Professor and the Nanny (Silhouette Romance) by Phyllis Halldorson Page A

separate lives, so we finally agreed that since I knew absolutely nothing about caring for infants Hannah would keep the baby for the first two years and then I’d take him.”
    Ethan laughed. “In my blessed ignorance I expected that he’d get easier to handle as he got older. Nobody told me what little terrors they can be when they start to walk, and talk, and climb, and need to be potty-trained. Sheesh!”
    Now it was Brittany’s turn to laugh. “So now you can pity your poor mother. She had two of you the same age going through the same stage at the same time.”
    His arms tightened around her. “Yes, she did, and sometimes we tried her patience severely, but neither Pete nor I ever doubted her love for us. Just as I intend to see to it that Danny never doubts my love for him.”
    Brittany snuggled against Ethan. “You’re such a good father. I don’t understand how Danny’s mother could just givehim away like she did. Nobody would get a child of mine away from me.”
    He nuzzled her temple. “I don’t doubt that, but don’t be too hard on Hannah. At least she has the guts to admit that she’s not good mother material. Not all women have your overabundance of maternal instinct, sweetheart.”
    “I don’t—” she started to say, but he interrupted her.
    “Maybe not an overabundance,” he conceded, “but you’ll be a good mother when the time comes. Hannah isn’t. She doesn’t give Danny the tender loving care a child needs. She’s too impatient, too resentful of the time his needs take her away from her work, but she didn’t ‘give Danny away.’ She gave his father custody of him. She knew Nate and I would take good care of him. I was slated to have physical custody in six more months, anyway, and in the business world you can’t always pick and choose your promotions. She makes a lot more money than I do, so she’s going to pay me child support and set up a trust fund to assure our son’s college expenses.”
    Before Brittany could say anything the antique grandfather clock in the parlor started chiming. The resonate tones filled the air softly but then pealed only twice. Surprised, she pulled herself away from Ethan and stood. “Oh, my gosh. It’s two o’clock. I’ve got to go home or I’ll never get up on time in the morning.”
    Ethan stood also and looked at her. “Why don’t you stay here tonight. That’s not a come-on. We have a couple of guest rooms, and that way you wouldn’t have to wake up until Danny does. After all, it’s my fault you’re up so late.”
    “Oh, I couldn’t do that,” she protested, although the invitation was almost irresistibly enticing. “I…I don’t have any night clothes.”
    “I could loan you a pair of silk pajamas that my brother and his wife gave me one year for Christmas. They’ve never been out of the plastic sack. I don’t wear that type of thing.”
    She was seriously tempted. Imagine trying to sleep in hispajamas with him just across the hall! Obviously that would be out of the question.
    “I’m sorry, I really must go home,” she said rather lamely, “but I’ll be back on time in the morning. Don’t worry.”
    “Well, if you insist,” he agreed, “I’ll walk you to your car.”
    She wasn’t going to object to that even though it wasn’t necessary. He put his arm around her waist and they walked side by side until they came to the driveway. Then he turned her to face him and put his other arm around her, too.
    “I wish there was some way I could express my thanks to you for being there for me tonight when I needed you so badly.” His tone was deep with emotion.
    “You can show your appreciation by promising me that you’ll never again hesitate to call on me if you need someone to stay with Nate and Danny after regular hours,” she told him. “They are both special to me, and I’d never forgive you if you didn’t ask me for help and something happened to one of them.”
    He rubbed his cheek against hers. “But