Page 6 of Seized by the Lawman

“Fiasco?”

Carson straightened the collar of his shirt. “It doesn’t matter now.” He waved a hand through the air. “I-I just want her to take responsibility of something. Choose a path.” His face turned two shades whiter. “I found out recently that I have cancer, stage three.”

Nix slumped back into the chair. This was an insane idea. He couldn’t think of anything he’d least likely do than babysit his boss’s daughter. Yet, after hearing Carson’s logic behind this situation, Nix understood. And cancer? How could Nix turn the request down? The other man must have sensed Nix’s trepidation.

“I’m not telling you this for your pity, son.” Carson pressed his palms flat on the desk and leaned forward. “But it’s important for you to understand the bigger picture.”

“Does your daughter know that you have cancer?”

“No. Not yet.”

Shock curled within Nix. The man was persuasive that’s for damn sure, and very serious about this, enough so that he bared his soul to Nix. He was locked into this whether he liked it or not. “Okay, but is there a time frame we’re looking at?” Nix couldn’t dedicate himself to this assignment without a set deadline.

“One month. That should give us plenty of time to answer the big question. Is my daughter ready to take the responsibility of Shy Brooke.” Carson pushed himself off the desk and swiped his hands together. “It’s time she left the life of a reality star behind her and found her place.”

Stuck on what he’d just agreed to, it took Nix a little longer than normal to wrap his brain around what Carson had said. “Reality star?” Had he heard right?

“Something she did five, six, years ago. I swear I told her it would live with her long after they stopped shooting Survivor Island, but she refuses to see.” He tore a hand through his hair and shook his head in irritation.

A dark cloud suspended over Nix’s head. Flaming hair. Bright, engaging smile. Reality star. Survivor Island. Carson could be describing Melissia. Oh fuck. Nix’s stomach twisted. He searched the office, looking for a picture…

Had he ever met Carson’s daughter? Could he remember what she looked like?

The speaker on Carson’s desk buzzed followed by Claire’s voice, “Sir, your daughter has arrived. Shall I show her in?”

“Thanks. I’ll meet her in the lobby.” He lifted his finger from the button and stared at Nix. “Are you with me, son?”

“I…am I with you?” What could he say?

“You don’t have a girl, do you?” Carson’s lips thinned.

“A girl? No.” Although he dated on occasion, Melissia had been the first girl he’d been into, really into, for a while. And it wasn’t much considering it was a one-night stand and she left before the sun came up. He didn’t have much time for dating and wasn’t that interested in the idea either. Serious relationships deserved serious intentions and tons of time. Nix loved his career and never really understood how couples could balance out work and personal. He always figured he’d eventually settle down, but now with the career change, the aspect of his future was even more unsettled or certain. Lord knew his parents talked about grandkids often, badgering their kids to find the right one and have a family. He refused to fold under pressure though. “What does that have to do with this, sir?”

“A woman, a partner, might not like the idea of you living on a ranch with a pretty woman, even if it’s work related.” Carson looked hopeful shown by his extending smile.

“Living on the ranch?” Maybe at some point he’d stop repeating everything Carson said, but this situation seemed to grow more furry layers every minute.

“Of course, Cade. You’ll be staying in the hand quarters unless I can talk Melly into letting you stay in the guest room, but I wouldn’t count on that, at least not right away.”

Nodding, that’s about all Nix could do as he still searched for a photo. Even though the circumstances seemed similar, how could it be possible that his Melissa was Melly, his boss’s daughter? That would be a fucked-up twist. But then he found what he was looking for, a framed picture sitting on a file cabinet. Although it was a grainy picture, Nix would know the hair, the smile, the beckoning eyes anywhere. And then he knew, things just took a spin down crazy town.

---