Blair’s POVTonia’s words hung heavy in the air, like a sweet melody that lingered. The blush on my face, already a warm pink, bloomed into a fiery crimson. The frustration I harbored towards Thomas just moments ago seemed to evaporate entirely. It was like a cloud had moved away, revealing a bright, sunny sky.All I could think about was James. His eyes, the way his laugh lines crinkled at the corners when he was truly amused, the sound of his voice all played on repeat in my mind like a favorite song. Every detail about him filled me with a warmth that spread through my chest like sunshine.Her playful suggestion about a proposal sent a jolt through me.“Make sure you tell more about your date when you get back tomorrow and who knows James can surprise by proposing,” she said, grinning."C’mon, Mrs Johnson," I said, playfully swatting her arm. "Pump the brakes a sec, James and I are just getting to know each other, figuring things out. Proposal? We are not even sure about our feeli
Blair’s POVMy heart lurched. A patient was in cardiac arrest and there was no time to waste on Thomas. "Duty calls," I said curtly, brushing past him and hurrying towards the designated room.His hand clamped onto my arm, a vise grip that sent a jolt of fear through me. Thomas yanked me back, my body slamming against the locker.His face contorted with anger, his earlier pleas replaced by a menacing growl. "How dare you walk out on me?!" he spat, the words laced with venom."You're hurting me, Thomas!" I gasped, his grip digging into my arm painfully. Ignoring my plea, he lunged forward, attempting to force a kiss on me. His words echoed in my ears, possessive and chilling: "You're mine. You don't get to just walk out on me."Just as his lips were about to meet mine, the announcement boomed through the hallway again, a relentless echo: "Code Blue in room 304! Doctor Blair needed immediately!"This time, the urgency in the announcement cut through Thomas's controlling rage. He hesit
Blair’s POVI tore open the packaging. My breath hitched as I peeked inside. Nestled amongst colorful crinkle paper lay a box of chocolates, your absolute favorite brand.A wave of delight washed over me. It wasn't the grand gesture I had initially imagined, but it was perfect in its simplicity. James had taken the time to remember my little indulgence, a thoughtful gesture that spoke volumes about his attentiveness.I pressed the phone back to my ear, a wide smile spreading across my face. "James," I began, my voice thick with emotion, "that definitely lightened my mood. Thank you so much. It's exactly what I needed."We chatted for a while longer, and he reminded me of our dinner date the next day. He mentioned needing to wrap things up at the office, so we said our goodbyes, promising to talk soon. With a spring in my step from our conversation and the delicious chocolate waiting for me, I turned to head back inside.But just as I was about to enter, a dark cloud loomed over my sun
Amelia's POV"Mr Thompson?" That was Gage, interrupting whatever it was that Eddie was about to say. I spun around, relief washing over me like a tidal wave. Gage stood in the doorway, his brow furrowed in confusion."Mr. Thompson?" he repeated, his gaze shifting between Eddie and me. "Is everything alright here?"Eddie's shoulders tensed, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his face. "Everything's fine, Gage," he said curtly. "Just checking on Amelia about something.""Oh," Gage said, his eyes lingering on me for a moment too long before returning to Eddie."Well Sir, I just wanted to inform you that you left your phone downstairs and it's been ringing nonstop." He outstretched his hand as he said this and it was then that I saw the sleek mobile phone in his hand. Eddie got up and grabbed the phone in his hand just as it began to ring again. He put it to his ear and spared me one last glance as he walked out. "Hello?" I could hear him saying as he walked away. Gage also glanced a
Amelia's POVNow, the evening found us gathered around the kitchen island, a makeshift dinner table since the formal dining room felt far too vast and cavernous for the three of us.I stirred the pasta sauce simmering in a pot on the stove, the rhythmic clinking of the spoon a welcome distraction from the awkward silence between Eddie and me. Every time I caught his gaze, it felt like a jolt of electricity sparking through my veins. His eyes, usually so cool and collected, held a hint of something deeper – confusion, perhaps, or a flicker of mirroring my own turmoil.Chloe kept up a steady stream of chatter. "...and then, Sparklemane used her magic horn to defeat the grumpy troll guarding the bridge!"I smiled, stirring the pot of vegetables. Despite the heavy tension hanging between Eddie and me, Chloe's innocent world offered a welcome distraction. Every now and then, I'd steal a glance at Eddie across the kitchen. He sat at the table, scrolling through his phone, his brow furrowed
Amelia's POVMy mouth parted in a moan, and his tongue pushed inside, caressing mine in strokes so lazy and sensual, I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. He tasted like an addictive combination of heat and spices, and the warmth of his touch curled through my stomach, between my thighs, and traveled all the way down to my toes.I didn’t know how long we stayed there, but it was enough for me to slide my fingers through his hair and confirm that yes, it really was that soft, and yes, he really did taste that good, and no, I’d never, ever come this close to unraveling. His kisses began to trace down to my collarbone and i moaned in utter pleasure as he palmed one breast over my blouse and began to lazily stroke it.I would’ve happily drowned in the embrace, but I broke away from the kiss. I pulled away from him and got up from the couch.I walked back a couple of feet away, my heart pounding, knowing what i was about to do next.I slowly began to unbotton my blouse. I to
