Page 210 of Billion-Dollar Attitudes

She chuckled, "I know, right? It feels like he was just a tiny baby yesterday. Time sure flies." Eventually, Meagan managed to escape her cooking duties and joined our chit-chat, agreeing with my sentiment as she sat down beside me. Not long after, Ariel excused herself to mix up more mimosas for us gals.

A pang of guilt hit me when Meagan mentioned Mitch and inquired about the latest updates. "Well, while my parents were away, we started seeing each other—you know, as more than friends. Mitch opened up about his shock at discovering he was a father and how anxious he was about my reaction. Naturally, I was taken aback, but I didn't hold it against him. So, he asked me to help find a nanny for little Ava. And—drumroll—he was incredible." I giggled, a blush creeping up my cheeks.

With a sly grin, Meagan arched a brow, teasing, "Go on, spill the tea!"

But my smile faded as I finished the story, "Well, the cops showed up. That's when the stalker made an appearance. We managed to dodge that bullet, but honestly, I was scared out of my mind!"

"I don't blame you…"

"Then, the next day, during an interview for a nanny, Mitch casually labeled us as 'friends with benefits,' making me disappointed….” As I poured my heart out, Meagan's expression softened, and she gently touched my shoulder.

"Amy, I hear you," she confided. "Think back to the rocky start Chase and I had. It's tough, but sometimes we need a jolt to see what our hearts truly desire."

"I know you're right, but it's just so difficult," I sighed, handing Jonathan a red block.

"I feel you, girl. But don't let past pain cloud your judgment. You deserve happiness, and if Mitch is the key, then you owe it to yourself to give him a shot," Meagan declared, the conviction in her voice.

"But there's more. My parents aren't exactly on the Mitch bandwagon, and he's about to be a single dad. Maybe it's just not in the cards."

"Amy, taking a leap of faith can be scary, but sometimes it's necessary. If I had let fear rule me, Chase and I would never have had the joy these twins bring us," Meagan said, her gaze filled with love as she looked at her kids playing on the blanket.

"Anyway, about the stalker. Did you catch a glimpse? Was it a guy or a girl? Could you ID them? Do you think it's the same creep who snatched you?" Meagan asked.

"I never saw the kidnapper's face, but it could have been the same guy. What intrigued me was the voice—so eerie, I'll never forget it. But the other night, the cops didn't give me a chance to see the beach lurker or hear him speak before they whisked him away," I recounted.

"Yeah, and the FBI told the guys he's already out on bail since nothing really went down."

"It's all so bizarre, honestly." I shook my head, wanting to forget the whole mess and just enjoy the festivities. As we shifted to lighter topics like my new gig at Rosedale, I spotted movement outside the window. Mitch! Anxiety tightened my chest, wondering how he'd react to Papa. "Oh, no! Mitch is here. I thought you said he wasn't coming."

"That's what he told Chase. Guess he had a change of heart." Megan smiled encouragingly.

A flutter of anxiety tickled my insides as I fretted over my father possibly uttering a negative comment to Mitch. Hastily, I excused myself and slipped out to the back porch, only to find them engrossed in a discussion about sports. Inhaling deeply, I made my way toward them, my nerves dancing beneath my skin. "Hey, Mitch," my voice quivered ever so slightly.

His lips curved into a warm smile, "Hey there, Amy."

Heat suffused my cheeks as I fumbled with the right words. "Um, I...I needed to discuss something with you," I stuttered.

"Absolutely, let's talk," Mitch agreed, nodding respectfully at my father before accompanying me away from the rest.

Gathering courage, I spoke up. "I didn't appreciate you labeling our relationship as 'friends with benefits.' It makes me feel undervalued," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "And I get why Ella posed those personal questions, but she came off as rather harsh."

Mitch's hand encircled mine, his gaze blazing with an intensity that sent shivers coursing through me. "But that doesn't change the fact that I want to carve out time for you, Amy," he murmured, his voice sultry and low. "I want to be your rock in the sunshine and the storms. I want to unravel this mysterious connection we share."

His heartfelt, poetic words sent my heart into a wild frenzy, and I felt myself falling deeper for him. "I want that too, Mitch," my voice barely a whisper. "I want to explore where this leads."

He inched closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "Then let's make it happen," he whispered, his breath warming my cheek.

A sudden cough from behind caught us off guard, and we sprang apart, flushed with embarrassment. "Dinner's ready, lovebirds," Chase teased, smirking at the scene he'd stumbled upon.

Hand in hand, Mitch and I made our way back inside, joining everyone at the table. My heart swelled with joy seeing Mitch seated between my father and me. As we began eating, Mitch and Papa exchanged hushed words regarding Mitch's custody battle.

"It's true. Nicole wants to relinquish custody of Ava, but nothing's set in stone. I still need to prove I can offer her a stable home and be a responsible parent," Mitch admitted, a hint of worry lacing his voice.

Papa nodded thoughtfully, "Being a single parent isn't a cakewalk, but it's worth the effort. I may not have been a single dad, but I've learned that firsthand raising my amazing daughter, Amy."

A warm smile bloomed on my face as I glanced at my father, and I caught Mum beaming from ear to ear across the table. Despite his initial hesitation, I could see that Papa was beginning to empathize with Mitch's difficult situation.

As the meal concluded, the ladies commenced tidying up the dining area and washing the dishes. Simultaneously, the guys withdrew to Chase's state-of-the-art home cinema to indulge in some football. Mitch beckoned me while I was drying the dishes, a sheepish grin on his face.

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