Page 107 of The Nanny Goal

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kieran stop, swivel is attention between us, then shrug.

Yeah, I’m so fucked.

“Smash, you stupid puppy,” I mutter under my breath.

That sends him into another giggling fit. “What?”

I show him the latest Highlanders Instagram post, where one of Mabel’s interns has posted player comps to different dogs.

“Everyone knows you are a puppy,” I say. “I am a fierce guard dog, and you?—”

“I’m a fucking golden retriever, bud.” He grins at me. “It’s a meme.”

“You’re a meme.”

“You’re a German shepherd.”

“Shut up.” Since he’s looking at my phone, I switch to my text messages and start a new one, typing insmashsmomin the recipient line. It doesn’t matter that it won’t actually send.

Alexei

Your puppy son says you want to go on a hiking love trip with me, please confirm

“I hate you,” he says, closing his eyes with a giggling huff.

I grin, because he can’t see me with his eyes closed. “Don’t look at people’s phones.”

Then I switch text screens.

Alexei

Taking off soon, will call when I get to the hotel

Emery

Have a safe flight

The last few people file on, then our general manager says a few things before settling into the front row. The flight attendants come through and offer us drinks before takeoff, and then we’re taxiing down the runway.

As soon as the wheels are up, Armstrong leans forward, his big fist squeezing the top of my seat, compressing the cushion there. “How long are you going to Switzerland for, Arty?”

I sure hope counting backwards from five works to buy me some time and calm with overprotective teammates as well as with toddlers. Three, two, one… “I go to Europe every summer. This year, I’ll pick the country Emery is going to.”

“Did she invite you?” His big hand gestures over my head, to some of the single guys in front of us. “You might not be alone in wanting to follow her everywhere she goes. Half the team has a crush on her.”

I resist the frustrated frown pulling at my brow. More than just Malik?

Armstrong grabs Dodaj’s head. “Even Smash was all over her last summer.”

“Whoa,” Roan says, throwing his hands in the air. “What the fuck? Don’t throw me under the Arty bus. I’m not into your girl, bud. I swear. Stop fucking growling.”

I turn the frustrated rumble into a sharp grunt, instead.

The seat belt light turns off with a quiet ding, and I give Smash a quality elbow in the side as I unbuckle so I can turn around.

I look Armstrong straight in the eye. “Emery is important to me. But it would be very bad if her brothers heard something taken out of context by adumb puppy.”

“That’s me,” Dodaj says, sticking his hand in the air, unbothered.

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