Chapter 19 More than the Nanny
More than the Nanny
MILLIE
Gabriel breaks the silence. “Okay, Bumper. Are you hungry yet? I want to take you somewhere.”
I look up at him, my heart skipping a beat.
That grin of his- it’s so effortless, and yet it always sends a flutter through me.
It’s a smile that feels like a secret only I get to know.
The kind that promises something unexpected and good.
He’s been planning something, I can tell, and I’m curious and excited.
After the events of tonight, I would follow him anywhere.
We walk for a while before stopping.
“Where are we?” I ask, my eyes wide as I take in the restaurant in front of us. It’s nothing like I’d expected, but somehow, everything about it is perfect.
The building glows softly under the moonlight, with ivy climbing the stone walls, the scent of fresh herbs and roasting garlic drifting faintly through the air. It feels like stepping into a dream I didn’t know I wanted to have.
“This place is gorgeous. Everything here is straight out of a movie.”
His laugh makes me feel like I’m a part of something inside- something I want to understand more.
“Welcome to Ristorante La Rosa Blu,” he says, spreading his arms out as if presenting something magical.
I don’t know it, but judging by the way he speaks, it means something to him. There’s a quiet pride in his voice, the kind that speaks of childhood memories, family dinners, and moments shared that he’s never told me about—until now.
“It’s one of my family’s places, but it’s definitely the most romantic.”
I let the words settle, my eyes drifting over the elegant lighting and the warm golden glow spilling from within. The butterflies in my stomach flutter more fiercely now. I’ve been here a few days, but something about this moment feels different—like this place holds something extraordinary.
The soft clinking of glasses and the murmur of voices through the windows make the restaurant seem alive and warm, like the beating heart of a hidden world.
“Shall we sit?” His voice breaks through my thoughts, and I feel the warmth of his hand gently resting on the small of my back, guiding me toward the door.
When I step inside, the first thing I do is take a deep breath, trying to absorb it all. The soft music in the background, the flickering candlelight, the quiet hum of conversations. It feels like we’re in a bubble, away from everything else.
The waiter greets us with a polite nod, leading us to a booth tucked away in a far corner, where the shadows play softly against the rich mahogany walls.
We sit down at a booth tucked away in the far corner, and I can feel the tension in my shoulders ease.
There’s something about being here in this little corner that makes everything else seem insignificant. I watch the candlelight dance across his face as he leans in slightly, and my heart does a little flip.
“You know, Bumper,” he starts, his voice dropping low, just for me. “You look amazing today. And seeing you now, this close… I could get lost in you forever.”
The words hit me harder than I expected, and I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. We have been dancing around each other and flirting for months. I know he’s being genuine, but something in the way he says things makes me feel like I’m the only person in the room.
His eyes are steady, unwavering, and there’s a vulnerability there that makes me want to reach out and hold on to it, keep it safe.
I can’t help but laugh softly, my fingers brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. It’s all I can do to hold myself together, but I smile up at him.
“Why thank you, Gabby,” I tease, though my voice carries a warmth that matches his. “You look very handsome yourself.”
This feeling- like we’re the only two people who matter. I’ve felt it since I met him, and no matter how much time passes, it never fades.
Like some quiet magic that hums just beneath the surface, waiting to be spoken aloud.
He’s not just the guy who hired me to be his daughter’s nanny. He’s…more. And I don’t know what that means yet, but I can’t shake it.
I take a breath, my fingers tracing the edge of the napkin as I look up at him. “Gab, can I be completely honest with you?” His eyes soften, and I can tell he’s waiting for me to speak the words that have been building up inside.
“Of course. What’s on your mind?” he asks, the warmth and patience in his voice making me feel like I’m safe here with him.
“I’ve been thinking a lot since that day in the kitchen,” I say, my voice quieter now, almost like a confession.
“And I need you to know how I feel about you. My feelings for you…well, they’ve only grown.
I didn’t plan for it to happen, but I just…
I can’t keep pretending there’s nothing here anymore. ”
I watch him lean forward, his gaze locked onto mine. It’s almost too much—the way his eyes search mine, like he’s looking for something. My pulse quickens, and I feel this pull between us that’s magnetic.
It’s like gravity shifted in that moment, and all the air in the room condensed around us.
I’m not sure how long we stay in this moment—this fragile, delicate space—but then, without another word, he moves to my side of the table.
And then, he kisses me.
I wasn’t ready for how intense it would be. How…electric it would feel. His lips are soft, but there’s something behind it—something fierce, as if he’s been holding back for too long.
His body presses into mine, and I can feel every inch of him. I melt into the kiss, letting him pull me closer, deepening the connection between us.
“Gabriel,” I breathe, barely able to catch my breath between kisses. My hands find their way to his shoulders, and I tug him closer, if that’s even possible.
He kisses me harder like he’s trying to prove something, to show me everything he feels without speaking a single word. And for once, I don’t need him to explain anything.
I just want this. I want him.
When he finally pulls back, I can’t help but smile, my heart pounding in my chest. There’s something different now—something unspoken between us that feels like a new beginning.
“I’ve been waiting for you to do that again,” I admit, my voice low and full of relief. “I thought I was going to have to live without ever knowing what your lips on mine felt like again.”
