Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Roman had been gone exactly three hours when Daisy decided she had an idea.

A dangerous thing.

According to Harper, all of Daisy's best ideas were dangerous.

Lillie had fallen asleep after her morning bottle.

Roman had left for work before sunrise, kissing both of them goodbye on his way out.

Now Daisy found herself standing in the middle of his penthouse holding a cup of coffee.

Thinking.

The penthouse was beautiful.

Elegant.

Modern.

Very Roman.

But it was missing something.

Romance.

A smile slowly appeared.

Oh yes.

This was definitely a dangerous idea.

An hour later, Lillie was fast asleep in the nursery Roman had made for her.

The baby monitor sat clipped to Daisy's pocket.

Meanwhile Daisy had completely taken over the penthouse.

Candles appeared everywhere.

The dining table was set perfectly.

Soft lighting replaced the bright overhead lights.

Fresh flowers filled the apartment.

Music played quietly through the speakers.

Even the balcony had been transformed.

Blankets.

Lanterns.

A bottle of wine chilling nearby.

The entire place looked like something out of a movie.

Daisy stepped back and admired her work.

Not bad.

Actually...

Really good.

She was just adjusting a final candle when the baby monitor crackled softly.

Immediately she headed for the nursery.

Because no matter how romantic she was trying to be, she was still a mother first.

The nursery door opened quietly.

Lillie remained asleep.

One tiny hand resting beside her face.

Dark hair sticking up in every direction.

Perfect.

Daisy's heart melted instantly.

Carefully she took a photo.

Lillie sleeping peacefully in the crib Roman had bought for her.

His crib.

In his apartment.

In the nursery he'd built because he couldn't bear missing any part of her life.

Emotion warmed her chest unexpectedly.

Then she sent the picture.

Across Manhattan, Roman was in the middle of negotiations.

The boardroom was full.

Lawyers.

Executives.

Investors.

Everyone focused on numbers.

Everyone except Roman.

His phone buzzed.

Normally he ignored notifications during meetings.

Normally.

The second he saw Daisy's name, he reached for it.

Olivia sighed dramatically from across the table.

Roman opened the message.

The photo filled the screen.

Lillie asleep in her crib.

Safe.

Happy.

Home.

His heart squeezed immediately.

Then he noticed the message beneath it.

Your girl is having a nap. Don't work too hard, Mr. Moretti ❤️

Roman smiled.

A full smile.

The kind that almost never appeared in boardrooms.

The entire room noticed.

The senior lawyer actually stopped talking.

"What?"

Roman looked up.

Still smiling.

"Nothing."

Nobody believed him.

Especially Olivia.

His assistant leaned slightly sideways trying to see the phone.

Roman immediately turned it away.

Olivia gasped.

"It was a baby picture."

"It was private."

"Definitely a baby picture."

Roman laughed.

Which only confirmed it.

The boardroom stared.

Completely bewildered.

Because Roman Moretti had just smiled at his phone like a teenager.

A few moments later another message appeared.

This time with a photo of the balcony.

Then the dining table.

Then the candles.

Roman blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then looked around the boardroom.

At the deal.

At the endless paperwork.

At the people still waiting for his decision.

His mind immediately returned to Daisy.

To Lillie.

To home.

He stood.

The entire room froze.

One executive frowned.

"Roman?"

Roman picked up his jacket.

"We're done."

The lawyer blinked.

"We haven't finished."

"We have."

Olivia immediately stood too.

Trying—and failing—not to smile.

The executive looked confused.

"Where are you going?"

Roman looked down at the newest text from Daisy.

Come home soon ❤️

The answer came easily.

"I'm going home."

And for once—

the deal could wait. ❤️📖