Page 2 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“Maybe I am.”

My brows shoot up to my hairline. “What?”

“Bridget, I…hell, you have to know, right? It didn’t change for me. I know you’ve been with Jai for six months now, but I’ve adored you for six years.”

A deep burn sets up shop in my eyes, in my chest, and I shake my head.

“Why are you saying this? I’m about to leave. The car is packed for LA. Jai and I are hitting the road any second.”

He nods. “I know. I know that, Bridget. It’s why I had to say something. Before it was too late, and I regretted it forever.”

“Mason.” My voice is low, and I shake my head, now staring at the ground.

My eyes find my toes, staring at the pale pink nail polish against my lightly tanned skin. The leather sandals are comfortable and easy to take off in the car.

Everything today has been about comfort. I’m wearing one of my favorite tees, the light green one with a white graphic of a winking smiley face against a checkerboard pattern.

My shorts are jean cut-offs, and I’ve pulled my long blonde locks into a ponytail, so it’s out of my way.

But then his other hand comes up, tucking a loose strand behind my ear, and nothing is about comfort anymore.

Electricity whips through me twisting everything around—my guts, my heart, my head.

Another step forward and Mason is right in front of me, only a few inches separating us.

Bridget, you need to leave. Think of Jai. You need to?—

“If I can’t get you to stay, you need to know that I’ll be here. Waiting.”

My mind fractures again, splintering into the bits that love and care about my boyfriend and those that wonder, “What if?” What if I choose Mason? What if I stay?

Leaning forward, Mason cranes his head down closer to me, his lips so damn close.

“Bridget, if anything happens, or you need to come home, I’ll be here.” He grips my hand, cupping my cheek with the other. “But don’t make me wait forever. I’m a patient man, and I hope one day you’ll realize you made the wrong choice, but if you give me a reason to walk away, I will.”

I don’t know what to think, what to feel, and my heart is going to rip itself out of my chest at this rate.He can’t kiss you. You have a boyfriend. But…

“But until then, I’ll be right here, Songbird.”

I tremble at the familiar nickname, goosebumps skittering across my skin as Mason’s lips hover just above my own.

He’s the only one who calls me that. Songbird. God, what is happening?

I’m sure Mason is going to kiss me when I hear the pound of feet on the house’s wooden stairs. With a hard jerk, I pull back, looking over to the porch to see Jai rushing down the steps.

His brows are down low over his eyes, and I can see the fury behind his glare. Jai levels it at Mason, but I know that all too soon, it’ll be my turn.

Fuck. And I have this fucking drive with him. Shit.

“Hayes, I think you best be getting the fuck away from my girlfriend.”

Jai’s voice cuts through the echoey area in front of the house where we parked the car, and I flinch as he comes up and shoves himself between Mason and me.

My skin still tingles from where Mason touched me, and Jai puts a hand behind himself to push me farther away.

“We’re just talking,” Mason offers, his tone even but edged in anger.

“You can talk with your own woman.” Jai scoffs. “Oh, wait. That’s right. You ain’t got one.”

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