Nanny Dearest (6 page)

"Daddy," Chase said reaching for him.

Hunter's heart pounded proudly in his chest. "Did he just say daddy?" he asked Terry.

Terry nodded. "He's been saying the word all day."

Hunter reached for Chase. "Hey, sport."

"Is this Terry?" Becky asked as she circled him like a hawk.

"Yes; everyone, this is Terry Rayburn."

"Can you see without those glasses?" Becky asked, removing them before Terry could answer.

"Barely," Terry replied.

"Are your eyes baby blue or sky blue?" Rachel asked, joining Becky to inspect the young man.

"Definitely baby," Becky answered.

Adam came in and joined the meeting. He sat down next to Joel, waving at Chase from a distance.

Hunter turned Chase around so he could see his Adam. "Say hello to Uncle Adam," he told the child. "He called me daddy for the first time," he bragged.

"Don't drop your guard," Adam warned. "It could be a trick."

Joel chuckled at Adam's joke.

"He certainly has good bone structure and very high cheekbones," Rachel said of Terry.

"What does he look like with his hair down?" Becky asked.

"Don't," Hunter warned loudly.

Too late. Becky pulled the elastic band and Terry's hair cascaded down his back.

"Ma-ma," Chase said loudly, reaching for Terry.

Hunter felt truly embarrassed for Terry and a bit aroused.

Both women looked at Chase and then at Terry. They smirked but had the decency not to laugh.

"Gentlemen, I think we have our two models," Rachel announced. She winked at Terry who blushed beet red.

Chase called to him again. "Ma-ma."

Terry quickly fixed his hair and then reached for his charge.

Chase buried his face into Terry's chest.

"Aww," Becky said. "How precious. Do you think we can use Chase in the ads too?"

"No," Hunter and Terry said simultaneously.

"But why not? Women will just love him with these guys."

That's what Hunter feared.

"They'll buy anything these three advertise from shampoo to athletic foot spray," Becky replied.

Chase tried to get at Terry's hair again. "No, naughty boy," Terry warned. "Must not mess up Uncle Terry's hair in front of the nice people."

Chase shrieked loudly.

"Maybe I better take him home," Terry suggested. "He hasn't had his nap."

"Ooh, and he's the parenting type," Becky replied running her tongue across her bottom lip.

Hunter smirked. Maybe he should skip work and go home for a nap too… with Uncle Terry. Hunter shook away the daydream.

"You'll have to sign your contract first," Adam told Terry. He got up and handed one to Terry and one to Joel. "You two guys are going to be Hollywood's next
It
boys."

Joel seemed excited about the prospect but Terry looked terrified.

"He's only kidding," Hunter said taking Chase away so Terry could read over his contract. "Come on, sport, let me show you where Daddy works. It's all going to be yours one day."

"Ma-ma," Chase said.

"Later," Hunter told him. "He'll be all yours in about an hour."

* * * *

Terry finally got Chase down for a nap after they arrived at home and ate lunch. Becky had shoved her home phone number in his pocket, which he promptly threw away as soon as he got home. He shuddered. "Too pushy."

He wanted to fix something special for dinner tonight to show he appreciated everything Hunter had done for him. He'd called moments after Terry arrived informing him he wouldn't be home until late. The least he could do was make sure Hunter had a good nutritious meal waiting for him when he came home.

He decided to make spaghetti and meat sauce using lean chuck instead of ground beef, a leafy green salad with raspberry vinaigrette and crusty wheat French bread. Dessert, he decided would be angel food cake topped with fresh strawberries. Terry had stopped at the grocery on the way home to make sure he had all the ingredients.

He played with Chase for a while when the baby woke up from his nap. They watched Sesame Street and Wonder Pets, followed by Dora the Explorer and The Backyardigans. He gave Chase a bath later that evening and read him a story until the child fell asleep.

Terry finished up his studying and homework then talked awhile with Joel who was still excited about his new job. The photo shoot and commercials would begin in a couple of days, which meant he had to spend most of his free time cramming while Chase napped.

