Page 119 of The Nanny Goal

Inessa giggles. “No.”

“So big.”

“Emmy silly.” But now she’s laughing, not crying.

“And your Papa istiny.”

She twists away from me and stomps over to him, growling exactly the same way he does. “Tiny,” she repeats.

He stares down at her.

She stares back.

And then she twirls away and runs to the kitchen, cackling.

Alexei’s unreadable gaze shifts to me, and I squirm inside, remembering our heated conversation about daycare.

But then, as I stand, Alexei pulls me up and into his arms and plants a fast, hard kiss on my mouth.

Fizzy fizzy joy.

Damn it.

“How did you do that?” he asks when he lets me go.

“Oh, um…” I shrug. “TikTok. Whispers cut through the big feelings. And then like, echo the problem and try to provide a play solution.”

He frowns. “You whispered to me, too.”

I give him an innocent look. “Did I?”

“You did.”

“Huh.”

His gaze flares hot. “Are you going to suggest a play solution for me, too?”

Heat swirls low in my belly. “Maybe.”

“I think it’s nap time for Inessa.” His gaze rakes over me. “And for us, too.”

“Okay,” I say, my heart suddenly pounding. “Good. Um, because I wanted to talk to you about something.”

His gaze sharpens—intense, focused entirely on me.

“I love talking to you,” he murmurs. “But we’ve got limited nap time, and I’ve missed you.”

My stomach flips.

“I’ve missed you too,” I admit.

His mouth is on mine before I can say more—soft, addictive. My mind goes hazy and all I can feel is?—

“Emmy!”

Alexei drops me like a hot potato.

Cheeks on fire, I scoop Inessa up from where she’s tugging at my pants. “How about some lunch real quick?”

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