Page 70 of Marrying the Nanny

Oh, God. “Reid—”

“No. Really.” He squeezed and released her. “Thank you. You want to protect her. That mama bear instinct is exactly what I want for her.”

“But?” She felt like she had insulted him.

“No but,” he assured her, moving to stand over the sleeping baby. He made an imposing figure with his broad shoulders and hands on his hips.

The frustrated concern that lined his profile tugged at her heartstrings.

She had been terrified when she found that letter, fearing he would see it as a get-out-of-jail-free card, but Reid was too protective to let a stranger get her hands on his baby sister.

“Everything I said before stands,” he said quietly. “The government will likely see a committed couple as a better prospect for her than a single woman. If that’s a yes, then yes. Let’s get married.” He turned his head. The focus of his golden-brown eyes scorched past her reflexive acceptance of his proposal, forcing her to realize exactly what she was agreeing to.

“Really?” She braced her elbows on her knees and covered her face. “It’s a lot to take in. When?” She dropped her hands.

“I have no idea how to get married, but the sooner the better.”

“One of us has to buy a license. The nearest government agent is Bella Coola. I looked it up. I was curious,” she said sheepishly. “I didn’t think we’d be talking about it this soon.”

“What about immigration?”

“I can apply to become a permanent resident and you can sponsor me after we’re married. Depending how long it takes, I might have to extend my working-holiday visa.”

“I can’t leave until the boys get back. Let me scan this and send it to Harpreet, see what she can learn.”

Emma walked over and knelt beside the peacefully sleeping baby. “Do you mind if I hang around for a while?”

His hand grazed her shoulder, so light she barely felt it. “Stay as long as you want.”

*

Emma took Storm home with her when she woke, wanting to keep her in arm’s reach.

By then, Reid had sent his scan and told her he had received an out-of-office reply from Harpreet. Since he was covering for Logan, Emma told him to work late if he needed to. It was just the two of them, and she was planning to make breakfast for tea, which she could start anytime.

Storm, the little smarty-pants, seemed to know her brothers were absent. Emma fed her, but Storm kept turning her head, searching for the deep-voiced grownups she was used to seeing gather around the table at this time of day.

It was nice to have Storm to herself for a change, though. Emma played with her, bathed her, and put her down. When she came downstairs, she found Reid frying himself a couple of eggs in the pan she hadn’t yet washed. The bacon she had cooked earlier was warming in the pan beside them.

“I’ll get up with her tonight. It was quiet at the office and I finally caught up on my own work.” His consulting, he meant.

“Anything from Harpreet?”

“No.”

“Do you feel like a glass of wine?”

“I was going to have a beer, but sure.”

She poured from the open bottle in the fridge. “I, um, drafted an email to my Mom. I haven’t sent it yet. It only says I’ve met someone and I’m thinking about staying. They already think I’m off my head for coming here. I have to ease them into the idea.”

“Don’t be surprised if it’s our tenth anniversary before I tell my mother that I’ve met someone.”

She smiled into her wine, some of it was relief that he hadn’t changed his mind. As impulsive and coldly practical as this marriage was, there was a part of her that had already been attracted to him, thinking about him and wanting to know him better. Dear God, she hoped this worked out.

“Will they want to be at the wedding?” he asked.

“My parents? No.” She spoke so firmly he took his eyes off his eggs to give her a quizzical look. “I’ve been saving up, hoping to bring Mum and my niece and nephew over, but my parents aren’t sentimental or spontaneous. Maybe once we’ve got all the details worked out, you could video chat with me to tell them? Would you mind?”

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