Page 27 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

“Bullshit. I mean, he’s my son and I love him, but he’s not all that matters, Molly. You fuckin’ matter.”

“I’m not saying I don’t.” She shrugged her shoulders as a hint of a smile touched her lips. “But if this is Travis, then he’ll know right away that he can use Hunter against me, and I can’t—I won’t let that happen.” Her fierceness was admirable, but it was just plain stupid.

“I can’t let you put yourself in harm’s way to protect me or my business. Or my kid.” The fact that she was willing to do just that meant something to me, and once I convinced her to stay, I would think about exactly what that was.

“Colt, be reasonable. My probationary period is just about over, and no one will give it a second thought if you decide to let me go.” She swallowed again and looked away, a move that told me everything I needed to know.

“Is that what you want, Molly? You want to leave the ranch? Hunter? Me?”

She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut before looking away again. “Of course I don’t want to go,” she grumbled. “I love it here. But I’m trying to do the right thing, Colt. It’s hard, but I’d do it. For you guys.”

“More like the easy thing,” I shot back. It wasn’t fair, and it was guaranteed to piss her off, but in that moment, I didn’t give a damn. “Is there something else that I don’t know, that you’re not telling me?” Had she gotten what she wanted out of her time on the ranch? She’d gotten rid of her virginity so she could go back to the asshole who didn’t deserve her?

“No, there isn’t. But I’ve been thinking about this all day, Colton, and what if it is Travis? If it is, then that means he knows where I am, and it’s only a matter of time before he does something else, something worse. And if it is him, then I don’t know him at all, and I can’t say what he would do or how far he would go.” She looked away again and swiped a tear across her cheek.

“Look at me, Molly.” I waited with as much patience as I could muster until her gaze met mine. “There are systems in place to make sure you and Hunter are safe. I have security all around the ranch, and all you have to do is be safe and cautious when you’re out.”

“I don’t know, Colton.” She shook her head and nibbled her bottom lip.

“Do you want to stay, Molly? Because that’s the only damn thing that matters. If you want to stay, I promise to keep you safe. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you get to where you’re going safely.”

She shook her head and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. “I don’t want to go, but wouldn’t it be best for everyone?”

“Not me. I want you here, and so does Hunter. And I think if you think about it, you don’t want to leave either, Molly.”

“Of course I don’t! But I would never, ever forgive myself if something happened to you or Hunter, or anyone else on this ranch.”

“Stay,” I growled. “If you’re here, then there are a bunch of people looking out for you and me and Hunter and all the rest of us. If you go, the only thing that changes is that you’re out there on your own.” Our gazes locked in a standoff. She was determined to think about everyone but herself, yet she was all I thought about.

“Are you sure?”

“I am. Do you want to go?”

“No,” she sighed. “But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to stay.”

I smiled. “Doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea either. Will you stay anyway?”

Her eyes flicked side to side as she thought about what she would do, and eventually, her green gaze settled on mine. “Yeah, Colt. I’ll stay.”

Her words made me unreasonably happy.

Chapter17

Molly

“You did what?” Toni shrieked so loud that I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Wait. Hold up. Back up a minute, you’re a virgin?”

I rolled my eyes and laughed at her tone. “Well, not anymore.”

“So you gave it up to the hunky cowboy? You go, girl!” Toni laughed and whooped, finishing the display off with a loud clap of her hands. “How was it?” She whispered.

“Amazing,” I admitted in a whisper, blushing down to my toes even though she couldn’t see me. “I mean, I came like a thousand times, so yeah, I think it was good. Really good. Incredible.”

“That’s great, and I’m happy for you, really happy. Every woman’s first time should be amazeballs.”

My brows furrowed. “Why do I hear abutcoming?”

“But how in the hell did you make it this far withthatbody as a virgin?”

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