Page 42 of Baby Nanny

Robert opened his mouth to reply, but before he could his gaze shifted and locked onto something in the middle of the lawn. Mister Mayhem scampered in that direction and Jack saw why. Isabella had exited into the yard through his study door. She greeted the dog with a crowing laugh.

“Oh, God,” Robert whispered. His cap tumbled to the patio flagstones. “Is that her?”

He took a step in Isabella’s direction , astep that carried him into the sunlight. The strong summer rays caught in the short brown curls, highlighting them with gold. He stared at Isabella, stared at her with eyes the exact same shade of olive green as those of Jack’s niece. Robert clenched his squared jaw, but couldn’t seem to keep it from wobbling. And then he broke into a broad grin of incandescent delight. In his cheek a dimple flashed.

Without a word, Jack turned toward Annalise. Tears rained down her cheeks. She caught his look, holding his eyes for an endless moment, hers assuming a defiant slant. He went to her, stepped with her into the shadows of the patio overhang, away from listeningears.

“Isabella looks just like your dad. Is she your sister?” Jack questioned in a hard undertone. “Is Robert Stefano her father?”

“I’m an only child,” Annalise stated.

An arctic wind blew through him and he could literally see the life he’d built shattering around him. “Then she’s—”

“Mine.” Annalise squared her shoulders and lifted tarnished eyes to his. “Isabella is my daughter.”

Chapter 10

“This is alla setup, isn’t it?”

“No.” Annalise shook her head, speaking with a quiet dignity that cut deep.“No!”

Jack stepped away from her, unable to hide his raw pain and anger. Not that he could. His fury battered him with all the elemental power of a hurricane, driving emotions he’d always been able to keep under rigid control. They whipped free, exploded from him in a messy, illogical, unmanageable torrent.

“I have to hand it to you. Your plan is absolutely brilliant.”

“What plan?” She played the role of the innocent with breathtaking perfection, reflecting just the appropriate amount of bewilderment. “All I ever wanted was to make certain Isabella stayed safe.”

“Safe,” he repeated. “Is my reputation so bad ? Ididn’t realize.”

She dared to fight back. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

He ignored her response and continued the attack with ruthless precision. “Why did you apply to be Isabella’s nanny? You knew she was yours then, didn’t you?” He didn’t phrase it as a question.

She lifted her chin, refusing to cower. “Yes.”

“What was your plan, Annalise? Were you going to use your position to manipulate CPS? To push them that final inch in order to convince them I wasn’t an appropriate guardian?”

“Have you lost your mind?” she asked with impressivecalm.

He simply shook his head, amazed by her inner fortitude. “I have to hand it to you. Your logic is flawless. As Isabella’s nanny you could inveigle yourself into my niece’s affections. Maybe drop a word or two of concern in Mrs. Locke’s ear.”

A spark of anger appeared, at war with her self-control. She folded her arms across her chest. “And then what, Jack? Have Isabella’s life upended yet again when they put her into foster care? Or even worse, stick her into a treatment program?”

He lifted a shoulder in a negligent shrug. “Once CPS took her from my control you’d have a better shot at getting custody of her.”

Fury blossomed, full-throttled and magnificent. “That’s what you think this is all about? You think I want to take her away from you?”

His anger rose to meet hers. “What am I supposed to think? In all this time, never once did you bother to say, ‘Oh, hey, Jack, just so you know, Isabella’s my biological daughter.’” He stalked closer. “Did you think I’d never find out?”

“I was going to tell you!”

“Right. Now that we’re safely married and you’re in an even better position to fight for legal custody.”

She went nose to nose with him. “Is that your real opinion of me? After all this time together, you don’t know me better than that?”

The ache tearing through him threatened to decimate him. “I thought I did,” he whispered. “But you lied.”

“I never lied . Ijust didn’t tell you all of it.” She dared to splay her hand across his chest. Could she still feel his heart beating? Impossible. Not when it had been turned to stone. “Would you have refused to marry me if I’d told you beforehand?”

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