Nanny for the Don: Chapter 12

I watch Willow leave, the sway of her hips drawing my eyes until she throws a smile over her shoulder just before stepping out of the gym. The second she’s out of sight, a pang of regret hits me, a part of me wishing she’d come back.

Shaking it off, I step onto the treadmill, determined to get in a solid run and clear my mind. I pick up the pace, the familiar rhythm of my feet hitting the belt usually a good way to focus. But today, it’s different. My legs feel a little heavier than usual, and it doesn’t take long to realize why—I’m already a bit worn out from the workout I just had with Willow.

A grin tugs at my lips as I slow the treadmill down. The memory of her under me, the way she moaned my name, it’s all still too fresh, too vivid. The run can wait—it seems I’ve already gotten my heart rate up plenty this morning.

I step off the treadmill, wiping the sweat from my brow. Instead of pushing through a workout I don’t really need, I head straight for the shower. The hot water’s going to feel damn good, and maybe it’ll help clear my head, get me back to the business I should be focusing on.

But as I strip down and step under the spray, I know it’s not going to be that easy to shake Willow from my mind.

I let the hot water rush over me, savoring the last traces of her scent on my skin before it’s washed away. The warmth soothes my muscles, but it does nothing to ease the tension building inside me. The memory of Willow, bent over the squat rack, flashes in my mind, and I feel myself getting hard all over again.

I consider taking care of it in the shower, just to clear my head. But I know better. That wouldn’t be enough to erase the images of her, the way she felt, the way she fluttered around me. Those memories are going to be with me for a long, long time.

I shake my head, realizing this is already more than I bargained for. She’s not just another woman; she’s already making this more complicated than I intended. I wanted to keep things simple, strictly physical, but I can sense it—she’s starting to get under my skin. And that could be dangerous.

I turn off the shower and grab a towel, drying off as I wrestle with the truth that’s been gnawing at me. Maybe I’m getting in over my head with Willow. She’s not just a fling to scratch an itch; there’s something about her that’s different, something that’s already making me want more than I should.f.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I step out of the bathroom, ready to start the day. But no matter how hard I try to push her out of my mind, she’s there, lingering in the back of my thoughts.

I get dressed in my room and head downstairs just in time to see my little girls bursting through the door with Ms. M, fresh from their trip to the park. The moment they spot me, their faces light up, and they rush toward me with such enthusiasm their hugs nearly knock me off my feet.

“Papa!” Giulia squeals, clinging to my leg, while Lucia wraps her arms around my waist, looking up at me with those big, innocent eyes.

“Do you still have to do work, Papa?” Lucia asks, her voice tinged with hopeful curiosity I can never resist.

Readjusting my priorities, I shake my head. “Not a chance,” I say, ruffling her hair. “I’m going to spend the rest of the day with my little princesses like I promised.” Their squeals of delight fill the room, and it’s impossible not to feel the warmth of their joy. “How about we make it a special day? What do you say we go to the zoo?”

Their eyes widen with excitement, and they both start bouncing on their toes, practically bursting with happiness. “Yes! Yes!” they chant, almost in unison.

I turn to Ms. M, who’s watching the scene with a soft smile. “Take the day for yourself, Ms. M. We’ve got it from here.”

“You got it. I’ll be around if you need anything,” she replies.

“Did they have breakfast yet?” I ask, noticing how hungry I’m starting to feel myself.

“Just a little fruit and yogurt to start,” she says.

“Well then,” I grin, turning to the girls. “How about some of Papa’s famous chocolate French toast before we head out?”

Their eyes go wide, and they both nod enthusiastically. “Yes, please!” they shout, and I laugh at their infectious excitement.

We head into the kitchen, the girls chattering excitedly as I gather the ingredients for our breakfast.

“Papa, can I stir?” Giulia asks, standing on her tiptoes to peek into the bowl.

“Of course, princess,” I say, handing her the whisk. “Just like this—nice and steady.”

Lucia, not wanting to be left out, tugs on my shirt. “I want to dip the bread!”

“Alright, alright, one at a time,” I chuckle, guiding her over to the bread. “You dip it in the egg mix, just like this, and make sure it’s all covered.”

Soon, the kitchen is filled with the sweet smell of cooking French toast, and the girls are grinning from ear to ear as we work together. Once the toast is golden brown and drizzled with chocolate, they’re sitting down at the table, practically bouncing with excitement.

Just as I think Willow must have left, she swings through the kitchen, catching me by surprise. “Just wanted to say goodbye to my little ladies,” she says, a warm smile on her face.

“We’re having Papa’s chocolate French toast, and we’re going to the zoo!” Lucia announces, beaming.

Willow smiles. “Sounds like a perfect day. Have so much fun, and I’ll see you this evening.”

Before she can leave, the girls rush over to hug her, holding her tight. “Come with us!” they plead; their voices full of innocent insistence.

I watch as the girls go absolutely crazy over Willow, clinging to her like she’s their favorite person in the world. It’s captivating, the way she’s so at ease with them, her laughter mixing with theirs as they chat. Even though it’s her day off, she’s in no rush to leave, clearly enjoying the moment just as much as they are.

“Please, Willow, come with us!” Giulia begs, her arms wrapped tightly around Willow’s waist.

“Yeah, we want you to see the lions and the monkeys!” Lucia adds, squeezing her legs.

Willow crouches down to their level, smiling warmly. “You know I’d love to, but today’s your special day with your papa. Besides, I’ll be here when you get back, and you can tell me all about the animals you saw. Deal?”

“Deal!” they both chirp, though they still don’t let go of her..

I step in, gently helping Willow disentangle herself from their enthusiastic hugs. “Alright, girls, let Willow go. Your French toast is getting cold.”

With some reluctance, they finally release her and scamper back to the table, digging into their breakfast. with gusto. I turn to Willow, noting the way the sunlight catches her hair, the playful glint in her eyes.

“What have you got planned for the day?” I ask, my voice casual, though there’s a tension in the air that’s hard to ignore.

She shrugs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m not sure yet. I thought I’d start with a walk around the neighborhood and take it from there.”

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, the room feels charged with something unspoken. The air between us is thick with that same heated tension from earlier, and I can tell she feels it too. But instead of acting on it,

I nod. “Enjoy your walk.”

She gives me a small smile , her gaze lingering on mine for a beat longer than necessary before she finally turns to leave.

The girls finish their breakfast, their plates nearly licked clean. “Alright, my little princesses,” I say, clapping my hands to get their attention, “I need your help cleaning up.”

They dive right into it, each one eager to impress. Giulia grabs her plate and hurries over to the sink, while Lucia carefully carries the syrup-sticky forks. They’re quick and efficient, clearly enjoying the responsibility, and I can’t help but smile at their enthusiasm.

As I’m wiping down the table, I catch a glimpse of Willow through the kitchen window. She’s walking down the sidewalk in front of the house, her figure slowly disappearing as she heads off for her day.

A strange longing hits me square in the gut, an unexpected ache that’s hard to shake.

It’s her day off, and she’s just the hired help, but the thought of spending the day without her almost makes it feel incomplete.

I push the feeling aside, telling myself she deserves her time to relax. But a part of me wishes she were joining us, seeing the girls’ excitement firsthand, sharing in their laughter. We finish cleaning quickly and rush off to grab their coats, their excitement for the zoo practically bursting at the seams.

As they chatter about what animals they want to see, I find my thoughts still drifting back to Willow. I wonder if I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. This arrangement with her was supposed to be simple, physical—but nothing about how I feel right now is simple.

And it’s definitely not just physical.