Page 47 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

I raised an eyebrow. “Fancy dinner for a weeknight.”

He shrugged, sitting down across from me. “You deserve fancy.”

The comment caught me off guard, and I looked away, focusing on my plate.

Dinner was quiet at first,the sound of forks scraping against plates filling the space. Ava broke the silence, as usual.

“This is so good!” she said through a mouthful of noodles.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, sweetheart,” I said automatically, though I couldn’t help but smile.

Ava swallowed and grinned. “It’s still so good!”

“Glad you like it,” Enzo said, his expression proud.

“I wish you could cook for us all the time,” Ava added, twirling her fork in her noodles.

Enzo chuckled. “That’s a big request.”

“You should live with us,” she said innocently, looking up at him.

The words hung in the air, and I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth.

“That would be fun, huh?” Enzo said lightly, glancing at me.

Ava nodded enthusiastically, completely unaware of the tension that had settled between us.

I forced a smile, reaching over to brush a curl from her face. “Let’s just enjoy dinner, okay?”

“Okay,” she said, turning back to her plate.

As the meal went on,I found myself stealing glances at Enzo. He was attentive, playful with Ava, and so naturally a part of our evening that it felt… right.

He caught me looking at one point, his gaze meeting mine with a warmth that made my heart skip a beat. I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on Ava’s chatter about her latest drawing.

By the time we finished eating, Ava was yawning, her energy finally waning.

“Bath time,” I said, standing to clear her plate.

“Do I have to?” she asked, pouting.

“Yes, you do,” I said, smiling despite myself. “Say thank you to Enzo first.”

“Thank you, Enzo!” she said, hugging him tightly.

“You’re welcome, kiddo,” he said, ruffling her hair.

After I gotAva settled in the tub, I returned to the living room to find Enzo tidying up the kitchen.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, leaning against the counter.

“I don’t mind,” he said without looking up.

I watched him for a moment, my chest tightening with emotions I couldn’t quite name. “Thank you. For tonight.”

He set a plate in the sink and turned to face me, his expression soft. “It was my pleasure.”

Later,after Ava was tucked into bed, Enzo and I sat on the couch, the quiet of the apartment wrapping around us. A half-empty glass of wine sat on the table between us, and the faint glow of a lamp cast long shadows across the room.

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