Terry was in the shower when he heard Hunter come home and go into his room. He heard Hunter's shower turn on as soon as he got out and began to dry off. He wondered if Hunter was the type to use conditioner when he washed his hair and if he shaved in the shower or in front of a mirror. Terry smirked.
Such silly thoughts
. He dressed quickly and went into the nursery to check on Chase before heading downstairs to see to dinner. Hunter came down later.

"Something smells delicious."

"Spaghetti and meat sauce," Terry said stirring the pot and turning off the stove. He put on a pair of oven mitts and bent over to take the bread out of the oven then placed the hot pan on a wooden chopping board to cool.

"Anything I can help you with?" Hunter asked.

"You can take out the trash," Terry answered.

"Yes, sir," Hunter said, smiling at him.

Terry's heart fluttered in his chest.
Please don't smile like that. It makes me weak
.

"What's this?" Hunter asked, pulling a piece of his company's letterhead out of the trash.

"Nothing," Terry answered quickly.

"Looks like Becky's phone number to me," he teased. "Call me anytime you get lonely."

"Tart," Terry replied as he drained the spaghetti.

"Maybe you're being a bit too hasty. She's a very pretty young woman and she's great at her job."

"Sorry, not interested," Terry called over his shoulder as he set the table.

After Hunter took out the trash, he washed and dried his hands. "What's wrong with Becky?"

"Nothing," Terry said placing a plate of food in front of Hunter once he was in his chair then one on the placemat across from him. He put a bottle of icy sparkling cider on the table along with two glasses.

Hunter opened the bottle and filled the glasses.

"She's just not my type." Terry put two candles in the candle holders and lit them then he doused the kitchen lights before sitting down at the table across from Hunter. His head dropped forward as he quietly said grace.

"What is your type?" Hunter asked. "She's a striking redhead."

"I'm more into brunettes." He kept his eyes lowered and began eating.

Hunter looked around. "You've gone to a lot of trouble just for me," he said, sampling the food. "Oh, this is so delicious. Is this sauce from a jar?"

Terry shook his head. "No, I made the sauce with fresh Creole tomatoes."

"You made this?" Hunter asked, sampling another bite. "I think you've missed your calling. You should become a chef."

Terry shook his head.

Terry went up to check on Chase who slept peacefully hugging his bear. Terry sighed. The sight stole his breath away.

"He is a little angel when he's sleeping," Hunter said coming up behind him. "There is no way I am going to lose this case against the Reynoldses."

Oh, yes, he'd forgotten. Tomorrow he'd do a walk around the house to make sure he and Hunter had childproofed everything. Chase could move around pretty well on the floor with his awkward baby steps and he pulled down everything in his reach. "He's one very lucky little guy to have such a caring father." Terry walked out of the nursery and down the steps. Hunter led him into the den where a wrestling match they'd discussed over dessert had just started on the wide-screen TV.

Terry couldn't figure out the rationale behind watching such barbaric sports but he managed to sit through the event. Hunter turned on a romantic movie after all the matches were over and settled back on the sofa next to him to watch. Terry loved romantic movies and this one was very sentimental and charming.

"I'm kind of partial to raven-haired beauties with big blue eyes," Hunter said out of the blue.

"That's nice to know," Terry replied trying to act disinterested. "Anybody in particular?"

Hunter's hand clutched his. "Yes." He shoved Terry down on his back and rose over him. "You." He swooped down for the kiss.

Terry's eyes widened as Hunter rolled them over until Terry was on top of him. The next thing he knew he and Hunter were making out like a couple of teenagers.

"You are so beautiful," Hunter said, releasing Terry's hair from the elastic band and burying his fingers in the strands. Hunter pulled his head back, burying his face into the crook of Terry's neck, and nibbling against the line of muscle and tendons found there. "I've dreamed of doing this with you from the moment I looked into those big blue eyes," Hunter told him.

"I know," Terry replied. "I had to go back to my dorm room and take a very cold shower."

"Not tonight," Hunter told him as he pulled Terry's shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor. "No more cold showers, no more stares from across candlelit tables, and no more looking without touching."

Hunter slid Terry from his lap onto the sofa. He stood up and removed his shirt, revealing a powerfully built chest, thick, muscular arms and toned abs.

