Page 86 of The Nanny Goal

He cuts himself off as the basement door opens and Inessa twirls into the living room with her dad right behind her.

Forrest coughs into his fist. “Anyway, I’m just saying.”

I meet his gaze as steadily as I can manage. Since he’s not going to let this go, I need to shut it down. “He’s not sleeping with anyone.”

“You sure?”

“Yep.”

Because I don’t know if I make him more relaxed, exactly, but three kisses in to whatever is swirling between us, I do know that we’re both changed by it.

So yeah, there might bea woman.But technically, Alexei hasn’t slept with her…yet.

CHAPTER27

ALEXEI

Emery’s family doesn’t do quiet, ever, and it escalates when her mom decides to get her other three brothers on a group video chat.

“Mom, we’re about to have dinner,” Emery protests.

“Just for a minute, I want to see all my babies together.”

Emery huffs and turns around, turning a little pink when she sees that I’m watching her. I like the way her gaze holds mine and everything else fades away.

She re-braided her hair after I took it down earlier to kiss her, and I’m already thinking about scattering those glitter clips once everyone is gone.

Which isn’t helpful when we’re surrounded by her family. I clear my throat. “What do you need help with?”

“There’s a salad…” She steps around my dad, who has crowded in to wave at her brothers on camera. Then she picks up Inessa, meeting me in front of the fridge.

“I don’t like salad,” Inessa tells me in Russian.

Emery tickles her. “No Russian secrets, baby girl.”

“Sorry,” Inessa says in English, burying her face in Emery’s shoulder.

“She wants extra lettuce,” I say.

“Papa!”

“What?” I switch to Russian.

“We don’t like salad,” Inessa protests.

“But we will like Emery’s salads because she is an amazing chef.”

“I heard my name.” Emery narrows her eyes at me.

“Only good things, I promise.” I gesture for Inessa. “Give me the troublemaker. I’ll be the prison guard who traps her in her highchair.”

Inessa protests, but Emery needs both hands to take the chicken she’s prepped over to the grill pan on the stove.

I distract my daughter with the rainbow veggie tray.

“Look at that plating,” I say loudly, for the chef’s benefit. Emery rewards me with a secret smile. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Uh huh.” Inessa nods enthusiastically.

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