Paulo & Noella and the Two Turtle Doves: Small town, feel good, romantic comedy (The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series Book 5) by Ellie Hall

Author:Ellie Hall [Hall, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

NOELLA

Peeking through the blinds, I watch Paulo pull away before I flop onto the couch. I dramatically sweep my arm over my forehead. What I really meant to say was I wanted him out of here before I had second thoughts and took him back.

He didn’t have to come to my aid. He doesn’t have to still wear his wedding band. He didn’t have to tell me about the kids.

Oh, my heart breaks for them for losing their mom and dad.

But he needs a nanny.

I need a job.

Maybe they could help mend my heart. Not in a weird, immature way where I’d be using them to get to him because I want a family, or anything like that. Rather, I’d be doing something helpful so they’re not at risk of burning down a restaurant, getting lost in public, or missing out on fun games like “I’m going on a picnic.”

I bite my lip, wondering if inserting myself back in Paulo’s life is a good idea. His apology was sincere. He got scared, and for the big, bad boxer to admit that is a huge deal. I can’t ignore it because I want to hold onto my scorn and wrath out of spite.

That only hurts me.

A long breath escapes while I stare at the ceiling, praying there aren’t any more spiders. A moment later, my phone rings. I expect it to be my parents checking in to make sure I made it alright. It’s Paulo. Do I answer? If I don’t, he’ll probably be back here in a hot minute to make sure I’m okay. I tap the button to answer.

“Hey, it’s me,” he says.

“Me who?”

“Paulo,” he says as if I’d been expecting his call.

I won’t lie, I kind of hoped it was him.

“Have you thought about being the nanny?”

Reflexively, I cough. “You only just left. Give a girl a chance to think it over.” And talk herself out of it because that will mean I’ll see him regularly. “I think you took one too many blows to the head.”

“Debatable. But you’d be great. You check off all the criteria I mentioned.”

“Including that I don’t have a job. Thanks but no thanks. I’m not here to fix your problems.” I tell myself I’m playing hardball, but really I worry that he’s just using me.

I check off the criteria?

It’s a silly, insecure thought the TENS would scold me for. Then again, they’re not like Bethann the Superfan and number one admirer of King Heartbreaker. If given the chance, the girls would probably like to troll old boxing footage to see Paulo get knocked out.

“That’s not what I meant, but I understand your concern. I just thought it would be fun. We could spend some time together while we’re here. Get to know each other...again. You could get to know the kids.”

My stubborn ego wants to fire back with a comment about not wanting his pity because I admitted that I’m alone for Christmas. But I know the many tones of Paulo’s voice.

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