Amelia's POVShudder after shudder racked my body while I rode out my orgasm mindlessly. Everything was so warm and slick and nice, and when the haze finally cleared and Eddie's fingers unknotted from my hair, I slumped against his leg, too exhausted to stand.Strong hands unwound my arms from his thigh and picked me up. Eddie set me on the counter, his movements smooth and fluid as he cleaned me up.After he finished, he straightened my dress, his eyes gleaming with lingering desire.Eddie's POVAmelia and I stumbled into her bedroom without taking our hands or mouths off one another.We knew each other’s bodies so intimately, it was as though we had never been apart from each other those six plus years.Our clothes left a trail to her room, where I pushed her onto the bed and paused, taking a moment just to drink her in.She stared up at me, her lips swollen from my attentions and her eyes shining in a way that made my heart squeeze.I love you.Three words, uttered countless times
Blair's POVWe exited the opulent restaurant, the cool night air a welcome contrast to the stuffy atmosphere inside. James apologized profusely once again, his voice laced with a genuine remorse that melted away the last remnants of my annoyance."Let me guess," I teased gently, "the chaos extends to your apartment?"He sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. "Maybe a little. Long nights at the office haven't exactly left me with much time for cleaning."I smiled. "Don't worry, I'm no stranger to a messy apartment after a long workweek. As long as there's a couch and a pizza place that delivers, we'll be good."The valet came around with James' car and after tipping the young nan who seemed enraptured by the car, James opened the passenger door for me, got into the driver's seat and we were soon on our way.The city lights twinkled like a million scattered diamonds as James weaved his sleek black sports car through the late-night traffic. He shot me a quick glance, his brow furrowe
Amelia’s POVIt's been a few weeks since Eddie and I had gotten back together. It had taken him only a couple of weeks to convince me to move in with him again, but this time around, it was not as his nanny or his chef, it was as his girlfriend. According to him, he wanted to spend as much time as possible before I had to go back to Florida to resume duty with my agency. Jenna had been slammed with a restraining order along with the promise of a lawsuit if she did not leave us alone. For good measure, Eddie had made sure to properly adopt Chloe as his legal daughter. That way Jenna would not be able to cause us any more trouble.“Babe! Hurry up, we're gonna be late!” That was Edie yelling from downstairs, while I was in the closet in his… in our room, getting ready. Together with my parents, Blair, James, and Chloe, we were all going to a restaurant to celebrate my mom finally beating cancer.I looked down at Chloe who had gotten her hand on my lipgloss and was now putting it on and
Eddie’s POVAmelia's gaze flickered between me and the bustling crowd before she sighed and gestured toward a doorway at the back."Let's talk somewhere else, shall we?"I did not want to have to talk to her. I wanted to be with her at my home, where I could talk to her and have all to myself."Forget the break room," I said, a newfound determination coursing through me. "Let's go somewhere we can actually talk."Amelia hesitated, then shrugged. "Alright," she conceded. "But I do have to finish my shift first."Frustration bubbled up within me, but I knew pushing her wouldn't help. "Fine," I muttered, trying to tamp down on my impatience. "How long?""Just another hour," she replied, checking her watch. "How about we meet somewhere? My place isn't really ideal.""My place is close by," I offered, surprising myself with the boldness. "It's quiet, we can talk there."Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Your place? That wasn't exactly part of the plan, Eddie.""Well, plans change," I said, a play
Eddie’s POV"It was a mistake, Eddie," she choked out, her voice barely audible. "A one-time thing… a long time ago.""A one-time thing?" I repeated, my voice cracking. The image of a younger, naive Jenna flashed before my eyes, a girl I thought I knew everything about. Now, she seemed like a stranger."Who was he?" I demanded with the need to know gnawing at me.Jenna hesitated, then whispered a name I vaguely recognized. It was someone from the film industry, a rising star she'd met during her brief stint in Los Angeles. They had a short fling, a whirlwind romance that ended as quickly as it began.The revelation hit me like a sucker punch. All the doubts I'd ignored, the whispers in the back of my mind, the nagging feeling that things weren't quite right – it all came flooding back with a terrifying clarity. Years of my life were built on a lie. Chloe, my sweet, innocent daughter, was caught in the crossfire of my naivety and Jenna's betrayal.Fury boiled within me, a churning infe
