Baby for the Billionaire(79)

“Yeah, Derek. What’s up?”

“Sorry to call so early in the morning, but the PI’s preliminary report just hit my in-box and I knew you’d like the results ASAP.”

“And?”

“And Ms. Stefano is clean … for the most part.”

Jack spared a quick glance toward the hallway. Girlish laughter slipped out from the direction of the kitchen and he nudged his door closed. “What part isn’t so clean?”

“There was a small matter when she was sixteen. Cops raided some kid’s birthday bash and issued her a citation for underage drinking. They expunged her record after she completed some court-ordered community service. Since then, she’s been so clean she squeaks.”

Jack lowered his voice. “If the record was expunged, how did you get the details?”

“I have my sources. I’m not minimizing what she did, Jack, but it was a long time ago. Her mother had died a couple years before that and her father was in the military at the time. After her brush with the law, he took an early discharge and started up a fishing charter service, I’m guessing so he could assume a more hands-on role. He sent her off each summer to stay with an aunt during tourist season. The aunt’s a school teacher who lives out near Columbia. She’s probably the one who influenced Annalise’s career choice.”

“Did you find anything that might concern CPS?”

“Nothing. I doubt they’ll even dig up as much as I have.” There was a brief pause. “So, how’s it going at your end? Your marriage project moving right along?” he asked a shade too casually.

“It’s coming.”

“Coming … as in soon, though, right?”

Jack let out a long sigh. He knew that tone. “Aw, hell. What do you know that I don’t?”

“The Locke woman’s making noises again. I’ve done everything I can to have her replaced, but apparently she’s irreplaceable.”

“How much time do I have?” Jack asked grimly.

“Let’s see.… Soon would be good. If you and your charming bride-to-be were to show up at the Judicial Center and fill out a marriage application sometime today, you could be wedded and bedded in twenty-four hours. How does that sound?”

“Hell, Derek. That isn’t soon. That’s immediate.”

“Immediate works for me.”

“Well, it doesn’t for me. And I guarantee, it won’t for Annalise.”

“I strongly suggest you find a way for it to work for both of you. Once you’re officially married, I can probably hold off CPS for another month or so, convince them the two of you deserve time to settle into connubial bliss. But that’s as far as I’ll be able to push it. You need to marry now in order for me to insist on any sort of further delay. And then you need to create a loving relationship that’s good enough to pass Mrs. Locke’s scrutiny.”

Jack closed his eyes and ran a hand along the nape of his neck. Damn it to hell. “I’ll try.”

“I suggest you do more than try.”

Jack spent the rest of the day considering and rejecting any number of arguments to present to Annalise, everything from a declaration of undying love—which would leave her laughing herself silly—to the unvarnished truth, which he feared would not only leave him without a bride but without a nanny, as well.

Still … What choice did he have? He couldn’t lie to her. He slanted her a calculating look as they put Isabella down for the night. He needed to find a way to convince his nanny to agree to a coldly logical, if highly offensive, proposal of marriage. But, how?

There was only one way. He’d tell her the truth and hope she’d been serious when she had claimed she’d do everything in her power to help Isabella. “We need to talk,” he informed her, as soon as they finished tucking in his niece.

Annalise regarded him with a worried frown. “Is something wrong?”

He waited until they’d returned to the living room before explaining. “According to my lawyer, I need to marry immediately in order to retain custody of Isabella.”

She stared in shock. “Oh, Jack, is he certain?”

“Very.” He gave it to her straight. “Derek’s held endless conversations with Mrs. Locke and various officials at CPS. Though they haven’t come right out and said I must have a wife, they’re extremely concerned that between my work schedule and Isabella’s issues I’m not the best person to raise her. There’s even been some discussion about placing her in a treatment facility. I won’t let that happen, which means I present them with an acceptable wife who can give Isabella the attention she requires when I’m not available.”