“You are more than the nanny. I’m sorry I said you were. I don’t react well when my baby girl is sick.”
“I understand. I truly do.” I get it. I was terrified for Adele, and she isn’t mine to be terrified about. “But what happens the next time you panic? Adele is barely six months old. You have years of colds and cuts ahead. Not to mention all the trouble she’ll get into once she’s a teenager.”
“My baby girl will never be in trouble.”
“Did you forget she’s a Raider? It’s in her bones. She’ll probably get detention in kindergarten for teaching the other children how to stage a protest.”
He reaches for my hand but I retreat before he can touch me. He scowls. “This is why I need you. To help me raise her. To be her mommy.”
“I can’t do it, Zane. I’m not strong enough to handle you referring to me as the hired help the next time you panic.”
I will not be my mom – accepting lousy seconds from a man. I deserve more.
“I will never refer to you as the hired help,” he growls. “You’re the woman I love. You’re not some stranger I hired to watch my child.”
I gasp. Zane loves me? Dare I hope he’s being truthful? “Woman you love?”
“Yes, Sloane, you stubborn woman. I love you.”
“But you never said.”
“I tried to show you.”
He did? “I didn’t realize.”
He smiles. “And I should have realized you didn’t. I should have taken your past into consideration. It’s not as if I’m not painfully aware of your past since your mother showed up twice.”
I grimace. “Sorry.”
“Don’t you dare apologize for her. You have nothing to apologize for. You’re amazing. Despite not having a dad or a mother worth the term, you’re amazing.” This time, when he reaches for me, I allow him to capture my hand. As we’ve established, I’m weak for this man.
“I love you, Sloane Wilder. Please put me out of my misery and say you’ll come home.”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s fine. If you need time, I understand.”
He does? He’s not going to push me to accept what he wants? My desires be damned. “You do?”
“I love you. I plan to give you everything you ever need. Even if it’s time when I’m impatient to have you back.”
I give in. Let’s face it. I was a goner the second he said he loves me. “Huh. I guess I’ll come back since I love you and all.”
His breath catches. “You love me?”
“Duh. Why do you think it hurt so bad when you called me the nanny?”
He draws me close. “I’ll never call you the nanny again, sweetness. I love you.”
He presses his lips against mine but Adele giggles and claps her hands before he can get to the good stuff. “Later,” he promises against my lips.
“I’ll hold you—”
“Get away from me, Miles Raider!” Hazel shouts.
I glance away from Zane to find Miles chasing after her.
Zane wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Let the show begin.”
