Page 40 of Nolan

"That can be arranged later," I whisper as she passes, enjoying the way her cheeks flush and her next roll goes straight into the gutter.

"Cheater." she accuses, but she's laughing.

We order those nachos halfway through,neither of us wanting to wait to see who loses,and a couple of beers. Sitting side by side in the plastic chairs, our shoulders touching, I feel a contentment I haven't experienced since I became a single dad.

"Penny for your thoughts," Annabelle says, nudging me with her elbow.

I consider deflecting, keeping things light, but that's not what I want with her. I want real. "I was just thinking how happy I am," I admit. "How right this feels."

Her expression softens, and she puts down her beer to take my hand. "It does feel right, doesn't it? Even though it's complicated..."

"Life is complicated," I shrug. "But some things are simple. How I feel about you, that's simple."

"And how do you feel?" she asks, her voice barely audible over the crash of pins and the arcade games in the background.

I look at her, really look at her, this woman who came into our lives to care for my daughter and ended up caring for my heart too.

"Like I've been given a second chance," I say honestly. "Like I've found something I didn't even know I was missing."

She squeezes my hand, her eyes shining. "Me too," she whispers.

The rest of the game passes in a blur of laughter and stolen kisses between turns. She beats me by twelve points, and I happily concede defeat.

"I let you win," I claim as we return our shoes.

"Sure you did," she laughs, linking her arm through mine as we walk back to the car.

The night air is cool, and she shivers slightly. I slip off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders.

"Such a gentleman," she teases, but she snuggles into the warmth.

"Only with you," I reply.

I'm looking forward, to more nights like this, to mornings waking up beside her, to building a future that includes her not just as Ash's nanny, but as a permanent part of our family.

It's terrifying. It's exhilarating. And it feels absolutely right.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Annabelle

My hands tremble as I straighten the plates on the picnic table for the third time. The backyard looks perfect, colorful paper lanterns strung across the patio, the grill prepped and ready, and Ashlynn's toys neatly tucked away in her outdoor bin. Everything is in place, except my nerves.

"Hey," Nolan's voice comes from behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist. "Breathe. It's just our friends."

I lean back into his chest, savoring the warmth. "I know. But this makes it official. Real."

"Second thoughts?" His voice holds a note of vulnerability that makes my heart ache.

I turn in his arms. "Not a single one."

The kiss I give him is gentle but firm, a promise. When we part, his eyes are bright with something that looks dangerously close to love.

"We should tell Ashlynn before everyone gets here," I say, glancing at the princess-shaped wall clock visible through the kitchen window. "They'll be here in less than an hour."

Nolan nods, takes my hand in his. "She's in her playroom. I've been trying to think of the right words all morning."

We find Ashlynn surrounded by her favorite stuffed animals, conducting what appears to be a very serious tea party. Her curls bounce as she looks up, her face lighting with that smile that first stole my heart when I started as her nanny.

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