, enveloping her in a near hug as he plucked the wrapped goody from her hand, and Harry and Bella hurried to climb onto the barstools, nostrils twitching.

  Oh, yeah. Food was definitely the way to the heart.

  Even little ones.

  * * *

  A little while later, Cooper entered the living room and stared at London in awe. In the last hour, she'd played with the kids pretty much nonstop, giving him time and privacy to contact a childcare agency and set up interviews. He wasn't cutting corners this time and was unwilling to accept anyone's friend of a friend. He wanted a legitimate professional, and he'd go through the trying process of getting the right one no matter what it took.

  The twins flanked London where she sat on the couch wearing one of Bella's tiaras, and all three of them watched a cartoon. Cooper started to join them but paused to grab his phone and snag a quick photo.

  "Are you finished with the phone calls? There's a children's festival going on. I thought maybe we could go get some fresh air and exercise."

  Cooper wasn't sure how London knew he was there since he technically stood behind them, but he made his way over to where they sat and perched on the edge of the nearby recliner, focusing on getting another picture rather than the terror instilled by her words.

  He'd never gone anywhere with them. Not on his own. The thought of doing so twisted his gut. What if he lost one of them? They played in the yard every day, and Michelle had taken them places, but he had never actually… "Uh…"

  "Hey, it's a beautiful day and I have coverage at the coffee shop. This way, we can still have our… date."

  He met London's gaze. She called taking two very rambunctious twins to a festival a date? Keeping them corralled here in the house or fenced yard was way different than in public with other kids around and chaos thrown in. But London's expression… She actually wanted to do this?

  "Cooper?"

  London extracted herself from the twins and stood, tilting her tiara-ed head toward the kitchen. Bracing himself for the embarrassment to come, Cooper followed.

  "Did you have trouble finding an agency?"

  "What? No, I… They're scheduling interviews beginning Monday and sending a temp with thirty years' experience to watch the kids starting tomorrow. She'll be here before they wake up."

  "Okay. But what about today? You plan to keep them cooped up in the house until the nanny gets here tomorrow?"

  He ran his hand over his head. "We could… play in the yard."

  Her gaze narrowed on him. "We just got back from there. You were on the phone."

  "Oh."

  "Cooper, it's a simple little festival. No big deal."

  He inhaled and exhaled, grimacing. "It is. I've never actually… gone anywhere with them."

  London's eyebrow lifted. She looked shocked for a moment before the expression shifted to one of understanding. Maybe even sadness? She squared her shoulders and settled her hands on her hips.

  "Well, it's past time then, don’t you think? And just so you know, I have years of kid experience what with babysitting and my nephew, so you're in good hands. Two of them, two of us? Those are pretty good odds,” she said in a cons
pirator’s whisper. “And it'll break the ice of you taking them in public without being completely on your own. So, what do you say?"

  He glanced to where the twins sat on the couch, then back to London, looking insanely sexy in her blinged-out crown. "You're sure about this?"

  "Why wouldn't I be? Ah," she said, tucking her palms into the rear pockets of her shorts. "That thing your ex said? Did?"

  He nodded, hating that he had yet to be able to move beyond it bashing him upside the head whenever things like this came up.

  London stepped closer. So close she had to tilt her head back on her neck to look up at him. He saw every fleck of emerald in her eyes, every freckle and the bit of glitter in her eye shadow.

  She placed her hand on his chest and distracted him from his thoughts when her forefinger drew a slow, sexy circle on his pec.

  "You are going to tell me more about this ex of yours," she stated firmly. "And why you fired your nanny in the middle of the night. But right now?" She tapped the costume tiara and tilted her head to a cocky angle. "Queen London calls the shots and I say we're going to a festival."

  He chuckled at her declaration, her bravado, and dropped a quick kiss on her forehead, unable to help himself. "Well, Queen London, your wish is my command."

  Chapter 12

  Several hours later, Cooper's confidence had grown and he held a new appreciation for the woman at his side. Any time London sensed doubt or hesitation in him, she gently prodded him with a suggestion or two of acceptable choices. She steered them toward face painting and balloon animals, the petting zoo section that consisted of a duck, mini-goat, and horse. Away from the crowds that made him so nervous, because his first instinct was to look for an exit strategy should something go wrong.

  Now he watched as London wiped Bella's mouth with a wipe, and instead of always fighting the act like Bella did when he tried to do it, the girl paid no mind to London. "Are you sure you don't want to give up the life of a successful business owner to become a nanny?"

  London's laughter drew the attention of several nearby fathers, and Cooper felt a prickle of jealousy. He was really beginning to sense that she was a one-in-a-million girl and he'd be stupid to let such a woman walk away, much less push her away.