Terry shuddered with desire.
Goodbye virginity
.

Hunter slipped out of his pants.

Holy moly, he's wearing bikinis
. Terry bit his bottom lip.
Hunter is a stallion.

"Let me see you," Hunter said, sitting back down on the sofa.

Terry rose and slowly loosened his jeans then moved his hand to the zipper before pausing to tease Hunter. He finally wiggled out of the tight jeans, kicked them aside and stood before Hunter in tight black briefs.

Hunter's eyes sparkled as he stared. "You're everything I imagined and more." He pulled Terry toward him and cupped his balls through the briefs.

Terry moaned as the warmth from Hunter's hand permeated through the material.

Hunter stopped groping him and pulled him closer. He planted a kiss against Terry's stomach causing his entire body to shake. Hunter's fingers inched up to the waistband of the briefs and he lowered them. Terry's penis sprang forth. "I've died and gone to heaven," Hunter said. "You're circumcised and shaved."

Terry moaned again.

"I'd pick you up and carry you up to my bedroom then have my way with you all night if you weren't almost as tall as I am."

"Let's run," Terry said, trying not to swoon from the sight of the handsome brunet before him.

Hunter grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.

"Daddy!" Chase screamed from upstairs.

"Show's over," Terry said scampering back into this pants. "I'll have to take a rain check." He flew up the stairs, leaving Hunter to get presentable.

"Ma-ma," Chase said reaching for him.

Terry picked the baby up. His skin felt hot. "You have a fever."

"What's wrong with him?" Hunter asked coming into the room still breathing hard.

"He has a fever," Terry said carrying Chase over to the layette while he searched through the drawers for a thermometer. He found one and put Chase on the top of the cushioned topper and removed his diaper. He raised Chase's legs and gently inserted the tip of the thermometer into his anus. He held Chase's legs so the baby couldn't kick.

"Is there anything you can't do?" Hunter asked watching in amazement as Terry removed the thermometer.

"The thermometer reads one hundred and four degrees."

"Should we take him to the hospital?"

Terry shook his head. "Not yet. Let's try to find out why he has a fever and try to lower it." He put a fresh diaper on Chase and handed the child to Hunter. "Keep an eye on him for a moment. I'll be right back."

Terry dashed down the stairs and made Chase a cold bottle and then hunted up a small pan and filled it with cool water. He got some clean towels out of the linen cabinet and returned to the nursery. He found Hunter rocking the child in the Bentwood rocker.

Terry took Chase from Hunter and laid the child down on the pad again and began sponging him down with the cool water. And then he dried him off and dressed him in a short-sleeved cotton shirt and wrapped him in a thin blanket. "You go try to get some rest," Terry told Hunter, while sitting down in the rocker and giving Chase the bottle. "I'll tend to him."

"But I'm his father," Hunter protested.

"And you're the best, but I'm his…" He hesitated. "His nanny. I'll wake you if his fever gets worse."

Hunter nodded. "We'll take shifts. Wake me so you can get some sleep." He walked out of the nursery.

Terry gently rocked Chase and sung a lullaby softly. Chase's fever broke at about four in the morning. Terry put the child into this crib and then he walked back over to the rocker and fell asleep.

* * * *

"Shush," Hunter said to Chase as he tiptoed into the nursery. "Mama's sleeping."
Poor kid, he must be exhausted
. He changed Chase's diaper, tossed it into a can and then lifted his son into his arm. The fever was gone and Chase was acting pretty frisky. "Let's go downstairs."

Terry stirred in the rocker just as they were about to leave the room. His hair was still free and loose from last night. He swept it out of his face and opened his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Six," Hunter replied. "What time did the fever break?"

"Four," Terry said stretching.

"You were up all night?"

Terry nodded. "I think I dozed off about an hour ago." He rose. "I better get downstairs and fix Chase's breakfast."

"You'll do no such a thing. It's Saturday, which means I'm off today. I want you to crawl into bed. I can get this guy's breakfast."

Terry yawned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll even tuck you in if it will make you feel better."