Amelia's POVMom turned to the window, a wistful look in her eyes. "It's been a while since I've been outside. Fresh air would be lovely."We exchanged glances with Blaire, a silent excitement building between us. Turning back to my mother, I gave her a reassuring smile."Alright, then it's settled," I said. "Let's see if we can convince Dr. Williams to let you out for a couple of hours."Blaire was the resident doctor in charge of Mom's treatment, but could not make a decision such as letting my Mom out for a couple of hours on her own. Hence, we had to go talk to her superior and the consultant.We found Dr. Williams in his office, reviewing charts with a frown etched on his forehead. He looked up as we entered, his expression softening when he saw us."Amelia and Blaire" he greeted us, gesturing towards the chairs across his desk. "What can I do for you today? Blaire, you're off today, aren't you? I would think you would choose to spend your day off somewhere else other than the ho

Amelia’s POV As we entered, a woman with a perfectly sculpted pixie cut and a warm smile approached us. This must be the owner, I thought to myself. "Welcome!" she greeted, her voice as charming as her smile. "Are you all booked in?""We're not exactly booked," Blaire admitted sheepishly. "We were hoping you might be able to accommodate a walk-in? My mother, here, would love a haircut and maybe a manicure."The woman's smile faltered slightly. "A walk-in, you say? We are quite busy today…" she trailed off, her gaze flitting between us. I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she assessed the situation.Just as my heart threatened to plummet, Blaire stepped in again, her voice turning persuasive. "We understand if it's not possible," she said, "but my mother is recovering from an illness, and a bit of pampering would mean the world to her. We're flexible on timing, truly."The woman pursed her lips, tapping a perfectly manicured finger against her chin. "Hmm," she p

Amelia's POVI hesitated for a moment. "I don't know, I don't want to. He might be my ex-boyfriend but he is now also my boss. I mean I'm the nanny of his daughter. Getting involved with him at this moment will just make a mess of everything. I just want to focus on my job," I eventually saidMom hummed thoughtfully. "Is that why you pushed him away so harshly?"I nodded my head, feeling so ashamed. Everything I had said to him that night replayed over and over again in my mind. "It's fine, Eddie. You do not have to explain yourself to me. It is not entirely because of your ex-wife that I say that this is a mistake. There are several… no, hundreds of reasons why this was a mistake. I'm sorry if I led you on, but this should have never happened. So please, Eddie, let me go and let's forget that this ever happened." "You are my employer, Eddie. I work for you as a cook and also take care of your daughter. You are paying me a substantial amount to do so. Do you think it is right for us

Eddie's POVMy cheeks flushed slightly. "Alright, alright," I conceded, throwing my hands up in mock surrender. "Maybe I was thinking of getting Amelia something nice. It's been a tough week for her, and…""And you want to show her you care," James finished my sentence with a knowing nod."Something like that," I mumbled, feeling strangely self-conscious about my sudden urge for chivalry. I briefly wondered if it would be too much. Showing up with flowers especially after the tense atmosphere that would undoubtedly be between us. After that night, I had avoided Amelia the following morning, only corresponding through notes in the house and through John, the driver. He must have thought the two of us were loony for passing messages to each other through him rather than just talking to each other, especially since we lived in the same house. James clapped me on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Go for it, Eddie," he said, his voice filled with encouragement. "A little gesture like that

Amelia's POVMy mom, propped up in bed and sporting a mischievous glint in her eyes, piped up, "Amelia, is this the Eddie you were telling us about? The one with the…interesting…cooking skills?"A groan escaped my lips. Of course, Mom would latch onto that particular detail. I shot her a playful glare, which she only met with a wider grin. Eddie, however, looked mortified."Oh, no," he stammered, a blush creeping up his neck. "That was…that was a one-time thing. I promise I'm a much better businessman than a chef."Blair, ever the instigator, chimed in with a mischievous giggle. "Oh, don't be so hard on yourself, Eddie. A little kitchen mishap adds to the charm, wouldn't you say, Amelia?"I swatted playfully at her arm, mortified by her teasing. "Shut up, Blair," I muttered.Eddie, however, seemed to relax a little at Blair's comment. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He cleared his throat and offered the flowers to me. "These are for you," he said, his voice regaining a