“Very impressive.”
“Papa signed it first.”
He pointed to an elegant DR near his wrist.
“You can sign it too. Use the gold marker. It’s special.”
I took the offered marker and carefully wrote Ellie with a small heart beside it.
Marco beamed.
“Are you going to be my new nanny? Papa said you might be.”
I glanced around, but Dante was nowhere to be seen.
“I’m still thinking about it.”
“Please say yes. Mrs. Abernathy is nice, but she’s old and doesn’t know about dinosaurs. You could help me with my homework and read me stories.”
The naked hope in his voice made my chest ache.
Before I could respond, the kitchen door opened and Dante entered, now dressed in dark jeans and a charcoal sweater that somehow made him look even more imposing than his business suit.
“Marco, go wash up for dinner.”
The boy slid off his stool, careful of his cast.
“Papa, don’t let Miss Ellie leave.”
A ghost of a smile touched Dante’s lips.
“I won’t.”
Once Marco had left, Dante turned to me.
“Wine?”
“Please.”
He poured 2 glasses of red wine from a bottle that probably cost more than my monthly rent and handed one to me.
“Marco seems attached to you already.”
I took a sip, the rich flavor coating my tongue.
“He’s a sweet boy.”
Dante’s blue eyes held mine.
“He’s persistent. Like his father.”
Then he asked directly, “Have you made a decision?”
The question caught me off guard.
“I’m still considering it.”
