“A Little Too Late came right on time. Five stars!”-Brittainy C. Cherry, Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
A Little Too Late, an all-new romantic standalone from Staci Hart is available NOW!
A Little Too Late by Staci Hart
Publishing Date: Β October 24th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with the nanny.
When my wife left, she took the illusion of happiness with her, and I’ve been caught in a free fall ever since. For nine long months, I’ve been fighting to figure out how to be a single dad, how to be alone.
For nine long months, I’ve been failing.
When Hannah walked through the door, I took my first breath since I’d found myself on my own. She slipped into our lives effortlessly, showing me what I’ve been missing all these years. Because Hannah made me smile when I thought I’d packed the notion of happiness away with my wedding album.
She was only supposed to be the nanny, but she’s so much more.
The day my wife left should have been the worst day of my life, but it wasn’t. It was when Hannah walked away, taking my heart with her.
Excerpt:
CHARLIE
The next morning, I was up and in my office before anyone was awake, attacking my work with newfound enthusiasm and a plan in mind. Because I wanted to feel like Iβd felt the night before in the kitchen again, and there was only one way to get that back.
Today, I would take a few breaks and be present. Today, I would change, work be damned. Today would mark the first real attempt. Because change wouldnβt happen on its own. I had to make it happen. And to make it happen, I would have to put boundaries in place, starting with my weekends.
I checked the clock around eleven that morning and closed my laptop, pushing away from my desk and heading up the stairs in search of my children.
When I rounded the corner into the kitchen, I found them sitting at the table with their lunches. And when they saw me, their smiles validated my grand plans with unwavering certainty.
βHey, guys,β I said, smiling back as I walked over to them, ruffling Sammyβs hair when I passed him.
βHi, Daddy,β he said.
Mavenβs mouth was full, so she just waved, and Hannah smiled at me from the island where she was setting up a spread for sandwiches.
I snagged a grape off Mavenβs plate and popped it into my mouth. She handed me another, which I accepted.
βThanks, pumpkin.β
βAre you done working?β Sammy asked hopefully.
ββFraid not, bud. But I thought Iβd come have lunch with you. Is that okay?β
βYeah! Want a Nilla Wafer?β
βPsh, obviously. And I thought we could play for a little bit before I have to get back to work. What do you say?β
He nodded, grinning. βWe can play trucks! You be the bulldozer and Iβll be the tractor and Maven can be the monster truck and Hannah can be the ambulance because she helps people.β
βPerfect,β I said on a chuckle.
A burst of color caught my eye. A vase on the windowsill behind the table held a spray of red and orange tulips.
βThose are beautiful,β I said, gesturing to them. βWhere did they come from?β
βOh, I picked them up this morning,β Hannah said with that ever-present smile.
βFeeling homesick?β
βAlways a little. But I love having fresh flowers in the house, something bright and delicate and alive. Well, maybe not alive anymore, but it feels alive, doesnβt it?β
βIt does,β I said as I moved to her side.
βCan I make you a sandwich?β Hannah asked.
βNah, I think I can manage, thanks. Howβs it going this morning?β
βItβs good. We went to the park this morning.β
βI rode my bike!β Sammy crowed.
βDid you? No bumps or scrapes?β
βNope!β
βIβm impressed. Maybe next time I can come too,β I said, hoping it was something I could deliver as I reached into the bread bag for a stack.
Hannah turned to the cupboard, returning with a plate for me.
βThank you.β
She was still smiling, standing at my side, assembling her sandwich. It was so mundane, something completely and utterly boring, but like the weirdo that I was, I found myself watching her hands as she folded cold cuts. We worked around each otherβnot that it was complicated, but there was a sort of rhythm between us, a natural pace wherein I used what she wasnβt and finished just as she needed what I had. I wasnβt sure why I noticed it, but I did, and I appreciated the simple synchronicity of the moment, a breath where things were easy.
I passed her the mustard as she handed me the ham. βSo, I was thinking β¦β I paused.
βOh, were you?β She glanced over at me with a hint of mirth at the corners of her lips.
βI know. I almost sprained something.β
Hannah laughed gently.
βIf itβs okay, I think Iβd like to try to handle bedtime tonight.β
βOf course itβs okay; theyβre your children.β That time, her laughter was sweet.
βDo you β¦ would you β¦ do you think you could maybe β¦β
She shifted to face me, her eyes full of encouragement.
βWould you mind β¦ helping me?β
Hannah nodded, her smile opening up. βThatβs what Iβm here for. Just let me know what youβd like me to do.β
I smiled back. βIβm sorry. I know it sounds stupid. I just β¦ I havenβt done this much on my own, but Iβd like to start.β
Her eyes softened, caught by slanting light, lighting up with sunshine. βThereβs nothing to be afraid of,β she said simply.
I didnβt speak.
βThereβs no right or wrong, and they donβt care about anything other than you being there. Itβs simple enough; you only have to try.β
βIs it really that easy?β
βIt really is. Youβll see.β She reached for my arm and gave it a squeeze that wasnβt meant to be anything but friendly but held something more, something in the pressure in her fingertips and the depths of her eyes.
It was something I did my very best to ignore. But I felt the heat of those fingertips long after they were gone, even as we sat across the table from each other eating lunch, the tulips in the vase behind her bowing their long heads as the sunlight illuminated them, exposing what was hidden within their petals.
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About the Author
Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey.
From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.
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