Page 22 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“Ugh, what the hell am I doing?”

My sigh is long and drawn out. I need to get out of my head and stop thinking about how Mia and Bridget are warming up to each other.

I’ve been way less productive than I need to be. A company can’t run itself after all.

I’m sure she’s doing an excellent job. Not only do I remember how much Bridget watched kids when we were younger, but I know that she wouldn’t shirk her responsibility like that.

In all the years I’ve known her, Bridget has never been flighty or reckless. She was the least trouble-making one out of the three of us kids, and I doubt that’s gone away.

I trust her.

That trust, however, does nothing to make me feel better about not being there. I want to see what they’re doing. I want to hear how Bridget talks to Mia.

Because I know that she’s changed, and I want to learn about that despite the fact that I’ve told myself a hundred times over that whatever I felt for Bridget all those years ago doesn’t matter.

We’ve both moved on with our lives, and things are far more complicated than they were when we were young.

“Fucking hell,” I grumble under my breath, sipping idly at my coffee before setting it back down on my desk next to the monitor.

I lean back in my office chair, raking a hand through my hair. I know this has everything to do with the burning curiosity I have over Bridget’s past, and I also know that it’s not serving me at all to dwell on that need for more information.

Still, I can’t help but wonder, where has Bridget been these past five years? And whatever happened with Jai? He’s clearly out of the picture since she hasn’t mentioned him once, and he’s nowhere to be seen, but why?

And how recently?

It’s so not my business. My business is what’s right in front of me, being neglected because I can’t stop brooding over the dating history of the first woman I ever had feelings for.

And she seemed so…skittish.

My brain zings with theories, like she might be running from something, and is it Jai? And again, I know I have no time for all this.

Clenching my jaw, my gut tightens. I don’t like how nervous Bridget seemed, and the idea that it has something to do with her likely ex-boyfriend, Jai, has my blood boiling.

I never liked Jai, thought he had a mean streak he kept hidden behind his layers of charm and flirtation. And while it would feel vindicating to know I was right about him, I hate to think that Bridget suffered.

I should have stepped up sooner. I should have said something to her about how off the guy felt. I should have…

“Shoulda, woulda, coulda.” I scrub my hand over the stubble dusting my chin. “I can sit here and take a not-so-enjoyable walk down memory lane. Or I can get to work.”

Shaking myself into action, I refocus on the monitor, going over the emails and new schematics I’ve been sent for the proposed upgrade to one of the lodges.

My flow starts up again, and I’m barreling through the emails when my cell rings. Seemingly calm mood be damned because I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound, fumbling to answer it.

“Bridget?”

There’s a chuckle, and I realize exactly who I’m talking to. “No, but I did call about how this morning went.”

I let out a shaky chuckle myself, turning away from the monitor again. “Hi, Hudson. It went fine. Bridget seems more than capable of looking after Mia.”

“Well, I told you it would.” He replies, and I shake my head. “Still, checking in on the little sis. It’s what I do.”

The words get my mind churning again, and I can’t stop myself from asking the question I know I shouldn’t.

“Bridget said that she came back into town for your mom. I’m sorry about that.” I suck in a deep breath. “Is it just her?”

There’s a short pause, and then Hudson lets out a ruffled sigh, one strained with tension. “Yeah. It’s just her. Apparently, that Jai asshole that she’d been seeing was a ‘poor fit.’ They broke up like three years ago, I guess, and she’s been traveling around, trying to figure out who she is.”

“Oh,” I offer, my nerves humming beneath my skin. “I didn’t…traveling the country? That’s a bit surprising for Bridget.”

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