Page 80 of Nanny for the Cowboy

Kyle is still looking for me, still pissed. There’s no rush to go back to NYC.

But that’s not the only thing that’s going on. Dad bought that house. He wants me to move in with him.

I could tell him I want to stay here, but he’s going to ask why. I could tell him because I think it’s easier with Darby, and that would be mostly true.

It would also be another lie, and Ireallydon’t want to do that.

I don’t lie. I don’t do it to my clients. I don’t do it to my family or friends. And the fact that I did, that I lied to my dad, to his face, eats at me every day.

Still, telling my dad the truth could hurt him. It could drive a wedge between us, and there are few things in the world I fear more than losing my dad.

He’s all I have left of my family.

Maybe he would understand eventually, but that’s if I decided I really wanted to do the “relationship” thing with Brooks.

Brooks…

I reflexively squeeze him, and he hugs me right back. I’ve never liked a guy the way I like him. I’ve never felt like long-term was an option with anyone else.

That’s huge, isn’t it?

Home isn’t a place, honey. More often than not, it’s a person.

I hear my mom’s voice in my head as she looks at Dad, knowing that they’re moving, but she’s fine with it because she’ll be with Dad.

I do feel at home here in Red Lodge, so much more than I ever felt in NYC. Is that because of Brooks?

He makes me feel wanted,seen. I’m not just running on survival mode from one emergency to the next. It’s…slower here.

Better.

Knock, knock, knock.“Clover?!”

I jump, clinging onto Brooks, who sucks in a hard breath and then immediately holds it. Fucking Christ, Darby is at the door, and I’m in here naked with his dad.

It takes me a second to find my voice, which I hope plays off like he just woke me up.

“Umm, yeah?”

“Have you seen Dad? I can’t find him.”

Looking up at Brooks, he smirks down at me and all I can do is glare. The jerk knew it was getting late, and he dawdled because he was “hungry.”

Still, I only mildly regret that part.

“Oh, umm, no. Sorry, bud. I’ve been in my room.” The excuse is so pathetic, and I fling my hands over my face as my cheeks burn, Brooks doing everything he can to muffle his chuckle.

“I’m looking again! Hurry up!”

At that, Darby is off, the sound of his footsteps down the hall much louder now as he runs to find his dad.

I let a few seconds pass and then finally release the breath I was holding, sagging against Brooks before whacking him in the arm.

“You suck.” He just laughs. “I almost had a damn heart attack!”

He’s just laughing it up, and then Brooks pulls me into his arms again, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“I’m sorry. Really.” Brooks settles, and I still glare up at him as he offers me an apologetic smile. “But you should probably get down there to help ‘search.’”

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