Sometimes matchmaking works better when you don't even see what's happening.

"Do you want me to read you a story?"

"No." Wanda yawned and stretched her arms. Her eyes were half closed, but she did her best to keep them open. "I'm too tired."

Natasha smiled and gently poked her leg. "That's what happens when you run all over the place."

"I wasn't running all over the place. Just in the backyard."

"Well, the next time I babysit, you're not getting an ice cream after lunch or dinner. Sugar turns you into a live wire."

"But I love ice cream!"

"Too bad. You can eat ice cream when your dad is home and I'm not here. He can deal with you when you're on a sugar high. You get too crazy."

"Fine. Spoil all my fun."

"Didn't you know that's what babysitters do best?"

Wanda rolled her eyes before reaching out to hug her. "I've never had any babysitters like you before."

"That's a high compliment, thank you. Have a good sleep, sweetie." Natasha placed a kiss on the girl's brow.

"Goodnight. Tell my dad that I love him."

"I will." The redhead looked down at Wanda fondly before standing and walking out of her bedroom.

Once she was downstairs, Natasha sat on the couch and turned the tv on. After flipping through a dozen channels, she finally settled on a station that was playing a nineties film called Jack and Sarah.

It was set in England and about the single father of a baby girl who hires an American nanny to take care of her. Eventually, the father and the nanny fall in love and get married. The irony of the film and it's similarities to Natasha's situation was not lost on her. Although she was only a babysitter, she did indeed have maternal feelings towards Wanda and as for the girl's father...

There was a spark between them that grew every time they were around each other. Natasha would be lying if she said that didn't excite her. She had never experienced such a pull towards a man in her entire life. It made her breathless because she knew that Steve was drawn to her as well.

All of these thoughts ran through her head for the duration of the movie and kept her a bit distracted.

Shortly after ten o'clock, the sound of a key turning caught Natasha's attention. She smiled when the door opened and Steve came inside the house. A sigh left his lips as he pushed the door shut behind him. His eyes brightened upon seeing her. "Oh, hey. Sorry I was gone so long."

"That's alright. Did everything go well?"

Steve nodded, fingers undoing the tie around his neck. "Yeah. Nick Fury is a very clever businessman. I couldn't have asked for a better boss."

"I'm glad to hear it." Natasha turned off the tv and noticed him taking out his wallet.

"How much money do you want? I think I have a few twenties in here..."

The redhead approached Steve, hoping that he wouldn't say no to her request. "Actually, I was thinking that you could just paint me instead."

"What?"

"Remember when we first met, you told me that you did commissions for people? I said one day, maybe I could hire you to paint me. Well, I'd like you to do that rather than pay me for tonight."

Steve wrinkled his nose, but there was an amused glimmer in his eyes. "Sure. I can paint you if you want." Steve put his wallet in his back pocket again and grinned. "You're the first person to ask me for a painting instead of money for a babysitting job."

She shrugged. "I'm going to be watching Wanda every week anyway, so I figured I'd ask for something that wasn't the usual fare. I've never had a portrait made before and I also want to see how good you are."

"With a request like that, how can I refuse?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Would you like to do it this on Saturday? Wanda has a two hour gymnastics class, so I can drop her off and we'd have enough time to do a session before I pick her up."

"Saturday is perfect. I'll make myself look pretty for the portrait."

"You don't have to make yourself look pretty, Natasha. You already are."

"Thank you." Natasha felt her cheeks warm and she bit her lip. Her green eyes locked on to Steve's and for a while, neither one of them said anything. Then Natasha decided to do what she'd been thinking about since she first met Steve. She grabbed him by the lapels, pulled him forward and covered his lips with hers.

This was a risky move, but Natasha knew he wouldn't reject her. And just as she'd thought, his hands settled on her hips. Their bodies were snugly fit against each other and Natasha gasped when she realised how aroused Steve was. His length brushed against her clothed thigh and he cradled her in his arms, making her hyper aware of his gentleness and strength which fueled her desire for him. Natasha's hand caressed Steve's upper thigh and she smirked in triumph when he hissed at the touch.

Not to be outdone, Steve licked into Natasha's mouth and she moaned when he slipped his tongue inside. The way he probed her, teasing her own tongue with his made her legs shake. How was he so good at this? Steve's hand became tangled in her hair and his other was holding on to her backside with a firm grip.

His touch was like fire and when those lips started exploring and grazed the softness of her throat, Natasha knew that she had to end it before she did something dangerous like fall into bed with him.

"Wait, Steve. Wait, wait." She raised her hands to push at his chest until he stopped kissing her.

"What is it?" His blue eyes were full of concern and he lessened his grip on her body. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No. You didn't do anything. I just...need to stop before I go too far. I mean, I don't really want this night to end and if I had less will power, I know I'd let you take me to bed." She licked her lips. "But we have to take this slow for our own sake and Wanda's."

Her words helped shake Steve out of the lustful haze he was in and he nodded. "Damn, you're right. I got so caught up with how good you feel in my arms." He closed his eyes and reopened them after several seconds had passed. Then he touched her cheek, stroking it tenderly. "So you do want to see where this will go?"

Natasha smiled and covered his palm with hers. "Yes. I've been thinking about you a lot and I'm glad that we're friends, but I'd like us to be more."

Steve took her face in his hands and kissed her again. Knowing how intense this moment was for them both, he didn't keep them connected for long. When he drew back, he held his forehead to hers and whispered, "I feel the same way."