ristan tucked Nadia into bed and gave her a kiss against her forehead, Sometimes he couldn't believe that he created someone that he loved beyond words. She had fallen asleep from him reading one of her favorite fairy tales, which was Cinderella.

Tristan snuck out of her bedroom and gently closed the door shut. He glanced at the off white door that was across from Nadia's.

It was Nina's room.

He got worried when she didn't come down and eat with them for dinner. He didn't know why he was worrying over her, the way he was. No woman had made the feelings of protection stir up in him how they did whenever he was near.

Tristan now knocked on her door. Not loud enough to wake up Nadia, but it was enough for Nina to hear it. Tristan waited a few seconds before he heard her tell him to come in.

Tristan's eyes skimmed her toned body. She was only wearing a white tank top and booty shorts. His eyes stopped at her large breasts and he could see her nipples standing at attention. He wondered if he caused it because it wasn't cold inside her room.

His eyes landed back on hers, and he couldn't help but walk over to her. He sat down on the bed and saw how she was avoiding eye contact with him.

"Why didn't you come down for dinner?"

"I wasn't hungry," she said, picking at the fabric of the lavender comforter.

"You're bothered by me?" he asked, more of a question than a statement.

Nina glanced up at him.

"No, I'm not."

Tristan scooted closer to her. He lifted her chin and stared deeply into her eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Nina lowered her lashes and sighed.

"I want to apologize to you," she said, still staring down at her lap.

"For what?" he asked. He already knew what she was she was apologizing for but he wanted to hear it from her own mouth.

"I'm sorry I got mad at you at the hospital. I know now that you were only doing what my grandmother asked," she said, glancing back up at him.

"I was being a jerk. I was so frustrated and I wanted to stay with her just in case something happened. It's all too much."

Tristan hated hearing and seeing her look so down. He wrapped his arms around her. Nina hesitated at first but eventually wrapped her arms around him.

Tristan stopped himself from burying his head in the crook of her neck. Her scent was becoming a drug for him.

"I'm here for you." He didn't want to promise that things would be okay because that would be a lie but what he could do is be there for her every step of the way.

Tristan continued to rub her back in a circular motion.

Nina's head was placed against his chest. He wondered if she could hear how fast his heart was racing.

Nina finally pulled away and stared deeply into his eyes.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked.

He placed his hand against her cheek. "Because you deserve it."

Nina's eyes widened and her lips were now spread apart.

He placed a kiss against her forehead. Nina gasped at that small gesture.

"I accept your apology. Goodnight."

Tristan walked out of her room and gently closed the door. He placed his back against the door wondering why he couldn't get Nina out of his system.

Tristan knocked on the hospital door. He was surprised when Nina had called him and said that her Grandmother wanted to see him and if he could make time. His schedule was tight today but he left Max in charge of most of the meetings he had.

Tristan couldn't understand why he was doing all this for a woman. No woman had ever made him do the things he was doing for Nina and it was scaring him. Every time he wanted to keep his distance he couldn't do it.

Whenever he saw Nina he had the urge to wrap her up in his arms and kiss all her worries away but he knew he had to restrain himself. She was his employee. She was Nadia's nanny for christ's sake and it wouldn't be good if he got entangled with her.

But here he found himself now stepping in the room to see Nina and her Grandmother smiling and laughing.

"Tristan, you're here," she said, rushing over to him.

Nina grabbed his hand. He tried to ignore the tingly feelings rushing from his hand up to his arm. Nina pulled up another chair next to her that was situated in front of her Grandmother.

"I'm sorry if this was an inconvenience," she said, whispering in his ear.

"It's not." Tristan looked down to see that they were still holding each other's hand. Nina followed his action and let go of his hand as if she got burnt from a hot stove.

"Tristan, how are you?" Grandma asked.

"I'm fine, ma'am. How are you feeling?"

She smiled. "I'm okay. I'm ready to get out of here. The food is awful."

All three of them laughed.

"I'm surprised you wanted to see me," he said.

"Why? You are my future grandson in law," she said, grinning even wider.

Tristan choked on his spit.

Nina leaned into his ear and said, "Play along. Remember we're supposed to be getting married."

Tristan straightened in his chair.

"You're right." That was all he could manage to say.

He had forgotten that he was supposed to be pretending to marry Nina. It was only pretending so he could keep up with the lie if it made her Grandmother feel better.

"The wedding should be a couple of months from now," she said, glancing between the two of them.

Nina looked at him with wide eyes. Tristan was sure his eyes mirrored hers.

"Grandma, that's a bit soon."

"You promised me you would get married before I die. I only have six months left is what the doctor said. I want to see you married before I die," she said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue she got from the bedside table.

Tristan noticed Nina nibble on her bottom lip.

Tristan looked back at her Grandmother.

"We can make it happen," he said, smiling back at her.

***

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