Page 31 of Nanny for the Don

I don’t even know how to respond. My mind’s spinning, trying to reconcile the man who’s been so sweet and protective of his girls with the one I’m reading about in these articles. How could someone be both? And what the hell am I supposed to do now?

Kendall snaps her laptop shut, letting out a long breath. “Well, damn. This whole thing’s taken more twists and turns than an episode ofLove Is Blind. And I’m starting to get really worried that you’re going to get wrapped up in all of this Mob nonsense.”

I try to calm myself down, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, but Nico’s good about keeping his family and his business separate. He doesn’t mix that stuff. I’ve never seen him bring it home.”

“It’s great that he keeps his little girls out of it, but we both know it’s impossible to say what might happen down the line. I mean, look at what happened to his dad.”

I know she’s right, and the thought just sits heavy in my chest. I can’t predict what’s coming, but it’s clear this situation is more than just a casual fling gone complicated.

Kendall softens her tone. “Look, take this one day at a time, okay? But keep in the back of your head that you need to be ready for anything.” Then, as if flipping a switch, she grins and stands up. “But you know what? We still gotta celebrate! You’re going to be a mom! That’s huge!”

She hops up and grabs the bowls of Cherry Garcia, bringing them over with a little wiggle in her step. We sit back down, and Kendall holds up her bowl. “To whatever the hell comes next!”

I can’t help but laugh, clinking my bowl against hers.

“To whatever the hell comes next.”

Chapter 16

Nico

“Alright girls,” I say, “what’s it going to be on the pizza tonight? No changing your minds once we decide.”

I’m in the kitchen with Lucia and Giulia, both perched on the stools at the counter as we tackle the critical decision of pizza toppings.My laptop’s open in front of us, and right now, nothing’s more important than getting this right.

Lucia jumps in first. “Extra cheese!”

Giulia, not to be outdone, chimes in right after. “Pepperoni! And maybe mushrooms?”

I nod, considering their choices like they’ve just handed me a deal to close. “Extra cheese, pepperoni, and mushrooms. Good picks. But how about a supreme pizza? You know, with everything on it?”

They giggle, eyes wide as they think it over. Giulia suggests a compromise. “Maybe half and half?”

Smart move. “Half supreme, half pepperoni,” I agree. “And we’ll throw in an extra cheese pizza. Can’t go wrong with that.”

Ms. M walks by, grabbing a glass of water, and I glance her way. “You want anything, Ms. M?”

She smiles, lifting her glass. “Just a salad for me, thanks.”

“Alright then, two pizzas it is. Extra cheese, half supreme, half pepperoni. And we’ll add some breadsticks.”

Lucia and Giulia cheer, clearly satisfied with the plan. But tonight isn’t just about pizza. I’ve got something important in mind, and this dinner is only the beginning.

I pull out my phone and shoot Willow a quick text:Are you on your way back?

She replies almost immediately, saying she’s on her way but got hung up in rush-hour train traffic. I fire a response to see if she’s up for a pizza and movie night with the girls and me.

Sounds great,she texts back.

Good. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. I’m pleased, though I keep it to myself. I want to see how she fits into this dynamic, how she handles spending time with the girls and me like we’re some kind of family. I’m not sure about making things more serious with her, but I’d be lying if I said the thought hasn’t crossed my mind. A man doesn’t ignore the possibility when it’s staring him in the face.

With that settled, I head to the den with Lucia and Giulia. Disney+ is already fired up on the TV, so I hand the remote to them. “Alright, ladies, pick a movie.”

They dive into a debate immediately—Lucia wants to watchMoanafor the millionth time, while Giulia’s pushing forThe Lion King.Their back-and-forth is cute, both of them trying to convince the other with all the intensity of a high-stakes negotiation. I lean back, watching them with a half-smile.

Just as Lucia and Giulia settle onThe Lion King, the door swings open and Willow walks in with the pizzas in hand. “Caught the delivery guy out front,” she says with a grin, holding up the boxes like a trophy.

“Perfect timing,” I reply, moving to grab plates and drinks from the kitchen. I set everything up on the coffee table and we all dig in, the scent of hot, cheesy pizza filling the room.

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