Page 63 of Military Daddies' Nanny

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“What’s going on, Nathan?” I hear Nancy’s soft voice just as I light the last candle.

Nathan and I have our own roles to play to make sure that today turns out wonderfully. His was making sure he convinced her to wear something pretty, yet casual enough to be comfortable.

Nathan and I are dressed in slacks and button-up shirts to match.

I snuff out the match just as they turn the corner and walk into the living room where the table is covered with some bland dishes and candles.

Nancy gasps, her hands reaching up to cover her open mouth.

“What’s going on?” she asks, looking between the two of us.

I reach out a hand for her to take and rub my thumb over the back of her hand when she places it in mine.

“You look as beautiful as always,querida.”

I kiss her hand and lead her to a seat at the table before Nathan and I also sit down.

“What’s happening?” she questions again, this time with eyes brimming with unshed tears.

“Well…Nathan and I wanted to spend time with you, but we figured a date at an actual restaurant would be a bad idea because of your nausea, so we decided to bring the date to you instead.”

“Yes,” Nathan chips in. “Don’t worry, we did our research to search for recipes that would be easy for you to eat right now. However, if there’s anything that still doesn’t sit right with you, let us know and we’ll take it away immediately.”

She sniffles, looking between the two of us in stunned silence.

“You didn’t have to do all of this,” she says when she finds her voice, pointing at the food scattered across the table.

“Nonsense,querida.We should apologize for not doing this sooner or putting in more effort to make this even more memorable for you,” I say, pouring her a drink.

“And you don’t have to worry about the drink either, it’s sparkling apple juice,” Nathan says when she eyes the glass suspiciously.

I grin sheepishly. I should have known she would be cautious about drinking, especially when I’m pouring it out of a pitcher and she can’t be certain what it is.

“Thank you,” she smiles, bringing the glass to her lips.

I return her smile and fill my own and Nathan’s glasses from the same pitcher.

“Now, what would you like to have?” I ask, pointing at each bowl. “There’s ginger-infused chicken soup, some baked salmon with a side of spinach salad in a bed of brown rice, and some baked potatoes with black beans and salsa. The choice is yours,querida.”

She licks her lips as her eyes glaze over the different dishes on the table.

“I think I want to try a little bit of each, maybe starting with the baked salmon. I’m actually pretty hungry and it looks so delicious.”

Her soft voice and the glint in her eyes sends a jolt of emotion straight to my heart, and judging from the look in Nathan’s eyes, it does the same to him. I couldn’t love her more in this moment even if I tried.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face?” she asks when she sees that we are staring silently at her, neither of us moving to fill her plate.

Her question jolts us to life, and Nathan jumps to his feet, helping her with a serving of the salmon, brown rice, and spinach salad.

“No, Nancy. You just look so beautiful,” he says as he places it in front of her and I grin when her cheeks burn with a blush that’s visible even in the poor lighting the candles offer.

She takes a sip of her drink as Nathan returns to his seat and serves himself. I help myself to the same food, content to simply be in this moment with her.

The rest of dinner goes by smoothly, filled with the faint scraping of utensils on plates, and the sounds of laughter our unending flow of conversation.

Nancy runs her spoon over the edges of her bowl, spooning the last of the chicken soup into her mouth. She sets the bowl aside and stares at us in wonder.

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