Page 49 of Architect's Christmas Nanny

“I’ve known them both forever,” Brad said. “Grace used to spend summers in Trinity Falls.”

“I guess anyone who’s been to Trinity Falls once always wants to come back,” Jillian said with a smile.

“Does that include you?” Brad heard himself ask.

Josie’s blonde head whipped around to face them, but Brad kept his eyes on Jillian.

“Of course,” she said lightly. “It’s the most wonderful place I can imagine. Anyone would be lucky to live in Trinity Falls.”

Her tone was so light he might have missed the depth of her meaning if not for the flash of emotion in her green eyes.

He felt an answering pull in his heart and he knew he had to talk to her, tonight, as soon as they got home. But he didn’t really want to wait that long, he wasn’t sure that he could.

“Jillian,” he began, his voice husky with emotion.

She blinked up at him with a dreamy look in her eyes.

“Next,” Santa’s elf yelled, breaking the delicate spell. “Let’s not keep Santa waiting.”

Jillian turned to Josie immediately.

“Ready?” she asked her.

“Definitely,” Josie said, her eyes shining as she took off and marched up the steps to Santa Claus.

Beside the setup for Santa was a big bouncy house that was made to look like a snow globe. Brad was a little surprised that Josie had wanted to see Santa first, when something so fun was right there.

“Do you think she still believes?” Jillian murmured to Brad as they watched her scramble up onto the good saint’s lap and begin whispering in his ear.

“Maybe she’s just hedging her bets,” Brad replied. “But this might be the last Christmas we get to see her like this, so I’m not complaining.”

“Smile,” the elf yelled.

They watched as Josie turned to the camera and smiled. Santa smiled too, but instead of looking at Josie or the camera, he was looking at Brad and Jillian.

“How about we get the whole family up here?” Santa suggested. “Come on up here.”

Jillian started to step back, and Brad instinctively grabbed her hand.

She glanced up at him, looking surprised.

“It’s not a family photo if you’re not in it,” he growled, tugging her hand and moving across the fake snow to Santa.

Jillian made a funny noise and he glanced back to see she was smiling, and looking like she was trying not to giggle.

“What’s so funny?” he demanded.

“I don’t know,” she said, her eyes still twinkly. “You’re just so… bossy.”

He was at a complete loss. Was that a bad thing? After all, hewasher boss.

But before he could ask, the elf was pushing them up the steps and the next thing he knew, he was beside a smiling Saint Nick.

“We’ll put Josie back on my lap, and Mom on yours, Dad,” Santa said. “How about that?”

“Yes,” Josie said before anyone could correct him. “That’s just right.”

Brad found himself sitting on the bench beside Santa, with Jillian perching awkwardly on his lap.

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