Page 108 of Nanny for the Cowboy

“I’ve wanted to see Brooks happy. I’ll admit that. I just didn’t expect him to be finding that happiness with my daughter.”

“I get that. Really. But we both made this decision as adults. I didn’t feel pressured. He didn’t threaten my job. If anything, weboth pushed each other away as much as we could. Before, we just…couldn’t anymore.”

“He really saved you yesterday? From that Kyle you mentioned?” Dad juts his chin out at me like he’s prepared for me to explain away the situation and thinks that it just couldn’t be true.

“Yes. He did. If it weren’t for Brooks being there, I don’t know if I would be here. Kyle was intent on taking me back to New York—no matter what it took. Kyle had threatened me, he threatened Darby, and he physically assaulted both Brooks and me when he showed up at your old apartment.”

The look of horror that spreads over my dad’s face is enough to make me slightly nauseated. I hate to see him so worried. It’s why I never said anything. He has enough on his plate, and the last thing he needs is to be concerned for his daughter.

But I guess that’s what you do when you’re a parent. Hell, I’d be freaking out if I knew someone was threatening or looking to harm Darby.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect that little boy. I…I think of him as my own son.

“You should have said something to me, honey. I can help you. Don’t you think I’d always be here to help you whenever I could?”

“Of course I do. I was trying to do the protecting this time. It…it was the wrong move, though. I get that now. I…I can sort of see how it might feel to be a parent now. I’ve spent so much time with Darby, and if anything ever happened to him…”

My voice cracks as emotion gets the best of me. Dad’s expression softens, and he reaches across the table to take my hand. As his fingers squeeze mine, I can see a glassy sheen cover his eyes.

“I think you do a bit. You love that boy, don’t you?”

I nod, smiling as a single tear slips free. “I do.”

Swallowing, Dad sniffles and nods. “And that father of his? Well, hell. I’ll be the first to admit that what he said yesterday was damn impressive. I can see how much he cares for you. And Iamgrateful that he worked so hard to keep you safe.”

“I care for him, too. We’re trying to work everything out, but…I really do, Dad. Being around him makes me so…happy.”

The word ends with a chuckle, and Dad mirrors my laughter, pulling back and sitting up in his chair after patting the back of my hand.

“I like seeing you happy. And I like knowing you’re safe.” He clears his throat, fighting back the swell of emotions that threaten to spill from his eyes. “I don’t love that you went behind my back or that you didn’t tell me more about the ‘Kyle’ situation, but I understand it.”

Sniffling, trying so hard to breathe evenly, I smile at him. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Daddy…” He pushes back his chair and stands up, coming over to me with his arms open. “You haven’t called me that in a long time, baby.”

Dad wraps his arms around me, and I sink into the hug. I let myself feel it all, a gentle hum of relief melting from me. We stand there in the kitchen of his new house together, the house he bought for Mom, and I soak in all the love I can.

I never want to let go, but I know I have to.

“I’m sorry about everything. Really. I hope that you can be okay with this because…” I look up at my dad as I force myself to release a shaky breath. “…I think I want to try this with Brooks. Really give it my all.”

Pinching my chin between his rough fingers, Dad tips my face down and plants a kiss on the top of my head. He holds my cheek as he pulls back, this funny combination of happiness and sorrow mixed on his face.

“I think I can figure it out, honey.” He rolls his lips between his teeth for a tight smile. “My little girl is all grown up. Your mom would be so proud of you…the woman you’ve become. So am I.”

“I love you, Dad.” I lean in for another hug. “So much.”

“I love you, too, Clover.”

We stay in that moment for a minute, and then my dad pulls back, holding each of my shoulders, and he casts a playfully serious glance down at me.

“Now, you better get back to that house. Something tells me you have a hell of a conversation ahead of you.”

“Oof, yeah. You’re right about that one.”

“You got this, sweetheart. Just be honest.” Pulling me in for a sideways hug, Dad encourages me to get the next moment over with.

I have to talk to Brooks. I don’t have any idea how that will go, but all I can do is face the future.

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