The Boss's Baby Affair by Tessa Radley

hyperventilating about the way Jennie was hanging over his arm. He wouldn’t drop the baby, she told herself. He really wouldn’t…
    So why couldn’t she relax? She ought to be thrilled Nick was having such fun with Jennie, yet Candace couldn’t stop fretting as she cast a wary glance along the grassy bank to the trio of advancing, honking geese.
    In Nick’s arms Jennie gave a squawk. The geese slowed. He chuckled. “That’s my girl. Give ’em hell!”
    Candace frowned, but forced herself to bite her lip and say nothing.
    â€œLook—” Nick took a step forward and pointed “—more ducks.”
    Unable to stop herself, Candace hurried up beside him. “Careful, don’t drop the baby!”
    Nick returned his hand to Jennie’s waist, anchoring her securely against him. To Candace’s increasing annoyance, he ignored her and murmured to Jennie, “Those are woodland ducks. I used to feed ones just like that in the creek near my grandmother’s cottage when I was a boy.”
    After a second, Candace’s curiosity got the better of her. She knew so little about Nick, and what she’d read in the business newspapers and gossip pages mentioned nothing about a grandmother. It made him seem more human. “You lived with your grandmother?”
    â€œYes, she was a tough lady with a heart of gold. She never complained when I’d sneak a loaf out of the pantry to feed the ducks, even when times were tight.” Hitching Jennie higher up against his shoulder, he said, “What about seeing if there’s anything on the café’s menu that’s suitable for Jennie?”
    Candace waved to the stroller where it stood surrounded by ducks. “I’ve got a tumbler with diluted juice she can have, and some apple slices…if the ducks haven’t gotten to them. We don’t need to go to the café.”
    â€œI still owe you a coffee by way of an apology.”
    Candace gave him a measuring look “Oh, all right then.” Then realizing he might well be affronted by her lack of enthusiasm, she added, “That would be nice.” And it would have the added bonus of getting them away from the water’s edge where Jennie’s flock of new feathered friends hovered.
    She held out her arms for the baby. Nick hesitated for a fraction of a second, then surrendered Jennie. Candace stepped backward.
    â€œCareful!”
    Nick leaped forward as she stumbled. Candace teetered, grabbing at him with one hand, clinging to the baby with the other, her eyes fixing on Nick in fright.
    â€œJennie!” she pleaded.
    For a split second Candace was aware of the solid warmth of his body, the heavy thud of his heart, before the sobs of her own panicky breath drowned it all out, and Nick’s arms locked around Jennie. Jennie was safe.
    To Candace’s horror, Nick started to slide along the grassy bank down to the water, Jennie still clasped in his arms. He landed with a dull splash, feetfirst in knee-deep water.
    The baby didn’t even squeak. Instead, Jennie was hanging over his arm, reaching for the surface of the lake.
    Nick was laughing. “None of that,” he said as Jennie flapped her arms furiously, frantically trying to free herself from his grasp. “No swimming today.”
    Candace didn’t think it was the least bit funny.
    Yet looking down at Nick, water rippling around his suit pants, his Italian shoes totally submerged beneath the lake’s reflective surface, she felt a stab of totally inappropriate desire. Jennie had almost landed in the lake, and she was lusting after Nick Valentine?
    What was wrong with her?
    â€œThat was close!” she said, as her breathing slowed.
    Nick chucked the little imp under her chin and Jennie gave him a toothless smile.
    â€œShe’s fine.”
    She forgot that he’d swept the baby to safety. Anxiety and lust coalesced into anger. “It’s not