Page 33 of The Billionaire's Instant Triplets

CHAPTER15

RIA

“What a beautiful family you have.”

Ria sat on a bench at the park, the warm June air lifting her spirits. She had her book in her hands, but she’d been watching Tristan push the triplets on the swings instead of reading. The toddlers were sitting in baby swings as Tristan ran back and forth down the line, pushing each one in turn. The kids were laughing uproariously, especially when he made faces or tickled a foot when they swung forward. Tristan was beaming, too, as if he was completely in his element.

And it seemed that he was.

Ria had been so caught up in watching the heartwarming sight that she hadn’t noticed an older woman sitting down beside her. The woman wore a flowered dress, and her gray hair was knotted into a neat French twist.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Ria tore her eyes away from Tristan in his shorts and rock-band T-shirt, pushing Jasmine then pretending to be kicked by Jamie as he swung forward. The toddlers burst into laughter.

“I was just complimenting your family.” The older woman nodded to Tristan and the toddlers.

“Oh, they’re not… I mean… I’m just the nanny.” It was hard to say, even though it was true. Riawasjust the nanny. At times, she found herself imagining that she was more than that, that she was a mother to Jamie, Jacob, and Jasmine, a partner to Tristan. She just couldn’t admit that — even to herself.

“Really?” The woman looked surprised. “My apologies, dear. I just saw how you were looking at them. And those kids have your eyes.”

“They do, don’t they?” Ria smiled a little distantly. Tristan had just grabbed the chains of Jacob’s swing and was holding him in the air while the little boy kicked with joy.

The older woman patted Ria on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll have a family of your own one day.” Then she pulled out a book and began to read.

Ria sighed. She’d always felt resentful of strangers telling her she’d have a family one day — how could they know if she even wanted one? But today, she just felt a pang in her heart.

The longer Ria spent with this little family, eating dinner with Tristan, teaching him how to parent, meeting his eyes over the toddlers’ heads when one of them said something funny, the more she could feel herself falling in love with him. And it wasn’t just Tristan, either. She loved little Jacob’s artistic enthusiasm, Jamie’s bold and often hilarious leadership, and the way Jasmine would slip her hand into Ria’s as she told a story or asked how something worked.

It was only a matter of time before Ria toppled head over heels into love with this whole family. And that could only mean heartbreak because, at the end of the day, she was just the nanny. Nothing she did would change that.

Although… at times, she felt that Tristan might feel something for her, too. Maybe. Just then, Tristan caught her gaze and grinned, waving her over. Ria got up, nodding a goodbye to the older woman, and joined him by the swings.

“So,” he said, “we were thinking of a little treat after the park.”

“Oh?” Ria turned to the triplets, gently pushing Jamie’s swing. “What would that be?”

“We want ice cream!” Jasmine half-shouted. Her speech had improved in leaps and bounds over the last few months, but Ria was still impressed by how well she was talking now.

“Ice cream, huh?” Ria grinned at Tristan. “That sounds great.”

So, they helped the triplets down from their swings and walked the few blocks to the nearest main street. Ria held Jacob’s hand on one side and Jasmine’s on the other. In turn, Jasmine held Jamie’s hand, and Jamie held Tristan’s. They walked in a chain, swinging their hands back and forth as the kids chanted, “Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream.”

Ria caught Tristan’s eye, and they smiled at each other. Ria had the fleeting thought that she and Tristan were almost holding hands, several kids removed.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” Tristan took a deep breath of the fresh June air.

“It is.” Ria swept her gaze across the blossoming flowers and leafy trees that had taken over the streets. When she’d arrived, buds had barely been sprouting, but now the neighborhood resembled a forest. Had several months really passed? Several months of quiet dinners together and loud days with the kids?

“I was thinking of taking the kids on their first vacation towards the end of summer,” Tristan continued.

“Really?” Ria’s heart beat a little faster in her chest. She wasn’t sure if she was invited on this vacation.

“Yeah. Just a short trip to the beach, I think; maybe a night or two in a nice hotel with a pool and a view of the sea.”

“I think the kids would love that.” There was a pause, then Ria decided it was time to change the subject before she said something she might regret. “Have you thought more about preschool in September?”

“Yes, and I think you’re right. The nature preschool I tried didn’t work, but that was probably just because the kids weren’t feeling very settled yet. A few mornings a week at a nice preschool would probably do them all good.”

They’d talked about preschools a few nights ago after dinner, long after the triplets were in bed, while they’d sat on the couch in the living room, teas in hand. Ria had been the one to suggest that the kids might benefit from more socialization and a little introduction to academics. What she hadn’t said was that, if the kids were ready to spend time at school, her role would slowly disappear.

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