The Newspaper Nanny

by Maren Moore

And I never will. These girls taught me everything about love, life, and what it means to be a parent. How to be selfless and love something more than you could ever love yourself.

Her bottom lip pokes out in a pout—the same one I give in to way too often—and she puts her hands together, "Please, Daddy. It would make me so very happy." Christ. Stay strong, Liam. Don't give in to the puppy dog eyes.

I cut the wheat toast into shapes with the cookie cutter heart before spreading the fruit preserves on them and adding a few “green grapes only” and a few banana slices. I'm a girl dad, sue me.

Juliet is breathtaking.

I wouldn't trade it for the damn world. They are everything to me.

I can’t help but notice things about her. Things I shouldn't notice.

Juliet is the nanny, nothing more.

Like most people, I definitely judge a book by its cover.

At the end of the day, he's my employer. He's the boss. I'm the nanny. He's right.

He might be a jerk sometimes, but he's a great father, and these girls are lucky to have him.

"You don't have to pretend with me, Juliet."

Liam is my boss. He's off limits. But...tell my heart that.

"Liam," my name is a short panting moan from her lips. One I want to hear for the rest of my damn life.

I want to savor the taste of Juliet on my tongue.

I couldn’t stand to see you hurt, Juliet.”

Quite frankly, my girly parts will never be the same. Not after Liam Cartright’s mouth.

"You're a lifesaver. I know sometimes I don't...I don't act like it, but I appreciate you, Juliet, greatly. The girls love you, and I am thankful they have you in their lives. And for what it's worth...I think your pie is fucking delicious, and I hate sugar."

We're crossing a line that we can't come back from, and right now, I don't care. I want Juliet—I want every single part of her.

God, I want to pepper marks all over her body. Mark her like a damn caveman.

Now that I've had a taste, I'm addicted, and I want more. I need more. I’m fucking obsessed. I need all of her.

She has spent the past month driving me insane, and now I finally have her. I never want to stop touching her.

Forbidden or not, I fucking want her. I've wanted her for so long, and I am done holding back. Fuck the consequences. Fuck what everyone will say.

"I want to spread you out before me and drink you in. Take my time with your body. Worship every inch,"

I never thought I'd have feelings like this again. I never thought I'd want the things currently running through my head. A family. With my girls and Juliet.

I know I’m supposed to be strong enough to stay away, but when it comes to Juliet, I’m defenseless.

I can’t pretend that I don't want her. That she isn’t every fucking thing I want in a woman.

"You can't come on this date because it should be me. It should be me who takes you to fancy restaurants and all the other nice places you deserve. It should be me who takes you home and loves you until the sun comes up. It should be me, Juliet. Regardless of consequences—regardless of everything."

No matter how hard the coming days are, as long as I have Juliet and my girls, I can make it through whatever.

We need you, Juliet and not in the nanny way. You're a part of our family, and I can't do this without you. The girls need you. I need you. I'll spend however long it takes to prove that to you."

Nothing, and I mean nothing, has ever felt so right. Finally, I fucking got it right.

"I want to do this right, Juliet. I don't want to somehow fuck it up because I didn't take the time to appreciate what I have. I need to do this."

My heart stands no chance when it comes to Liam. And I'm tired of fighting this.

The possessive way he wants to claim makes me pant in anticipation. I've never seen this side of Liam. It's addictive.

"Don't ever hide from me. This body is fucking beautiful, and I want to worship every single inch."

I never expected Liam to be so...filthy in bed, but oh, am I here for it.

I'm not sure what just happened, but what I do know is it's the best sex I've ever experienced. The most intimate.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring? But, for the first time in a long time, I'm happy.

This is Liam...my..." I trail off. Hell, what do I call him? "Her boyfriend, and her boss, but we're not big on titles,"

That’s the terrifying part of things changing with Liam. No matter what happens, the one thing I can’t stand to lose are those girls. They’re my heart, and I never break pinky promises. I’m not going anywhere.

The only thing that makes it better? Knowing my girls are in the crowd right now. All three of them.

"Daddy, you won!" Ari squeals excitedly. I nod, "We did, bug. Can you believe it?" "Course I can, Daddy. You're the knight, remember? You always save the day!"

I'm crazy over her.

Whether he realizes it or not, I love those girls more than anything, and I will always want to protect them and shelter them from the cruelty of this world.

I love those girls with all of my heart. I've fallen for them just as hard as I've fallen for you."

This time, I do laugh, because my best friend is crazy, but damn, she's mine.

"That man loves you, Juliet,"

Juliet changed everything. She changed me, and I’m a fucking fool not to realize it.

She's the best thing that's ever happened to you and the girls, and if you don't fight for her, you will lose her. And you will spend every day of the rest of your life wishing that you hadn't."

"Daddy, I miss Juliet. I miss her laying with me when the bad dreams come. She's the only one who makes it better, Daddy. Only her,"

Juliet is our future, and I never should have let her walk out of that door.