I’m in too deep now and can only pray he’s joking. “You do that. Of course, I’d have to be on the road all the time dancing and who would take care of Emma.”
He kisses me on the temple, this one lasting longer. “I guess you’ll just have to miss out on your dream.”
“It’ll be a travesty, but I’ll do it for Emma.”
“Yes, for Emma.”
A door closes and I freak out for a second worried Emma is walking around the apartment letting herself outside. Nate goes on high alert, his body frozen, but then Winnie’s voice breaks through and calms the storm.
8
“I’m letting myself in.”
I walk out to the living room and find Winnie standing at the dining room table taking off her shoes.
“Oh, you haven’t left?” Winnie asks. “Huxley left about ten minutes ago.”
Nate steps behind me and passes off Emma to my waiting arms. She rubs her eyes groggily, not a morning person today. “Shit, I have to go.”
He pulls on Emma’s pigtail and gives us each a kiss on the forehead before almost running out the door as he grabs a set of keys from the kitchen table on his way.
“Long night?” Winnie asks with one eyebrow a little higher on her face and a smirk written across her lips.
I sputter and shake my head no. “We we’re just talking.”
“Uh-huh. Huxley and I did a lot of talking when we first met, too.”
Emma reaches out for Winnie, and surprisingly she takes her without a second thought.
“If you will hold her for a second, I will get some breakfast around.”
“No problem,” Winnie says, bouncing Emma on her hip and talking to her in a baby voice. “In all seriousness, I’m glad you and Nate worked out. He’s a nice guy.”
“He is a nice guy,” I agree.
“Sometimes Ridge’s guys have a tendency to be…”
I peek out from the kitchen where I’m pouring cereal for Emma. “Over the top?”
Winnie smiles. “Yes, exactly. Huxley didn’t work for Ridge before he came here, but he fits in with all them. They’re all bossy.”
I nod, glad to hear I’m not the only one experiencing a bossy guy, even if it seems that way.
“And if you’re not careful, they will move right in and take over your life.”
I pick my head up in the kitchen again. “You too?” I hadn’t thought about it until she said something, but Nate’s been here for at least the last three days and shows no signs of leaving. Even said he’ll bring over more clothes. It’s not that I don’t like the idea. I’m fine with him staying here, but how did I get a live-in boyfriend?
And who will tell my mother?
I’ll wait until Christmas dinner to drop that bombshell. She wouldn’t let a little thing like me dating someone ruin her Christmas meal. Probably.
“They take over your life. Don’t they?”
Winnie sighs. “Yeah, but do you want him to stop?”
I shrug, but we both know the answer is no.
“Katy’s downstairs.She says Pearl is pruning the flowers in the pots on the side of your apartment,” Winnie says trying to keep herself from laughing.