He grins, a little breathless, his hand still resting on mine. “Well, I don’t plan on spending another day without kissing you again, Bumper. Not if you want to see where this goes as much as I do.”
I nod, a slow warmth blooming inside me, like a spark finally catching fire. “I want that too. I have for a while… if we’re still being honest,” I whisper, my voice soft as I lean my head gently against his shoulder.
His breath fans against my hair, and the quiet hum of the restaurant around us feels like the soundtrack to this new chapter we’re starting together.
When we leave the restaurant, I feel Gabriel wrap his arm around me, and I know things have changed between us. It’s not just the kiss, though. That’s been a long time coming. It’s everything—the way he holds me, the way he speaks to me like he’s never been sure about anything in his life.
“Where does this lead us?” I ask suddenly feeling the weight of everything. “I mean, I haven’t met your family yet, and…what about Aura? Oh my gosh, Gabriel, what about Aura?”
“Bumper,” he says, “You haven’t met my family yet because you’ve turned down every invitation I’ve given you for the past four days. I’ve asked you to join us for dinner so many times, but you keep turning me down. I want you to meet them—I want them to know you.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, and for the first time, I feel a little more at ease. “And Aura?”
“Aura loves you. You’re already her favorite person. That’s all that matters to me.”
His words settle over me like a warm blanket, and for the first time in days, I finally feel like everything might actually be okay.
Not just in this moment, but maybe… for the future too.
I’m not just his nanny anymore. I’m something more.
We walk to the gate of his family’s villa, hand in hand, and I inhale the night air, feeling a sense of possibility—of a future with him.
The stars above seem brighter somehow, like they’re blessing this new path we’re stepping onto together.
And for the first time, I’m not scared of what that future might hold. Because whatever it is, I know we’ll figure it out together.
“God, you’re so fucking beautiful,” he says, overwhelmed with emotion.
Since meeting him , I have never known Gabriel to show a lot of emotion, but he is overcome with it now.
“Well, thank you very much, Mr. Sirolli,” I say, giggling as he tickles me on my side.
“Don’t call me that, Bumper. Now, I feel like my father. Speaking of which, if we don’t move, he is totally going to come out here,” he whispers in my ear, dragging me by my hand towards his house on the grounds. He unlocks the door to the house, revealing only darkness.
He moves behind me, wrapping me in his arms. Gently kissing my neck, my shoulders, my cheek, my hair. This man is truly going to be the death of me.
“Gabriel,” I say softly, sucking in a breath.
“I’ve been dreaming of all the things I’m going to do to you,” he whispers, scooping me up in his arms like a baby.
I have been thinking about it too, more than I’d like to admit. I’ve imagined him being gentle, but wild at the same time.
He grabs my hips, pulling me closer to him. “Are you sure about this, Bumper?” he asks, compassion in his eyes that nearly broke me.
I grab his hair, pulling him closer. “Yes. I want this. I want you.”
Covering my lips with his, our tongues entangling, he pulls back, his eyes darken. “You have me, Mills.”
My skin burning with desire, I tug at his sweater, needing to feel him against me. He pulls off his shirt, his gaze never leaving mine. Pulling me towards him, he removes my dress, revealing my bra and panties, kissing every inch of me as he goes.
His lips trail down my jaw and neck. He licks and sucks a trail from my collarbone to my chest. His tongue swirls around each peak, and I arch into him, spreading my legs wide so he can settle between my thighs. I squirm, desperate for more, as his lips find mine again.
He lifts me again, carrying me to the bedroom. Laying me down on his lush bed like I was made of glass.
I arch off the bed as he pushes forward a bit, and I gasp. “I’m not sure it’s going to fit.”
I hear the panic in my voice, and he kisses me. “Don’t worry, baby, we’ll make it fit. I’ve got you.”
The next thing I know, he rolls us so that I am on top, one leg on each side, straddling him. “This is all you, Bumper. You set the pace. Take me inch by inch.”
Damn, how did I get so lucky?
I nod and suck in a deep breath as I position myself right above him. I wrap my hand around his erection and move down.
Slowly.
I take the tip first, then slide down, inch by inch. Gasping as he stretches me wider.
His hands were all over me, caressing my arms, my neck, and my hair, soothing and comforting me as I went further.
I sigh as I take the last of him in, and my head falls back on a gasp as I adjust to his size. He doesn’t move, continuing to let me take control. He fists my hair, forcing me to look at him.
“You took me so well—all the way,” he murmurs, that wicked grin spreading across his face. “You look so damn good with me inside you.” His voice softens slightly as he adds, “You okay?”
“Never better,” I say, biting my bottom lip. I move up his shaft before sliding back down. Slow at first. He hisses out a groan as his hands move to grip my hips, holding me still.
“So tight for me.”
We find our pace, our rhythm, as if we have been doing this all our lives. Moving together as one.
My body tingles with anticipation, and his hands and lips are everywhere as my head falls back. I grip his thighs behind me. I meet him at each thrust until blackness filled my eyes, ridding me of all control as I went over the edge.
I cry out his name, and he continues to thrust into me one more time.
And another.
Then, a guttural sound leaves his throat, following me straight into oblivion.