Page 62 of The Rogue

Pushing stupid thoughts out of my mind, I slide into my slippers, tie my hair in a loose bun, and wash up. I’m about to walk out into the hall before remembering the house rule.

Must be fully dressed.

Right.

I dig around for a pair of lounge pants, making a mental note to order some. The little boy shorts I have in place of pants around the house definitely fall under the unacceptable pile.

I settle for a pair of spandex leggings, then pull my oversized T-shirt over it. I check the time again.

Four minutes?

I walk to the door, calculating the hours and minutes until my nanny duties start, and jump when I pull it open.

Levi is standing across the narrow hall, leaning against his bedroom door with a grin wide enough tonotbelong to this grumpy cowboy.

“Mornin’.”

I lower my hand from my chest. “Christ. What are you doing? Wait—have you moved all night?”

He laughs, pushing off the wall. “Of course, slept okay, too.” He steps up to me. “You?”

I tense. “You—you want me to try and sleep more, don’t you? Look, Levi—”

“Shh—you’ll wake the kid. Come on.”

“Wha—where?”

“Assuming you were just headin’ downstairs?”

“Yes, but—”

He starts down the hall, moving with an impossible energy for this hour.

I follow him down the stairs tentatively, finding the lights I’d left on last night still illuminating the main room.

He moves to raise some more lights while I turn into the kitchen. I yelp at the sight of another body—a strange elderly man I’ve never seen before. Breath caught in my throat, I flip around and slam into Levi’s chest. He captures me instantly. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s alright. Harry is a friend."

Frazzled, I look up at him, and he continues. "He’s one of the cowboys on the early shift."

Still tangled up in him, I groan and cover my face. “I’m sorry.”

Levi holds me tight against him, his voice low and soothing. "It's my fault. I should have told you someone was down here."

I twist in his arms to face the other man, scrunching my nose. “Hi, I’m…Tessa, the weird nanny.”

He holds up his hands. “No worries, lady. I’m just reportin’ for duty. Heard about you from the boys. Ain’t nobody say anything about weird. Just pretty and—” He glances at Levi. “Well, that's it.”

My cheeks heat, and I remind myself to get a grip as I slip away from Levi's protective hold. It's been a while since I had to give myself a little pep talk.

They don’t know I’m here.

They’re not going to find me.

I’m safe.

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.” I move toward the coffee machine. “Um…can I make you some coffee?”

“No need. Levi already took care of me.” He holds up his mug.

---