Page 9 of Nolan

"You deserve to know." He reaches out and takes my hand, his thumb tracing circles on my skin. "I want to be completely honest with you, Annabelle."

The warmth of his hand around mine sends tingles up my arm. It's been so long since I've felt this way about anyone, and it terrifies me. “We have to be cognizant of Ashlynn always, which is why I don’t want to put a label on this. Maybe we need to know what we expect in relationships?” I ask. "This is all so new, and with Ashlynn involved..."

"We can take all the time you need," he says, squeezing my hand gently. "I know people talk about how hot I am. They assume I've got women lined up, and I'm not trying to be cocky, I hear what people say. But the truth is, I'm a one-woman man. I prefer monogamy, and I haven't been interested in dating since Ashlynn came into my life."

"Until now?" I can't help the small smile that forms on my lips.

"Until you," he confirms, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You changed everything, Belle."

I lean back against the couch, still holding his hand. "I never expected this when I took the job. I was just trying to make ends meet while finishing my degree."

"Life has a way of surprising us," he says. "Sometimes in the best possible ways."

My gaze drifts to the hallway where Ashlynn's room is. "She's my primary concern in all of this. I don't want to confuse her or hurt her."

"She adores you," Nolan says. "And that's one of the many reasons I..." He pauses, and I can see him carefully choosing his next words. "That's one of the many reasons I'm drawn to you. The way you are with her, it's beautiful to watch."

My cheeks flush with warmth at his compliment. "She makes it easy. She's an amazing little girl."

"So what happens now?" he asks, his voice gentle.

I take a deep breath, considering my answer. “Now, we get to know each other, and keep Ashlynn as our main priority.”

He nods in agreement. "I can work with that."

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, and I realize that for the first time in two weeks, the tension between us has shifted from awkward to something sweeter, filled with possibility.

CHAPTER FIVE

Nolan

The smell of fresh pastries envelops me the moment I push open the door to Get Baked. The bell chimes above my head, announcing my arrival to the handful of patrons already seated with their morning coffees and treats. I scan the line, five people deep, and contemplate whether I should try my luck cutting to the front. My stomach growls in protest of waiting, having skipped breakfast so I could get out the door and grab a workout with Weston.

"Don't even think about it, Nolan King." Gabby's voice carries from behind the counter, her eyes narrowing playfully as she catches me sizing up the line. "Back of the line, even if you are too hot for your own good."

I raise my hands in surrender, chuckling as I take my place behind an elderly couple debating between scones and muffins. "So much for special treatment," I call back.

"You get enough special treatment in this town," she quips, sliding a coffee across the counter to a businessman who barely looks up from his phone.

I can't argue with that. Being one of the few successful concrete workers in our small town does come with certain perks, though apparently skipping the line at Get Baked isn't oneof them. At least not when Gabby can see me. Like most manual labor jobs, it's going out of style, and I stay busy because of it.

By the time I reach the front, Gabby's already got my usual cinnamon roll waiting, the icing still glistening and warm.

"So," she starts, leaning across the counter with a mischievous glint in her eye that immediately puts me on alert. "Annabelle stopped by a few days ago."

I swallow hard, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Did she?"

"Mmhmm. Asked for your usual. Said she was picking it up for you." Gabby slides the pastry toward me, her nails tapping against the counter. "She's cute.. Seems sweet."

"She is." I clear my throat, digging for my wallet. "Sweet, I mean. She's great with Ashlynn."

"I bet she's great with you too," Gabby teases, her voice dropping just low enough that the other customers can't hear.

Heat creeps up my neck, and I'm sure I'm turning the same shade as the cranberry muffins in the display case. "It's not like that." I'm not used to being embarrassed when someone mentions a crush, but it's been way too long for me.

"The way she blushed when she mentioned your name suggests otherwise." Gabby winks, taking my credit card. "And the way you're blushing now? Honey, I've known you while. You're not fooling anyone."

"She's Ashlynn's nanny," I insist, though the memory of our kiss flashes unbidden through my mind, and how we manage to keep touching each other, even when it's not necessary. And how I fucking rubbed one out in the shower last night to images of her. It's stupid how much I want this woman.

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