“I wouldn’t say I knew him very well. He was a really nice guy.” She blew her nose.
“So, like you two hooked up?” Luca asked with a wry grin.
“Jesus,” Ciro hissed. “What do you want?”
“You’re needed in the study.” He seemed to be trying to tell Ciro it was important without using words.
“Okay, I’ll be down in a minute.” Ciro stood with Pippa and planted a big kiss on her chubby cheek.
Luca promptly left, and I had to say, I was glad. He could be insensitive like a moment ago. Alba didn’t need his sarcasm right now.
I eyed Ciro, hoping he was going to mention what he and I had talked about earlier.
“Alba, would you like to stay here? This cutie could sure use a nanny.” He kissed Pippa again and gave her to me.
“You’re offering me a nanny job? But I’m her babysitter in San Francisco.” Alba turned toward me. “Oh, but I suppose you’re not returning to California.”
“Not at this time,” I replied. “Guess it depends on how things play out here.” I flicked my gaze at Ciro.
“She’ll be staying long term, and we could use a reliable, trustworthy nanny to care for our children. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Children, as in more than Pippa?” Alba’s eyes bulged.
“He’s getting ahead of himself,” I said. “In all seriousness, I’d love for you to stay with me. And… be Pippa’s nanny.”
“Would I have a room in this place and a maid to clean it?” she asked, in jest. “Wait. Would I be treated like the staff.”
“No.” I answered her before Ciro. “First and foremost, you’re my closest and dearest friend.”
“What do you say?” Ciro asked.
“Sure. I’ll give my mom a call later today to let her know I got a nanny job.”
“Yay. Tell her it pays more than your medical transcription job.” I grinned wide.
“It does? Cool.”
I smiled at Ciro, pleased as punch with how this difficult conversation ended.
“I need to go deal with some stuff.” He leaned toward me for a kiss and I didn’t move away. “Will you be okay?”
“Of course she will. I’m with her,” Alba replied.
“Good. You can entertain both of my girls for me.” He winked on his way out.
“Wow, the turnaround with you two is giving me whiplash.”
“It’s giving me whiplash too. It’s weird, right?” I bit my bottom lip. “I mean, after everything that happened, I shouldn’t want to be with him, right?”
“Babe, Ciro isn’t to blame for Roy’s actions or the Russians who took Pippa and killed Paolo. He’s the easy target, but that man jumped into action and took care of business. He’s kind of my hero right now.”
Her words gave me pause.
Ciro and I had hurt each other in different ways, but the pain we’d experienced when Pippa was taken had united us. We both wanted our baby back because we both loved her.
Alba was right. I might have been unconscious for most of the chaos, but Ciro had been taking care of everything. Probably calling in favors left and right, trying to find our child.
Thinking of it now, Ciro was my hero, too.
