It was raining and dark that night when I put my key in the lock and turned it, wiping my feet on the door mat before I entered.

Lilah would be in bed by now. I was insistent about a regular bed time for her, wanted little to change since Erin’s death. As much of the routine and structure she had when her mother was alive, the better. Amber understood that, and followed most of my instructions to a tee.

Amber. She would be in her rooms by now, watching television. It was her normal routine. I walked into the main living room, pouring myself a scotch on the rocks. My favorite after work drink. Erin would often have one waiting for me as I walked into the house. Then she would give me a shoulder massage, right here on this sofa.

But tonight, it was dark in the room, and there was no drink waiting. I took my jacket off, shaking drops of rain from it, and loosened my tie. I turned at a noise behind me.

It was Amber, standing there in her dressing gown.

I did a double take.

Her hair was hanging in soft waves around her face. I could see her bare legs poking out from where the dressing gown ended. It was a light chenille, lavender in color. She looked unbearably sexy, without even trying. I swallowed the scotch, roughly. It burned my throat on the way down.

“Sorry to disturb you.” She spoke softly.

“You’re not disturbing me, Amber.” Or rather, she was, but in a way I couldn’t explain to her. “Is it Lilah? Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” She sat down on the sofa. “Don’t worry. I just thought that I should tell you, sooner rather than later. I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”

I looked at her. “Really? That’s fantastic!” I got up and went to the drinks cabinet, pouring myself another and then looking at her. “Would you like a scotch? To celebrate.”

Her eyes widened. “Okay, but I don’t usually drink brown spirits. Wine is usually more my speed.”

“Don’t have any,” I said. “Or rather, it’s all in the cellar. I can’t be bothered going down there now.”

“Scotch will do just fine,” she said, quickly. I poured the drink, then handed it to her, sitting opposite.

“What made you decide?”

She took the drink, sipping it. “The money, I guess. You know how much I need it. But there was something else, as well.”

I raised an eyebrow to her. “Such as?”

She paused. “I thought about what you said about keeping Lilah. I understand how much she means to you, Finn. Especially after what happened.” She glanced down, searching for words. “I think she should stay with you, and I want to help you keep her.”

“Thank you,” I said. I took a gulp of my second scotch. I was starting to feel it hitting my bloodstream.

Her dressing gown had fallen forward slightly, exposing the top of her breasts to my view. I didn’t know whether it was the scotch, but it looked as fine a sight as I had seen in a long, long time.

She caught me looking. She sat back, covering herself. An awkward silence stretched on.

“So.” I jumped to my feet, finding my briefcase. “Here is the contract. I had it speedily prepared this afternoon, just in case.” I took it out, along with a ball point pen. I handed both to her.

“Wow.” She picked up the papers, leafing through them. “Can you give me a minute?”

“Sure.” I sat back down, sipping the scotch. She read through the contract, quickly. The she glanced up at me.

“All good?” I asked.

“Yes, it all seems to be in order,” she said. “Everything that we discussed is in there.” She picked up the pen and signed it with a flourish.

I walked over to her, extending my hand. “Let’s shake on it then, Amber.”

She took my hand, and we shook. I tried to ignore the sparks that were shooting through me at her touch. Her eyes widened, too.

“What happens now?” she asked, a little breathlessly.

“I will get in contact with the Morgan’s tomorrow,” I answered. “Informing them of my engagement and how things have stabilised for Lilah. Hopefully they will accept it. And…”

She looked at me, a little shyly. The perimeters of our relationship had suddenly shifted, and I could see she was unsure how to proceed.

“And?”

“I think we will need to come out as a couple,” I continued. “I will put the engagement in the Saturday papers, but for now, we need to be seen.” I coughed.

She raised her eyebrows.

“Dinner, tomorrow night,” I said. “I will make reservations for us. Somewhere that I know a lot of people go. That will start the ball rolling – this city lives on gossip.”

“You’re taking me out for dinner?”

“Yes. Be ready to leave around seven. I’ll get a babysitter for Lilah for the night.”

She stood up. “Okay, then…well, good night.” She stood awkwardly.

I walked up to her, kissing her on the cheek. “Good night, fiancée.”

She looked a bit shocked at the kiss, quickly walking out of the room.

I watched her leave. Amber, the nanny. So sexy in her dressing gown. My mind was afire, trying to imagine what she wore underneath. A nightie? Lingerie? Nothing?

I could feel my loins hardening at the thought. Imagine slowly stripping her of the dressing gown, to reveal what was underneath…

I shook my head. Focus. I needed to focus. This was purely for business. It had just been so long since I held a woman in my arms. That was all.