Page 98 of Nanny and the Beast

“Uncle Alaric.” The kids squeal in excitement when they see him.

“I come bearing ice cream,” he announces, placing a large wicker basket on the dining table. He kneels to hug the kids. “I’ve missed you kiddos so much.”

“Why didn’t you come to my ballet recital?” Rosalie asks, folding her arms in front of her chest. “You promised that you would.”

“I know, I’m horrible,” Alaric says. “I was away on work, sweetheart. But I saw the video. You were amazing.”

“You’ll have to make it up to me,” she says, pursing her lips.

“Way ahead of you.” He tilts his head at the wicker basket. “I brought you a little gift.”

“You can’t bribe me with ice cream,” Rosalie says.

The basket moves on the table. Everyone turns to look at it.

“I wasn’t talking about ice cream,” Alaric says, suppressing a smile. “Go on. Look inside.”

The basket barks.

Oh, hell no.

“Puppy.” Both of the kidsrun to open the basket. There’s a tiny golden retriever puppy sitting inside it.

I grab Alaric’s arm and pull him aside.

“Why are you trying to ruin my life?” I demand.

“Only you would see a cute little puppy and ask that question,” he says, giving me a disappointed look.

“You didnotjust give them a puppy without asking me.”

“What? No. I’m just watching the little guy for a friend.”

“Theydon’t know that,” I say, pointing my thumb at the kids.

“Kids, you can play with the puppy until bedtime,” he tells them. “He belongs to a friend, so I’m afraid we can’t keep him.”

“He’s perfect,” Rosalie says, smiling from ear to ear.

It’s been so long since I’ve seen her smile like that.

A storm begins in my chest. I don’t know what I’m doing with these kids. I can’t give them the kind of love and affection they need. If they grow up with me as their only role model, I might mess them up for life.

“What’s his name?” James asks, petting the puppy’s tiny head.

“Biscuit,” Alaric replies.

“Biscuit, who’s a good boy?” Rosalie says, petting the energetic puppy. “You are. Yes, you are. You’re thebestboy.”

“Adorable,” Alaric says. He pulls out his phone and starts recording the moment. A few seconds later, he looks over at me and frowns. “Oh, my God. Youstillhave a stick up your butt?”

“This is why I don’t invite you to my house.”

He grins. “And that’s why I invite myself.”

“If they fall in love with the dog, you know they’re going to ask me for one,” I say.

“And is that such a bad thing? This house needs more life.”

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