Page 9 of Happily Ever Never

“Luke, you know you’re not supposed to run away from me likethat. You scared me. We have one rule. And that is to trust each other. And younearly broke that rule.”

I held back a wince, knowing she was saying the rightthings. But if I were that kid? I’d be ducking behind someone, feeling like Ihad broken the faith of the best woman out there.

“I’m sorry. I just saw Leo, and my brain got scr-amb-led.”

He sounded out the word as if he had heard the phrase beforebut didn’t quite know what it meant.

From the twitch on May’s lips, she agreed with me.

“Okay, Luke. But I’m going to have to tell your mom and Leifthat you ran away from me. Because we don’t keep secrets. You’re not in troubleright now because you ran to someone you know. Someone who isn’t a stranger.But let’s not have this happen again, okay?”

“I promise,” Luke said as he held up his pinky. May smiledas she linked her little finger with his. Then they kissed their thumbs, and Ismiled at the fact that these two seemed to have a secret handshake.

“Sorry for almost yelling at you,” May said as she looked upat me. “Leo, right?”

I swallowed hard, trying not to look down at her curves. Orthe sweat slowly trickling between her breasts. I did not need to notice that.This was Luke’s nanny. She was not for me.

Even though I couldn’t help but want more.

What was wrong with me?

“I’m so sorry for all of this. I knelt to try to fix myshoes since the strap broke, and, well, you know what happened next.”

I looked at the shoe in her hand, then at the one still onher foot, and nodded. “I think I can fix that. At least to get you home…”

May’s eyes widened. “What? You can?”

“Oh, yes. My brother is pretty handy,”Caroline said as she came to my side.

I completely forgot that my family was watching, and now Ineeded to duck because I was sure my sister would not let this go. Whatever this was.

“Your brother.” May looked between us, then down at thekids, her eyes wide. “Oh. Brother.”

Had May thought this was my family? My kids? I hadhit on her at the tattoo shop. What kind of man did she think I was?

“I’m Caroline. These are my daughters.” My sister introducedher kids, who all started talking to Luke at once. Luke giggled.

“Fast friends,” I mumbled.

“Seems like,” May answered.

“Anyway, if you hand over that shoe, I’ll see what I cando.”

As if in a daze, she gave me the shoe. I knelt at her feet,working the paperclip I randomly had in my pocket into the tie of the sandal soshe could wrap it around her ankle like the other.

The heat of her skin against my calloused fingers didsomething to me, and I swallowed hard. Such delicate ankles, such soft skin.

There was seriously something wrong with me. I did not havea foot or ankle fetish. But right here and now? I had to question why I didn’t.

I looked up at her, aware I was kneeling at her feet andputting on her shoe as if she were Cinderella or something.

She stared at me, her mouth parting. I swallowed hard.

Dammit.

She was off-limits. She was not Cinderella.

And I was damn well not PrinceCharming.