Page 113 of The Nanny Goal

Emery settles on my bed, her blonde waves spilling over my pillow, exactly as I’ve dreamed of. Her eyes are bright, and her words spill out fast and furious. “I don’t, actually. She loves spending time with Charlie, who is older than her. I bet socializing with other kids more often would be good for her, too. And your dad could manage the daycare drop-off and pick-up on the days that you aren’t home.”

It’s a lot to think about. “What brought this up? Why did you do this research?”

“Because it needs to be done. And you’re focused on the season.”

“I am still her father.”

“I know. I’m not making any decisions for you.” She gets a funny look on her face. “Are you mad about this?”

“No.” I scrub my hand over my jaw, trying to get my thoughts clear.I don’t know why you care about next year, is my first thought, but I can’t say that.

If I’m going to ask her what she sees in the future, I’m going to do it in person.

“Moya polovinka, tell me. It’s okay, I’m sorry. I just wasn’t expecting this conversation. Tell me what you think. I want to hear all about it.”

She rolls onto her side, her phone coming closer to her face. “She sleeps so much better when she’s spent the day playing with another kid.”

Oh. Fuck me. “Okay. Thank you for telling me that.”

“I know I can go kind of all in on an idea, but I just get curious about things.”

“I like your curiosity.” I slide down and roll onto my side, too. Now it’s like we’re lying side by side in bed, heads on pillows next to each other. “Did you read more of that book today?”

“Yeah, a bit. It’s really interesting.”

“Do you want me to send you another one tomorrow? I think there’s still time to order tonight.”

She laughs and shakes her head.

“How’s your chocolate supply?”

She reaches for the screen, her expression softening. “I’m savouring them. They’re so good. Well, some are weird. But I like weird stuff.”

“I know. I love that.”

Silence stretches. A funny smile plays at her mouth.

“So…”

She nods. “So…”

“I need to tuck you in.” There’s a strange lump in my throat. I wanted her in my bed so I could talk her through making herself come, but now I want something else. “Crawl under the blankets.”

That smile quirks as she does what I tell her.

“I want to find you just like that when I get home,” I say. “I want to come home and wrap myself around you. When I saw you in the hospital that night, and you were so…”

Her eyebrows curve up. “Yes?”

“You were fiery. You were perfect. And I was so tired. I knew I needed to sleep, and I knew it would be hard to rest, but I also knew that if I could just drag you in against me, I would sleep better than I had in two long years.”

Her lips part.

Her eyes flash.

Fiery, but soft.

Mine.

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