Page 26 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“As per usual,” Mason replies. “But it was fine. And really, thank you for watching Mia. I will definitely need more help in the future.”

“Of course.” I smile as he looks over at me. “I’m happy to help.”

At once, Mason leans forward, taking off his suit jacket and ditching the tie altogether. I’m frozen there, looking at him like some dumb teenager. But his hands go to his sleeves, unbuttoning them and rolling them up, and I’m practically drooling again.

You are pathetic. Pull it together!

But then I remember that dream, how it made me feel, how dream Bridget had been very honest about how she hadn’t felt that way inyears.

Jai was never about my pleasure, after all. Everything was all about his, and I was often left alone after he was finished with me, with no sign of reciprocity in my future.

Mason doesn’t seem like he’d be that way. I can’t say for sure, of course, but something in my head screams that Mason would at least be a bit nicer in general.

He always was before…

Looking over at me, Mason’s casual air falters, and I see him glance up and down my form briefly. He leans back onto the couch again, but there’s something charged in the space between us now.

It’s like I can feel the molecules shaking, vibrating furiously as we hover so close to each other.

“You’ll come again?” I nearly choke on my spit when I hear him say, “come.” “To watch Mia tomorrow?”

I’m quick to nod, if only to relieve some of the tension whirring through me.

“Sure thing. Whenever you need.”

I know I’m dangerously close to saying something to Mason, and I can’t. I just can’t.

I’m the one who left, who lefthim, and I can’t come back here and act like nothing has changed. Everything has, and it’s my fault that I’m where I’m at.

“You have a beautiful daughter, Mason.” I smile softly, the pang of regret zinging my chest. “And I can tell you’re an amazing dad. It’s quite the sight.”

My eyes start to burn, but I’m not spilling my emotions all over Mason. He doesn’t deserve that.

“I’m really happy for you. That you have such a great kid you so clearly love with all your heart. Dads…dads are important, you know?”

Words shaking, I can’t help but think of how much I miss my own father, how Mason lost his, and suddenly, sitting there becomes too much for me to handle.

I shoot up off the couch and go for my purse in the kitchen.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mason. Tell Mia I said bye.”

I hurry away before he can say anything, not willing to look back at Mason because I know it’ll only make me hurt all the more.

After leaving through the front door, which I close gently, not wanting to wake up Mia, I pull out my phone to call Hudson.

I’m still carless so I have to rely on him to come pick me up until I’m able to get a new vehicle.

The dial tone starts, and the phone rings as I stand there on Mason’s front porch. My heartbeat is calming again, but then I hear a crack over by the bushes.

Anxiety drills through me, and I feel the surge of adrenaline as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

It’s like I’m being watched, but that’s ridiculous.

Still, my skin prickles as I pin my stare to the bushes. There’s nothing. No more movement or sounds of cracking branches.

I have to remind myself that Jai couldn’t possibly have found me this quickly.

No one knew where I was going. I paid in cash for everything. And I didn’t take the direct route here.

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