Page 30 of Bad Wolf's Nanny

The silence stretched.

“He likes you,” Felix said quietly.

Lola looked up, startled. “What?”

“The baby,” he said with a small smile. “He’s relaxed when you hold him. That’s a good sign.”

She opened her mouth to deflect, some awkward, defensive remark about pheromones or muscle tone, but the words caught. She glanced down at the infant curled against her chest.

He was relaxed. He felt safe.

And it made her throat ache.

Rick cleared his throat, running a hand through his immaculate hair, “We should get back. If Dane’s going to play house, someone has to pick up the slack on patrol.”

“He’s not playing anything,” Felix said mildly. “This is a new priority. We’ll adjust.”

Rick said nothing. Just nodded once and turned toward the door.

Nicolas offered her a suave grin. “You’ve got this, Lola. I give it three days before Dane’s begging you to move in full time.”

Lola choked on her own breath, cheeks heating. “I…what…absolutely not.”

“Whatever you say,” Nicolas replied, all charm.

They filed out with minimal fuss, a few lingering comments about shifts and border tensions, and then they were gone.

The apartment was quiet again.

Lola didn’t realize she was holding her breath until she let it out all at once.

Dane hovered near the door for a second, then turned back to her. His arms were crossed, his jaw tight.

But his eyes…his eyes looked exhausted.

And maybe a little bit…grateful.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he said quietly. “Any of it.”

“I know,” she replied. Then, after a pause, added, “But he’s yours. And now he’s here. So…what else could I do?”

He didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he walked toward her, slowly, carefully, like she might spook. He crouched beside the couch and looked down at the baby, now dozing again, little mouth slack.

“He’s got your hair,” she said softly.

“Poor kid.”

She smiled despite herself.

They sat in silence for a while. Not awkward. Not easy, either.

She could feel something shifting. The baby’s presence had changed the air in the room, thicker, heavier with responsibility, with something unspoken hanging between them.

Eventually, Dane straightened with a grunt and rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re staying tonight.”

It wasn’t a question.