Page 37 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

I nodded. “I’ll go to the police tomorrow and report this here. Maybe they can keep a closer eye on the ranch.” And in the meantime, I could draw his attention from the ranch, from Hunter and the animals. “Oh my god, do you think he’s the one who’s been screwing with the animals?”

“Not until this moment.” He looked angrier than I’d ever seen him, and I couldn’t blame him.

I also knew what I had to do. “I should go.” My heart lurched at the thought of leaving the McCall men behind, but it was for the best. “If I’m not here, Travis won’t have a reason to interfere. You and Hunter and everyone else here will be safe.”

“No.”

I smiled, even though the last thing I wanted to do was smile. “It’s all right, Colton. This is my decision. I have to do this.”

“No, you don’t have to leave. You belong here.”

“Trust me, I haven’t felt as if I belonged in a lot of places in my life, most places really, but I feel like I belong here, and I don’t want to think about leaving, but I have to think about Hunter.”

“And what about you? Do you think it’s smart to go at this guy alone? To leave yourself vulnerable to this crazy fucker?”

“No, but Hunter is more important.”

“So are you, Molly. You’re important to me, and I want you to stay.”

I shook my head to ward off the effect his words had on my racing heart. “Serenity will find you another nanny.”

“I don’t want another nanny,” he barked. “I want you, Molly. Just you.”

“Colton,” I whimpered.

“I want you, Molly. No one else but you. And even if you leave, I’ll still worry about you, and that will leave me distracted.” He smiled. “Besides, you’ll hear from Serenity soon enough to learn that I’ve extended the contract.”

“You did?” I wasn’t sure if that made me happy, that I would have more time with them, or sad because he hadn’t asked me to stay as more than his son’s nanny.

“I did, and if you don’t agree, it’s because you don’t want to stay here with us.” Sadness swam in his eyes, and I watched with tears in my own eyes as he stood and walked out of the kitchen, his food abandoned, the room suddenly silent and lifeless.

Had I just made a huge mistake? Was staying on the ranch a bigger mistake? Colton had the power to break me, and though he made it clear that I was important to him, he hadn’t said more than that.

I sighed heavily, the weight of the world suddenly pressing down on my shoulders. A decision had to be made, and I was the only one who could make it.

Did I want to stay here on the ranch? Absolutely.

Was it the most sensible course of action considering my feelings for Colton? Probably not, but I could not abandon Hunter, who’d already lost so much.

I straightened the kitchen and retired to my room, knowing that I had a lot to think about before the sun rose on the next day, before Serenity called with the good news.

Before Colton changed his mind.

Chapter22

Colton

Icouldn’t concentrate on my work, and it was all Molly’s fault. Not only had I been unable to stop thinking about her since our conversation last night, but she still hadn’t said a word about whether or not she was staying at the ranch. I slept for shit last night because my mind raced with all the things she said to me.

She thought I was going to fire her.

That being with her wasjust sexfor me. As if being with a woman like her—beautiful and sweet with an inner fire that was too damn intoxicating to stay away from—could ever bejustanything. “God,” I groaned and scrubbed a hand over my face in frustration. When Sara died, I didn’t think I’d ever find another woman, not because ours had been one of those timeless love stories, but because very few women would be happy to live out in the middle of nowhere with a husband who spent most of his days with animals. Molly wasn’t just perfect; she was perfect for me.

She was a perfect fit for the ranch and for our family.

I wanted this woman so badly that I could hardly think straight, and the idea of her leaving the ranch just didn’t sit well with me, not even if she was doing it for noble reasons. Well, she would be better off and safer here, where I could protect her if that asshole ex of hers thought about coming here to make trouble.

A knock sounded on my office door, and before I could shout that I was busy and whoever was out there should go away, Wyatt strolled in with a huge grin on his face.

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