Harvest of Love (Love and Leftovers)

Chapter 1

Manny

Sunday Before Thanksgiving

I fought for custody of my son and won. Funny how victory still feels like defeat when the holidays roll around and the house is empty.

The judge called it fair—one holiday a year with his mother. Since she lived in another state, he ruled she’d have Tommy one whole week for Thanksgiving break.

I wish I could erase her from his birth certificate. From the face of the earth would be even better. But without her, he wouldn’t exist, so I’m playing nice.

“Doc?” the barista calls.

I shake away the thought. “Hi, sorry,” I say with a chuckle. “May I please get my usual?” I pull out my phone to pay. When I look up, the barista—who can’t be more than sixteen—stares at me, eyes wide.

“Sorry, Doc. It’s my first day. I’m a holiday temp,” the boy says, a deep blush creeping up his neck.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t know where my head is today.” I reassure him with a smile. “One medium spiced pumpkin latte and a cranberry-orange muffin to go.”

Once I pay, I step aside and scan the cafe. It’s Sunday morning, and the streets of Azalea Creek are quiet. The summer crowds are long gone, and now, with winter closing in, only locals linger.

The bells above the door jingle, and my eyes follow the sound. Daisy Hart—my son’s nanny and the most mesmerizing woman I’ve ever met—walks in with two familiar faces. It doesn’t take them long to spot me and head straight over.

“Manny, hi. I thought you’d be in sunny Florida,” Rain González says, leaning in to kiss my cheek.

“No, Tommy’s there. But I didn’t see the point in going since I can’t spend time with him.” I force myself not to look at Daisy, who I’m sure has one of her tight yoga getups hidden under that oversized brown coat.

Rain nods, her sharp gaze flicking between Daisy and me. I hold my breath. She’s a hound for secrets, and the moment her gray eyes light up, I feel the blood drain from my face. I send up a silent prayer that she’ll keep quiet.

“So, Manny.” Ruin Bianchi—owner of Serene Lookout and my boss—jumps in like a last-minute referee. “What are your plans for Thursday? You know we’ll love to have you join us.”

I let out a loud, shaky exhale.

“That’s so kind of you, Ruin. But I wouldn’t want to impose. I think I’ll just hike in the morning and then have a nice meal at home while watching the game.”

Ruin immediately starts shaking her head, ready to push harder for me to attend their family gathering. Rain’s eyes glint with mischief, and I know I’m in deep trouble. When the MacAllisters want something, they get it. Married or not, they’re still MacAllisters at heart.

“Are you flying to Massachusetts? Or are Xander’s parents flying down?” I ask, desperate to redirect the conversation.

“Oh, his family is already here. In fact, Gramps will be staying until next spring with us,” Rain says, laughter bubbling up between the three women.

I frown, realizing I’ve missed something.

“Oh, yeah. Granny and Gramps are an item,” Daisy adds, and I’m finally forced to look at her.

There hasn’t been a day since I met Daisy that I haven’t been caught off guard by her beauty, or by that easy, carefree way she carries herself. But she’s my son’s nanny. And Tommy’s the most important person in my life. I’d never jeopardize his happiness.

I can’t forget how she made his transition from the big, loud city to the quiet rhythm of small-town life easier than I ever could.

It started with something small, but it stuck with me—

“But Daisy, this seems way more complicated than what I’m used to. Can I just skip this homework and you can write me a note that the dog ate it or something?” I heard Tommy ask, his voice breaking at the end.

I can’t say I was an anxious kid growing up. I never had issues completing my homework. In fact, I enjoyed it. And until ten seconds ago, I thought Tommy did too.

What’s wrong with my child? It was the first thought that popped into my head as I came home after a full day at work.

Before I could barrel into the kitchen and simply force Tommy to sit down and finish, I heard a sweet voice bargaining with him: “I’ll tell you what. We’ll try our best to figure out these exercises. If we can’t, I’ll look online and see if any tutoring videos can help us.”

Tommy groaned.

I left my bag by the foyer and walked as quietly as possible toward the kitchen, where I could see Tommy and Daisy sitting at the breakfast nook.

Tommy’s head rested on his forearms, defeated. But what left me speechless was the way Daisy rubbed his back, patiently waiting for him to sit up.

My first instinct was to make my presence known and sit down to help him work it out. But I knew there would be times when I couldn’t come home early to help him. And I wanted to see how Daisy handled it.

And she did. When Tommy finally lifted his head, the beaming smile she gave him hit me straight in the chest— warm and reassuring, telling him without words that she was proud of him, that she had his back.

She was phenomenal with him.

Daisy pulled out her phone and quickly found a video explaining the steps to solve the math problems Tommy was stuck on.

After watching it a couple of times, he picked up his pencil and started working through the assignment, Daisy leaning over his shoulder, quietly letting him know she was there for him.

