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I can’t even call him a “nanny”. That word conjures an image of an obnoxious-voiced Fran Drescher with a laugh that grates my nerves into pasta cheese. No, the man before my daughter is nothing of the sort. He’s doing wonderful things to my nerves, which are suddenly alive with fluttery wings.
“Why are you sad?” he asks in a Mr. Snuffles voice. Gone is the rasp of his baritone, a goofy slur taking its place.
It’s still pleasing to the ears. It makes me want to answer him, Because I’m alone, abandoned, and drowning in so much work I’m afraid I’ll never come up for air.
The Tasmanian devil laughs like a tiny cherub. My child, who was kicking me ten minutes ago, is completely charmed. And calm. This only adds to the immense guilt I feel over not doing this sooner. She’s missing a support figure in her life. Someone who will dote on her and treat her like she matters. Someone strong she can count on to protect her when scared. She has me, but it’s not the same.
I know the feeling all too well. My mother was there, but she wasn’t present. More often than not, I had to fight through my fears. Monsters under the bed? Too bad. “Go to sleep anyway because Mommy has to be at work early.” Thunder shaking the whole trailer? Try to block it out because Mom’s not here to coddle you.
When Remington sits criss-crossed in front of Isabel on the floor, she crawls over to him. He’s definitely piqued her interest. And mine, I must admit as I rub my sternum against the warmth blooming in my chest. Watching this beautiful man charm my daughter does something funny to my insides.
Brad couldn’t be bothered by her, by us. He didn’t want to acknowledge his own flesh and blood, let alone try to form some semblance of a bond with her. He’ll never know how amazing she is. I’ll never understand.
It’s something I don’t want to explore, so I mentally slap myself and chant “nanny, nanny, nanny” in my head to tame the lady-boner I sprouted the moment I laid eyes on him.
“I’m Remi. What’s your name?” Even though the Scooby Doo voice is reserved for Mr. Snuffles, his deep tone is lighter.
Creeping over, silent as a ghost, I sit on the arm of the side chair, watching the magic before me. This may be his job, but he’s not phoning it in. His actions are deliberate and sincere. Which makes my objectification of him that much more egregious.
“Is-bewl,” she answers in her sweet voice.
My heart melts at the sound of her name, and for other reasons that are becoming more evident as the scene before me plays out.
“What a pretty name,” he gushes, his engaging demeanor fascinating Isabel. “Fit for a princess.”
Her whole face alights. She loves Disney movies, especially the princesses.
Remi opens his arms and Isabel climbs on his lap, content as could be. Like they’ve known each other forever.
And just like that, the man who has the appeal of a hot college jock and is currently holding my world—along with a raggedy stuffy—has charmed his way into a very discerning little girl’s heart … and melted my frozen one.
She reaches for her stuffy. Remington hands it over but before placing it in her hands, he makes Mr. Snuffles kiss her on the cheek. When he rears back with surprise, Isabel giggles again.
“I think he likes you,” he says.
I think I like him.
“So, that went well,” Remington says when I descend the stairs after putting Isabel down for a nap and changing my yogurt-splattered blouse.
“Yes, thank you for that.” I thumb behind me.
We speak at the same time.
“I—”
“You—”
He walks over, standing in front of me with a gaze that makes me swallow. It might be my unruly imagination, but his eyes look heated. When he lifts his hand and reaches for me, I rear back.
“W-what are you doing?” I know I am in no position to be incredulous after my dirty thoughts, but this is too much. Too forward. Too close.
My lashes flutter, and my belly flips. It’s been years since an attractive man was this close to me. A wistful thread tugs at my heart.
His smile is disarming. “You have a little something…”
I’m frozen as he glides his fingers through a lock of my hair. His movements are tender, and his stare is intense. All air leaves my chest, and a bullet of desire shoots through me.
I don’t know if a man has had this much effect on me before. Not even when I was in bed with Brad.
