Leo had said hello to all his clients when he ushered Isla out of the Public House into a waiting Uber. He had fewer local clients than the other agents and was disappointed Matthew hadn't come. Lilli said he was going to England for Christmas.

Crazy Nancy plied Isla with champagne. Leo worried she wouldn't remember or worse she would retreat embarrassed. He held her close in the warm car, before they stepped out into the cold to enter the station. With only a few minutes to spare, they made the train otherwise they would have to wait an hour and a half for the next one. He would have splurged for an Uber instead.

Isla put her head on his shoulder for the ride. He breathed in her familiar shampoo scent. She looked up at him. "It's hot."

"Did you eat anything?" She shook her head. "Neither did I."

Once in his car, instead of driving home, he drove to the diner. She looked at him and frowned. "Are you bringing me back?"

He wanted to laugh but bit his upper lip. "Never. You're stuck with us. I'm starving."

She giggled. He wished the giggling girl was heading for his bed, but he would wait. She sat next to him in the booth, as he resisted the urge to sit at the counter. He ordered coffee for Isla and a chocolate milkshake for himself. Hopefully, their stop at the diner would sober her and take them past Riley's bedtime. Isla wouldn't want the girl to see her.

She drank her cup of coffee and started on the water. As if she came out of a spell, she looked at his shake. "That's not very healthy."

He laughed. "It's okay. I'm celebrating our first real date."

The server brought over a grilled cheese and a hamburger with crispy fries. Leo recognized her as the woman who was rude to Isla for staying so long. The older woman would never guess she was the same person. Isla surprised Leo when she reached for some fries. He held her hand, and she giggled. She reached up and wiped ketchup off the corner of his mouth. His insides went haywire as she initiated the soft touch. Screw it. He leaned over and captured her lips with his. The mingling of the greasy, salty food, with mocha from coffee and chocolate sent his blood flowing. How was he going to date her and not go crazy?

The house was quiet when they arrived home. Marcia sat reading in the living room. She stood up. "Did you have fun?"

Isla had sobered and nodded. Leo pulled out his wallet, but Marcia shook her head. "I was glad to give my friend a night out."

Isla yawned. Leo said, "Thank you. How were they?"

"Perfect. I miss little ones. Goodnight."

Leo walked her to the door and after he watched her start her car, he found Isla on the sofa. "My head hurts."

Leo sat down and kissed her forehead before shifting to her lips. All night he focused on Isla and didn't feel guilty. He looked forward to Christmas because he wouldn't be alone.

"Did you know Lilli wrote a story?"

Leo pulled back. "No."

"I read it. She told me how to read on my phone."

She picked up her phone and pointed to the Novelpost app. Leo knew Zach trolled it, but he didn't realize Lilli wrote. "Did you like the story?"

"Yes, it was about Zach when she liked him and didn't know he liked her."

Leo laughed. "I moved here in time for the end before Zach asked her out. Maybe an office party wasn't the best first date, but it was better than a weekend long wedding."

"I enjoyed watching you work. Lilli said I can read other stories too."

Leo smiled at her enthusiasm and a new idea. "I think Nancy is going to write a story about a nanny. I wonder how it will end."

Isla looked at him with her head tilted. "End? I read one of her stories. It's like all the others, same as Riley's favorite movie, the stories end happily ever after."

Riley loved the Cinderella movie with real people. Leo knew happily ever after didn't last, but he liked happily until fate intervened.

"Why are you frowning?" Isla touched his face.

He lost count of the times she reached for him. Covering her hand with his, he pulled it to his lips. He shook his head. "I'm happy here with you, but I have to work tomorrow."

"Me too."

He laughed. "Can I walk you home?"

She bushed. "How about to the stairs?"

At the door to the basement, he pulled her in his arms and kissed her. He hoped she would think of his lips as she drifted to sleep.

