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.

with babies… but she doubted he’d held one this

nothing. He just looked at the boy

Miles’s hat, her voice low. “This

swallowed hard.

got a head start. The doctors are not concerned about his ability to feed, and his lungs are still developing;

moment, Nick glanced at Sutton. “You named

once before grinning. “At first it was a joke. But it felt right.

brushing slowly

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Chapter 145

but smaller. With the size of Luca at birth, maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t go full term,” he murmured. “Except the mouth.

Sutton blinked quickly.

Sutton guessed he was reacting to Nick’s deep

said, “You two. When do you plan

blinked, then gave a soft laugh. “Bold question from someone who didn’t want it to

“I’m old, I can be as bold

gaze dropped to her baby, still nestled against Nick. “After. After Miles comes

tilted his head. “Why

of this,” she said simply. “I don’t want a ceremony where our son is still in the hospital. There’s time for a celebration when

seeing that she would

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

schedule was tight. With a gentle hand, she slid her arms beneath

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

quietly, “but you’re already pale and pretending you’re

toward the incubator before letting

will see

bed for a while longer, stroking her son’s back through the incubator’s porthole, watching him drift into sleep. She whispered something only he could hear, kissed her palm,

come back for

hallway in silence for a time, heading

the edge of the bed. She was looking forward to getting out of the

had everything she needed