Page 15 of One Hot Daddy

After dressing in jeans and a clean t-shirt, I head downstairs to find Jennifer sitting cross-legged on the living room floor with Henry, admiring his dinosaur artwork.Charlotte is nearby, actually reading a book instead of explaining her favorite soccer moves.Joshua is nowhere to be seen, probably tinkering with something mechanical in the room he shares with Henry.Amelia has transformed the dining room table into an art studio, surrounded by colored pencils and what looks like a half-finished drawing of a mermaid.

"Dad!"Henry jumps up when he spots me, waving his dinosaur picture frantically."Look!It's a T-Rex eating Mrs.Pinkerton's cat because it keeps pooping in our sandbox!"

I crouch to examine the surprisingly detailed drawing."That's quite creative, Henry.Though perhaps we shouldn't show this particular masterpiece to Mrs.Pinkerton."

"But her cat is a sandbox pooper," Henry insists, deadly serious."Somebody should tell her."

Jennifer stifles a laugh, her eyes meeting mine over Henry's head."I suggested maybe the dinosaur could scare the cat away instead of eating it, but Henry feels strongly about artistic integrity."

"Naturally," I agree."Eight-year-olds are very serious about drawings of dinosaurs."

Jennifer grins at me, and the way the afternoon light streams through the window catches the gold flecks in her green eyes."He's quite passionate about his art."

"I can see that."I ruffle Henry's hair, trying to ignore how domestic this scene seems---me coming home to find Jennifer seamlessly integrated into my family's chaos."Why don't you show Jennifer your other drawings while I check on Joshua and the girls?"

Henry nods eagerly and scampers off to retrieve his art collection.As he disappears upstairs, Jennifer rises gracefully from the floor, smoothing down her skirt.

"How was work?"she asks, her voice carrying that same warm tone that made me hire her this morning.Was it only this morning?Feels like a lifetime ago.

"Typical hotel crisis management," I inform her."Mrs.Hartwell found fault with everything from the tablecloth angles to the temperature of the reception hall."I rake my fingers through my still-damp hair."But enough about my day.How did things really go here?"

Jennifer smiles sweetly, genuinely, with no trace of the polite mask most nannies wear."They're wonderful children, Fletcher.Henry showed me his worm collection---all named after superheroes.Charlotte explained why the HAARP arrays in Alaska are responsible for her inability to wash the dishes properly.And Amelia gave me a detailed lecture on mermaid biology."

"Sounds about right."I lean against the doorframe, studying her face while she talks.I sense genuine affection in her voice when she mentions my children."What about Joshua?"

"Ah, Joshua."Her expression grows thoughtful."He's protective.Suspicious.Asked me three times if I'm really planning to stay."Jennifer pauses."I can see why.He's carrying a lot of responsibility for someone his age."

Her observation hits me square in the chest.But I can't think about that right now.I want to see what children have been up to while I was in the shower.When the house is too quiet, I start to worry.Having clever children can be a blessing and a curse, but I would never want them to change.

I walk into the hall, waving for Jennifer to follow me.The house is quiet now.Too quiet.I've been a father long enough to know that silence usually means trouble.

"Joshua?"I call out, heading toward the stairs."What are you up to, mate?"

No answer.My parental radar starts pinging.

Jennifer follows close behind me, both our footsteps light on the hardwood floor.I try my best to avoid focusing on her lush hips rather than the curve of her lips or the way her skirt hugs her hips.

"Is this normal?"she whispers."The silence?"

"About as normal as a peaceful night at the zoo."I shout again, louder this time."Joshua!"

Finally, his voice drifts down from upstairs."In my room, Dad!"

I take the stairs two at a time with Jennifer right behind me.I hesitate at Joshua's door, which is slightly ajar.A strange mechanical whirring sound comes from inside, along with the unmistakable smell of burning plastic.

"Joshua?"I push the door open to find my thirteen-year-old son hunched over his desk, safety goggles perched on his nose, wielding what appears to be my electric toothbrush attached to..."is that my electric razor?"

"Hi, Dad!"he says cheerfully, not looking up from his contraption."I'm making a mini-hovercraft.Almost got it working."

What the bloody hell has Josh done this time?

Chapter Eight

Jennifer

I suspect Fletcher's oldest son has taken advantage of his brief absence to plot something big.The smell of burning plastic is getting stronger, and Joshua's "mini-hovercraft" looks suspiciously like it contains parts from several expensive household appliances.

"Joshua Stephen Murgatroyd, I asked you a question."Fletcher spoke those words in his sternest dad voice.It makes even my spine straighten."Is that my electric razor?"