are my favorite shoes,” declared Gena hugging ultrashiny patent leathers to her pink-and-glitter sweatshirt.
Collin compressed his lips to hide the smile as “are” came out “aw” and “favorite” sounded suspiciously as “faborite.”
“They’re beautiful,” Sabrina cooed. “They’re so shiny. Who keeps them that clean for you?”
“Mommy. But she teaching me.”
“Then you can teach me so we can make Mommy proud when she gets back and sees that they’re still in good shape, okay?”
“I will. I teach Addie all the time.”
“Which are your favorites, Addie?”
“My sneakers.” But Addison was more interested in the giant polar bear that she had dragged from the far corner of the room and was attempting to sit in its lap. “Is this yours?”
“No, it’s yours. Everything here is for you girls from your Uncle Collin. He’s very happy to have you visiting with him for awhile.”
“Addie,” Gena explained, all solemnity, “’member? Mommy told us. He don’t have little girls and borrowed us so he won’ be lonesome while Mommy is gone.”
Collin saw Sabrina touch her fingertips to her mouth and turn away. He was certain something had stabbed his heart, as well, especially as Gena said “bowwowed.” He cleared his throat. “Is that okay with you, Addie?”
Both tots turned to him.
“I guess,” Addie said, but didn’t sound quite convincing. “If you promise to give us back.”
“Oh, I most definitely do.”
“When?”
“In time for Valentine’s Day.”
Gena and Addie exchanged looks.
“Is that before Santa?” Addie asked her sister.
“Only if the groundhog comes outside and sees his shadow. If the sun doesn’t come up, then it’s after.”
Addison frowned and rested her cheek against Bear. “I hope the sun comes out.”
Blinking back tears, Sabrina said brightly, “Know what? We forgot New Year’s! That’s when we wear happy, bright hats with feathers and sparkles, and throw streamers and play with balloons to welcome a new year and get ready for you girls turning four!”
“Can I sleep with Bear until Mommy comes gets us?” Addie asked.
“He takes up a bunch of the bed, but if that’s what you want,” Sabrina said sending Collin an anxious look.
“Which bed?” he asked the child.
“Orange. It’s like the sun.” She hoisted up Bear and crawled onto the bed to gaze up at the shimmering orange chiffon.
“What about you, Gena?” Collin asked.
“I’m older. I don’ need to sleep with toys. And I get purple.” But she didn’t get onto her bed. Instead she stood beside the stuffed giraffe that was twice her height and slowly stroked its neck and back.
Collin pushed away from the doorjamb and crouched beside Sabrina where he gave the back of her neck a secret squeeze. “It’s okay to have an animal friend to nap with even if you are a few minutes older, Gena. Just don’t forget to brush your giraffe and put a blanket on him so he doesn’t get cold at night.”
“Okay. What do I feed him?”
Crap, Collin thought. “You want to handle this one?” he said under his breath to Sabrina.
“I do, because your mom told me that she’d arranged for the sandman to come by after you go to bed. He’ll take care of that for you.”
“Who feeds Bear?” Addie demanded. “He don’ like sand or grass, he likes fishes. I seen that on TV.”
Sabrina nodded several times, which indicated to Collin that she was thinking as desperately as he was. Unfortunately, for him, being close to her like this and picking up the luscious scent of her made him think about her taste and the temptation of her body against his.
“Now I remember what your mom told me!” she burst out. “Do you know how the postman carries different kinds of stamps with him for people who need to mail something but forgot to go to the post office? That’s what sandman does. He brings the things that are needed.”
“Does he know the Easter bunny?” Addie asked.
“I hear they are excellent friends,” Sabrina assured her.
“Girls, play for a minute while I check on something with Brina, okay?” With that he crooked his finger and motioned her to follow him, whereupon he led her farther down the hall. Hands on his hips, he asked in a hushed voice, “And how are you going to explain a lack of food crumbs or grass when they wake in the mornings? Do not think that you’re going out to the park across the street at night with scissors to clip grass, and I’d better not hear about some sacrificed goldfish found dead on that carpet.”
“Of course not. Giraffe and Bear will be here looking well fed and cared for because that’s the magic of stories. What’s happened to your imagination, Ad Man?”
Although the question was posed with a tender smile, Collin took a step toward her, which had her smile waning and she took a step back, which immediately put her against the wall. “You know perfectly well what’s happened to it,” he said close enough to drown in the alluring depths of her eyes.
He’d touched her. Now all he thought about was doing it until he knew every inch of her better than he knew himself, knew what gave her the most pleasure and heard her cry out for him.
“Collin, I need to get back to the girls,” she whispered.
Muttering that he had to call the office, he bid a hasty retreat before he made a bigger fool of himself than he already had. As much as he wanted to keep his word to his sister that he would use this opportunity to bond more with the little ones, he couldn’t do it and not fall for Sabrina.
Who are you kidding? You’re halfway there already.
That left him with only one solution.
Chapter Six
“Good morning, Sonny!” Sabrina said to the beaming security guard, who met them as the elevator doors opened to the building’s lobby. She had called to let him know they were on their way. “Girls, this is Mr. Birdsong. He watches over everyone who lives in the building. This is Gena and this is Addison.”
“Mr. Masters’s nieces. It’s a pleasure, ladies.”
“Why do they call you a bird’s song?” Addie asked, her head tilted as she gazed up at the friendly giant.
Grinning, Sonny began whistling and it did, indeed, sound like they’d just stepped into the park.
“Do you know what that is? A robin. This is a cardinal…and a bluebird.”
The girls were enthralled as he duplicated each feathered creature’s song.
“Can you do my friend Tassie’s parakeet?” Addie asked.
“He never seen it, Addie,” Gena replied before Sonny could reply.
“Besides, we can’t take all of Mr. Birdsong’s time,” Sabrina added.
“Birdsong is too much of a name for such little ones to deal with,” he told Sabrina as they crossed the lobby. “If you don’t mind, let them call me Sonny like everyone does.” At the front door, he bent over and rested his hands on his knees to address the girls again. His teeth were as white as his starched shirt and his security badge had a shine no less than his twinkling eyes. “You all look pretty and set for a day on the town.