Page 5 of Taken By the Wolf Daddy

Belle’s attention quickly shifted to me, and her eyes widened with curiosity. “Hello, are you going to be looking after me, Marie?”

“That’s right, Belle. I’m here to take care of you and have some fun together.”

Belle’s laughter filled the room, as she threw her arms around me. We already had a bond, which I hoped would make it a whole lot easier for Jesse. “So, what games are we going to play?”

I met Jesse’s eyes, watching him nod with satisfaction. I let Belle lead me out of the room so I could focus on her, but it was hard to ignore my father and Jesse speaking in low voices in the other room. Unfortunately, I couldn’t pick out anything they were saying, but it sounded serious. I wondered what on earth was going on in this small town to have them talking like that. Weird. But it wasn’t long until my father left for work, and Jesse went with him, so it was just me and Belle.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of laughter, games, and Belle’s hilarious antics. While she was indeed a handful, her spirited energy was something I found endearing. We shared stories, played games, and explored the house. As the day came to a close, and I knew Jesse was coming to pick her up, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Belle had taken a shine to me, and though there were bound to be challenges ahead, I felt ready to embark on this new adventure as Belle’s nanny. It really did feel like the best way for me to earn my freedom and the money I needed to get the hell away from here.

Knock, knock.

My heart skipped a beat as I heard the door open. Instinctively, I checked my outfit to make sure I looked okay. I knew I was supposed to be professional, focusing only on the work at hand, but it was hard to ignore the excitement bubbling in the pit of my stomach. I pressed my hand to my belly, trying to calm myself down, but I couldn’t do it. I swung the door open and sucked in a sharp breath because somehow, he was looking more handsome than ever. It was unfair, honestly.

“Hey, Jesse,” I replied, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in my chest. “Belle’s all set, but be warned, despite our busy day, she doesn’t seem tired yet.”

He chuckled, stepping into the house. “She never is. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Daddy, there you are!” Belle raced forward and jumped into her father’s arms. “I love Marie.”

“You do?” Jesse chuckled. “Well, that’s great news. I appreciate you doing this, Marie. It’s been a big help.”

An intense heart burned my cheeks. “Well, you’re doing me a favor as well. I do need this work.”

Jesse switched Belle over until she was on the other hip. “Oh yeah? Is everything okay? I thought that you were doing well with the photography deal.”

“I am.” I offered him a one-shouldered shrug. I didn’t want to tell him too much because I didn’t want anything to get back to my dad. “I just want a little more, that’s all. I need to make some decisions moving forward with my life.”

“Oh yeah? Any big plans?”

I smiled. “Not too sure yet. We’ll see how things go.”

Jesse narrowed his eyes at me, clearly suspecting more, but thankfully he didn’t push it. I wasn’t sure what I would have said if he did. I kinda wanted to tell him everything, to get his opinion, but I also knew that I couldn’t. Not if I didn’t want my dad to know.

“Well, it seems like Belle has had a great day with you, so I will be back tomorrow.”

“Right, yes.” I swallowed hard and nodded. “Sounds good.”

There was a real emotional whirlwind that came with being so close to Jesse. I couldn’t hide away from the attraction between us lingering beneath the surface. On one hand, I longed to flirt with him, to explore the unspoken chemistry that simmered between us. But on the other hand, I couldn’t escape the knowledge that my father would be tremendously upset if anything romantic were to develop between us. Actually, upset was minimizing it. He would kill us.

The question loomed in my mind like a shadow: did my father truly have the right to infantilize me, to keep me from dating, and to control my choices? I was in my twenties, a capable and responsible adult, and yet I felt as if I were still living under his protective gaze.

I felt like Jesse felt it too, which was why he stiffened up and stepped back to create some distance between us. It was thrilling and nerve-wracking all at once, this uncharted territory we were navigating. I didn’t know what to do with the underlying tension that hung in the air, palpable and electric. It was as if every stolen glance only fueled the fire of our mutual attraction.

“Well, I guess we will see you in the morning then.”

“Yeah, see you then, Jesse.” The way his name felt on my tongue was kind of electric. “See you, Belle.”

Belle cried out a goodbye to me, but she had already turned her attention toward her father. I smiled to myself as I watched them walk away, wondering what was going to happen the following day when we talked. Would that undertone of desire always be there? I didn’t want to lose this job. I wanted to make the best of it and utilize the paycheck in the best way possible. I was still trying to escape.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over Wolf Mountain, I set the table for dinner. The savory scent of my cooking filled our cozy cabin, making my stomach rumble in anticipation. I loved cooking and trying out new recipes, and my father always liked what I made, which was nice.

The door creaked open, and my father stepped inside. His work boots thudded on the wooden floor as he entered, carrying with him the earthy scent of the forest. He greeted me with a weary smile, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt knowing I was keeping secrets from him.

We settled at the rustic wooden table, and he dug into the hearty meal I had prepared, instantly letting me know how much he enjoyed it. “This is just what I need after today.”

“Has it been a hard one?”

His face fell. “There’s a lot going on in this town at the moment.”

---