Leo woke and his first thought was he hadn't dreamed. He was glad Autumn stayed away, but why had Isla? The kitchen was dark, and he thought about waking Isla but put the coffee on first. As he walked halfway down the steps, he heard the water running through the pipes. She was in the shower which was not something he needed to think about.

In the kitchen, he went to the refrigerator. She had a late start, so he would help make lunches. Hopefully, she was feeling okay, since she had sobered before she went to bed.

Isla appeared and frowned when she saw him. He smiled at her. "This used to be my job."

"You'll be late."

He looked at the clock. "Do you feel okay?"

"My head."

"Take some Tylenol. I'll be quick." He brushed his lips over hers before he rushed upstairs with his coffee sloshing in the cup. Isla wouldn't like coffee drops throughout the house.

With the kids awake and the typical chaos of getting out the door in the morning, Leo arrived at his office without having another private word with Isla. Lilli met him full of questions.

He frowned. "Isla hardly drinks. Somehow she had too much champagne."

Lilli giggled. "Zach likes when I have too much."

"Isla is nothing like you."

He didn't mean to take it out on Lilli. At least it was Friday, but Riley stayed up later, so he waited forever to be alone with Isla.

It was a good sign she was on the sofa when he finished tucking his daughter in. "Did your headache go away?"

She nodded. "I never get headaches."

He sat next to her. "Blame the champagne."

"Why do people drink it if it leaves them with headaches?"

He shrugged. "Because it tastes good. It's decadent to dress up and sip from a flute." Isla knitted her brow. "What's wrong?"

"I didn't sip."

Leo laughed. "It's potent. You might have had too much."

"Did I? Was I drunk?" She whispered the last word.

"Maybe a little, but I took care of you."

"You kissed me and said things." She put her hand to her mouth. "I can't remember."

He caressed her warm cheek. "It's okay. I'll say them again. It was our first date of many." He smiled at her shock. "Yes, many."

Without hesitation he sunk his lips onto hers and sighed as they met. When he pulled away, she said, "Date, what does that mean?"

"It means we spend time together. I need a babysitter so we can go out."

"But I work for you and live here."

It changed the meaning of dating. Leo's mind was clouded with a future he felt guilty for wanting. "One day at a time. What do you want?"

"Want? I want you to care for me." Pink tinted her face.

"I do care for you, more than I would have imagined was possible. I had been fighting it for a long time."

"Fighting? Why?"

"First you worked for me, then my feelings for Autumn. Isla, I want a fresh start with you. Have we agreed we both have feelings?"

"Yes, feelings."

"Good. Isla, I'm trying to dance around it, but the truth is what I feel is love."

"You hardly know me."

Leo held both her hands in his. "Not true. I am completely certain of what I feel. I've fought it for too long."

She looked at him with her green eyes shimmering in the tree lights. "You love me. I loved you before I even understood it."

He pulled her into an embrace. With her chest pounding against hers. He felt sure he was in love with her. Leo never expected to be lucky enough to find it twice.

Later in bed, he talked to Autumn. He shared with her the truth about Isla. When he apologized for all his transgressions against his vows and promises to her, he felt a wave of peace through his heart. He opened his eyes wishing he would see her. His voice sounded funny, as he spoke in an empty room.

"I know you're here. I feel you. Please forgive me. I'll always love you, but Isla came to us like a miracle. She loves your children and me. We love her too."

He thought he saw the curtain move. They were gauzy things he didn't like, but the previous owner left them. Truthfully, he didn't care enough to change them. Maybe Isla would someday when it became her bedroom too.

After a weekend of being together, but not because of the children, Leo tucked Riley in on Sunday night.

"Dad, I don't want Isla to be our nanny anymore."

His heart sunk. "Why?"

The girl had Autumn's serious face. "I saw you kiss her."

He had cornered her a few times. "You did? Sweetie, I..."

She put her hand up. "Dad, I know you like her. I told you before that Cody needs a mother. She should be our mother."

He relaxed. "Do you really think so?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad, but give us time."

He wasn't ready to propose, although one part of him wanted to be married to her already.

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