Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Daisy changed her outfit six times.

Which was ridiculous.

Technically this wasn't even a normal first date.

They already had a daughter together.

Still, standing in her bedroom while Harper sat on the bed holding Lillie felt strangely nerve-wracking.

"You are absolutely panicking," Harper announced.

"I'm not."

"You've changed three times in ten minutes."

"It was six."

"That doesn't help your argument."

Daisy groaned.

Lillie yawned dramatically in Harper's arms, completely unbothered by her mother's crisis.

The truth was, Daisy wasn't nervous about seeing Roman.

Not really.

She was nervous about leaving Lillie.

For the first time since bringing her home.

The realization had hit her halfway through getting ready.

What if Lillie needed her?

What if she cried?

What if she woke up and Daisy wasn't there?

Harper noticed immediately.

"She's going to be fine."

"I know."

"You don't sound convinced."

Before Daisy could answer, the apartment buzzer rang.

Her stomach flipped.

"Oh God."

Harper grinned.

"You really like him."

"Stop."

A few moments later Daisy opened the apartment door.

And immediately forgot what she was going to say.

Roman stood there holding flowers.

Dark sweater.

Black coat.

Slightly messy hair.

Unfairly attractive.

His eyes softened the moment he saw her.

"Wow."

Heat rushed to Daisy's cheeks.

"You're staring."

"Because you look beautiful."

Wonderful.

Now she couldn't breathe.

Roman stepped inside and immediately looked toward Lillie.

His entire expression changed.

Softened completely.

"Hey, baby girl."

He carefully took Lillie into his arms and smiled down at her.

Daisy noticed how natural it already looked.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

After a few minutes, Roman glanced toward her.

"You okay?"

Daisy hesitated.

Then looked at Lillie again.

Roman followed her gaze.

And understood immediately.

"You don't want to leave her."

The words weren't a question.

Harper snorted.

"She's been stressing about it all day."

"Harper."

"What? You have."

Roman looked thoughtful.

Then smiled gently.

"Why don't you go put her down first?"

Daisy blinked.

"What?"

"Take your time."

For a moment she hesitated.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

Carefully taking Lillie back into her arms, Daisy disappeared down the hallway toward the nursery.

She spent longer than she intended settling her daughter.

Watching her sleep.

Checking the blanket three times.

Maybe four.

Eventually, she kissed Lillie's forehead and quietly left the room.

What she didn't know was that while she was in the nursery, Roman had a conversation with Harper.

The moment Daisy disappeared down the hallway, Roman pulled out his phone.

Harper immediately became suspicious.

"What are you doing?"

"Fixing a problem."

He made a few quick phone calls.

Calm.

Efficient.

Harper slowly began smiling.

"Oh."

Roman simply nodded.

"She doesn't need to be worrying all night."

By the time Daisy returned from the nursery, Roman's plan was already in motion.

"I'm sorry," she said. "She took forever to settle."

"You don't need to apologise."

Then the apartment buzzer rang again.

Daisy frowned.

"You expecting someone?"

Roman looked far too innocent.

"Maybe."

Harper opened the door.

Then burst out laughing.

"Oh, you are good."

Daisy looked over.

And froze.

Two chefs walked into her apartment carrying bags and trays.

Behind them came a waiter carrying table settings and candles.

"What?"

One chef headed directly into the kitchen.

The second began unpacking ingredients.

Meanwhile the waiter disappeared onto the balcony.

Daisy slowly turned toward Roman.

"What is happening?"

Roman slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"You didn't want to leave Lillie."

Daisy blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"You changed the date?"

"It seemed easier."

Easier.

Like arranging private catering at a moment's notice was completely normal.

Within minutes her apartment transformed around her.

The chefs worked quietly in the kitchen.

Candles appeared on the balcony.

The waiter carefully set a beautiful table overlooking Manhattan.

Soft music drifted through the apartment.

The city lights sparkled beyond the glass.

And Lillie slept peacefully in the nursery just down the hall.

Daisy couldn't believe it.

"You did all this because I was worried about leaving her?"

Roman looked genuinely confused.

"Wasn't that the problem?"

Emotion caught unexpectedly in her throat.

Because it wasn't the money.

Or the catering.

Or the incredible view.

It was the fact he'd noticed.

Really noticed.

Without her having to explain.

Harper looked between them both and shook her head.

"He is absolutely a keeper."

"Harper."

"I'm serious."

Then her sister grabbed her coat.

"Right. My work here is done."

"You're leaving?"

"You don't need me."

Before Daisy could argue, Harper kissed her cheek.

"Have fun."

Then she was gone.

Leaving Daisy standing in the middle of her apartment.

Two chefs cooking in her kitchen.

A waiter setting up a romantic dinner on her balcony.

And Roman Moretti watching her reaction carefully.

Daisy looked around in complete disbelief.

Then back at him.

"No one has ever done something like this for me."

Something warm crossed his face.

Soft.

Honest.

"Get used to it," he said quietly.

Daisy's heart did something deeply unhelpful.

The evening only got better from there.

Dinner was served on the balcony beneath the glow of Manhattan's lights.

The food was incredible.

The conversation even better.

For the first time, they weren't strangers.

They weren't simply two people connected by a baby.

They were getting to know each other.

Really know each other.

Every so often one of them would get up and quietly check on Lillie.

The first time Daisy stood, Roman smiled.

"I'll go this time."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

A few minutes later he returned.

"Still asleep."

The relief on Daisy's face made him smile.

Later, when Roman checked on her again, Daisy found herself watching him disappear down the hallway.

A man who, just days earlier, hadn't even known Lillie existed.

Now he couldn't stop checking on her.

Neither could Daisy.

And somehow that felt right.

As the night wore on, the conversation became easier.

More personal.

More honest.

Roman told her about his morning runs through Central Park.

How it was the one hour of the day nobody could reach him.

No assistants.

No investors.

No meetings.

Just him and the city.

Daisy laughed.

"So you're one of those annoying morning people?"

"I prefer disciplined."

"Annoying."

Roman grinned.

"Fair."

Then it was Daisy's turn.

She found herself telling stories about the hospital.

Not sad stories.

The good ones.

The little girl who insisted her teddy bear needed its own hospital bracelet.

The six-year-old who tried to charge nurses for autographs after getting his cast signed.

The teenager who told everyone he broke his arm wrestling a bear when he'd actually fallen off a skateboard.

Roman laughed harder than she expected.

"You love your job."

The statement wasn't a question.

Daisy smiled softly.

"Yeah."

She really did.

Even on the hard days.

Especially on the hard days.

Roman watched her for a moment.

Then smiled.

"I can tell."

For a second neither spoke.

The city lights glittered around them.

Soft music drifted through the apartment.

And somewhere down the hallway, their daughter slept peacefully.

Roman broke the silence first.

"I'm glad I found you."

Daisy looked up.

The honesty in his eyes stole her breath.

Then his smile softened.

"And I'm really glad I found her."

Daisy followed his gaze toward the nursery.

Toward Lillie.

Their daughter.

The little girl who had somehow brought them back together.

And sitting there beneath the New York skyline, Daisy realized she hadn't stopped smiling all evening.

Neither had Roman.

Because for the first time since that night at the bar—

they finally had a chance to start their story properly. ❤️