Page 35 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

Billy nodded and took off, leaving me alone with nothing but anger to fuel my walk back to the stables. I had plenty of time to think about how I’d come after Molly and how she handled it with grace. It wasn’t her fault I was so damn worried; she didn’t even know yet why because I’d gone off half-cocked instead of telling her what I set out to tell her.

“Dammit.”

“Who pissed in your oatmeal?” Wyatt flashed a smile as he settled Peanut Butter in his stall an hour later.

“Me,” I grunted honestly. There was no one to blame for my current turmoil other than myself.And whoever put the tracker on Molly’s car. And slashed her tires.“Dammit.”

“Good luck to ya,” Wyatt called out, laughing as he left me alone in the stables.

I took my time, knowing I had an apology to make but unsure of the reception I would receive. There was only so much time to delay, though, before the night chill settled in, and eventually, I found myself kicking off my boots and stepping inside the kitchen, which was quiet and empty.

The oven warmer was on with a note taped to it. “Dinner is warm. Hunter is waiting for you to tuck him in. Good night. Molly.”

She was mad.

Really mad.

Chapter21

Molly

Aknock sounded on the bedroom door, and I froze, knowing it was Colton on the other side. Of course, he wanted to talk, probably to ream me out again for daring to take a nap in the middle of the day. Of course, that wasn’t fair. He was worried about his son, which I understood, completely, but he should know me better than that, thinking I would leave with Hunter without telling him first.

He doesn’t know me at all.

That was heartbreaking, especially since I had only just realized how much I loved him. I wanted to make a home here with Colton and Hunter, and the goats, maybe even expand our family. That’s what I wanted, how I dreamed of our future together playing out. But while I was dreaming up this fairytale life we could have together, he didn’t even really know me.

The knock sounded again, and I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t give up. That wasn’t the kind of man he was.Might as well get this over with.I unfolded my legs and pushed off the bed, exhaling deeply before I opened the door.

“Yes?”

Colton actually looked nervous as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, raking a hand through his already mussed hair.

“Hey. Can we, uh, talk?”

I shrugged. “I don’t think that’s necessary, Colton.” I took a step back to close the door on him and my earlier realization, but he was a man on a mission. I tried to close the door, but his hand flew out to stop it.

“Please?” The anguish in his voice made my heart squeeze in my chest.

I nodded. “Fine. Sure. I’ll be down in a minute.” This time, he stepped back and nodded just as I closed the door and slammed my eyes shut. I needed to be strong; I knew that. The pull Colton had on me was immense; he was a magnet that I would always be attracted to, and I needed to steel myself against that, against his allure.

You can be strong, Molly. No, you arestrong.

I repeated those words over and over until I stood as tall as I possibly could, with my shoulders squared and my spine straight. I would look Colton in the eyes and listen to what he had to say without getting emotional. I would speak my piece, and then that would be it; we could both get on with our lives. Separately.

My legs buckled at the thought of living separately from Colton, at the idea, no, the reality of watching him start to date again. Fall in love. Get married. “No.” I couldn’t do that to myself. I wouldn’t. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall before I spoke with Colton, so I squeezed my eyes even tighter until the urge subsided. A quick splash of cold water on my face, and I was as ready as I would ever be to face him.

Colton was down in the kitchen, making quick work of the dinner I’d left for him. He looked up at me and flashed an unsure smile. “Hey, thanks for coming down.”

I shrugged. “You wanted to talk.”

He nodded. “I did,” he said in a gentle tone, motioning for me to take a seat across from him at the table.

My legs felt like logs as I moved forward, dropping down in the chair as if all the life had been drained from my body. I watched him carefully, the play of emotions on his handsome face, the way his jaw clenched as if he was trying to hold back his emotions.

I love him.

The words entered my mind without prompting; it was just a visceral emotion, a constant realization each time I saw him, just how deeply I felt for this man. “Look,” I said finally, because the silence was getting to me the way it often did during long stretches of quiet. Strangely, it was never that way with Colton; being with him in the silence had been comforting. Until now.

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