Page 45 of Protecting My Nanny

As expected, Antonio continues to be the life of the conversation at dinner, sharing stories from his time in Italy and his culinary adventures. Jaime listens with wide-eyed fascination, hanging on to every word. Nicole, though smiling and engaged, remains mostly quiet.

Antonio notices and tries to draw her out. "Nicole," he says with a twinkle in his eye, "you must miss the food back home. There's nothing quite like real Italian cuisine, right?"

Nicole nods, her smile polite. "Yes, I do miss it. But your cooking tonight was a wonderful reminder."

"Grazie," Antonio replies, switching to Italian for a moment. "Mi fa piacere sentirlo. E la tua città? È un bel posto?"

Nicole's eyes flicker with something—perhaps nostalgia or something deeper—but she keeps her answer brief. "Sì, era bello," she says softly, her voice almost lost in the clatter of dishes.

Antonio studies her for a moment but doesn't press further, turning his attention back to Jaime, who is eagerly finishing his plate.

As dinner winds down, Antonio stands to leave. "Well, my friends, it's been a pleasure. But I must return to my kitchen before they start to wonder if I've retired."

Jaime jumps up, his face lighting up with excitement. "When will you come back, Antonio? I want to learn more recipes!"

Antonio chuckles, patting Jaime on the head. "We'll see, little chef. I'll talk to your Uncle Shane, but if you really want to see me, maybe you can convince them to bring you by the restaurant sometime, eh?"

Jaime's eyes sparkle at the idea, and he turns to me with a pleading look. "Can we, Uncle Shane?"

"We'll see, buddy," I say, smiling at his enthusiasm.

Nicole takes Jaime's hand, gently leading him away to get ready for bed. "Come on, little chef. It's time for bed. We'll dream about all the desserts you'll make next time."

As they disappear down the hallway, I grab the remaining cooking supplies and follow Antonio out to his car. As I help Antonio load the last of the supplies into his trunk, the cool night air does little to calm the unease gnawing at me.

"Antonio," I start, closing the trunk, "what did you think of Nicole?"

He looks at me with a knowing smile. "She's lovely, Shane. Fun, kind, and she clearly cares a lot about you and Jaime."

I nod, but the unease doesn't dissipate. "Did you notice she was... I don't know, a bit reserved? I thought she might open up more with you, especially when you spoke to her in Italian."

Antonio leans against the car, folding his arms, his expression turning serious. "Shane, friend to friend, it doesn't seem like she wants to open up. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's something to be aware of."

"Do you think it's because of where she's from?" I ask, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Antonio sighs, his eyes reflecting a depth of understanding. "She's from a tough place in Italy. People from those areas often carry things with them—memories, experiences—they'd rather leave behind. It's not uncommon for them to be apprehensive about talking about their past."

His words hit close to home, aligning with the worries simmering in the back of my mind. What if Nicole's past involves more than just painful memories? I can't shake the thought of what she might have gone through to get here, the kind of deals she might have made. I've heard stories of immigrants bartering for visas, getting tangled up with the wrong people, the kind that come knocking when it's time to collect. Could Nicole be in danger? And if she is, does that mean Jaime could be at risk, too?

I push the thought away, feeling a twinge of guilt. It feels wrong even to think about it and question how someone got here. Immigrants have it hard enough without being judged for the lengths they might go to for a better life. But the fear lingers, gnawing at the edges of my mind. I don't want to believe Nicole is involved in anything illegal, but the uncertainty is there, and it's eating at me.

Antonio, sensing my inner turmoil, claps me on the shoulder, his smile returning. "Focus on building new experiences with her. Better experiences. She's sweet, she's here, and she's with you. That's what matters."

I nod, shaking his hand. "Thanks, Antonio. I appreciate the advice."

"Any time, Shane. Take care of yourself, and them." He gets into his car, giving me a final wave before driving off into the night.

As I watch him disappear down the driveway, my phone buzzes with an email from our doubtful investor, Natalie. I glance at it, my heart sinking as I scan the words. The phrase "no longer in good faith to continue our investment" jumps out at me.

I don't even bother reading the rest. The frustration I've been trying to suppress all day boils over, and I know I won't be able to sleep like this. I need to clear my head. Without another thought, I head for my car, hoping that a long night drive will help me sort through everything—how to save my relationship with Nicole and how to keep the business afloat.

Both feel like they're slipping through my fingers, and I'm not sure which one scares me more.

Chapter 20

Nicole

The sound of my cell phone buzzing at 3 a.m. jolts me from my restless thoughts. I'm already awake, staring at the blank ceiling, caught in that uneasy space between sleep and wakefulness. My heart pounds as I reach for the phone. This is the call I've been waiting for—the one I've spent so much time arranging.

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