Page 92 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“Sure, hun. I’ll go investigate. I’m sure it’s fine.”

Nodding, Bridget sits up in the bed, pulling the covers around her as she watches me get on a pair of pj shorts. I give her another reassuring smile—or what I hope is reassuring—and go downstairs.

When I get into the living room, I look around for something to explain the weird noise. There’s nothing at first glance, but then I notice the window near the TV is cracked open a bit.

I don’t remember opening it, but I do that all the time, so I just go over to the thing and push it back down into place.

With the mystery solved, I head back upstairs to find Bridget pacing back and forth across the bedroom floor, wrapped in the sheet.

“Hey, hey. It’s fine.”

She looks up at me, and I hurry over to her, pulling her into my arms and stroking down the back of her head. Bridget sighs, but she’s still trembling, and I pull back to look down into her eyes.

“I left a window open. That’s all. We’re all good.”

With a nod, Bridget curls back under my chin, and I just hold her for a moment. When I think she’s ready enough, I walk us back to the bed and settle her against my side.

“Get some rest, love. We’re okay. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

I lift her chin, making her look at me. “There is nothing to be sorry about, and when you’re ready to talk more about what happened, I’ll be here. Okay? I’ll always be right here.”

She smiles, her eyes going glassy, and then nuzzles into my chest.

Whatever that ex of hers did to her wasn’t good. As I hold Bridget against me, I swear to whoever is listening that if I ever get the chance to give Jai a piece of my mind, I won’t hesitate to give him enough to choke on.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Bridget

Nothing happened the rest of the night, so I assumed that I was just being paranoid. But even now as I sit next to Mason on the couch, Mia playing happily in front of us on the floor with her tea set, that nagging feeling of dread won’t go away.

Jai has never been far behind me, and this is, honestly, the longest I’ve gone without him finding me.

It’s only a matter of time, and I don’t know what to do this time.

I don’t want to run. I have Mason in my life now, and furthermore, I have Mia. The little girl is the daughter I could never hope for.

Plus, there’s my mother and brother. They’ve been so great, and spending time with them both after five long years away has been…desperately needed.

I don’t want to give that all up.

“So, breakfast?” Mason’s words interrupt my thoughts, and he turns from looking at Mia to face me. “I’m thinking coffee isn’t going to cut it this morning.”

Laughing, I remember Mason’s five am wake-up call in the form of his hands between my legs and nod.

“Hmm, yes. I seem to be dragging a bit this morning as well. It’s like someone woke me up too early.”

I smirk over at him, and Mason takes my hand, kissing the back. “If you can tell me with a straight face that you didn’t enjoy my new and improved version of an alarm clock, I’ll never bother you with it again.”

Doing my best to keep my expression neutral, I start with, “I did not…”

But it all comes crumbling down, and I laugh, swatting at Mason as he pulls me closer.

“All right, all right! I admit it. Your alarm has converted me to a morning person.”

Mason grins, leaning back with an expression that’s all “the cat that got the cream.” For a moment, we just chuckle at each other, and then he scoots closer, kissing me on the neck.

---