Page 47 of Always Be Mine

She had the distinct impression there was something more he wasn’t telling her, but whatever it was, it wasn’t going to make any difference to the situation at hand.

She inhaled through her nose and closed her eyes as she quickly considered her options. Of which, she didn’t have many. If she said no, she’d have to leave Trickle Creek and Meri, just when she was starting to feel like she was finding her footing.

Lucy opened her eyes and looked down at her hand that was still covering Craig’s. As she watched, he slowly turned his hand over and took hers in his. The warmth of his grip flowed through her.

“Please.” His voice was soft. “Stay.”

Her hand felt good in his. Better than it should have. But when she didn’t pull away, he squeezed it a little tighter, as if he could convey by touch how badly he wanted her to stay. How much heneededher to stay.

For a moment, Craig contemplated telling her about his father’s will and the stupid stipulation that had put them in this position in the first place. But, ultimately, he decided it wasn’t fair to burden her with that information.

It was bad enough that he’d backed them into this corner. It probably wouldn’t have made the conversation any less awkward if he’d broached the subject earlier in the week when he’d first learned about the situation, but he wasn’t stupid—leaving it till the last minute hadn’t made it any better.

If she said no, he only had himself to blame.

He’d have to find a new nanny and start all over again. It wouldn’t be the end of the world; he was only two weeks in on a six-month term. But it wasn’t the thought of starting over that made his breath hitch in his throat when he thought about Lucy leaving them.

“Lucy?”

He watched while she took a deep breath and held it for a moment before exhaling slowly. “I don’t know, Craig,” she said after an excruciating long pause. “I mean, it changes things. Between us.”

Us?

A million questions raced through his brain.Had he been too obvious with his feelings toward her? Was he too forward?He didn’t even know what his feelings toward her were, but maybe he’d unintentionally given her the impression that he was interested in her. Not that he wasn’t. He was. But she was Meri’s nanny.But maybe she was interested in him?Maybe she was having feelings for him that would be complicated by closer proximity. Dare he let himself think that way even for a moment?

No.

Lucy was Meri’s nanny. Meri loved her, and he needed her. At least for six months. Sure, he could start over, but his instinct told him that Meri would not take kindly to a change in nanny when she’d taken to Lucy so quickly. He needed to keep her. It was for Meri. He needed to protect her future. That was the only thing that mattered.

“It would only change where you live.” The words felt forced, but he needed her to believe it. It was crucial that Lucy understand that as far as he was concerned, it wasn’t a big deal that she’d be sleeping only a few feet away down the hall. “That’s it. Nothing else would change.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“I promise you, Lucy, I’ll respect your privacy and your personal space and time. You will still have time off. Just because you’ll be living here doesn’t mean you’ll be working more. Those days off are still yours to do with as you like. Obviously we’ll have to have some rules about who you can bring home and…” He was rambling and he didn’t want to go down that particular line of thinking at the moment. “I’ll give you a raise if you like. I know it’s?—”

“No. You already pay me too much, and if I’m not paying rent?—”

“You won’t pay rent,” he added quickly. “I promise, living here will be?—”

“Lucy’s going to live here?”

Meri bounded into the room, and before he realized what was happening or could consider how much she’d heard, Lucy had pulled away from his hand that was still wrapped around hers and had turned to face Meri, who was now bouncing up and down next to the kitchen table.

“You’re going to live with us?”

Lucy’s eyes were wide. Her mouth opened and shut as she stared first at the little girl and then back at Craig.

“We’re talking about a few options.” Craig steered the conversation. “But we haven’t made any decisions yet.”

“Your room would be right across the hall from mine.” Meri jumped higher. “We could see each other every day. I’d let you have one of my stuffies to help you sleep, too. But maybe not forever.” Her face grew serious. “Just until you get used to the house. Then they could come back to my room. Maybe Hoot. Would you like Hoot, Lucy?”

Meri was so excited, Craig found himself holding his breath for Lucy’s answer, but he didn’t have to wait long before she grinned and nodded.

“I would like it very much if Hoot could visit.”

“I’ll go get him.” Without another word, Meri turned and fled the room.

Once she was gone, Craig waited until she turned to face him again before he asked, “Does that mean you’ll move in?”

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