Page 28 of Nanny for Grumpy Grant
Caleb glances toward the house, then back at me. “Why? Can’t Grant give you a lift?”
I fumble for a response, my cheeks heating. “Because… um, he can’t leave Emily alone.”
A pause.
Caleb gives me a slow, unreadable look, like he’s weighing that answer against a few others he’s already guessed. But he doesn’t press—yet.
“I see,” he says, his tone easy. “In that case, hop in.”
I exhale and smile—grateful, embarrassed, and still reeling from the chaos inside me. “Thanks.”
Without hesitation, I climb into the passenger seat. Caleb doesn’t say anything for the first few seconds as we pull out of the drive. The SUV hums along the quiet road, tall grass swaying on either side, and I feel the knots in my chest start to loosen.
But then he glances sideways. “You sure nothing happened?”
I stare straight ahead. “Positive.”
He doesn’t buy it.
“If he did something—” Caleb’s voice is softer now, but there’s an edge to it. “You can tell me. I won’t let him off the hook easy. Just because he’s my older brother doesn’t mean I have to give a shit.”
My mouth opens, then closes.
“I’m fine, really,” I say after a beat. “There’s nothing… He didn’t do anything.” I swallow. “Nothing bad, at least.”
Caleb raises a brow, glancing sideways again. “Nothing bad, huh?”
I press my lips together.
He lets out a breath, rubbing a hand along the steering wheel. “All right. If you say so.”
I shoot him a sideways look. “Do you always interrogate people after rescuing them?”
He laughs. “Only when they look like they’ve seen a ghost.”
I give him a wry smile, grateful for the release of tension. Caleb’s not stupid. He’s known Grant his whole life. He’s known me most of mine. I can practically feel the questions buzzing under his tongue.
But he keeps them there—for now.
And I’m grateful.
Because I don’t have answers yet.
Only one thought, looping through my head like a warning:What the hell have I gotten myself into?
9
GRANT
Istand at the door long after she’s gone, one hand braced against the frame like it’s the only thing holding me upright.
Ivy.
Damn it.
She didn’t say a word. Just rushed out like the house was on fire. Which, in a way, I guess it was. My fault. Entirely. One second we were laughing—actually laughing—and the next… I kissed her.
I kissed her.
