Page 98 of Nanny for the SEAL

It takes some doing, but we untangle from each other, and I carry her up to the door, bridal style. Ivy just giggles at me, and once we’re inside, I set her on her feet.

“Why, thank you. Oof, man. I think I could eat again now.”

Laughing again, I gape at her playfully. “Again! We were just at?—”

Her phone buzzes, and Ivy tenses a bit. I offer a neutral expression; it’s not necessarily him.

She pulls out her phone, swiping open the screen to see the preview of the message. “It’s my father.”

Well, dammit.

I take the phone and toss it into the catch-all basket on the console table by the door. “Hey, don’t think about it.”

I can see that Ivy is upset, but I’m not about to let that asshole ruin this. “Just ignore him. He’ll get the message sooner or later and leave you alone. Block the number, and let’s move on. Okay?”

She looks up at me like the worry is going to drown her, and I step forward, pulling her into my arms. After a moment, she nods against my chest.

“Okay.”

“That’s my girl.” She chuckles slightly, pulling back to look into my eyes. “How about I run you a bath, hmm?”

Ivy smiles, and while it’s not a lie or a deflection, it doesn’t entirely fill up her features like the best of her smiles do.

“That would be nice. I’m…yeah, I’m a little stressed now.” She shrugs, and I lay a kiss on her forehead.

“That’s what I’m here for. I’ll run you a bath and wash your back. Then, it’s foot rub city.”

Now, the grin is more in place. “You’re the fucking best, Xade. I love you.”

“I love you, too, hun.”

With that, I help Ivy upstairs, and we start the process of getting a bubble bath going, complete with scented oils, candlelight, and a glass of sparkling grape juice.

After the bath,we were both plenty tired and even though Ivy did enjoy half a bowl of ice cream before passing out, she did not uphold her promise to devour it.

In fact, she fell asleep with the bowl on her chest. I was happy to help clean up and ensure that she was tucked in.

I know making a human is pretty damn hard, too. So it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that she’s beyond beat. As I lie next to her in bed, I drift off to a much-needed sleep.

But it's interrupted just a few hours later when I wake up from the same nightmare that’s been plaguing me these past few weeks.

I shoot up, breathing hard as the images fade.

“Hey,” Ivy whispers, sitting up next to me and putting a hand on my arm, “are you okay?”

“Sorry, babe.” I look at her with a guilty smile, my heart still pounding. “Nightmare.”

“I had a feeling.” She caresses my cheek. “Want to talk about it?”

Freezing up, I shake my head. I don’t know how to breech this topic. All I can think of is how Maeve’s death was my fault.

And now my nerves are yelling at me that tonight was reckless. I could have lost Ivy and the baby as well.

“No, I…I’m sorry. I just…I want to get some rest. Hopefully.”

Ivy kisses me and pulls me into her arms as we lie back. “Okay, Xade. Just know I’m always here for you. I love you, and you can confide in me.”

I grin, feeling how right it is. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

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