Everly was happier and more hopeful than she could remember feeling in a very long time. Taking care of Ember was enough to fill her with so much satisfaction that she could barely contain her smile as she jumped out of her chair at the sound of Ember’s cry. She hurried into the nursery and drew the baby up into her arms.

“Hello, sweetheart. Did you have a nice nap?” she said, rocking Ember gently. She quickly dried the baby's tears, changed her diaper, and gave her a binky. She rocked her in the rocking chair and looked out the window.

“Let's go get you some lunch. Maybe the guys are back by now.”

She carried Ember down the stairs and into the kitchen where she put her in her high chair and began to fix her bottle.

“Hello Everly,” Kian said from the doorway.

Everly turned and found him standing there in casual slacks and a black sweater. His blue eyes burned a hole in her chest and she felt a flutter of excitement as he looked at her. She flushed and bit her lip, not knowing how to respond.

“Hello,” she said at almost a whisper.

She felt like such an idiot. She couldn't help but respond to him. He was so gorgeous, so tall and good and strong. Such an excellent father. The kind of man a girl could spend the rest of her life with. She could happily drown in the pools of his bright blue eyes. He was the man of her dreams, quite literally. How was she ever going to put him out of her mind?

“Did your mission go well?” she asked, trying not to give away her burning attraction.

“As well as could be expected. We received some disturbing information. But at least we now know,” he said, moving towards the refrigerator.

Everly picked up Ember and held her close as she fed her the bottle.

“Let me make you some lunch,” he said with a smile.

“I can't ask you to do that,” she said. “I should be cooking for you. I am your employee.”

“Nonsense. Besides, I find cooking to be relaxing,” he said with an air of authority.

She bit her lip and remained silent. He obviously wanted to cook for her. So, who was she to object? He began making her a grilled cheese sandwich with four types of gourmet cheese.

Ember finished her bottle so Everly put her in her high chair and went to find some baby food from the cabinet. She grabbed a rubber spoon from the drawer and began to feed Ember a jar of pureed squash.

By the time Ember was finished, the other men were filing into the kitchen. Cato had the newspaper and grabbed a bottle of water before silently sitting at the other end of the table. He gave her a muffled greeting and pulled the paper up over his face.

Aiden entered the room, looking as if he’d stepped off the cover of The Rolling Stone. He sat near the window, sipping coffee, listening to his iPod with headphones.

“That's a cool outfit,” Everly said to him.

He wore a black leather jacket, dark, tight jeans and a Black Sabbath t-shirt.

“Thanks,” he said, pulling his earbud out of his ear.

“You have a really cool look,” Everly said.

“Clothing should be a representation of who you are on the inside. I could help you with yours,” he said.

“Oh,” she said. “Is it that obvious? I haven’t been shopping for myself in…” She bit her lip, trying to remember.

“A little bit,” he said. “Your look is kind of blah.”

Kian put heaping plates of grilled cheese sandwiches on fresh French bread on the table. He cleared his throat angrily at Aiden.

“I don't mean to offend you. But it's obvious that you haven’t thought about how to make your inner self shine through.”

“I know. I haven’t had a lot of time or money for that. But things are turning up. Now that I have this job. I'll be able to get back in touch with myself.”

“Why don't I take you shopping,” Aiden suggested.

“Really?” she asked hopefully.

“We can both take her shopping,” Kian growled.

“That would be amazing,” Everly said, not sure what to say.

“It's settled then. We'll go shopping after lunch,” Kian said.

“Okay.”

Dax walked into the room. Blurry eyed, scratching his behind, and wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. Everly's mouth dropped at the sheer volume of manliness approaching, and she gasped.

“Dax, what are you doing?” Kian demanded.

“I smelled food,” he said.

“Why aren’t you dressed?” Kian asked.

Dax looked down at himself and shrugged.

“I am dressed.”

“You can't walk around the house in your underwear,” Kian said, folding his arms over his chest.

“I dress like this all of the time.”

“We have a lady in the house now,” Kian said. “It’s socially inappropriate.”

“Oh, right. Sorry, Everly. I didn't mean to offend you,” he said, running his hand over his chiseled chest.

Everly's heart pounded, partially from the sight of Dax in his underwear — he looked like a Greek God chiseled out of marble, crossed with a bed-headed surfer — but what really had her heart going crazy was the look in Kian's eyes. It was an unmistakable expression of jealousy and protectiveness.

Kian rushed to stand between her and Dax to shield her from the sight of him. Why would he do that? Was he jealous? Did he want her to have eyes for only him? She pondered it for a moment, enjoying the idea that he would want to keep her for himself. But how could that be? How could a man like Kian be interested in her? She was just a frumpy, lonely, divorced nanny. He shouldn't be interested in her by any reasonable expectation.

“I’ll go get dressed,” Dax said, turning on his heel and trudging out of the kitchen.

“I don't know what I'm going to do with him,” Kian said, sitting beside Everly at the table. “I hope he didn't offend you.”

“I'm not offended,” she said, gulping.

“Did you like seeing him like that?” Kian asked, with a pained look on his face.

“No, it's not that. It's just... This is his house. He can walk around however he wants.”

“I see. Well, it shouldn't happen again. With any of you,” Kian said, giving Aiden and Cato a pointed expression.

Cato flipped down his newspaper and gave Kian a shocked look.

“I know how to dress appropriately,” Cato said, going back to his newspaper.

“Same here,” Aiden said with a frown.

“Of course,” Kian muttered, biting into his gourmet grilled cheese.

