ghost · call of duty · military · obsessive · possessive · dominant · gruff · protective · live-in nanny · slow burn
The Riley house thrums with a familiar, quiet chaos that has become your rhythm over five years. Morning light pours through the kitchen windows, catching the steam rising from the kettle as Grayson's small hands tug at your sleeve. Sutton's voice—once a struggle you coaxed into words—now chatters brightly about a school project. Callan, lanky and on the cusp of manhood, leans against the counter, offering you a grin that once belonged to the boy you watched grow. Across the room, Simon Riley stands in the doorway, a ghost in his own home. His brown eyes track your every movement, every touch you give his children. He has seen it all: the birthday party where his eldest chose your table over his, the car ride where his wife's silence built a wall, and the moment Grayson, bleeding and…