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We, not I Noah kept that to hi her There were s to say once they were out in the warm conservatory

Within minutes Holly had fallen asleep and Anastasia led hi behind a monitor so she’d know if Holly cried

‘Would you like a glass of wine?’ he asked

‘That’d be nice’ She still wasn’t as relaxed with him as she’d been other ti else?

When they were sitting, glasses in hand, he asked, ‘What made you want to be a nurse?’

As they chatted about everyday subjects the tension left Anastasia and she beca about her need to be the best in her nursing class, why she loved dancing so h his own traumas, reinforced why he loved her

And then she asked, ‘Are you settling back into London life?’

There’d been too many shocks for that First the extent of Robert’s debts and what Noah was expected to do about thes for Anastasia They had blown his on my mind to think about it’

‘I guess you have a lot on your plate’ Her hands were tightening

‘I’ve finalised everything with Robert and got him out of the jam he was in’ May as well let her know a little of his faot into debt and needed me to save his butt It’s what our faally so he can’t go off the edge again’

‘Fair enough’

‘That was the main reason I came home, and once here I saw that if I didn’t stay to keep an eye on things, Robert would only make other mistakes’

‘Then you bought into a private practice and took up the job at London Riverside’ There was a sharpness creeping into her voice

What was that about? ‘I a my skills What’s this about, Stacey? You seem upset’

She locked her eyes on hied drastically with the advent of Holly How do you see her and I fitting in with you?’

He sat up straighter, his chin lifting ‘Actually, that’s one probleht into’

‘Probleone as quickly as it rose ‘I understand this has been a shock, but if we’re being designated to the probleht We’ll be on our way hoood’

Daone and blown it He needed to approach this slowly, carefully ‘Anastasia’ She winced ‘Stacey, I didn’t mean it like that You’re not a proble coer part in Holly’s life’

She continued to watch hi for what?

‘And I want to be a part of your life I would like to share raising Holly as a faed for a family to love and cherish, and I could have that with you and Holly’ Deep breath ‘Would you marry me?’ So much for slow and careful But why procrastinate? He knehat he wanted He’d admitted to himself he loved Anastasia, so there was no reason to hold back

‘Why should I do that?’ Her words were sharp, like s into mud

‘We connect whenever we’re together’ Except right now ‘We could raise Holly together, living here so we both can be a part of her life every day’

So I can see you, love you, share everything I’ve got with you

‘You could become a full-time muetting through ‘You can have anything you want tomarried could work for all of us’

‘I see’