my lawyer said I’d have to actually pay you.”
Tara’s face fell. “Oh, well, that wouldn’t work.”
“Actually, it might,” he said slowly. “I spoke with both Kane and Hailey, and Dani and Sergei, and frankly, between our families, we could use a floating nanny. We have nannies, but Amy needs a day off now and then, and while Sara can usually take care of Niko, Dani and Sergei just found out they’re expecting, so in about six months, they’re going to need more help than Sara can offer. Laurel and I have both full-time and part-time nannies, so we wouldn’t need you at all in the summer, but once hockey season starts, we’ll need help as well. I think between our three families, we could keep you busy but with a flexible schedule so you have time to do the things you want to do as well.”
Tara glanced at Miikka. “Is this okay with you?”
He shook his head. “It has nothing to do with me as long as you’re happy and this is what you want.”
“The biggest issue is health insurance,” Tara said, “since it’s not the same here in the U.S. I’m healthy, but from what I understand, one broken arm could cost tens of thousands of dollars.”
Gage nodded. “Yes, and while I would absolutely take care of anything like that in an emergency, I think we’d all feel safer if you had both health and car insurance. I have extra cars, and you can just use one of those whenever you have to go somewhere. You can also live here. I’ll pay your salary and work out the details with Kane and Sergei. If you think this is acceptable, I’ll have my attorney get the ball rolling.”
Tara looked at Miikka. “You won’t mind having me around all the time?”
“You’re a dumbass,” he said in Finnish. “What’s wrong with you? Of course I won’t mind having you around!”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best.”
“So that’s a yes?” Gage asked, his eyes twinkling.
“Yes.”
“If you said yes, Hailey said Amy wants to take two weeks to go visit her mother in Las Vegas. It’s summer, so they wouldn’t need you full-time, but they might need you a few days during that time so they can get some things done as well. Sound good?”
“I don’t have any plans,” Tara said, “so I’m up for anything. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
“And you have no idea how much of a relief it is to have someone we trust on call should something come up,” Laurel said. “Especially come September.”
“Thank you so much.” There was a touch of emotion in Tara’s voice.
“Great. I’m going to have my lawyer work on this first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, who’s up for dinner?”
The conversation turned to other things and Miikka took a minute to speak to his sister privately. “You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked. “I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”
She smiled. “You know me too well. I’m fine, really. Just going through something personal and I needed a new start. I’ll go home eventually, but not right now.”
“So you’re going to stay here when I bring Charli home?”
“I think so.” She met his eyes. “Aiti will be upset, but you’ll help me explain it to her, won’t you?” Mom.
“How can I explain anything if I don’t know what’s going on?”
“I just need something new. I felt like I was choking in Savonlinna. Too much of the same, everyone in my business…”
“Something happened. Was it with Saku?” Saku was Tara’s longtime on-again, off-again boyfriend.
She turned away. “Can we not talk about him, please?”
“Tara.”
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
“What is it?” He frowned, meeting her eyes worriedly.
“He’s married.”
“Really?” Miikka was surprised. He’d thought Tara and Saku would eventually settle down together.
“To Jaana.”
“Wh-what?” He stared at her. “You knew this all along?”
She nodded. “I knew when I came to the U.S. last time, but you were still dealing with the breakup and I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“He’s my friend as well,” he said quietly. “How long have they been…together?”
“About a year. They had already slept together when you were home last summer, but she told him she didn’t know if she was ready to end it with you. And he hadn’t ended it with me, either.”
He glanced over at where Charli was laughing with Laurel and realized he didn’t give a shit about Jaana anymore. He’d literally forgotten all about her, but hearing that she’d married his sister’s