She rolls her eyes. “Your brothers. Eli and Rhett. Those two would do anything for you.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Maybe not. But they were there for you. They showed you how to be a good man. And your mom would literally burn down the entire island for you.” She grasps my hands. “You know how to be a dad, Zane. Let me rephrase, you are a good dad.”
“I mess up all the time. You had to teach me how to change a diaper.”
“Have you ever left Adele crying in her crib?”
I rear back. “Of course not.”
“Have you ever not changed her diaper even though you didn’t know what you were doing?”
“I’m not letting her lay in her own filth.”
She smiles. “There you have it. You’re a good dad.” Her smile fades. “Trust me. I know. Because you’re doing the exact opposite of what my mom would do.” The sparkle in her dark brown eyes fades. “My mom would have left me on the porch if someone had abandoned me there.”
I place a hand on her cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m used to it.”
“It still has to hurt.”
She shrugs. “It sucks not having anyone during the holidays when everyone else is spending time with their families, but it’s not so bad. I get the best seats at the cinema.”
My heart breaks for her. She doesn’t have any family to spend the holidays with? Did she spend Thanksgiving alone?
She won’t be spending Christmas alone. Or any other holidays for that matter. Whether she’s my nanny or not, she’s welcome at the Raider table for the holidays.
“You’re spending Christmas with my family.”
“You can’t decide I’m spending the holiday with your family.”
“I can and I did.”
“I won’t be your charity case.”
“Who said anything about charity?”
“You’re inviting me to spend Christmas with you because you feel sorry for me.”
I growl. “I do not feel sorry for you.”
“Yeah, right.”
I palm her neck and pull her near. “I never knew how strong you were.”
“You’ve seen me lift a keg at the bar before.”
“Not what I meant, and you know it. You, Sloane Wilder, are one of the strongest people I know.”
Tears form in her eyes but she blinks them away. “Thank you, Zane Raider.”
“I want to kiss you.”
She looks up at me from beneath her eyelashes. “I won’t stop you.”
I don’t hesitate. I crush my lips to hers. She wraps her arms around my waist and presses her chest to mine. I moan at the feel of her hard nipples. I want to strip her bare and feel her nipples against my naked chest.
