Page 51 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

“But Colton,” I began nervously.

Wyatt smiled up at me. “Colton is just fine, trust me. He’s gotta do this, you understand?”

I didn’t at all, but the sound of several more punches mixed with Travis’ pained grunts gave me some insight. “Don’t ever come near her again,” Colton growled sometime later.

I hissed in pain when Wyatt cut the ropes from my wrists.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay; they’re a little sore.” When I looked down at my wrists, they were red and slightly chafed.

“A bit of aloe or cocoa butter will fix you right up,” he said, gently gripping my chin to turn my face left and right. “A few bruises are gonna pop up in the next few days too. You good everywhere else?”

I nodded, understanding immediately what he was asking. “Just a few hits. He knocked me down, but nothing feels broken.”

Wyatt nodded, a grave expression on his face. “When the shock wears off, we’ll see if you need a doctor or not.”

I nodded absently, tilting my head to listen for any other sounds from inside, but the sound of sirens grew louder and louder, drowning out everything else.

“I called them when we spotted you. Can’t let the little fucker get away with this, right?”

I nodded, looking over my shoulder at the trail of dust left by two squad cars rushing down the road. “Right.” The air sizzled around me, charged and thick, and when I swung my gaze back around, Colton was there, standing on the small wooden slats meant to be a porch, all broad-shouldered, protective cowboy. “Colt.” His name came out in a breathless whisper.

“Molly,” he growled, and in two long strides, he was there in front of me, wrapping his big arms around me and squeezing me tight. “You’re all right, sweetheart. Perfectly safe.”

His deep voice rumbled against my face, and I inhaled his earthy, masculine scent. “You saved me. Both of you.”

“What else could we do? You’re part of the family now,” Wyatt said, giving my back a gentle rub.

“Tell me you’re okay, Molly.”

I pulled back, reluctant to leave the warmth and protection of Colton’s embrace, but I needed to look into his eyes. “I’m okay, Colton. Scared and a little banged up, but otherwise, I’m good. Thanks to you.”

His brows knitted together into a dark scowl. “He hit you. More than once?”

I nodded. “A couple of times. I had to make him angry, or else,” I looked away, unwilling to say the words out loud. “I didn’t know what he would do if he wasn’t angry.”

“Oh, Molly.” He yanked me to him and held me even tighter. “I should’ve killed him.”

“No, he’s not worth it. Hunter needs you. McCall Ranch needs you. I need you too, Colton.”

He stared at me for a long, heated moment before his mouth crashed down over mine. His kiss was rough and claiming, hungry and full of the kind of desire that doesn’t go away easily. He wanted me; I felt it in the very depths of my heart and my soul.

I wanted him too, and I needed him to know it.

Soon.

For now, I pressed my body so close to his that there was no clear sign where one of us ended and the other began, and I threw myself into the kiss. It was the kiss to end all kisses—hot and hungry while the chaos of police officers swirled around us. We didn’t care, and we didn’t part; we stayed there in our own little bubble of happiness until it was time to relive the past few hours of hell.

Later,I told myself. There would be time to lay it all on the line later.

Chapter30

Colton

Molly slept in my arms, soundly and so deeply I hoped it erased all that she’d been through yesterday. I held her a little bit tighter and a little bit closer, grateful to every energy in the universe that she was safe and in my arms. In my bed. If Wyatt and I had gone west instead of east, it would’ve taken another hour before we found her, and who knows what that asshole had planned for her?

I didn’t even want to think about it.

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