CHAPTER ELEVEN
Nora
“OKAY, MISS COLBY, you are all ready for your movie date.” I smile at Colby through the bathroom mirror. She looks adorable dressed in the gold ball gown I made for her, with gold sparkly wings, of course, because in Colby’s world, all princesses are fairy princesses. I love the way this girl’s mind works. Every day with Colby is a new adventure. With the families I’ve worked with before, every day felt like work. But, here, I wake up every day with a smile on my face, and watching Colby is more like play than work. It’s crazy, but I have more fun hanging out with Colby than most of my friends. I think it’s because I’m still a kid at heart.
Colby admires herself in the mirror then turns to me, gives me a kiss on the cheek, and a big hug. “Thank you, Miss Nora. I wuv my new dress.” Her face beams with joy. This sweet girl is always smiles and giggles. She’s the happiest little girl I have ever met. Her joy is infectious. Everyone who crosses her path leaves with a smile on their faces. Just being with her for the past couple months has made me happier. I adore her so damn much. I’d take a bullet for this kid.
I squeeze her back. “You are so very welcome, sweet girl. We better get downstairs, your daddy is waiting.” Colby is going to freak when she sees Hank in his costume. I know I’m excited to see him in it.
Colby holds my hand all the way down the hallway to the stairs. As Hank comes into view at the bottom, holding a bouquet of red roses, Colby’s eyes widen in surprise and her mouth drops open. She is completely speechless. I’m finding it a little hard to form words looking at Hank. He looks like he walked straight out of a Disney movie. I might have done a little too well making that costume, because he looks damn handsome.
“Daddy, you wook so handsome.” She smiles from ear to ear as she looks up at him.
“You look very beautiful, Princess. These are for you.” He bends over and hands Colby half the bouquet of roses in his hand. “And these are for you.” He grins, handing me the rest of the flowers.
I take them from his hand, bring the beautiful red roses up to my nose and breathe in their sweet scent. “They are beautiful, thank you.” I return his smile.
Colby tugs at the bottom of Hank’s coat. “Ask her daddy,” she prods.
“Colby and I were wondering if you would like to join us at the movies tonight.” They both look at me eagerly.
“Are you sure I won’t be intruding on your daddy-daughter time?” I ask.
“Absolutely not. I want you to come,” he insists.
“Okay, but if you two are dressed up then I need a costume too, and I have the perfect one. Just give me ten minutes to change.”
Both Hank and Colby’s faces light up with my response. I turn and head back up the stairs and bolt for my room. The door slams behind me and I frantically search through my bag for my phone. I have to call Zoe and cancel our plans to sit on her couch with Netflix and Thai food.
It only takes two rings for Zoe to answer. “Are you on your way, I’m starving.”
“I’m not coming,” I reply.
“What the fuck, we were going to get drunk and throw dollar bills at the TV while we watched Magic Mike. I can’t do that by myself, it would just be weird.”
“I’m sorry, but Hank and Colby want me to go with them to the movies tonight,” I explain while I dig through my closet for the Belle costume I made a couple years ago.
“They want you to join them on daddy-daughter night? This is big.” This is big, but this could just be a thank you for making the costumes for them. I don’t want to get my hopes up that it is something that it’s not. Sure, Hank and I get flirty and tease each other, doesn’t mean Hank wants more between us. “I can forgive you this time. Nora, oh my God,” she squeals into the phone. “I expect major details tomorrow.”
“We will talk over coffee tomorrow morning. Make sure to toss a couple extra bills at Channing for me.”
* * *
The movie theater is packed with families and couples by the time we arrive. The three of us have been getting smiles and stares since we got out of the car. We are quite the sight.
While waiting in line to butter my popcorn, the woman behind me taps my shoulder. “I just wanted to say, you and your family look so adorable. You are so lucky to have a husband who will dress up with you and your daughter.” She gives me a warm smile.
I look over at Hank and Colby waiting in line to get inside the theater. They both wave at me with big smiles on their faces. It’s at this precise moment that I can envision myself as a part of their family. The cute family that goes to movies dressed up as the characters they are going to watch. Damn, Zoe was freaking right again.
I should correct her and say that I’m just the nanny, but instead I say, “Thank you so much. I am very lucky.” Part of it is true, I do feel lucky to have Hank and Colby in my life. They are the bright spot in my life. I feel completely at home with them.
* * *
Colby is still talking about the movie while Hank tucks her in for the night. I think I watched her reaction to the film more than I paid attention to the actual movie. She sat on the edge of her seat the entire time, singing along with the songs. Hank and I traded amused glances every time she broke into song. All in all, it was an amazing night.
“Goodnight, Miss Nora.” Colby blows me a kiss. I pretend to catch it and place it on my cheek.
“Goodnight, sweet girl,” I say, then blow her a kiss. I leave to let Hank finish getting Colby ready for bed.
Before I make it back to my room, Hank pops his head out of Colby’s room and asks, “Nora, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course,” I reply.
In a few long strides he’s in front of me. Without my heels on, he towers over me. I feel little like Belle standing before the beast. He has the power to destroy me, but he is sweet and gentle.
“As you know, Colby is going to her grandma’s for the weekend tomorrow. I’m wondering if you would like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night.”
“As like a date?” The words nervously come out.
He locks me in his gaze and replies, “Yes, like a date.” A playful grin tugs at the corner of his mouth.
“I can’t tell if you are teasing me or if you are being serious right now.” Please, oh please let him be serious.
“Our talk this morning got me to thinking, once the blood returned to my brain.” He mischievously chuckles. “In the past I was okay with being a single father and nothing else, but then a beautiful brunette in a blue dress came to interview as my nanny, and for the first time, in a very long time, I wanted something so bad I could barely see straight. I was too in my own head to do anything about it. I’m not going to let the woman I want slip through my fingers. Dinner at seven and wear something blue.”
“Daddy, where are you?” Colby calls out.
“Daddy duty calls.” He smirks. “Goodnight, Nora.” He turns and walks back to Colby’s room.
As soon as he disappears through the doorway, I let out the breath I’d been holding. Inside I’m screaming like a school girl who just got asked out by the star quarterback. Tomorrow, I’m going to buy every blue dress in Seattle.