Page 134 of The Nanny Goal

But I have to. If I let Emery go without her knowing how I feel, she’s gone forever. She moves to New York, she meets someone who loves asparagus sorbet more than any human being possibly should, and they have a herd of foodie children with pointy little chins and flashing eyes.

I shake my head. “I need to. I didn’t get to say them for two years?—”

“I’m never finding better than you.” She grabs the front of my shirt and tries to shake me. And she’s strong, but she’s not that strong, so she just pulls herself right up against me as I brace my hands on either side of her again. “Andnever be together? Shut your face, Alexei Artyomov. We’re going to be so together. I’ll show you. Becauseyoumake me happy.”

Her words ring through me like someone has rung a massive bell. “I make you happy?”

“So happy,” she breathes.

“I thought you were mad at me.”

“I—” She stops and really thinks about that, her eyebrows tugging together. “Well, I’m not— I mean, if I am mad at you, it’s only because I’m in love with you.”

I exhale in relief and laugh a little as I lean in and rub my nose against hers. “In that case, be as mad as you want.”

“We never have enough time to talk.” She tugs and shoves at my chest. “Even right now. Inessa is at the park with your parents and I told them I’d meet them there.”

“We’ll go together in a minute. I want to enjoy you being mad at me first.” I step back and catch her hands, then scoop her up by the hips and toss her over my shoulder.

She pummels her little fists against my back. “Alexei, put me down!”

It’s a few strides to my bed, where I do exactly as she asks.

She glares up at me. “My phone is still recording, you know.”

I grin and jog back to the closet to pick it up.

“I love you, sunshine,” I say, winking at the camera before I end the video.

When I hand it over, she takes it, but the storm clouds don’t fade from her face.

Immediately, I turn serious again as well. I settle on the bed, sitting up against the headboard. “You’re still unhappy.”

“I’mnothappy, but I’m…” She blows a raspberry. “I guess it’s what I said. We never have time to talk. You’re gone half the time, and when you are here, it’s very regimented. As my parents love to point out, it’s an important time in the season.”

I take a deep breath. “Yes. Right. We need to deal with your parents at some point. And of course, I cannot change my job. I don’t want to change my job. But I am a grown-up, Emery. I can handle many things at once. We will make time to talk. You said my parents are at the park?”

She nods.

I pull out my phone and call my dad.

He answers on the third ring. “Yes, Alexei?”

“Papa, I’m at home with Emery, and I need some privacy to speak to her,” I say in Russian. “Are you all right with Inessa? When you come home, can you keep her in your apartment for a bit?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you. I love you.”

He laughs. “I know, son. I love you, too.”

I hang up and gesture to Emery. “Go on. We have all the time we need right now.”

“What did you say?”

“I told my dad that I love him.”

Her expression softens. “That’s sweet.”

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