Page 72 of Nanny for the SEAL

“Hey, baby. Look, it’s Amy. She was just saying hi.”

Daisy waves. “Hi!”

I plaster on a tight smile, doing my best to remain calm. “Go on and eat up. You’re doing good. I think you can get through all the meat and cheese.”

With a smile, the kid goes back to watching her tablet and eating in the cart. I suck in a deep breath through my nose and regard Amy again, my expression a touch more serious.

“Good. Then let me be happy, okay?”

Amy’s eyes roll up as she chews on her lip, clearly not wanting to look me in the eye. I never wanted to admit that maybe she had feelings for me, but it’s getting harder and harder to deny that.

Worse, she’s letting those feelings drive her. She wants me to push Ivy away just because she wants the “position” for herself.

But I’ve never liked Amy that way, and it’s definitely not happening now.

“She’s hiding something from you, Xaden. You need to be careful.”

I sigh, dropping my head before looking back up at her again. “I understand your concern. Nothing is going on for you to worry about. You need to let me be happy. If you actuallycareabout me, you’ll do that.”

Amy is quiet, and she won’t make eye contact. After a moment, she clears her throat and steps back.

“Have fun with the rest of your shopping.” She begins to turn away, obviously upset. “Just remember who’s always been there for you when something goes wrong.”

Without a goodbye, Amy hurries away, putting distance between us in the store. I drop my head, sighing as I lean my elbows on the shopping cart.

“Great,” I whisper sarcastically, “just great.”

I really do have to finish up the shopping, so I just get moving again, heading toward the back coolers so that I can grab some milk.

My shoulders are pinched tight, however, and I can’t stop thinking about what Amy said. I have a feeling it’s exactly what she wanted, but it doesn’t change the fact that I worry Ivy is keeping something from me, too, if only a little.

There’s something to those calls and text messages, and I haven’t been pushing because I don’t want to scare Ivy away or seem overly demanding. But I think the time has come for me to say something.

We’re getting more serious, and I want us to,andin order to do that, we both need to be more honest with each other.

Big ol’ heart to heart. You’ve seen it coming, Xade. Just man the fuck up and do it.

I’m distracted as I finish the grocery shopping with Daisy. The items we need are collected on rote, my mind drifting back to all the times I’ve seen Ivy get tense about those messages.

Insecurity and anxiety peak as I start wondering what they might be for the umpteenth time. I haven’t let myself think about it much, but now, that’s all I can do.

Who is messaging her? Am I going to regret finding out? Is there something going on that’s going to ruin this little bubble of happiness I’ve created for myself?

Still, I glance down at Daisy as I stand in line to check out. She’s so happy in the cart. She’s been happier than she has been in a long while.

And that’s all thanks to Ivy.

We need to talk. There’s no way around that, but I’m still going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Because she’s been nothing but incredible with the both of us.

I trust her. I’m choosing to trust her.

Time will tell if that’s a naïve mistake I’ll come to regret.

TWENTY-FOUR

Ivy

“I’ve never actually been to one of these before.” I smile from ear to damn ear as I look up at the massive screen in front of Xaden’s car. “It’s…awesome.”

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