Page 16 of Nanny for the Bikers

“No.” Clay swallows. “I didn’t bring one.”

I frown. “It’s a good thing you’re hiring a nanny, Clay.” This man doesn’t seem to know anything about raising a child.

“Yeah.” He sighs. Clay adjusts Piper in his arms, cradling her gently as she suckles the bottle. He glances up at me, his blue eyes catching mine. “I’ll have to head home. You can follow me. I’m parked just over there,” he says, nodding towards a sleek black Jeep.

I nod slowly and with that, he turns and walks towards his Jeep, Piper nestled securely in his arms.

I watch them go, my mind whirling with a mix of excitement and trepidation. As Clay’s Jeep pulls out of the parking lot, I turn to Shadow, who sits patiently at my feet. “Well, buddy, looks like we’re in for quite the ride.”

I hesitate, my heart skipping a beat. Am I really doing this? Agreeing to be a live-in nanny for a man I just met? It’s crazy, impulsive, and completely unlike me. But isn’t that the point of this journey? To break free from the confines of my old life and embrace the unknown?

Shadow wags his tail, his tongue lolling out in a doggy grin. I ruffle her fur. “We’ve got this, right? I mean, how hard can being a nanny be?”

Famous last words, I think wryly as I climb into my truck. But as I turn the key and the engine roars to life, I feel a surge of determination. I can do this. I will do this.

With a deep breath, I put the truck in drive and pull out of the parking lot, following the taillights of Clay’s Jeep. This may notbe the adventure I had planned, but something tells me it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

8

AYLA

The townhouse looms before me, its pristine brickwork and manicured lawn a jarring contrast to the shabby rentals I’ve called home.

I didn’t know they even made homes this nice….none of the ones I’d lived in were this fancy.It’s modern, white with black bricked accents. The front yard is newly mowed and I can smell the flowers from the bush near one of the front windows.

I kill the engine of my rusty pickup, its rumble fading into the quiet, tree-lined street.

My chest tightens as I step out, a duffel bag slung over my shoulder with the few things that I’d decided to bring with me. Intrusive memories assault me - countless hasty moves, unpacked boxes, Mom’s haunted eyes as she fled Kyle’s volatile temper and empty apologies…only to end up back with him a few days later.

The desperate yearning for roots, for normalcy, surges through me, an ache I can’t shake.

Clay gets out of his truck and heads to the front door, Piper’s car seat on his arm, as he fumbles to find the right key.

I crunch up the pebbled walkway to the front door just as he finds the key. He turns around to look at me briefly before his gaze falls down to Shadow. “He’s house trained, right? I don’t have to worry about finding piss stains?”

I laugh. “You have better chances of peeing on the floor than Shadow.”

Clay smiles and shakes his head before pushing the key into the door and pushing it open. I step over the threshold into the foyer, the cool air tinged with the scent of pine and something unmistakably masculine. My gaze darts around, taking in the clean carpet, the tasteful artwork. It’s beautiful but intimidating.

“Nice place,” I remark, trying to mask my nerves with nonchalance.

Clay chuckles, his voice a low rumble. “It’s a bit of a bachelor pad, I know. But it’s home.”

Home. The word pierces me, unfamiliar and alluring all at once.

As Clay leads me into the living room, my breath catches at the sight before me. There men’s shirts littered all over the plush carpet, mingled with discarded socks.

“Sorry about the mess,” Clay says sheepishly, scooping up a handful of blocks. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

I wave off his apology, feeling a strange warmth bloom in my chest. This lived-in clutter, it’s more familiar to me than the pristine façade outside. “Don’t worry about it. I’m used to a little disorder.”

Shadow weaves between my legs, his tail wagging tentatively as he sniffs at the unfamiliar surroundings. Clay’s gaze falls on him, his brow furrowing slightly. No wonder why he asked if Shadow was housetrained, this house is too nice for the likes of us.

As we move further into the house, Clay gestures expansively. “Five bedrooms, three baths. Plenty of space for everyone.”

Five bedrooms. The number stuns me, a stark reminder of the vast gulf between Clay’s world and mine. Growing up, I was lucky if I had a room to myself. I usually had to share with my older sister who demanded the majority of the room for all of her stuff.

I didn’t realize business owners made so much money.

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