Page 37 of Military Daddies' Nanny

Jealousy, irrational and all-consuming, surges through my veins like molten lead. I'm overcome by the sudden, violent urge to rip Nancy away from them both, to crush her soft curves against my own body and stake my claim in no uncertain terms.

Mine, some primal part of me snarls.She should be mine.

But she's not. And that realization is a serrated blade twisting in my gut. I must make some small sound of distress, because Nancy's gaze snaps to mine, brow furrowing in concern.

"Drew? You okay?"

No. No I'm fucking not okay.

I struggle to rein in the maelstrom of emotions roiling just beneath the surface of my skin, acutely aware of the kids still in the room. "Fine," I grind out, though it's clear from her skeptical frown that she doesn't buy it for a second. "Just remembered there's some…work stuff I need to take care of. You guys keep playing."

Before anyone can protest, I'm on my feet and striding from the room, throat tight with an ache I refuse to name. I need air. Space. Distance from the cancer of want eating away at my insides.

I end up in my office, pacing restlessly as I drag agitated hands through my hair. What the hell is wrong with me? Nancy isn't mine to be possessive over. She's free to spend time with whoever she wants, to be intimate with…

The mental image of her wrapped around Nathan or Carlos, crying out in ecstasy, slams into me with the force of a gut punch. A pained groan scrapes up my throat as I double over, hands braced on my knees while I struggle to breathe through the lance of pure agony spearing my chest.

I don't know how long I stay like that, trembling and gasping as waves of hurt and anger wash over me. But eventually, a soft knock at the door has me jerking upright to find Nancy watching me with worried eyes.

"Drew, talk to me," she pleads softly as she steps into the room, shutting the door behind her. "What's going on? And don't say nothing, because we both know that's bullshit."

I bark out a humorless laugh, running a hand down my face. "Youreallywanna know? Fine. I can't fucking stand seeing you with them, okay? Nathan, Carlos—it's driving me insane, Nancy."

Her brow furrows, a flicker of annoyance flashing in those jade eyes. "What are you talking about? They're my friends, Drew. Am I not allowed to have those now?"

“Not when I seem to be exempt from whatever friendship you all share. It feels like I’m being ostracized in my own home,” I snap, frustration bubbling over. Her chin juts out as a response to my anger, but then her eyes lose the fire of annoyance almost immediately.

“We did not mean to exempt you from anything. They just happen to…make me feel more comfortable than…” she trails off when my frown deepens.

More comfortable than I do, considering how brutish I’ve been since the very first day she stepped into my home.

“You’re here to do your job, not to spend time chatting with my brother and friend because they make you comfortable.”

I refrain from facepalming when the words come out of my mouth.

This is exactly what she means. Why can’t I say exactly what I mean?

She folds her hand in front of her chest, losing the softness in her gaze as a result of my words. “Doing my job doesn’t stop me from having a personal life, and what I do in that time, and who I do it with, is not for you to judge or approve.

"It is when it's in my own damn house!" The words tear out of me in a snarl, hands fisting at my sides. "You're here to take care of my kids, Nancy. You’re not here to spend time with my brother and best friend under my own roof."

She recoils like I've slapped her, eyes blazing. "How dare you? I have never, not once, let my personal life interfere with my job here. Those kids are my top priority, and you know it."

"Really?" I growl, stepping closer. "Because from where I'm standing, it seems like you've been awfully preoccupied lately. Always running off with Nathan and Carlos the second they get home, leaving the kids to fend for themselves—"

"That is not true, and you know it!" Nancy's voice rises to match mine, jabbing an accusatory finger at my chest. "I amconstantlywith those kids. Morning, noon, and night. The only time I'm notis when they're at school or asleep. So don't you dare accuse me of neglecting them just because you're…what, jealous?"

The word slams into me like a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs. Because she's right. As much as I want to deny it, to hide behind righteous anger and feigned concern for my children's welfare, the ugly truth is that I'm eaten alive with jealousy.

"You're right." The fight drains out of me in a rush, leaving me suddenly exhausted. I sink down onto the leather sofa, scrubbing a hand over my face. "God, Nancy, you're right.I am jealous. I'm so fucking jealous I can barely think straight."

The silence stretches between us, fraught with tension. Then the cushions dip as Nancy settles beside me, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off her body.

"Why?" she asks softly. When I glance over, her eyes are fixed on me—searching, curious. "Drew, why does it bother you so much? Nathan and Carlos are your family. Don't you want us all to get along?"

I let out a ragged sigh, dropping my head into my hands. "Of course I do. It's not…I don't begrudge any of you happiness, Nancy. That's not what this is about."

"Then what is it about?"

---