Page 174 of The Nanny and the Hothead
“We knew we wanted to do something for charity. I was speaking on camera with a local reporter about the Mr. Cheesy Forever when Oscar—”
“When I ran into the room and showed Dad and the TV guy the white lock,” the boy interrupted. “Then I said, if Charlotte’s key opens your heart, she’ll have to forgive you for being a.”Tap-tap. “And she’ll have to marry you. And then she’ll be my Charlotte forever and ever, too.”
“Somehow, online, it morphed into this. If your key opened my heart, then we were truly meant to be. That’s how I’d know I was your Mr. Cheesy Forever,” Mitch explained. “And that also seemed to include a lot of people eating the Signature Charlotte sandwich,” he finished, gesturing to the crowd.
“That was my idea, too. I said, it’ll be a party, and we’ll make dinner for London,” Oscar added, quite pleased with himself.
“Wow! That’s quite a twist!” She unclasped the necklace, then slid the key from the chain and handed it to the boy. “There’s one way to find out,” she said as the cameramen moved in closer.
“This is the moment. If Charlotte’s key opens Chef Mitch Elliott’s heart, Charlotte will accept the marriage proposal, and hundreds will dine on free cheese toasties to celebrate,” a reporter gushed.
Mitch peered over his shoulder at the bevy of cameras, then leaned in. “I didn’t expect this to become such a spectacle.”
“I didn’t expect to fall in love with a hothead,” she countered, biting back a teasing grin.
“A reformed hothead,” he corrected with a deliciously cocky grin that made her head spin.
She patted Oscar’s shoulder. “There’s no turning back now. Go ahead. You do the honors. Let’s see if my key opens your father’s heart.”
She gazed into Mitch’s eyes, knowing she’d found her forever.
“Here we go!” Oscar called, doing a great job of hamming it up.
The air grew thick with anticipation. Not a word was uttered as the boy inserted the key.
Click!
“It’s in! Are you ready for me to see if Charlotte’s key opens my dad’s heart?” he called to the bank of cameras.
“Your son might have a future in reality TV,” she whispered to Mitch. But the man didn’t say anything. He simply gazed into her eyes, shining with the promise of a love that would last a lifetime.
“Three, two, one!” Oscar called. He turned the key in the old lock. With a cranky creak, the shackle released, and the lock sprang open. Oscar held it up like a prizefighter as the crowd roared with hoots and applause.
Mitch slid the ring onto her finger. “The nanny and the hothead are getting hitched!” he called to the cheering crowd.
The applause exploded, and she soaked it all in. The love, the excitement, the palpable joy that permeated every cell in her body. It was like something out of a dream.
“I love you,” she said as Mitch gathered her into his arms. And at that moment, she remembered the other Charlotte from the airport. She’d spent years wondering if she’d ever find a love like what she’d witnessed at the baggage claim when she was just a girl.
And now she had her answer—the evidence reflected in Mitch’s eyes and in her heart.
“Dad! Charlotte! Say cheese!” Oscar exclaimed, holding up his camera.
Mitch cupped her face in his hands, his lips hovering above hers. “Cheese,” he whispered, his breath warm as he closed the distance and sealed this Mr. Cheesy Forever love story with a kiss.
Epilogue
Mitch
Mitch crossedhis arms and observed the Crystal Cricket kitchen. It was a quarter past seven, and the dinner rush was in full swing. This used to be the time when he went into hothead mode, barking commands and growling at anyone who dared enter his orbit.
But not anymore.
As much as he loved the rush in the back of the house, he had somewhere else to be tonight.
He clapped his hand on the newly hired executive chef’s shoulder. “Stay on top of the tickets. Don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard, but practice what you preach. If you demand efficiency from your cooks, you demonstrate the skill.”
Seth gave him a cheeky grin. “You sound a hell of a lot like Louise.”
