RISK(66)

"I'm positive," I say because I am. "I want to go home and change my clothes. After that, I want to come to your real apartment and have pancakes with you and May."

"Thank you," he says in a whisper before he kisses me. "Thank you for this."





Chapter 44


Ellie




I stand at the entrance to his building. I'm late. I promised him I'd be at his apartment door by five o'clock, but I had no idea what to wear. Adley wasn't around to offer her advice, so I tried on several different outfits before finally deciding on a pair of jeans rolled up at the ankles and an oversized light blue T-shirt knotted at my hip. It doesn't show too much skin. That's the look I was going for.

"Ms. Madden?"

I turn at the sound of a male voice saying my name. I know it's not Nolan. His voice is deeper with a clear timbre. This voice is higher. There's a pretense of something regal there.

"Hi, Dino," I say after glancing at his name tag. The only reference I have for how to speak to a doorman is my encounters with the man who worked in the building where Tad's condo was in Vegas. Paul was his name, and when he wasn't busy rushing to help the residents in and out of taxis, Ubers or their chauffeur driven cars, he was doing card tricks on the small desk he stood guard by.

My greeting takes Dino by surprise. He takes a step back and smiles. "Mr. Black told me to expect the most beautiful redhead in the world. He wasn't kidding."

Since Dino is cashing a paycheck partially funded by Nolan, I take the compliment with a grain of salt. "You're kind. I'm late. I should get up there I guess."

"It's your first time meeting Miss May, isn't it?"

The question is too personal, but it's welcome. I need a pep talk before I meet Nolan's daughter and since Adley was nowhere to be found, Dino is second best. "Yes. Do I look nervous?"

He holds his index finger and thumb an inch apart in the air. "Just a wee bit."

I suck in a deep breath and push my shoulders back.

"She's the sweetest girl you'll ever meet." He marches over to his desk near a bank of elevators. "She drew me this picture just this afternoon."

I look down at the sheet of white paper that's decorated with a tall semi-rectangular building, a stick figure wearing a large square hat and another figure next to it with enormous ears on the side of its head. "It's adorable."

"This is our building." He points out as his hand glides over the paper. "This is me in the hat and that's Montgomery, the monkey Miss May wants to adopt."

I giggle. "I heard about the monkey."

"If you smile like that, you'll win her heart." He moves to press the elevator call button. "They're on the top floor. Penthouse One. Just knock on the door and he'll be waiting."

"Thank you." I squeeze his forearm through his perfectly pressed uniform just as the elevator doors fly open.

***

"Wow," I whisper under my breath when he swings open the door to his apartment.

It's not the view of the city that's visible on the far wall. It's not even the polished marble floors. It's him. Nolan is standing directly in front of me. A small girl with long blonde hair is next to him. They both smile at me and when they do the pink headbands sporting bunny ears sitting atop their heads move slightly in sync with each other. The fact that they're both wearing jeans and white T-shirts only adds to how perfect they are together.

"It's her." The little girl jumps up and down. "Daddy, is this her?"

He scoops her up easily with one arm. She leans her hands on his shoulder. "This is Daddy's friend Ellie. You should invite her in, May."

She nods and takes a deep breath. She mumbles something under her breath before she speaks, loudly and slowly. "Would you like to come in, Ellie?"

I stare at her. She's incredible. Her eyes are a rich shade of brown, her nose a perfect small replica of Nolan's. As she turns to look at him, I catch her profile. There's no denying she's his daughter. I see it in her smile.

"I brought you something, May," I say as I step inside. "I picked it up on my way over. That's why I was late."

"You're not late." She reaches for Nolan's wrist and looks at his watch.

"You can tell time?" I ask, trying not to sound surprised.

"Not yet." She shakes her head slightly, her bunny ears moving as she does. "Daddy is teaching me about the big hand and the little hand. He says no digital nine cents May."

She lowers her voice slightly as she tries to mimic Nolan.

"Nonsense, May," Nolan corrects her with a kiss on her cheek.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the small box that I asked the clerk at the store to wrap with a pink ribbon. "I hope you like this, May."

"I will. Presents are my favorite." She reaches her small hand toward me. "Thank you, Ellie."

I hand her the box and watch while she delicately unwraps the ribbon. She pulls open the box before her hand jumps to cover her mouth.

"Monkey earrings," she screams. "Daddy, look!"

Nolan shoots me a look that says that I'll pay for the gift later. I wiggle my brows.

She makes quick work of the packaging, pulling out both the clip-on earrings in the shape of a monkey's head. Nolan holds the packaging in one hand while he balances her in his arm.