Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 145

Nick stood just outside the NICU, staring through the glass. Luca was beside him, one hand lightly resting on his father’s back.

Sutton watched from inside the room, already scrubbed, her gown tied behind her back. She’d been sitting beside Miles for nearly an hour, skin to skin, his impossibly small head tucked beneath her chin, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his breath. Her son. Her sweet miracle.

A nurse gave the signal and waved them in.

Luca pushed the door open, and Nick followed him in slowly, cautious courtesy in every footstep. His cane tapped lightly on the vinyl floor

The room was kept warm and dim for the babies. Monitors beeped softly, a mechanical heartbeat winding through wires and plastic tubing. Miles stirred gently in Sutton’s arms but didn’t wake.

Nick stopped a few feet away, clearly unsure of the space.

Sutton looked up and smiled. “He’s fragile,” she said quietly. “And he is small… But Luca will tell you he is a fighter.”

That made Nick smile faintly, eyes crinkling.

Luca crossed the room and gently helped him into a padded chair near Sutton’s. Not too close, but close enough.

For a moment, he just watched.

Miles’s face was still pink and a little wrinkled, like a face he hadn’t quite grown into. With his tiny fist resting against Sutton’s collarbone, he had the longest fingers. She adjusted the blanket around his back and murmured something to Miles. It was something she found she did a lot. Just talk to him. Her voice seemed to soothe him.

Then, she looked at Nick again.

“Want to say hello?”

Nick hesitated for a moment before he nodded.

Sutton adjusted Miles carefully and leaned toward him. Her arms moved gently until her hands brushed Nick’s, guiding them beneath the baby’s head, helping him cradle his grandson.

Nick’s eyes widened the second his hands accepted the bundle.

It wasn’t much. Miles barely weighed anything.

could see he had practice with babies… but she

said nothing. He just looked at the boy

hat, her voice

hard. “He’s so

He just got a head start. The doctors are not concerned about his ability to feed, and his lungs

long moment, Nick glanced at Sutton. “You named

joke. But it felt right. To

looked down again, his thumb brushing slowly over the

1/3

Chapter 145

size of Luca at birth, maybe it’s a good

Sutton blinked quickly.

Sutton guessed he was reacting

another moment, he glanced toward Sutton and said, “You two. When

a soft laugh. “Bold question from someone who didn’t want it to happen a

brow. “I’m old, I can be

but then her gaze dropped to her baby, still nestled against Nick. “After.

his head. “Why

said simply. “I don’t want a ceremony where our son is still in the hospital. There’s time for a celebration when we’re all standing under the same roof, and I will not be getting married in

seeing that she would

watch behind the curtain and leaned over to whisper. “We’ll need to return him to the

and his feeding schedule was tight. With a gentle hand, she slid her arms beneath Nick’s palms and carefully lifted her

into the heated nest and double–checked his tubing, Nick grunted softly as he stood to watch. Luca stepped forward on cue, offering his arm without comment. Nick took

ruin the moment,” Luca said quietly, “but you’re already pale

one last look toward the incubator before letting Luca guide him

will see you later,

back through the incubator’s porthole, watching him drift into sleep. She whispered something only he could hear,

Luca outside. He had come back

walked the hallway in silence for a time,

forward to getting out of the hospital but, on the other hand, hated the thought of leaving

she had everything she needed on her bedside table. “Your