Page 27 of Nanny for the Bikers

Shadow whines softly beside me, sensing my distress. I barely register his presence, too focused on the unyielding door before me. My mind races, trying to comprehend how this could have happened. Did I somehow lock it behind me? Did it auto-lock?

I press my forehead against the cool wood, squeezing my eyes shut as if I can will the door to open through sheer force of mind. But it remains steadfastly closed. Piper. The thought of her alone inside, with Clay and Kip still asleep, sends a fresh wave of panic surging through me. I need to get back to her, to make sure she’s okay.

I pound on the door, my fists slamming against the wood with increasing force. “Clay! Kip!” I shout, my voice ragged with fear. “Wake up! The door’s locked!”

But there’s no response from within, no sign that anyone has heard my desperate pleas. The silence presses in on me, suffocating and heavy.

I step back from the door, my chest heaving as I fight to catch my breath. Think, Ayla, think. There has to be another way in.

I race around the back, searching for something, anything that might offer a solution. And then I see it—a window, slightly ajar.

With renewed determination, I race toward the window, Shadow trailing close behind. The grass is damp beneath my bare feet, the blades tickling my skin as I move. I reach the window and grip the sill, my fingers curling around the weathered wood.

“Please, please be unlocked,” I mutter under my breath, giving the window a gentle push. To my immense relief, it slides open with a soft creak, revealing a narrow gap just wide enough for me to squeeze through.

I hoist myself up, wriggling my upper body through the opening. The window frame digs into my ribs, but I barely notice the discomfort. All I can think about is getting back to Piper, making sure she’s safe.

As I try to maneuver my hips through the gap, I realize with a sinking feeling that I’m stuck. Wedged halfway in, halfway out, I struggle against the unyielding window, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

And then I hear it—Piper’s cry, piercing the early morning stillness. The sound sends a jolt of adrenaline surging through my veins, and I redouble my efforts to free myself.

“Come on, come on,” I grunt, twisting and pushing with all my might. But the window holds fast, refusing to relinquish its grip on me.

Piper’s cries grow louder, more insistent, and I feel hot tears of frustration prickling at the corners of my eyes. I’m so close, and yet so far away. If only I could just…

Suddenly, I feel a firm tap on my back, and a deep, masculine voice cuts through my mounting panic. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

14

TELLER

Coming home to a woman trying to break into my window isn’t how I thought I’d spend my morning.

“I know this looks bad, but I swear I’m not a burglar or anything.” Her voice is breathless, tinged with nervousness.

I raise an eyebrow skeptically. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, it sure looks like you’re trying to break in.”

She shakes her head vehemently. “No, no, it’s not like that at all. I’m Ayla, the new live-in nanny for Piper. Kip and Clay hired me.”

Live-in nanny? For Piper? I stare at her, trying to process this unexpected information. Kip and Clay never mentioned anything about a nanny, let alone one who would be living with us. I search my exhausted brain, wondering if perhaps they did tell me and I just forgot. But no, I’m certain I would remember something like that.

I study her more closely, taking in her earnest expression and the way she bites her lower lip anxiously. She doesn’t look likea typical thief or intruder. But then again, appearances can be deceiving.

I raise an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Is that so?” I drawl, taking her in as she’s stuck in my window.

She huffs out a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Ha ha. Very funny. Are you going to help me or not?”

“I’m serious,” I deadpan, though my eyes are twinkling with mischief. “And I’m not letting you into my home until I get answers. Breaking and entering, stalking... you’ve got all the hallmarks of a grade-A creeper.”

Her jaw drops in indignation. “Excuse me? I am not a stalker!”

“Could’ve fooled me,” I shrug, enjoying the way her cheeks flush with annoyance. “I mean, what kind of nanny tries to break in through the window in the middle of the night?”

“The kind who got hired last-minute and wasn’t told the door auto-locked,” she retorts, crossing her arms over her chest. “Look, I get how this must seem. But I promise, I’m telling the truth. Clay and Kip brought me on to help with Piper. You can call them down right now and they’ll confirm everything.”

“Even if I did believe you, why’d you choose a window rather than calling?”

The fierce shepherd, sitting beside her, continues to bark and snarl. I find my gaze drifting to the girl, taking in details I hadn’t fully registered before. The way her shirt has ridden up slightly in the scuffle, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of smooth skin. The curve of her hip, the dip of her waist. Despite the tense situation, I feel a flicker of attraction stirring within me.

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