Page 29 of Kingpin's Nanny

It must look a bit much with my sweater and jeans, but I feel like a princess when I turn back and see the admiration in his eyes, and it sends a thrill down my spine. The way his gaze lingers on my chest says he wants to take me back to bed.

“Flawless diamonds for my flawless little elf,” he murmurs.

“I’m not?—”

“You are.”

Obviously, I’m not flawless, but I don’t argue more because I’m lucky. So, so lucky. He slings his arm over my shoulders as though this is the way we sit together all the time, and the necklace is a slight weight on my front that almost has symmetry. It’s a security I didn’t realise I wanted, wearing something Lucas gave me.

He leans in again. “It looks beautiful on you. But your real present is the baby.”

“What did you say?” Ivy demands, looking between us suspiciously.

“Just checking that Bella liked her gift,” Lucas replies easily as I blush Christmas-red.

There are more rounds of presents and whenever I lean forward too far, Lucas tucks me closer to him. Which is hardly adifficulty to cope with, so I lay my head on his shoulder. I receive a rainbow unicorn of my own from Ivy. I promise to play with her later. Then there are more gifts for Ivy than either of us, of course, including a tablet that Lucas has put a reading app on, and my heart fills at how good he is with her.

I’ve always liked Christmas for the sparkling lights in the depths of winter, and the ideal of family harmony. But I’ve never felt like I was part of that joy until now. The morning sunlight is peeking through the curtains by the time there’s wrapping paper scattered across the carpet, toys everywhere, and Lucas is on his second cup of black coffee.

Ivy has sobered as we’ve reached the end of the stack under the tree, and Lucas watches her, brows low.

“Don’t you like your presents?” Lucas asks.

“I do! I really do!” Ivy says quickly. “It’s just… Nothing.”

And that’s when I remember what she said, seemingly a lifetime ago, before I discovered Lucas had bought my evening as a camgirl. Ivy told me she wanted a father for Christmas.

My heart squeezes, because I had that feeling myself, every Christmas during my childhood. Every Christmas until this one, if I’m honest.

Ivy goes back to playing with the new unicorn toys, and I lean over to whisper into Lucas’ ear. “She said she wanted a dad.”

13

LUCAS

“Ohhhh.” I look at my little niece and the weight of guilt is immediate. Like with Bella, I kept Ivy out because I thought that was best. I thought I was unfit. It’s only now I can see that I hurt us both unnecessarily. “I’m sorry you two. I’ve been a terrible gift giver.” But I’m going to make up for it.

“You haven’t,” Bella protests.

“But you’ll need to help me.” I have a plan, and it can’t wait until I have the correct items bought. “Ivy, could I borrow two of those friendship bracelets you got for Christmas, please.”

She got a whole box of them from a friend from her school and has already put some on the unicorns.

My niece tilts her head thoughtfully. “What colours?”

Amusement flares in my chest. Why did I think this was the easy way? “Gold would be ideal, but?—”

“I don’t like gold,” Ivy declares. “I prefer green.”

“Understandable,” I reply with the seriousness this topic deserves. “Perhaps you could give me a gold one and a green one?” Blue is my favourite colour since a certain blue-eyed woman came into our lives, but I’ll allow green in this case.

Ivy narrows her eyes, clearly reluctant to part with a green bracelet, but sorts through them until she finds two she feels shecan spare. With solemn gravity, Ivy hands them over. I rise from the sofa and take them from her, pocketing the green one.

The friendship bracelets are designed for a child’s wrist, and tiny, made with plastic beads and not exactly the classy and outrageously expensive jewellery I’d prefer to do this with.

Never mind. I take a deep breath and lower myself to one knee before Bella.

14