Bombshell For The Boss. Maureen Child

left behind, she said, “Bill and Maggie Baker were her parents. Ring a bell?”

      He frowned and then frowned deeper when the baby kicked impossibly small legs, screwed up her face and let out a howl a werewolf would have been proud of. “What’s wrong with it?”

      “Being called it, probably,” Sadie muttered, and snatched the baby from him. Positioning her on one hip, Sadie bounced and swayed in place until the child stopped crying.

      Ethan took a step back just for good measure. The damn social worker had done her job. She’d handed off the baby, a car seat and a diaper bag, then left so quickly he hadn’t had time to argue about anything. But he was ready to now. He couldn’t take care of a damn baby. The idea was ludicrous. Who would have made him a guardian? Ethan had never been around a baby. He didn’t even own a dog.

      Baker. Bill Baker. Why did that sound familiar?

      Ethan glanced at Sadie and, in spite of the situation, felt a hot rush of heat jolt through his system and settle in his groin. He’d worked with this woman for five years and he’d been fighting his instincts about her for every second of that time. It hadn’t gotten any easier.

      Hell, there she was, holding an infant and he still burned for her. She smiled at the baby, then kissed her forehead, and Ethan’s belly jumped. He wanted her badly, and now that she’d resigned, he could have finally made a move on her. But if he did that and then was able to coax her into not quitting her job, after all, there’d be nothing but complications. So no move. He gritted his teeth, hissed in a breath and wished to hell for a cold shower.

      Deliberately pushing thoughts of hot, steamy, incredible sex out of his mind, he went back to “Baker. Why do I know that name?” Then it hit him. Ethan stared at the baby, then Sadie. “Hell. I did know him. In college. We were roommates, for God’s sake.” As more of the past rushed into his mind, Ethan cursed under his breath and slapped one hand down on his desk. “We made a deal. A stupid deal.”

      “Involving children, I’m guessing.”

      “Funny.” He glared at her, noticed the child watching him through wide, watery eyes, and looked away quickly. What was that ribbon of panic? Nothing scared him. But one look at that child and he was ready to run for the hills. That realization was humiliating.

      “Yes,” he said tightly, as memories crowded his mind. “It did involve children, obviously. Bill didn’t have family. He and Maggie were engaged and she had been a foster child herself, so no family there, either. He asked me to be legal guardian to his kids if anything ever happened to him.”

      “And you did it?” The surprise in Sadie’s voice jabbed at him.

      The fact that he now regretted what he’d done so long ago didn’t come into it. Instead, he was insulted that Sadie was incredulous that he would offer to help a friend. Did she really think so little of him? And because he was regretting it, Ethan had to ask himself if she wasn’t right. Irritating.

      “He was my friend.” Offended at her tone, and the insinuation, he snapped, “I was twenty. Of course I agreed.” Looking back now, faced with the consequences of that promise, Ethan couldn’t believe he’d agreed. But in his defense, he added, “I never thought anything would come of it. At that age, you pretty much think you’re immortal, anyway. Hell, he’s the same age I am. Who would expect him to die?”

      “Certainly not him, I think,” Sadie said, skimming the paperwork again. “They were on a road trip to Colorado. The car went off the road, hit a tree. The authorities believe Bill fell asleep driving. Bill and Maggie were killed instantly.” She turned to look at the baby. “It’s a miracle she didn’t die, too.”

      “Miracle.” He pulled in a breath and blew it out again. From where he was standing the baby’s survival looked like a damn tragedy. She’d lost both her parents in a blink and now found herself with a stranger who didn’t have the first clue what to do with her. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

      Sadie gave him a quizzical look, as if she couldn’t believe he’d even asked the question. “You raise her.”

      “You say that like it’s so simple.”

      “Ethan,” Sadie said patiently, “she doesn’t have anyone else. She needs you.”

      Well, that didn’t sound good. He didn’t want to be needed. Hell, he’d gone out of his way all these years to avoid any kind of connection with anyone. Except for his all-too-brief marriage. But that had turned out to be an excellent life lesson. Ethan had learned that he sucked at being a husband. He simply wasn’t the hearth and home kind of man.

      “You just told me I don’t have a life,” Ethan argued fiercely. “How am I supposed to give her one?”

      At his rising voice, the baby started whimpering and Sadie rocked her a little more firmly. “I guess you’re going to have to make some changes, Ethan.”

      There was that word again. Change usually screwed everything up. He liked his life just the way it was. He worked hard to keep his life unencumbered, rolling along on an expected road. And now...change.

      Shaking his head, he backed up farther, as if he could actually maneuver his way out of this. And even as he argued for it, Ethan knew he couldn’t. Stupidly or not, he’d made a promise, and when he gave his word he damn well kept it. When the blind panic lifted enough that he could begin to think clearly again, he said, “I don’t need a life. I need a nanny.”

      “Oh, Ethan.”

      “What else should I do?” he demanded. “Get married? No. A nanny is the answer. All I have to do is find the right person. Someone qualified—” He broke off, checked his watch. “We’re supposed to be in a meeting on the Donatello acquisition right now.”

      “Yes, well, we can’t be.” She looked at the baby as if to remind him of the hell his life had suddenly become. “I can tell you that Richard Donatello hasn’t changed his mind about selling out to you.”

      “He will,” Ethan said. “You could take care of her while I handle business.”

      “No.” Sadie shook her head firmly. “I’m not your babysitter, I’m your assistant. Plus, I just quit, remember?”

      “I remember you gave two weeks’ notice. So you’re still on the payroll.”

      “As an assistant.”

      “So assist me!” That came out as a desperate shout and he hated it. So did the baby. She started howling again and Ethan winced.

      “Shh, shh,” Sadie whispered, bouncing the baby and patting her back. Firing Ethan a hard look, she said, “Cancel the meeting, Ethan.”

      Damn it. She was right. The meeting had to wait. Fine. Meeting canceled. Sadie quits. Baby arrives. Change is not good, he reminded himself. And sometimes you simply had no choice but to adjust. Still, he told himself as something occurred to him, that didn’t mean he couldn’t help himself out. At least, temporarily. Before he could think better of it, Ethan blurted out, “I’ll pay you one hundred thousand dollars if you stay for an extra month.”

      “What?” Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

      Of course he’d surprised her. Hell, he’d surprised himself. “A hundred thousand dollars,” he repeated, then added, “on the condition you help me with...” He waved one hand at the baby.

      “Her name is Emma,” Sadie said wryly.

      “Good. You already know that, so you’re ahead of the game.” Nodding to himself at the brilliance of his solution, he demanded, “Well? What do you say?”

      “I think you’re crazy,” Sadie said. “But yes, I’ll stay for a month. Help you find a nanny.”

      “And help me take care of it until then.”

       “Her.”