Page 25 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

No, this isn’t love. It can’t be; he’s my boss.

I ignored that hint of panic that zipped through me at that thought and focused on something else. Anything else. Like myslashedtires. I couldn’t hide what I was thinking from Colton. He deserved to know the truth, and when he asked if I knew who would do this, I was honest. “I have an ex, and we’ve been broken up for a long time, but he’s volatile and not taking ‘we’re over’ for an answer.” I turned away and watched the scenery flash by as he sped back to the ranch.

“What’s a long time?”

“Six months or so, but he doesn’t know where I am. And since I’ve been here, I had to block his number because he was texting me too much, and it was becoming worrisome.” That was an understatement, but Colton had a lot on his plate already—enough that I didn’t want him to worry about me on top of all that.

His face formed into a dark frown, and a pit formed in my chest. He was going to decide that I was too much trouble and let me go. “Do you want him back?”

I barked out a bitter laugh. “No. Not at all. I want nothing to do with him ever again.” I thought about the way he used to make me feel about my curves. Some days he made me feel beautiful, but most days I felt dirty and ashamed. “Ever again,” I repeated softly.

“Did he put his hands on you?” Colton’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, and I knew what he was thinking.

“No, he wasn’t quite that angry. He basically weaponized my body against me. He was angry that I wouldn’t, you know, with him, but then he would accuse me of being with all of his friends because there wasno way a body like that was going to waste.When that didn’t work, he tried to convince me that I was lucky he wanted me like that since I was so big.”

“You’re perfect,” he growled.

“I’m not, but thank you.”

“I wasn’t doing anything with his friends or anyone else,” I said, that old defensiveness rising up like a bad habit.

“I know,” he growled. “I know that, Molly. I’m not accusing you of anything; I’m just asking what I need to know to keep you safe.”

I sighed and laid a hand on his thigh. “This is why I didn’t tell you, Colt. I don’t want you wasting a minute thinking about this. You have Hunter and the whole ranch to worry about. You don’t need to add me to your list of obligations.”

“It’s not an obligation if I’m doing it because I want to.” I tried to pull my hand from his thigh. Just because Hunter was quiet didn’t mean he wasn’t listening and watching. But Colton was faster; his heavy hand dropped on top of mine and weaved our fingers together.

“I’m supposed to be making your life easier.”

“Life ain’t easy, Molly. Anybody who thinks that isn’t doing it right.”

There he went, saying words that hit me right in my romance center. “Colton, he doesn’t know where I am, even if he wanted to make trouble. It was probably just some kids hazing a newcomer.” I didn’t even believe it, and I wanted to. Desperately.

He let out a huff of laughter. “Kids don’t play like that around here.”

“Maybe it was the same person who did the…goats.” The goats.Shit.Could both of those be attributed to Travis? But how would he know where I was?

“Goats?” Hunter piped up, loud and clear at the mention of goats, and he bounced in his seat. “Can we go play with the goats, Molly? Please?”

“Sure thing, kiddo.” As soon as we arrived at the ranch, Wyatt was there with something that needed Colton’s attention, so I took advantage of his distraction and put away the bags before Hunter and I went to the goat pens. They were a guaranteed way to relax because the goats loved people and were incredibly affectionate, especially the kids who loved to cuddle while they received back and belly rubs.

Slowly, the tension eased from my body, but my mind continued to race with thoughts of Travis. Even if he could track me down, would he slash my tires? Maybe. But would he hurt the goats? I couldn’t say for sure, which was pretty much an answer in the affirmative. “Damn,” I whispered, and just like that, all the tension returned.

Chapter16

Colton

“It wasn’t just a flat,” I informed Wyatt, who leaned against the closed door of my office with his arms folded across his chest. “Someone slashed the tires. All four of ’em.” Just thinking about it now still pissed me off.

“I’m guessing it wasn’t a one-off?”

I shook my head and relayed the story about her ex-boyfriend. “The guy hasn’t accepted that it’s over between them.” Part of me was grateful that his actions had sent Molly into my world, but the other, saner part of me was angry on her behalf and wanted to shred him limb from limb. “She’s scared, but she’s putting on a brave face.”

“And it’s over between them? Really and truly over?” His eyes studied my face carefully, in search of any hint that I didn’t believe her.

He wouldn’t find it because I took Molly at her word that they were over. “It’s over,” I confirmed. “He wasn’t a nice guy. He accused her of all kinds of things she didn’t do, based on nothing more than her body and his insecurities.”

Wyatt’s brows shot up in shock.

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