Page 92 of Captive Vow (Mafia Marriages 2)

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Paige

“I don’t have an aversion to dating my boss,” I say, “but I admit it’s probably not a great idea.”

He looks slightly dejected.

“But I’m not saying no,” I confess. “We just need to take things slow. Okay?” I’m not even sure why he’s asking me out.

He likes me, but he still seems like he’s grieving for his dead wife. I don’t want to be his rebound girl. Is it even a rebound after a spouse is deceased?

“Slow is good,” Moreno says.

The waitress brings Nova a cup of milk in a plastic cup with a lid and a straw, and Moreno a glass of water. She refills mine before disappearing back into the kitchen.

“I’ll plan a date for just the two of us tonight.”

“Tonight?” I ask and reach for my water glass.

He does move fast.

“I don’t put out on a first date,” I warn.

“Don’t put what out?” Moreno asks innocently.

The room feels several degrees warmer, and I take another swig of my water, trying to cool down and calm down.

“You look cute when you blush.”

I brush a strand of hair behind my ear. It’s easier for me to focus my attention on Nova. It’s why I’ve thrown myself in work around him and because it’s also my job.

“Are you having fun coloring?” I ask Nova.

She drops her crayon and glances up at me. “You didn’t answer his question. What gets put out on a date?”

My eyes widen in horror. Little Nova, who has barely spoken more than a word here or there over the past few days, has now decided it was a good time to humiliate me!

Moreno has a smug smile etched on his face. “Are you going to answer her?”

“Nova, did your daddy teach you about the birds and the bees?”

His eyes widen, and he interrupts me before I can continue any further discussion on the topic.

Moreno’s ears are bright red. “Nova, sweetie, your lunch is coming out. Why don’t you put the crayons down, and we go wash our hands in the bathroom?”

Wordlessly, she rests the crayon on the table and climbs out of the booth, following her father to the restroom.

I can’t help but smirk, satisfied that I’ve managed to turn the tables on him, not that I had any intention of giving Nova the sex talk. That was up to her father to discuss when the time was appropriate. I was her nanny, not her mother.

“Are you going to behave yourself?” Moreno asks me as he returns to the table.

I point at myself, pretending to be appalled by his suggestion. “Me?”

“Yes, you. Nova at least has the audacity to be well disciplined.” Moreno’s eyes are shining behind his cool exterior. There’s a smirk edging at the corner of his lips. He’s trying to hide it back and play the tough guy act that he wears so well.

It probably comes naturally to him.

“Yeah, I never went to finishing school or had a nanny to teach me all about the birds and the bees,” I say with a chuckle.

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