Chapter 7
Italian Soda and Secrets
GAbrIEL
I am a nervous wreck all day knowing that Millie is coming over. When Ma accepted her offer to nanny Aura, I nearly choked on my coffee.
It’s not that I don’t trust her or that I don’t think she is capable. I think she’s more than capable. But that’s not the problem, is it?
I like her too much.
Too much is an understatement if we’re being honest. She’s carved out a corner in my brain that I don’t know how to reclaim. I replay every interaction, every laugh, every glance.
And I can’t afford to let that happen. I mean, who wouldn’t? She’s gorgeous, with that bright strawberry-red hair and eyes that make you feel like they’re reading into your soul.
She’s kind and funny, and she has a way of making everything feel lighter, even when the weight of the world is on my shoulders.
And God, do I carry that weight.
I catch myself watching the clock, over and over, like some teenage idiot waiting for his crush to show up at the door.
Each tick of the second hand feels louder. Counting down the moments until she arrives.
I scrub the counters three times. Change Aura’s onesie even though it’s spotless. I even comb my damn hair, which is saying something considering I’ve worn the same uniform three nights in a row.
I almost light a candle. A fucking candle.
What the hell is wrong with me?
But I’ve been a cold, grumpy bastard towards her, and I can’t help but wonder if she sees right through the act. Every time she looks at me with that sly, knowing smirk, it takes all my willpower not to lean in and kiss it off her lips.
I’ve kept my distance, mostly. But it’s getting harder to do.
I keep telling myself it’s just infatuation. A little crush. It’ll pass. But I think she’s burrowing deeper into me than I care to admit. And it scares the hell out of me.
If she is going to be my nanny, I need to get control of myself—control of my feelings, my desires, and most importantly, my dick. Otherwise, I’ll be in big trouble.
Someone like Millie deserves someone better than me, someone who doesn’t have the emotional baggage I carry around like a shadow.
Hell, some days I’m not even sure I’m good enough for my daughter. All I know is I’m trying as hard as I can.
It’s nearly 6 p.m., and I have just fed and changed Aura, so she is ready to go when Millie gets here.
Aura’s tiny fingers curl around mine. Her breath is soft and rhythmic against my neck. I stare at her face. She looks so peaceful and innocent. Sometimes I wonder how something so small can have the power to unravel me and yet anchor me all at once.
She’s a peaceful baby—honestly, I’m a little biased, but she’s the easiest baby I know.
She hardly ever cries and loves nothing more than a good cuddle.
Which works for me, because I love holding her, feeling her tiny body nestled against mine.
I know these days are fleeting, though, and I’m trying to savor them as much as I can.
I sit with Aura in the nursery, rocking slowly in the chair that used to be in my room as a child. Her tiny hand wraps around my pinky. I sit there for a moment, overwhelmed by how small she still is. How mine she is. I whisper into her soft hair, “We’re going to be okay, Bean. I promise.”
I don’t know if I’m saying it for her or me. Maybe both.
The doorbell rings, and my heart skips a beat. A jolt runs through me as I feel adrenaline surge, sweat prickling on my palms.
I pick up Aura and head for the door, trying to act calm, even though I’m anything but. When I open it, I find Millie standing there, with a bright smile on her face. She’s wearing a simple pair of jeans and a tank top that does dangerous things to my already frayed self-control.
“Hi! I come bearing gifts and snacks!” she announces cheerfully, practically bouncing on her heels as she walks in.
“Bumper. Come in.” I say, motioning for her to come inside. I plaster a goofy grin on my face to ease the nerves building inside me.
She breezes past me like she owns the place, her energy infectious. I catch the faint scent of something sweet—vanilla, maybe chocolate—and it nearly sends me into cardiac arrest.
She’s like sunlight—relentless, warm, and way too much for someone like me. I should look away, keep my distance. But every time she smiles, it’s like the world shifts a little, and for a second I forget why I like the dark.
But gifts? This woman’s buying my daughter gifts before her first day on the job? I don’t know whether I should be grateful or suspicious. Honestly, I’m not sure what is more dangerous—how thoughtful she is…or how damn attractive she looks while doing it.
I lead her into the kitchen, trying to act composed and look over my shoulder to see what she’s brought. It’s a little onesie covered in daisy print—super cute—and a soft teddy bear blanket, one of those security one’s babies get attached to.
“The outfit is nice. So is the blanket. Thank you,” I manage, my voice a little too stiff, but I can’t help it. I don’t know how to handle her sometimes. I’m a cop, damn it, not a guy who is good at receiving gifts from beautiful women.
“Oh, I didn’t know if she had one of these yet,” Millie says, her voice suddenly hesitant.
“But I know once a baby gets attached to something like this, it’s hard to get them to let it go.
I have two more in the car so I can rotate them to wash when needed.
Oh, and I also got you some snacks. Nothing big, just some jerky, trail mix, and candy. I hope you like them.”
Jerky, trail mix, and candy? How the hell did she know those are my favorite snacks? I try not to think too much about it.
My eyes narrow suspiciously, but there’s a spark of warmth in my chest I try to hide behind a gruff glare.
“You’ve been talking to Josh about me, haven’t you?” I narrow my eyes.
Millie just laughs. “Guilty. But the candy was a wild guess. Men who drink black coffee usually have a sweet tooth.”
She’s not wrong. I hate how much I love she isn’t wrong.
