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buttons of his shirt were unfastened .
    "Kit made homemade macaroni and cheese, Daddy. Not the kind from the box. I didn't think I'd like it, but it was really good!" Megan beamed up at her father, not the least bit annoyed that he was late.
    "Megan, honey , I cut you a piece of cake. Why don't you go into the dining room with Sarah and eat your dessert. I need to speak to your daddy." Kit's voice was warm and tender, and Megan rewarded her with a bright smile before running off to the dining room.
    "I'm really sorr y, Kit . I've been taking in bids all week on a new job. The time just keeps getting away from me. I promise it won't happen again." Cole raked his fingers thro ugh his loose hair. Instead of wearing it tied back, it fell to his shoulders . Kit though t he looked roguishly handsome, although he wore his hair a little longer than she preferred. In spite of that, she still found him to be an incredibly sexy man, much to her annoyance.
    "We need to talk, come on into the den." Kit tossed the tea towel onto the counter as she passed through the kitchen , on the way to the den. Cole followed silently, dreading that Kit was going to announce that she could no longer watch his daughter. What would he do? Perhaps he could take her with him to the office, yet he knew Megan would be miserable. She'd been happy with Kit.
    Once they reached the den, Kit closed the door and asked Cole to take a seat on the sofa. Sitting in the rocking chair directly facing the sofa, Kit placed her hands on her lap and let out a deep sigh.
    "I'll double your pay , " Cole suddenly blurted out.
    "Pardon?" Kit was stunned. Her blue eyes blinked in confusion.
    "Megan was never happy with any of the nanny's or sitters in the past. She's been really happy here."
    "What in the world are you ta l king about?"
    "Aren't you going to tell me you can no longer watch Megan?" Cole warily watched Kit.
    "No , " Kit answered. She added with a chuckle, " h mmm, double pay ?" The tenseness visibly drained from Cole and he relaxed.
    "You mean you weren't going to stop watching Megan because I've been late picking her up?"
    " N o, and don't worry about your offer for extra pay. What you're already paying is more than fair. But I do need to talk to you about Megan." Kit took a deep breath then continued. "I understand that when you work for yoursel f, it's hard to control the length of your day. It's often easier working for someone else, then you can simply punch out at the end of the day and that's it."
    "You're right about that , " Cole agreed, yet couldn't help wonder what Kit was leading up to.
    "Megan needs more structure. All children do. To be honest, I'm use d to having our dinner before six. Since I've been watching Megan, I've been holding off the dinner, but well, with your late hour s, I find we are eating later and later. Why don't you simply allow me to feed Megan dinner each night?"
    " Wai t, Kit, I can't ask you to feed my daughter dinner each night."
    "Cole, I'm asking this for the girls and myself , n ot for you. Although I believe, it will have advantages for you. Megan and Kit eat like birds, so it's not like I'll have to make extra. As it is, I always seem to have leftovers. I'm sure the dinners I'll prepare will be more nutritious than what you whip up. No offen s e."
    "No offense taken , " Cole grumbled, realizing he had fed Megan fast food three times during the past week.
    "Plus, it will give you and Megan more time together. When you go home at night, you don't have to rush around making her dinner and cleaning up. I'm sure you'll f in d it easier to whip up something for yourself without trying to find something a finicky six year old likes."
    Cole sat silently for a moment. The truth was, he enjoyed having dinner with his daughter each night. He hated eating alone. However , he couldn't argue with the fact that recent dinners had occurred later and later.
    "I imagine you' ll miss having dinner with your daughter each night , " Kit added,