When he finished, she let out a delighted screech, and Tommy fist-pumped the air. “I knew you could do it, kiddo. I’m so proud of you,” she said, pulling him into a hug.

“Maybe we could go for ice cream once I finish the rest of my homework?” Tommy asked, his brown eyes wide with hope.

Daisy’s smile didn’t falter, but I could see her thinking it through. “Maybe when your dad comes home we can tell him how good of a job you did, and then we can all go for ice cream after dinner. Sounds good?”

Tommy nodded and moved on to his next assignment.

Daisy rose from the table, releasing a long breath. When her gaze caught mine, she froze, eyes widening. I gave her a reassuring smile, letting her know I was more than okay with the way she’d handled things.

“I didn’t realize you were home already,” she said when she finally came over to see me. Her lashes fluttered in that delicate way that melted something inside me.

“I’ve been here for a while, but I wanted to see how you two handled homework.”

She bit her bottom lip, and all I wanted to do was kiss her and thank her for being this extraordinary woman so perfectly in tune with my son. But I held back. I couldn’t go there. She was his nanny, not my girlfriend.

Instead, I said, “You have a gift, Daisy. The way you handled all this was perfect. It’s like you’ve known him forever.”

Her smile grew, a faint pink rising in her cheeks. “I don’t know about a gift. I just did what my Mom would’ve done with me,” she said with a shrug.

I wanted to tell her to take her flowers because she deserved them. But before I could, Tommy noticed me and came running from the table.

I swept my boy up into a hug as he proudly told me how he’d finished his homework and how all that thinking left him starving. Daisy and I both chuckled, but she busied herself plating dinner while Tommy put away his books and I set the table.

We moved in unison, like we were a family. And that thought terrified me. What if Daisy found a boyfriend? What if she decided to leave town?

The memory tugs at me even now, but Ruin’s voice slices through it, pulling me back before Daisy can spill details about Granny and Gramps.

“Allegedly,” Ruin cuts in.

“Ruru, come on. Allegedly?” Rain arches a brow, her tone no bullshit. “I get it, you’re trying to keep Granny’s business private. But anyone with eyes can see how much she’s changed since she and Gramps got together.”

“Dr. Gutierrez, here’s your order. I apologize for the delay, but the muffins just came out of the oven,” the barista says.

I wave him off with a smile and drop a twenty in the tip jar. “Ladies, enjoy your post-workout coffee. I’ll see you around.” I give them a quick wave and head toward the door.

“Doc.”

That soft voice stops me in my tracks.

“I didn’t realize you were staying home this week. I had planned to stop by your place and clean the basement like we talked about the other day.”

I lift my gaze and meet Daisy’s eyes, a smile tugging at my mouth before I can stop it. She’s a ray of sunshine breaking through a foggy autumn morning, and somehow, not even thirty, she has more patience with Tommy than people who’ve been parents for years.

In addition to caring for Tommy, she’s determined to make my house feel more like home and less like a bachelor pad.

“I really appreciate it, Daisy, and I think you’d do a great job. But I don’t want you to change any plans just to help a boring guy clean his place.” I wrinkle my nose as the words leave me, wishing I’d phrased it differently.

She giggles.

“Wow, now that I say it out loud, it makes me sound like a loser.”

Her giggle blooms into a full laugh, and I find myself laughing with her. Am I really flirting with this woman? Or is it all in my head? I can’t even remember the last time I tried to charm someone.

“You are anything but boring, Doc,” Daisy says, resting her hand on my forearm. A wildfire sparks under my skin, lighting me up. “And I really don’t have any plans other than Thursday, so I’ll be happy to stop by and help the rest of the week. If you’re okay with that, of course.”

She looks at me through her lashes. Her honey-colored eyes shine hopeful, and I feel myself unraveling.

“I’ll be working at the hospital most of the week.”

Her eyes widen, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“I guess it makes sense you’re working. You’re essential personnel, right?” she asks timidly.

“There are always people who need medical attention. And since Tommy’s away, I picked up a few shifts for colleagues traveling out of town.”

Daisy nods like she’s tucking the information away. “Well, if you’re okay with me stopping by this week, I’ll be happy to get your house in tip-top shape for the holidays.” Her smile is dazzling, the kind that makes me want to pull her close.

“I’d love that. Helping hands makes the hard work light,” I say, and instantly cringe. Who the fuck says stuff like that anymore?

She squeezes my forearm once more, and I don’t even bother glancing at Rain and Ruin as I bolt for the door. Better to leave now than embarrass myself further.

You need to dust off your flirting game, man.

Not that I need to flirt with Daisy.

Not that I should.

And yet, as the cafe door swings shut behind me, I can’t shake the thought of her in my house. Alone.