Make Me Yours(15)

“Mulan is Chinese. I’m half Korean.”

Lillie’s eyes widen. “What’s that?”

“It’s a whole different country. We can talk about it later.” Ruby looks back at me, where I’m silently watching, wondering where she’s been all my daughter’s life. “I didn’t know if it might be bedtime?”

“Yes,” I snap out of it, straightening. “I’ll show you your room.”

Reaching down, I slide out the handle on her rolling suitcase and lift her backpack from where she left it at my feet.

Ruby hurries to stop me. “I can carry my bags.”

“You’d better let me. Your room’s on the third floor.”

“We’re at the very top!” Lillie grabs her hand, practically skipping. “All the princesses live in the top of the castle.”

“Is that so?” Ruby smiles down at her, and the two take off ahead of me.

Lillie chatters all the way up the stairs, and I follow, feeling better about this situation by the minute. Lillie acts like Ruby belongs to her, leading her up the stairs and down the hall to her room.

Ruby gasps as she steps inside, looking all around the same way she did in the foyer. “It’s beautiful.” She looks back at me. “And so big!”

I can’t resist. “That’s what she said.”

Ruby snorts a laugh, but my daughter frowns. “That is what Ruby said?”

“It’s a joke.” Ruby smooths her hand down Lillie’s hair, and I place her backpack on the queen-sized bed against the wall.

The room has been furnished and empty since we bought the house. I look around at the white walls and sand-colored comforter on the bed with tan pillows. White cordless shades cover the windows, and the French doors facing the front drive are covered with long, white sheers. Even the bathroom suite is all white.

“You can change the décor if you’d like.”

She goes to the beige-wood corner desk. “It is a bit monochromatic. Maybe after my first month?”

Lillie takes her hand. “Come see my room!”

I stop them before they leave. “I’m heading downstairs.” Turning my attention to Lillie, my voice gets serious. “No more playing. Brush your teeth and get ready for bed. Lights out in ten minutes.”

“Okay.” Her bottom lip pokes out, and I scoop her up in a hug.

“Goodnight, princess.”

She melts and gives me a hug then starts wiggling to get down. I release her and straighten to catch Ruby’s eyes on me.

Her expression is a mixture of curiosity and something more… desire? I don’t know. Hell, maybe it’s just what I want to see there. I can’t stop these feelings of desire from flaring up.

I will stop them.

“I’ll be awake a bit longer if you need anything.” I leave them, stopping by my bedroom to kick off my shoes before continuing down to the kitchen for a drink.





5





Ruby


Remington Key has perfect feet.

After watching Lillie brush her teeth, reading her a princess picture book, singing as much as we could remember of “Almost There” from The Princess and The Frog, and saying the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer, I left my new little charge snuggled soundly in her bed.

Then I returned to my giant room and unpacked my folded clothes into drawers and hung my few blouses and skirts in the large closet. My toiletries are arranged in the large bathroom, and all I need is a glass of water for bed.

Lillie’s right. Descending the enormous staircase, past the second-floor landing, to the first, I can’t help feeling like I’ve been whisked away to some castle like one of those princesses.

I’m in the kitchen searching for a glass, when I notice my boss standing in the lamp-lit living room, looking out the French doors toward the man-made lake in the center of this posh gated community.

He’s still wearing those sexy, loose jeans and that pale blue button-down, untucked. A crystal tumbler is in his hand, and his feet are bare on the hardwoods. It’s on, Jamie Dornan.

Nope. I put the brakes on that and tell my hormones to take a rest. As Tiana says, I’m almost there. No distractions. But when he turns and sees me watching him, I swear, my entire body flushes as hot as his hazel eyes.

Blinking fast, I force a smile. “She’s adorable.”

A smile ghosts across his lips. “She’s always had a lot of personality.” His brow quirks. “You’re no slouch in that department. How did you know all of that stuff she was saying?”

“What can I say?” I do a shrug. “I’m a sucker for Disney princesses.”

“You’ll be her favorite person in the house.”

My stomach is tight and tingly. “It’ll come in handy when I have to make her eat broccoli.”

“She actually loves broccoli. Dipped in ranch dressing.”

“Little weirdo.” I’m thinking how much I like this kid already until he laughs, and my jaw drops. My face flushes. “I mean… I didn’t mean it like that. Your daughter is not a weirdo. I actually love broccoli myself—”

“It’s okay.” He holds out a hand. “It is weird for a kid to like broccoli.” He takes a step away from the window, toward me. “So? What do you think? Got any questions?”