Page 57 of The Nanny Goal

Irritation rises, fast and furious. “Am I too naive to take care of your child?”

“What?”

“Definitely inexperienced, am I right?” I prop my hands on my hips. And I put enough emphasis on the middle word that he doesn’t miss it’s deliberate.

He rocks back on his heels. “You overheard me yesterday.”

“Yes.” I refuse to let him see how much those words hurt. I lift my chin and don’t look away.

He sighs. “Your parents want the best for you.”

“Sure. But we don’t agree on whatthe bestis. And you can’t know that, because you don’t know me at all.”

“It was a conversation I should have gotten myself out of sooner. I’m sorry.”

“That’s it? You’re sorry?”

He shrugs. “I can’t undo that it happened. I won’t get sucked into another conversation like that, is that better?”

I frown. Yes, it is better. And I didn’t expect him to be so…reasonable. “Thank you. So…what’s with the concerned dad‘what are you teaching my daughter?’routine?”

He looks up and to the side, as if replaying his words in his head. “Dry humour,” he finally adds. “With an edge of anxiety because I need to ask you for a favour.”

My eyebrows lift in a wordless question.What now?

“The team wants me to rejoin them. Makie’s injured. I talked to my parents and they understand. It’s up to you.”

“Me?”

“I’ll be gone for three days.”

He doesn’t have to explain the rest of his concern. He doesn’t think I can handle Inessa for that long. Which is fair. I’m not a trained professional.

My mouth goes dry. Are there enough Tiktoks in the world?

“It’ll be fine,” I hear myself say. “I understand that you need to go. If it’s okay with your mom, then it’s okay with me.”

It will have to be.

He studies me for a long moment, like he’s trying to figure out if I mean it.

Maybe I do.

Maybe I don’t.

But I’m saying it anyway.

He finally nods, but doesn’t move. Doesn’t turn or speak. His jaw flexes, and he drags a hand through his hair, fingers catching for a second like he’s surprised at how tightly he’s wound.

“I didn’t want to ask,” he says finally. “I don’t want to leave her right now, with everything going on,” he says, and he gives me a look so raw and vulnerable, it’s like an entirely different man standing in front of me. What would it be like to have him be that torn over missingme, too? Once upon a time, I dreamed about that. Now, I’m just his hired help. “But I also want?—”

He stops himself.

“It’s okay to want to win. To be indispensable to the team. I get that.” I try for lightness. “I’ll make sure she eats something other than blueberries. Maybe I’ll even try to brush her hair. And by the time you get back, I’ll have some real nanny options lined up, too.”

“You don’t need to?—”

“I do.” I take a deep breath. “Nanny Nyet wouldn’t let her climb, I’m sure.”

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