Page 93 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“Good. Because it’s here to stay.”

Before I can say anything back, Mason lifts up the panel of the robe I’m wearing—graciously lent to me by the man of the house—and I shoo him away.

“Hey, beat it.” I nod sideways at Mia, who’s still just enjoying her tea party withBlueyplaying in the background. “We have an audience.”

Holding his hands up, Mason smirks as he scoops back and then stands up. “Fair, fair. I’ll go start on that breakfast, yeah?”

“Extra bacon, please.” I smile, knowing I could probably ask Mason for anything, and he’d say yes.

Which is a very welcome change from my last relationship.

But before Mason can take more than a step, the doorbell rings. He stops in his tracks, looking down at me.

All I can do is raise my brows. Who would I have come over to the house this early? On a weekend, no less.

Mason looks confused, and when he turns back toward the door, my stomach drops.Is it Jai?

I shake myself. Why would Jai use the doorbell? I’m just being paranoid again. As I try to swallow down the panic, I pull the halves of the robe closer together.

“Oh, shit. That’s right.” Mason stops again, turning around. “I told Hudson to come by to plan a playdate for Mia and Juniper.”

“Hudson!” I shoot up off the couch. “You’re kidding me?”

“Sorry.” Mason makes a face, his brows knitting together as the remorse plays out over his features. “You should go change. I’ll keep him in the kitchen.”

Throwing my hands up, I go for the stairs, rushing to get some damn clothes on before my brother walks in and finds me lounging around in nothing but a robe.

Shit, shit, shit. This is not how I want him to find out.

My steps fly over the floor and into Mason’s bedroom to grab my clothes. I scoop up the shorts, not bothering with my underwear. It’ll suck, but I can fix it later.

With them on, I yank on my tee once I’ve located it and then hurry to the bathroom to rinse my mouth out with some mouthwash. It’s probably stupid, but all I can think is that I have potent morning breath.

As good as it’s going to get, I hurry back down the stairs, carrying one of Mia's stuffed animals and playing it off like I was getting it for her.

In the living room, Mia is still at her tea party, but now Hudson is standing just inside with Mason on his right.

They both look over at me as I come into the living room, and I hold up the bear.

“Got it.” I wave the stuffy around and then hand it to Mia, who’s thankfully happy to accept it. “Here you go. Hi, Hudson.”

Hudson furrows his brow a bit and then turns back to Mason. “So, as I was saying, Mom wants to invite everyone over. It could be a good time to have the kids play.”

Mason nods, his hands on his hips, and that’s when I realize he’s still in his PJ shorts—and no shirt.

Rolling my lips between my teeth, I try very hard to just blend in with the walls and disappear. It doesn’t work.

“Sure, that sounds like a great?—”

“Why are you shirtless?” Hudson cocks a brow at Mason as he cuts him off. “Didn’t think you needed to cover up around the babysitter?”

I scoff, rolling my eyes as I walk over toward him. “Hudson, I’m hardly just the babysitter. We’ve all been friends forever, and this is hardly the first time I’ve seen Mason shirtless.”

All of that is objectively true, and I pray to God that Hudson chills it with the questions.

My brother nods, seeming to understand, but then he reaches out and pulls something on the front of my shirt.

“Your shirt’s on backwards.” He glares at me. “And inside out.”

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