Page 15 of Baby Nanny

“I found someone.” He spared Annalise a brief glance. She’d joined Isabella beneath the tree, sitting close enough to participate in his niece’s play, without invading the little girl’s territory. “The trick will be keeping her . Imay have pushed too hard, too soon.”

“That’s not like you.”

“There’s a reason for that,” Jack responded wryly. Like having difficulty keeping his hands off her. “What’s wrong now?”

“Actually, it’s mixed news . Imanaged to postpone Mrs. Locke’s next visit. Told her you and the new nanny and Isabella were all going off on a little trip together so you could bond.”

Bond. The word continued to haunt him and had him clamping his back teeth together. “I thought you said the news was mixed. That sounds like good news to me.”

“It would be if Locke hadn’t also informed me she plans to make a final report after her next visit.”

“What?”

“Calm down, Jack. I’m going to fight it and I’m pretty certain I’ll be able to delay things again. But it would help if you had a loving wife cum nanny in tow the next time the Locke woman calls.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Work harder. Does this one have the qualifications I suggested?”

“Yes. Not a lot of experience, but she does have the appropriate educational background.”

There was a delicate pause, then Derek asked, “What’s she like?”

Jack’s focus strayed in Annalise’s direction again. “Different,” he stated succinctly.

“Good different?”

“Let’s just say that our marriage won’t be dull.” A sudden thought occurred to him. “Before I forget , Ineed you to contact our private investigator and have her thoroughly checked out . Iknow he did a preliminary run on all the applicants. Tell him to dig deeper on Annalise Stefano . Idon’t want any surprises that might come back to bite us.”

“I’m on it. So, where are you going for your vacation?”

The question caught Jack off guard. “Come again?”

“I told Locke you were going away. That wasn’t just hot air. You’re going to have to actually do it.”

“I can’t afford the time right now.” He felt like a broken record.

“Find a way.” Before Jack could argue, Derek added, “What the hell do you think will happen if Locke discovers you’ve been going into work? She won’t be happy.”

“Damn it, Derek.”

“It’s either that or you take my earlier suggestion. Let Isabella go. You can find a good home for her. Then you can give your business all of your attention. You don’t have to marry. You don’t have to deal with CPS. No more headaches. No more stress.”

No more Isabella.

Jack closed his eyes. “Enough. I’ll do it.”

“Have a nice vacation.”

Jack snarled a final comment before flipping his phone closed and crossing the yard in long, ground-eating strides. Annalise and Isabella peered up at him with identical looks of curiosity.

“Good news,” he announced. “Pack your bags. The three of us are going on vacation.”

Chapter 4

Bright and earlythe next morning, Jack had all the luggage loaded and Isabella and Annalise installed in the car. She turned to him as they pulled down the driveway and smiled brightly.

“So, where are we going?” she asked.

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