Page 20 of Nanny for the Wolf Daddy

FOURTEEN

KELLI

Kelli was willing to do whatever it took to help out Nox because of her growing love and feelings toward the shifter and the little girl. She was a brave woman, but the world that she had fallen into with Nox was something out of the fantasy realm. She felt she was becoming someone new, and she wasn’t sure how much of that person she was going to like.

She received a call from Nox the day after he left, informing her of the situation with the strange Archie Barton man. He asked her to accompany him with Violet but to come undercover and pose as his wife and daughter.

She was gazing at Violet, napping as she spoke quietly.

“What is the point of doing that?” she asked softly.

“I need to prove to him that I am genuine,” Nox said. “When he sees that you are real, there’s a likelihood that he will show me what he’s been up to. Then we can locate Nevel and Elise.”

The silence between them was palpable, and Kelli felt like her heart was tearing through her shirt.

“I know this is a lot to ask of you,” Nox said, breaking the silence. “I will not put you or Violet in harm’s way, I promise. I only need you there to appear authentic.”

Kelli breathed deeply. Her life had taken such a strange turn, and though she was fine with leaning into it, the threat level was elevating.

But so was her love and adoration for Nox and Violet.

“Okay,” she replied. “I will bring Violet with me. But won’t he be able to tell that we’re lying?”

“He isn’t a shifter. He has no way of knowing. But trust me, this guy isn’t the commoner we thought he would be.”

Kelli hung up after getting her instructions from Nox. They would try to dress like Archie and the town folk, wearing simple, basic clothing that seemed fitting for their pretend “mountain roots.” Her name would remain the same, but Nox’s was Jed, and little Violet would be Sweetums.

Kelli told Nox that it all sounded a little too predictable, but Nox tried assuring her that the names wouldn’t matter. It was the mere existence that they were relying on. He said that all they needed was to stand there and nod.

Kelli arrived with Violet at the pre-planned meeting place, a fair distance from the barbecue Archie had invited them to. They got their stories straight, adjusted their costumes, and went on their way.

Violet looked adorable in her overalls and a cute bow, while Nox looked somewhat comical in his tight jeans and lumberjack shirt. It suited him, of course, but Kelli was sure that the man primarily owned suits and T-shirts. She held his hand as they drove up to the backyard getaway, adoring the way his muscles strained in the fabric.

They climbed out of the car and walked toward the crowd of yokels. Having never had to go undercover before in her life, her heart hammered. She told white lies to children with ease, but in front of her was a grown man with eyes like that of a ferret.

“Howdy, there,” Archie said, sauntering over to them.

Nox held onto her hand, giving it a quick squeeze before he spoke.

“Hi, there,” he said, attempting a southern accent. “This is my dear wife here, Kelli, and our cute little cupcake, Sweetums.”

Kelli held the little girl in her arms, who was chewing on her fingers as she stared up at the stranger. It was a coping mechanism that Kelli recognized, and she pulled the little girl in closer for comfort.

Archie was a tall man who looked like a scarecrow from a distance. He held onto his jeans by hooking his fingers into the loops and stared at the child like she was a lamb.

“Well, ain’t you just so sweet,” he said.

He tried to reach out to squeeze Violet’s cheek, but she recoiled. Kelli laughed, then began rubbing the little girl’s back.

“She’s a bit of a shy bug,” Kelli said. “Don’t you take it personally.”

Archie nodded with his eyes on Kelli like spotlights. It made her skin crawl.

“You both look like people searching for adventure,” he said, eyes shifting between Nox and Kelli. “I’m sure I can offer you something quite a bit tantalizing.”

Kelli raised her eyebrows, feeling Nox’s grip tighten.

“What kind of adventure?” Kelli inquired.

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