Alien Pilot Needs a Nanny (Alien Nanny Agency 2)

APRIL

April watched her heartless employer stare coldly at his hands while her tears fell.

She had spent her whole life apologizing and begging over things that were outside her control.

Was this really the way she wanted to live?

Was this any way to be a role model to two young women?

April decided that she’d had enough. It was time to speak her whole mind, for once in her life.

“I can see that you’ve already made up your mind about me,” she said, unable to keep a touch of sadness out of her voice. “That’s your choice. I’m not your family. You don’t owe me a thing. But Minerva? You owe her everything.”

“This has nothing to do with Minerva,” he said suddenly, his anger winning out over his indifference.

She took it as a victory and kept going.

“When I walked into this room, the first thing you told me was that you were wondering why I would encourage her interest in the military,” April shot back. “Right?”

“Her mother died serving in the Brigade,” he spat. “Died. And I asked for a discharge afterward and received it. Why would you want her to drag this family back in?”

“Why did you choose to become a pilot in the first place?” April asked, willing herself to remain calm. She was doing this for Minerva.

He didn’t answer, just smoldered at her, his amber eyes burning.

“I think it’s because you long to fly,” she said.

“I feel like myself when I’m in the air,” he agreed softly.

“I don’t feel that way myself, but I completely understand how you do,” she said. “You were born to fly.”

“Maybe,” he said.

“Don’t you think Minerva feels the same?” she asked. “You fly, her mother flew.”

“She’s always got her nose in a book,” he protested. “There are a million other things she could do and be happy.”

“Do you know what she’s reading?” April asked him. “Books about flying. Space pirates and dragons, even A Brief History of the Ulfgard Air Brigade.”

“Sun gods, that damned thing is over a thousand pages,” Khall muttered, wincing.

“She’s always got her nose in those books because it’s the only way she can fly,” April said. “And Bo is obsessed with flight, too. All she ever wants to do is build airships with her blocks, or make paintings of them.”

Khall snarled and stalked over to the plate glass window overlooking the city lights.

She didn’t dare to follow.

“You can be mad at me all you want,” she said softly. “But please don’t deny Minerva her birthright. This is her dream. You can’t crush her spirit without at least talking to her about it. You’re not that kind of man.”

“You have no idea what kind of man I am,” he hissed, turning back to her, his eyes burning. “And you can’t just come into my home and lie to me and turn everything upside down. It’s not your right. I’m leaving again first thing in the morning. We will deal with… this when I get back.”

That didn’t sound good.

She nodded once and headed back to her room, willing herself not to break down until she was out of sight. She would hate for one of the girls to see her this way.

When she was safely in her room, she peeled off her clothes, pulled on pajamas, and curled up in bed.

Sleep wouldn’t come for a long time. She knew that. But she had to rest. Khall was leaving again in the morning, and she had to be ready for the girls.

After all, it might be the last time she got to spend with them. So she had to make it count.