Page 45 of Nanny for the SEAL

That she shouldn’t get attached to someone, particularly a mother figure, because they could very well leave you?

“Ugh!”

None of this moping is helping, of course. I need to sort myself out, and I’m not about to do that by internally whining to myself.

Daisy is still happily playing. It’s only been like twenty minutes since I dropped her off. Maybe I should just go for a run to clear my head.

So, I hurry over to the closet and get changed into some running shorts and an exercise tank. It’s chilly outside, but I know I’ll heat up quickly enough.

Pulling on my shoes, I jog down the stairs, snagging my headphones so that I can drown out my thoughts to some music.

I don’t need my keys since the front door has a biometric scanner, so I’m ready to go once I have my phone hooked up to Spotify and blasting some good, old-fashioned classic rock.

Moody fucking blues no longer.

As I leave the house behind me, the pounding of my feet creates a drumbeat rhythm through my entire body.Pound, pound, pound.

I begin to lose myself to the steady footfalls, the exertion that grabs hold of me, the way my lungs start to burn as I run faster and faster.

And for a while, the world drops away. I’m in my body, experiencing just the physical things that I’m demanding of it. But I track time, and I know that I need to head back.

I’m also pushing myself harder than I should.

Turning around, I run back to my house, breathing in the autumn air.

“Damn, I’m actually pretty tired right now.”

My words huff out, and I think I’ll actually be able to leave the brain spiral behind me until it’s time to get Daisy tonight.

It all crashes down around me as I see Ivy sitting outside on her porch with a drink in her hand.

I love that she lives next door, and I hate it.

She perks up as she sees me, her eyes running over my body. I’m sweating and flushed from running, and it’s a relief to know those things are helping to disguise the awkward tension bubbling in my blood.

“Oh, hey, Xaden. Going for a run?”

Ivy’s voice is light and nonchalant, and if it weren’t for the fact that yesterday she didn’t so much as say a word to me that wasn’t about Daisy, I might actually have bought her act.

She’s been ducking out of the room whenever we’re alone for too long. She’s been keeping several feet between us, too.

And I should remember that that’s a good thing. Weneedto keep our distance. And yet…

“Yeah. Daisy is at Mason’s for a while. What are you up to?”

“Oh, I just thought I’d enjoy a drink as the sun goes down. Shouldn’t be long now before we get those beautiful colors.”

“No, not long at all.”

The words are hollow. The only coloring filling my mind is the green before me—that gorgeous green that stares back at me each day, entrancing me more and more.

“Did you, umm…” Ivy’s words trail off, and I wait, unsure of what to say or do. “Did you want one? I know it’s not very healthy after a run, but it sure is tasty.”

I can’t help but laugh, and I nod. “Sure, that’d be great.”

Standing up from her little bench seat, Ivy wraps her blanket around her shoulders tighter, and I follow her inside as she holds the door open behind her.

“Do you want the same thing? Or should I make you something different? I have to be honest my options are limited.”

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