Page 26 of Puck Your Nanny

Calvin shakes his head. "Nate and I are on one of the top teams in the league. They'll come to us. They'd want it to stay under wraps until it's confirmed."

Peter nods. "That's how it was when I was still playing hockey. And as one of the team's investors now, I would want it to stayout of the limelight until we could do an exclusive on it." He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. His glasses slip down his nose, and he pushes them back up with his finger. "I know things didn’t start ideally. But even though we've done things backwards, I still want to court you. I want the chance to get to know you better, Daisy. I admit I've been cold since you arrived, and for that, I'm sorry. I didn’t know how to handle the changes you brought."

Daisy looks up, surprise flickering across her face. Her lips part as she processes Peter's admission. The wary edge in her expression fades, replaced by cautious hope. She glances toward Calvin and me, seeking reassurance.

I smile. "Peter’s right. We all want to move forward, Daisy. We're not upset or burdened by what's happened. The timing might seem unfortunate, but it brought clarity. You're our Omega, and I wouldn't trade that for anything."

Calvin nods. "We’re here to support you, Daisy. Take all the time you need to decide how you want to move forward, but we want to build something real. If you're willing. We will never mark you until you're ready."

She nods, relaxing more. A faint smile touches her lips, the worry lines on her forehead easing. "Thank you. That means a lot. I’m still overwhelmed by everything, but I want to explore this with you, too."

Peter’s lips curve upward just a fraction. "Good. Then let's start fresh. We’ll figure this out together."

William lets out a soft coo as he pulls back from the bottle, having finished it. It breaks the tension further. Daisy smiles down at him, her features softening. Watching her with him stirs something deep inside me—a protective instinct, an urge to claim her fully as ours. For now, though, slow is best. One step at a time.

She gives me a reason to be distracted from everything else. I don't know how I'm going to handle my father's eulogy. We had such a complicated relationship after he left my mother for Stacey. Especially since Stacey was nearly thirty years younger than him, and then they shocked us all by having Will. Now I'm his guardian, and it's all so strange.

But Daisy helps lessen the blow of it all. I'm so thankful to have her here.

She clears her throat. "I don't feel right having you pay me if we're going to have a relationship like this, but I also don't want to not make any money. I've always worked hard to make money. I don't want to be a stereotypical omega surviving off my alphas because I can't do anything else."

I frown at that and glance at the others. "Alphas always care for their omega. The heats, even once you're claimed, are hard for employers to work around. It sucks, but that's the truth. Most omegas, if they work, have their own business or do some kind of work that doesn't require them to work for someone else so their schedule can be what they make it."

She frowns in return. "I guess I'll have to find something then, that I can do for myself. It's important to me to keep making money."

Peter nods. "We'll never keep you from working, but know that we can care for you, and never expect you to bring money in."

Putting the bottle down, she lifts Will to her shoulder to burp him. "I'll figure out something. I suppose I should tell my mother, if she picks up her phone. She's going to have a field day. She always said she thought I would be an omega."

I rub her back. "I'm glad that you are, and that you're our omega."

The last week of my life has been insane, but it brought us Daisy. And for that I'm grateful. All we can do is move forward from here.

Chapter 9

Ismooth the black fabric of my dress, checking my reflection again in the floor-length mirror. My first heat finally ended, and I’m relieved to get back to normal. Even though it led me to my Alphas, next time, I plan to take suppressants to keep it manageable. The overwhelming neediness and loss of control weren’t for me. I want to be clear-headed, fully aware, not ruled by instincts.

I sigh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Today is the funeral for Nate’s father and stepmother, Stacey. Nate invited me for moral support, but mostly I'm going for Will. Even though he’s just a baby, Nate insists his half-brother should be there. I can tell this weighs on him. His relationshipwith his father was complicated. The least I can do is show up and support him.

I glance around my room, my nest. Over the past week, it has changed from a bare guest room to something comfortable, full of pillows, blankets, and clothes from Calvin, Nate, and even Peter. Their scents linger, calming my nerves. I fluff the pillows, take a deep breath, then head to the nursery.

Will coos when I enter, waving his tiny fists in the air. I smile as I approach his crib.

"Good morning, handsome." I scoop him into my arms. His small body fits perfectly against mine. He looks up at me with big green eyes, kicking his little legs. "Today’s a big day. You’ll have to help Nate feel better, okay?"

He babbles, and I laugh, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Moving to the changing table, I lay him down and start changing his diaper, dressing him in the tiny black outfit Nate bought for today. It’s cute but somber.

As I fasten the last button, footsteps sound behind me. I glance over my shoulder, meeting Nate's green eyes. He leans in the doorway, wearing a fitted black suit. His golden blonde hair is slicked back with gel. It’s strange to see him so dressed up. Sadness lingers in his eyes, and it tugs at me. I want to take his pain away.

I offer him a smile. "How are you holding up?" I adjust Will's outfit, smoothing the fabric.

Nate crosses his arms, watching me before his gaze drops to Will. His shoulders rise and fall with a deep breath. "I'm not sure yet. Ask me after."

I nod, lifting Will. Nate steps forward, brushing his thumb over his half-brother’s cheek. His expression softens. Will reaches up and grabs his finger.

"Thanks for doing this." Nate’s voice is quiet. He clears his throat, staring at Will’s tiny hand wrapped around his finger.

I shake my head. "You don't have to thank me. I want to be there. I know it’s important for you both." I touch his arm, offering reassurance. His muscles relax beneath my fingertips.

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