The next day I decided to invite Teri back over to spend time with us more. "Mary can you look out for Teri because she's on her way." I said.

Mary with her young flair and sassy attitude said yes and helped Anna pick out something nice to wear. She wasnt acting like herself lately. It seemed like something was bothering her. "OK sweetheart you're all ready to go." she said smiling at her.

Anna jumped up and hugged her. "Daddy how do I look?"

"You look beautiful honey." I said picking her up. Mary quickly got up and headed downstairs. "Mary wait!" I said letting Anna down. She turned around and looked down.

"Yes Michael?" she asked

"Mary what's going on? Look at me." I said

Her head slowly came up and her eyes met mine. She looked like she wanted to tell me something but it just couldnt escape her lips. "Mary..."

"I have to go." she said quickly leaving. I pulled her by her arms and she spun into me. "You've been acting weird lately Mary and I need to know what's wrong. Is it me? Did I do something?" I asked eager to know what was on her mind.

"Nothing sir....I..." she hesitated. A tear rolled down her cheek. "Oh Mary...whatever it is its tearing you up inside. Please tell me. I know I can do something to help." I said looking sad.

"Theres nothing you can do. Im in love with a man that has no interest in me." she said pushing me away and walking off. I stood there shocked and I felt like I had hurt her. Mary was in love with me? What was I going to do? I had just gotten with Teri, and I didnt want to break either of their hearts.

Why didnt Mary let me know this sooner?

Was it because she thought I had no interest? I was indeed attracted to Mary. She made me laugh with her silly jokes, she could cook so well, and she gave me the best advice when I needed it. And every time I looked into those hazel-green eyes....

"DADDYYYY!!!" Anna yelled from her room. "Yes honey Im coming!" I said rushing into her room. She was in there with Jessie trying to put the last shoe on the bear's foot.

"It wont fit!" she said getting frustrated. "Patience sweetheart. Let me untie the shoe and you put it on. How's that sound?" I asked

She nodded and watched me unravel the strings. I was too getting frustrated because of the love triangle I was in. I finished with the shoe and she put it on successfully. I sat her down and she smiled.

"Smile even though your heart is breaking." she said reciting my song. I smiled and she rubbed my cheek. "Do you like Mary?" I asked her.

"I sure do Daddy! She's my bestest friend in the whole wide world!"

I smiled and looked into those growing eyes. "Why do you ask?" she asked

"I...because sweetheart....Its just complicated." I said looking down.

"You like her?" she asked

"Its complicated."

"From what I think...Mary would be a better girlfriend." she said

"What do you know about that missy?" I said curiously. We both laughed and she hopped on my lap. Then she whispered something in my ear.

"Mary really loves you....more than Teri." she whispered. I looked at her and she smiled. "You really think I should go and tell her how I feel?" She nodded and smiled.

I thanked her and kissed her forehead. Now was my chance to show her how I really felt. I shouldnt have kissed Teri last night. Something was off with the whole thing. I felt forced into the situation. The woman that I truly loved was just down the stairs from me.

I ran downstairs and saw Teri. "Teri we have to talk." I said

"Yes we do. I just wanted to let you know that Im really not ready for a relationship right now. I just got out of a bad one and Im still recovering." she said smiling. I smiled back.

"I understand. We can still be friends right?" I asked. She smiled. "Of course."

"So are we still hanging out today?" I asked

"Sure we are! I still wanna ride the rides mister." she said pushing me playfully. I smiled. "Can you wait right here?" I asked her. She said sure and I went into the kitchen. Mary was in there making a pie for later.

She spotted me and looked away. "Dinner for today will be Chicken Florentine. Will I be cooking for our guest?" she asked pretending like she felt better. "Mary look at me." I said. She continued stirring something and I came up behind her. I could feel her body tense.

"I know you still love me. I love you too." I said stopping her moving hands. She turned around and looked down.

"You're so cute when you're shy." I said smiling.

"Oh really? Im usually not this..."

Before she could say another word my lips touched hers in an instant. She moaned and her body lost all control. My hands wrapped around her waist and her hands wrapped around my neck. She departed from me and looked away.

"Whew! Whoa! Ummm...did that just happen?" she asked overwhelmed. I smiled and blushed. "Yea it did." I said back.

"I would of never expected a kiss from you. Im just a cook and a nanny."

I went up and held her again. "No you're not. You're someone special to me and Anna."

"You cant be in love with me. Im nothing."

"Thats crazy. You're everything in this world to me. I love you Marylin. I love you just like you love me. Ive always been in love with you. I just never got the courage to tell you." I said. She smiled.

"So...are we like together now because I think Im burning something." she asked with that sexy smirk of hers.

I laughed. "If you want me..."

"I want you MIchael. More than you'll ever know." she said kissing me again. We both heard a snicker and turned around.

"ANNA!!!!" we both said loudly.

"You both were kissing! OOOOOO!!!" she said giggling.

"You little squirt come here!" Mary said catching her and tickling her.

"I TOLD YOU DADDY LOVES YOU!!!" she said laughing hard.

We all laughed and I kissed Mary again. "I ugh..promised Teri I'd show her the rides."

"Go on. Ill be here when you come back for dinner."

"You better be because I never want you to go." I said kissing her one last time. We both smiled and I was off.

A whirlwind romance day for me huh?

~TO BE CONTINUED~