Page 64 of Nanny for the Firefighter

Still, from the moment I laid eyes on her, Mia has been my entire world.

And getting to see her with another adult like Bridget, well, it’s been truly incredible.

With a sigh, I finally get myself moving and go back downstairs to find Bridget. I’m not sure what we’re doing now, but I don’t want her to leave.

The living room and kitchen are empty when I get down there, however.

“Bridget?”

I look around and then notice that the patio door is open again, the screen pulled over to keep the bugs out.

Walking over, I see Bridget sitting on the back deck with her wine in her hand. She’s watching the moon come up, the sound of crickets chirping loudly.

With a smile, I follow her outside, and she turns toward me when she hears the screen door slide open.

“She go down okay?”

“Oh, totally. Barely stirred. I just…I like watching her sleep.”

Bridget smiles, and there’s this cute furrow in her brow as she regards me.

“What?”

“That’s adorable.”

I knock her with my shoulder. “Oh, shut up.”

We both laugh quietly, and the silence stretches between us as we enjoy the warm summer night and the cool breeze.

I’m comfortable enough to sit there with her all damn night, but there’s one thought that still kicks around in my head.

Bridget is so much more timid now than she ever was.

I can sense that there was bad business between her and Jai, and I want to know what it is. I want to know so that I can understand—and refute anything that fucker may have said.

Ruining this moment is not what I want, however, and I want to bring up the breakup carefully.

Exhaling, I know that it’s now or never, and if I am actually going to give all this a try with Bridget, I need to know what happened.

“Bridget?”

She looks over at me, taking the last sip of her wine and setting the glass down next to her.

“Yeah?”

“What happened with Jai? I know it wasn’t…pleasant. Can you…can you tell me?”

EIGHTEEN

Bridget

The wine goes down like a golf ball as I swallow hard. Just seconds ago, I was about as relaxed as I could be, and now that usual dread is right back in place.

What the fuck am I supposed to say?

Mason’s stare drills into me, and I can tell he has his suspicions. And they’re probably nowhere near as bad as the truth.

My heart rate ticks up higher and higher, and I feel like an incredible jerk and an idiot.

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