Page 102 of Nanny for the Cowboy

I’m still all grins, and I give him a quick peck. “Deal, Mr. Lowe. That’s a solid arrangement for both parties.”

He chuckles. “Is that how you talk to your clients? If you’re making these kinds of deals with them, I don’t know how I feel about it.”

Shaking my head, I laugh. “Oh god, no. Too many of my clients are one, female, and two, all over fifty-five.”

“Phew, I beat the cut-off by a few years.” Brooks eyes me, and I can’t help but blush.

I’m aware of the age gap between us, but he’s certainly not fifty-five, and he doesnotlook like the people I make deals with.

“Haha.” I shake my head, ready to get back to work so we can be done already.

As I pull back, however, Brooks stops me by holding tight to my hand. “What is it?”

He drops his stare to the floor, sighing. “Are you moving back there? I mean, sometime soon? I…I like this. We’ve had such adamn good time, but I still don’t know what I am to you. Your boyfriend, some guy? I need some direction.”

The words hit me in the chest, and I know he’s not wrong. I know he deserves a solid answer. I just haven’t made up my mind yet.

Moving back to NYC to fulfill my career is on my mind. But there’s still Kyle and everything he threatens to do when I’m there—and when I’m not.

There’s also the fact that I love it here. I love being with Brooks and Darby and leaving sounds as fun as pulling a tooth.

“Brooks, I?—”

Knock, knock, knock.

We both look at each other. My dad wouldn’t have any visitors besides us. He’s not that kind of popular in Red Lodge, and he’s already told everyone he does know that he’s moved out to the new house.

“Did your dad forget something, maybe? Or want to help with the boxes?”

I shrug. “Yeah, that could be it. He probably thinks we’ll mess it up or something.”

“Ha, sure enough. Well, I’m hitting the bathroom, and then I’ll come help.” Brooks nods, his expression unreadable.

If he’s upset about my lack of an answer, I can’t tell.

With a sigh, I walk to the front door, a little relieved that I was saved by the knock. Answering Brooks right now would be a challenge.

“Dad, did you forget something?” I call out as I open the door. “Because we can handle loading up a truck just?—”

My words slam to a halt when I see who’s standing on the other side of the door. My heart skips, my stomach drops through the floor, and I can’t breathe.

“Hey there, Clover.” Kyle smirks at me, his stare mean and cocky. “Looks like you needed a little incentive to get moving.”

THIRTY-SEVEN

Clover

I’m not sure if anything exists outside of the door knob gripped so tightly in my hand that it hurts my palm and the man standing in front of me. I must exist because I’m here, but am I?

Is this really happening?

My stomach roils, threatening to send up the meager contents of my breakfast. My stare is wide, tears pooling at the edges.

“How…”

But my words drift away. I can’t find it in me to say the rest. I know Kyle understands when his smirk stretches wider, coating me in its grime.

“Private investigators really can be so useful. And they can do a hell of a lot more than spot some cheating wife.” He takes a step closer, and I retreat instinctively, but my hand is still on the damn knob. “The guy tracked you to Red Lodge right away. I gave you time to get back to the city. But you didn’t.”

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