Everly giggled and ate the delicious lunch provided by her hunky boss. Her life was definitely looking up. With the promise of going shopping with not one but two gorgeous, rich men this afternoon, she couldn't have asked for more.

After lunch she helped Kian tidy up the kitchen. She, Aiden, and Kian, carrying Ember’s car seat, went out to the garage and piled into the SUV. She sat in the backseat with Ember while Kian drove, and Aiden sat in the front passenger seat. The two bickered over what to listen to on the radio. Kian preferred NPR, but Aiden wanted rock music.

“What do you like to listen to on the radio?” Kian asked Everly.

“I like pop music,” Everly said. “You know, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, that kind of thing. I know it's silly.”

“Not at all. That settles it, then.”

Kian flipped through the channels and settled on a pop station. Everly smiled as her favorite singer crooned over the radio.

“I love this song,” she said happily.

“It’s better than the droning news shows Kian likes,” Aiden said from the front seat. “I tend to prefer my music a little edgier. But this is all right.”

They parked downtown near the designer boutiques and the three of them piled out of the SUV. Kian helped Everly get Ember into the stroller and pushed it down the sidewalk.

“I don't know where to start,” she said.

“Well, these stores are a bit boring. But I'm sure we can find you something cool. We want to bring out what’s inside you,” Aiden said, tapping his bottom lip and looking around. “This one!” He pointed and led them into a designer clothing store.

“This place is awfully expensive,” Everly said, looking down at her own clothes.

“I believe this is where we will bring out your true self,” Aiden said, leading them deeper into the upscale boutique.

“Can we help you?” said the sales girls behind the counter upon seeing them.

“We need to get her a new look,” Aiden said, motioning to Everly.

“Of course,” the girls said, beginning to fuss over Everly.

The sales girls led her into the back room where they found her a seat and brought her a glass of champagne. They then began to show Everly the various items in the store.

“I saw a vintage vinyl record store on the way down here. I’m out,” Aiden said. “Good luck, Everly.”

Kian sat beside her as the clerks brought her one dress after another.

“Oh, I love the red one. Oh, and the green,” she said. “What you think, Kian?”

“I'd have to see them on you,” he said.

Heat rose in her cheeks and a wash of desire filled her core.

“I could try them on for you,” she said, gulping. “Are you okay here with Ember?”

“Of course,” he said rolling Ember’s stroller back and forth.

“All right then.”

She took the dresses, lingerie, and shoes and hurried off into the dressing room. After sliding into new underthings, she slipped on the emerald-colored dress with a pair of black pumps. She looked at herself in the mirror, and her mouth dropped open. If it weren't for her simple haircut and makeup, she would have looked like a completely different person, someone she barely recognized. Her curves looked sumptuous, not frumpy, and she had to catch herself before she got lightheaded.

With a huge smile on her face, she walked out into the waiting area where Kian was sitting with Ember. She did a little spin for him, and his eyes went wide.

“You look amazing,” he said. She put her hands on her hips, appreciating the way that the new lingerie accentuated her curves. She had no idea she could look like this.

“Now I want to see the red dress,” he said with a purr in his voice.

“Okay,” she said, clapping her hands together.

She trotted off to the dressing room and quickly slipped into the red dress. It was fitted in the bodice and flared at the waist into a full skirt that came to her knees. It had a black leather detail around the waist and leather trim around the heart-shaped neckline.

She hurried back into the waiting room and did another twirl for him. He growled, and his eyes flashed when she turned back around to face him.

“You are breathtaking.”

“You really think so?” she asked, looking down at her shoes and glancing behind her at the curve of her behind.

“Absolutely.”

Aiden came back after she’d tried on a dozen dresses, holding a bag of records. He inspected her.

“You definitely need jewelry for that look. And you're going to have to go to the salon and do something about your hair.”

“I know,” she said, touching her dim locks with her fingertips.

“I think she looks perfect,” Kian said flatly.

“She looks fine. But she could look better.”

Aiden winked at her. She grinned from ear to ear. Kian grumbled, and Aiden shrugged. Kian and Aiden stared at each other and some nonverbal communication passed between them. Kian finally sighed and shrugged, as if giving in to whatever message Aiden was sending him.

“You are a lovely girl. Any man would be lucky to have you,” Aiden said, walking over to her and taking her hands. “You just need to feel good about yourself. And that means bringing the inside out.”

He twirled her around gently and she came back to stand, looking up at him.

“I'm here to help you get your man,” he said with a wink.

“You are so kind, Aiden. I really appreciate it.”

“Don't mention it. That's what friends are for. I've made you an appointment with the salon,” he said, tapping his cellphone to text her the information. “Now, I have a stack of records to listen to back at the mansion. I’ll see you both at home.”

“Good,” Kian said.

“Thank you so much, Aiden,” she said, reaching up on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek.

She couldn't help it. She was so grateful. Kian growled, but Aiden patted her on the shoulder.

“I'll see you two later,” he said, waving his bejeweled hand as he walked out of the boutique.

“Isn't he the best?” Everly said to Kian.

“Yeah sure, the best,” Kian said through gritted teeth.

“I'm going to change into one of my new outfits and then we can go to the salon. My appointment starts in just a few minutes.”

“When you’re done, we can go to dinner.”

“This is the best day ever,” Everly said, clapping her hands and trotting off to the dressing room.

It really was. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so much excitement and joy. Aiden really was a good friend. Even though Aiden looked like a wild rock star, she couldn't help but think that he was trying to help her win Kian's heart.