I clear my throat and move the conversation back to the nannying. “So, I work four twelve-hour shifts a week,” I begin, knowing I need to keep this conversation as professional as possible.
“I always work the midnight shift, so I’ll be with Aura during the day.” I explain.
Millie nods, her expression focused as she takes in the information. I continue, “I just need you on the nights I’m working, starting at 6 p.m. and staying until I get home around 6 or 6:30 in the morning.”
“That sounds good,” she says, a smile tugging at her lips. “That way I can open the café around 7. It works because I haven’t set actual hours yet. I don’t have to leave right away.”
“Perfect,” I say, and I feel a small weight lift off my chest. We’re on the same page.
“Where would I sleep? Can I sleep?” she asks, her words a little rushed and nervous.
I move closer, and before I can stop myself, my lips brush against her ear as I whisper, “Bumper, you can do whatever you want while you’re here aside from thinking about any man other than the one signing your checks.”
The shiver that runs down her spine is enough to make me take a step back. Her cheeks flush, and she avoids my gaze for a moment, clearly flustered by my proximity.
I hadn’t meant to say it. Not really. It just slipped out—half joke, half warning. But when she looks up at me with those wide eyes and bitten lip, I know I meant every damn word.
I want her to know it’s dangerous territory. Not because she should stay away, but because I might not want to let her go.
“Well then,” she says, her voice a little breathless, “can I meet the little angel in your arms? I’ve been dying to hold her since that day in my café.”
The way she says it makes my heart squeeze. I know she’s sincere, and if I had known she felt this strongly, I wouldn’t have hesitated a second to let her hold Aura. My little girl deserves all the love she can get. She is lucky to have Millie’s love.
I pass Aura to Millie, watching as her expression softens when she holds my daughter. Her eyes go wide, and she smiles at the baby like she’s holding the world’s most precious treasure. And to me, she is.
Millie cradles Aura close to her chest, her face glowing with adoration. The bond they share in this moment is undeniable. I can see Millie becoming one of those people in Aura’s life who will make sure she knows she’s loved, even if she’s not related by blood.
“She’s perfect,” Millie whispers, and her voice exudes so much warmth that I can’t help but nod in agreement.
“I think so too, but I’m biased.”
She hums a soft, low lullaby I don’t recognize. Aura settles instantly, like she’s known Millie all her life. I blink a few times, trying to chase away the sudden sting behind my eyes.
“I’m not trying to be nosy, but what happened to you two?” Millie asks softly, her gaze never leaving Aura. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. But… I would like to know who to bitch slap for leaving this sweet little girl.”
That makes me laugh loudly. This woman. She has been in my house for all of thirty minutes and is already ready to fight anyone who hurts my daughter.
It’s a rare thing to see someone get that protective over a child they’ve just met.
It makes me think maybe I made the right call agreeing to my mother’s schemes.
I sit on the couch across from her, needing to give her space to bond with Aura, but I can’t stop thinking about her question. What happened to us?
I take a deep breath and let the memories roll in. “Aura’s mother and I were together for eight years before she got pregnant,” I start, my voice steady but with an underlying sadness I can’t quite shake. “We never got married, but I asked her when we found out she was pregnant.”
I pause, the words feeling heavy in my chest. “The entire pregnancy, she was distant. Cold, even though I was so excited. I wanted to pick out names and start decorating a nursery. But every time I tried, she shut me down. She acted as if she wasn’t even pregnant.
When Aura was born, we hadn’t agreed on a name.
I asked her again, and she just said, ‘This is your baby, Gabriel. Name her whatever you want.’”
I swallow hard, the memory still fresh. “I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. And I did nothing to fix it. Maybe I should have.”
Millie’s eyes are brimming with sympathy, and her voice is soft as she responds, “That’s heartbreaking. I am sorry you had to go through that.”
I nod, my throat tight. “One month after Aura was born, I came home, and she had her suitcases packed. She didn’t say goodbye. She just left. And that was that. I moved here to Cherry Falls shortly after, and now… now it’s just me and Aura.”
She doesn’t speak immediately. Just watches me like what I said matters. Like none of it changes how she sees me, like I’m still enough in her eyes.
And for the first time in a while, I don’t feel like a failure. I just feel…human.
I get up and head to the kitchen, pouring two glasses of my favorite homemade Italian soda. When I return, I hand one to Millie. She accepts it with a smile that softens something in me.
“Oh my gosh,” she moans as she takes a sip. “This is the best drink I’ve ever had. What is it?”
“Homemade Italian soda,” I murmur with a small smile. “It’s just carbonated water and raspberry syrup. Super simple, but it’s my favorite.”
Growing up in a heavy Italian family, my Ma and Nona always made everything from scratch. I love to cook, so I know all the secrets of cooking from scratch for every meal.
She raises an eyebrow. “And you just made carbonated water? That’s impressive. What else don’t I know about you?”
I lean back against the couch and give her a playful smile. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see, Bumper.”
Her eyes narrow teasingly. “Oh, I’m going to find out.”
Aura stirs in her arms, and Millie gently kisses her forehead. It’s such a natural, intimate gesture that makes something in my chest twist. It shouldn’t be this easy to imagine this moment on repeat—every night, Millie here, holding my daughter. Smiling like this house already feels like a home.
I smile, feeling something shift between us. This might be the beginning of something interesting.