He looked like he was analyzing a piece of fau

id, his voice flat. "I've known yo

pared for this. "This isn't about romance. It's a co

problem that requires a stranger to marry me

end him walking away for good. She had to say the words she had spen

ngs. "You should marry me," she said, her voice droppi

n his eyes was replaced by a flicker

lways be my only children. I won't be a mother who resents them, or a stepmother who favors her own. I can give them the stability they need. A nanny's job is

source of all her shame, as a bargain

, which were clenched into white-knuckled fists at her sides. He was considering

his voice softer but still firm, "marria

. But he hadn'

eading now. "As a nanny. A trial period. Let me prove to

t he saw. A young woman who was too eager, too desperate. I

id, his voice cool and distant again. "The ma

but it wasn't a n

r feel lightheaded. "A trial perio

lm dry and warm. The jolt of his touch was so unexpected, so real, it sent a memory flashin

ause he looked at her, his

"Nothing," she said, forcing a s

long, unreadable look

g. A nanny. It wasn't enough. It was too precarious. S

ar car turned onto

urb, a wild, reckless, terri