The Nanny's Christmas Wish. Ami Weaver

street ended three blocks down at the town square. Another block or so over and she’d be on the water. A trail did follow the lake, but since it was nearing dark she opted to stick to the sidewalks. She reveled in the heat of her muscles and the pound of her shoes as she fell into the familiar rhythm. She let her mind go blank and just enjoyed the moment, the bite of the evening air, the breeze on her face, the bounce of her ponytail on her back.

      Four miles later, she spotted another jogger on the same course, coming at her. She dropped to a cool-down walk as the other person approached. Maggie recognized her as the woman who lived down the block from Josh in the house that was undergoing a renovation.

      “Hi,” she said, and the other woman smiled and swung around to walk with her.

      “Hi. We finally meet, I see.” She held out one paint-splattered hand. “It’s dry, I promise,” she added with a laugh. “I’m Hannah McKay. I meant to get down and introduce myself earlier but I’ve been swamped.”

      “Maggie Thelan.” She released Hannah’s hand and shoved a damp tendril of hair off her forehead. “Cody Tanner’s nanny. Do you know the Tanners?”

      Hannah nodded. “I do. Mrs. Herman used to bring Cody down to the park on the corner almost every day.”

      “We haven’t made it there yet, but I plan to. You’re remodeling?”

      Hannah blew out a breath. “I am. I’m hoping to turn it into a bed-and-breakfast by next summer. It needs...well, it needs some love. No other way to put it.”

      Maggie pictured the imposing structure with its peeling paint and sagging porch. “I guess it does.”

      Hannah followed her train of thought. “The outside looks scary, but it’s in better condition than you think. Anytime you have a few extra moments you should stop over and I’ll show you. I can always use another perspective. Not to mention the help.”

      “I’d like that,” Maggie said, delighted. “Are you doing this all by yourself?”

      Hannah closed her eyes for an instant. “Yes. Yes, I am,” she said. “Anyway, just knock. I’m always there. Except for when I’m at the home center,” she added thoughtfully. “Which seems to take a good amount of my time. And money.”

      Maggie laughed. “Yeah, I bet.”

      “All right then. I’m serious. Come down anytime.”

      The prospect of a friend was heartening. “You know, I just might take you up on that.”

      “Please do. It was really nice to finally meet you.” Hannah gave a little wave and turned around to continue on her run, her short blond ponytail bouncing. Maggie continued to head for home, her heart a little lighter.

      In the driveway, she stretched out before entering the house. The noise of the movie carried clearly from the family room. She toed off her shoes and put them in the closet. With any luck, she could just sneak up the stairs and escape into her room without having to face Josh or the disturbing fact she’d nearly kissed him this afternoon.

      “How was your run?”

      Maggie jumped at Josh’s quiet voice. He stood in the shadow of the hallway, outside the kitchen. Great. Here she stood, sweaty and gross—she stopped the thought. It didn’t matter. He was off-limits, no matter what his mother’s intentions were, or how much she wished circumstances could be different. “Oh, fine. It’s a lovely night. I met Hannah down the street.”

      “That’s good. Mrs. Herman liked her a lot.” He hesitated. “Do you want to join Cody and me? We’ve got way more popcorn then we’ll ever eat.” He tipped the full popcorn bowl slightly in her direction.

      Yes. The single word danced on the end of her tongue, but she bit it back. “Thanks, but not tonight.” But oh, she wished she could.

      Even in the dim light of the foyer, she saw both relief and disappointment flash across his face, echoing what was warring inside her. She wasn’t sure if it made her feel better or worse to know he might be struggling with the same thing she was.

      “Another time maybe.” He gave her a nod and turned to go in the living room.

      “Maybe,” she echoed but knew she’d avoid it if she’d learned anything from their near-miss kiss that afternoon. Still, as she ran up the stairs, she couldn’t suppress a little shiver at how close they’d come, or the disappointment they’d been interrupted.

      She wasn’t sure which one was more dangerous.

      Chapter Four

      “I’m sorry, Maggie, I’m running a little behind.” Josh’s harried voice carried clearly over the phone the next evening. “I know it’s pumpkin-carving night. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

      Maggie pulled two plates out of the cupboard. “It’s okay. It happens. We’ll wait for you.”

      “If I’m going to be more than an hour I’ll call again. Then you can start without me.” Voices in the background, then Josh spoke again. “Gotta run. See you later.”

      “Okay. Bye.” She hung up, turned to find Cody standing behind her.

      “Was that my daddy?” he asked.

      She reached out and touched his soft curls. He didn’t step away the way he would have a week ago. Her heart warmed. “Yep. He’s going to be a little late. We’ll go ahead and eat, okay? Then maybe we can get stuff set up so you and your dad can carve the pumpkins.”

      After dinner and kitchen cleanup, Cody divided his time between the front window and the pumpkins lined up on the kitchen floor. So Maggie took matters into her own hands.

      “Let’s get ready to carve. We can get the newspaper spread out to keep the floor clean,” she told Cody as she pulled a bunch of papers out of the recycle pile. “And we can start cleaning the pumpkins out. That way, when your dad gets here, you guys can start carving right away. Okay?”

      Cody sent a lingering look at the door. “Okay,” he said with a dramatic sigh. She suppressed a smile.

      “He’ll be here soon,” she assured the little boy and handed him a folded section of newspaper. “Open it like this, and lay it down. We’ll need a couple of layers.”

      Josh walked in as they finished spreading the newspapers on part of the tile floor. Cody hurried over to greet him.

      “Hi, Daddy! Look! We put papers down to keep the punkin stuff off the floor. And Maggie brought the punkins in so they wouldn’t get cold,” he added.

      Josh tugged at his tie and arched his brow at Maggie. “Really? I didn’t know pumpkins got cold.” Despite his teasing tone, he looked tired. His hair was slightly mussed as if he’d thrust his fingers through it more than once. Her fingers itched to smooth it back down.

      She gave him a little smile instead and kept her voice steady. “Well, they do inside. No way am I sticking my hand in a freezing cold pumpkin.”

      Josh chuckled. “Good point.”

      “Maggie said she’d make the seeds so we could eat ’em when we’re done,” Cody said.

      “We’ll roast them. They make a yummy snack,” she explained.

      “Sounds good. I’m going to go change. Be right back,” Josh said as he tugged the tails of his shirt out of the waist of his chinos. Maggie caught a glimpse of smooth skin and taut abs and her mouth went dry.

      Then she gave herself a mental slap. Really? A teeny glimpse of skin was all it took to get her hormones fired up? Sheesh. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second, then shifted her attention to the little boy sitting by the pumpkins. He was her focus. Definitely not his father.

      “Okay, Cody,” she said brightly. “Which one is yours again?”

      She knew, of course,