Page 39 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“Oh,” the guy, Brenden, going by the name tag, raises his brows at me and offers a smile. “Got it. Did you need a refill, miss?”

I shake my head. “No. Thank you.”

The server leaves, going back to his job pouring and refilling glasses of wine like a worker bee flitting from flower to flower.

My cheeks are on fire, and I can’t be in here anymore. I need…I’m not sure what I need, but it’s definitely not to stay in this crowded house.

The yard wasn’t any better though, so with little other choice, I go upstairs to find the bathroom up there.

Tripping slightly on the stairs, I’m not looking where I’m going and just hang the first right at the top of the stairs.

There’s a door right in front of me, and my panic demands that I get inside and close the door behind me so that I can have a breakdown in private.

I rush forward, getting inside and closing the door swiftly behind me. My heartbeat is too loud in my ears as I turn around and lean back against the wood.

“Bridget?”

I jump, my eyes flying open. Mason is sitting on a bed in front of me, a glass of scotch in his hands.

Oh, shit. Is this?—

“Is there a reason you barged into my room?”

My heart sinks. ItisMason’s room, and I just closed myself up inside like I owned the place.Shit.

What the hell am I supposed to tell him? I can’t exactly say that I was running away from a panic attack because I thought I saw my stalker ex-boyfriend downstairs.

“Umm,” I decide to offer the little bit of truth that I can, “I needed some air. Sorry.”

He narrows his eyes on me, and I can see that he’s pulled his tie loose, and his hair is a bit ruffled, likely from running his hand through it over and over.

“That makes two of us.”

I swallow hard, shaking as I try to hold his intense gaze. I’ve never seen Mason look like this, his brows down over his eyes as he practically glares at me.

There’s something beneath it all too. Something I can’t let myself think about.

“I’ll…I’ll go. I’m sorry.”

I turn to leave, but right as I get the door open, I feel Mason’s presence right behind me.

“Close the door, Bridget.”

ELEVEN

Bridget

My entire body trembles as I push the door to the room closed again.

I don’t know why I’m doing it. I should leave and come up with an excuse to get out of this entire party and go back to my mother’s house.

But I don’t.

Turning around, Mason is just a few feet away, and his stare lasers into me.

I’ve never been in his room before, and I didn’t plan on ever being here, for that matter. But I’m here now, and I can’t bring myself to leave.

“I…what is it?”

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