Page 36 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
“Oh my God, Rosalia, this is amazing!” Daisy said as she hopped up the stairs to the veranda, where Rosalia watched over the arriving people, Max cradled in her arms.
“Thank you, Daisy, that means a lot,” Rosalia said, offering the other female a genuine smile and accepting her offer of a hug.
Daisy lingered, her arm tightening around her. “Really. I mean it. It’s so lovely to see you here. And you’ve done an amazing job!”
Rosalia’s throat tightened, and she found herself unexpectedly blinking back tears. “Yes, well. Eva deserves it.”
Daisy pulled back. “She’s going to absolutely lose her mind. She and Rick are on the way; they should be here any minute!”
Her stomach swooped at the mention of Rick. She knew Eva would love it; Eva lovedanythingthat involved the pack, but Rick…
She didn’t know what she would do if Rick didn’t like it. She wanted to impress him. Wanted to show him that she…that she was willing. To try.
Felix and Cassie were walking up the steps, Felix barking orders at his twin boys as they whooped and hollered their way straight to the climbing frame. Nicolas was with them, ferocious pride in his eyes as his eldest daughter, Thea, beat both boys to the rope ladder. Dane and Lola followed closely behind, Dane helping Lola up the stairs with almost comic attention.
“Welcome,” Rosalia said, snapping into hostess mode, smoothing her dress down. “Can I get anyone a drink?”
Cassie brushed straight past formalities and pulled her into a hug. “This is incredible! Can only the kids go on the climbing frame? I’ve always wanted to go on one of those!”
Rosalia laughed. “The company I rented them from said they can support the weight of a full-grown alpha male, so be my guest!”
“Oh, hell yeah!” Dane grinned. “Bet I can climb up faster than you, Cass!”
“Children,” Nicolas muttered as Cassie stuck her tongue out at Dane.
Felix just grinned and winked at his mate.
As they continued to chatter and laugh, Rosalia’s tension started to melt away, her muscles relaxing, her smile becoming easier. Lighter.
She found herself, rather unexpectedly, having fun as she listened to the banter and the jokes and the clear, easyaffection.
They all cared so much about each other. They were a family. A pack. Atruepack.
Just as Lola and Nicolas were exchanging playful gripes with each other over their disagreement about the origin of the paper lantern tradition, Rick’s car rolled through the gates beyond the front lawn, winding up the drive towards the house.
Rosalia’s heart tripped over itself, her throat growing tight. He was here. They had arrived.
Daisy seemed to notice her sudden panic and linked their arms, pulling her closer. “Don’t worry,” she whispered, “he’s going to love it.”
Rosalia looked down at her, eyes wide. “That’s not…I don’t…Eva…”
“It’s okay,” she said, “I know how you feel. And no matter what,wethink it’s great!”
Lola caught the end of her sentence and nodded seriously, “Your attention to detail on the provenance of the paper for the lanterns is particularly impressive. Germanic mills are the most authentic.”
Rosalia was about to ask how on earth Lola was able to determine the origin of the lanterns when the car door opened, and Eva tumbled out in a ball of caramel curls and explosive excitement.
“OhmygoshohmygoshohmyGOSH!” she said as she barreled into Rosalia’s legs. “Is this all forme?”
Rosalia grinned, her heart twisting. “Yes, Eva, it’s all for you! It’s your birthday!”
“OhmygoshohmygoshohMYGOSH!”
Laughing, Rosalia leant down to embrace her, squeezing her tight. It had been Rick’s idea to take her out for breakfast so that the staff could quickly assemble everything in secrecy, and Rosalia was so glad he had suggested it for the look of sheer joy on Eva’s face.
She wriggled out of Rosalia's arms, scanning the garden, eyes bright. When she spotted the ballerinas in their tutus and point shoes, already teaching a few kids some moves, her mouth fell open.
“Are thosereal-life ballerinas!? Like at the ballet!?”