Eddie’s POVThe doctor gave a small smile. "Of course. Let her rest for a few minutes, and then you can go in."As we waited, James explained what little he knew. He'd been picking up Chloe from school when a call came through from the hospital. Apparently, another kid had swerved into Chloe's path while riding his scooter.A surge of anger flared up within me. How could someone be so careless? But the anger quickly dissipated, replaced by a fierce protectiveness over my little girl.Minutes later, we were ushered into the room. Chloe lay propped up in bed, her face pale and drawn, a white cast encasing her arm. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw me."Daddy!" she cried out, her voice small and wobbly.My heart ached at the sight of her distress. "Hey, champ," I said, rushing to her side and pulling her into a gentle hug, careful not to jostle her injured arm. "It's okay, I'm here now."She buried her face in my chest, her small body trembling slightly. I showered her with comforti
Amelia’s POVThe question hung heavy in the air. Friends? Could we really go back to that after everything that had happened? A part of me longed for the simplicity of our old friendship, the easy camaraderie we'd shared. But another part of me worried that friendship wouldn't be enough. The feelings I had for Eddie, the unspoken desires that had simmered beneath the surface of our relationship, wouldn't just disappear. They would linger, a constant reminder of what could have been.Taking a deep breath, I typed out a reply. "I… I don't know, Eddie. Honestly, I need some time to think. This whole situation has been a lot to process.""I understand," he replied almost instantly. "Take all the time you need. Just know that… I care about you, Amelia. More than you probably realize."His words sent a blush creeping up my neck. Did he really feel the same way? Or was this just a desperate attempt to hold onto me in any way he could? I didn't have the answers, and the uncertainty gnawed at
Amelia’s POVI stared at the message for what felt like an eternity, my mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions. Finally, with a shaky breath, I typed out a reply."Eddie," I began, my fingers hovering over the screen, "I… I don't know what to say. Thank you for the money. It means the world to me and my mom. But ...is everything alright? James said you collapsed. Are you in the hospital?" I hit send, the weight of the question hanging heavy in the air. The money, the cryptic message – it all pointed to something more serious than he was letting on.The wait for a response stretched into an agonizing eternity. Just as I started to pace the room, my phone buzzed. It was Eddie."Amelia," his voice rasped through the phone, weaker than I'd ever heard it. "Yes, I'm in the hospital. They're still trying to figure things out, but the doctor says I have Angiina due to stress."My chest tightened. Stress. The word echoed in my head, a stark reminder of the turmoil I'd left him in. "Eddie,"
Amelia’s POVI knew that there was no way that he and Jenna had actually been together in the way that she had been insinuating.Jenna had probably been playing another of her manipulative tricks. Regardless, I was exhausted and had had to tell myself that it would be better to end it with Eddie than to be dealing with hurt and frustration every day. James had been giving me updates on both Chloe and Eddie and although I knew I should tell him to stoop so that I could have a clean break, I did not think I had the heart to do so.The rhythmic rumble of the bus engine vibrated through the worn leather seat I occupied. Outside the window, the cityscape blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors, each passing image signifying my new reality. A reality where I, Amelia Brooks, was no longer Eddie Turner's nanny. Today's successful interview meant I could finally stand on my own two feet, financially independent. A bittersweet victory, considering the reason behind this newfound freedom.A soft c
Eddie’s POVHis words held a truth that stung. Jenna's behavior had become increasingly erratic, her possessiveness suffocating. But the thought of facing Amelia, of dredging up the hurt and confusion of that day, filled me with dread.I could not say anything, I could only nod my head in response. Just then, my head began to pound again, this time around in sync with my heart.My vision swam, the pounding in my head morphing into a relentless drum solo. The room seemed to tilt on its axis, James' concerned face warping into a blurry mess. A guttural cough ripped through me, sending another jolt of pain lancing through my chest."James…" I croaked, the word a raspy whisper. My hand reached out, blindly grasping for something solid. My fingers brushed against the armrest of the chair, anchoring me momentarily."Eddie, mate! What's wrong?" James' voice was laced with alarm, his concern cutting through the fog clouding my mind."Head…" I managed, the word slurred. My grip on the armrest
Eddie’s POVAmelia had left a gaping hole in my heart."But will she ever come back?" Chloe persisted, her lower lip trembling slightly."I… I don't know, sweetheart," I admitted, the truth a bitter pill to swallow. A heavy sigh escaped Chloe's tiny lips. "Okay," she mumbled, staring out the window with a wistful expression. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken emotions.Reaching over, I squeezed her hand gently. "Look," I began, my voice softened with love. "No matter what happens with Amelia, you'll always be my little girl. And no matter what, I'll always be here for you. Always."Chloe looked at me, a flicker of reassurance sparking in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, her voice a hesitant whisper."Really," I confirmed, my voice firm with conviction. "You're the most important thing in the world to me, you know that?"She nodded slowly, a small smile gracing her lips. For a moment, the tension seemed to ease, a fragile connection established between us.Reaching t