Page 92 of Nanny for the Cowboy

I don’t know what he promised them, but I do know that itwillfail without me.

But I don’t want to help him. This guy is proving to be more unhinged with every moment. I can’t trust a deal made with him. I can’t trust him at all.

Darby’s sweet smile pops up in my mind, and my knees nearly buckle, a tear slipping free.

He’ll hurt him. God, Kyle will actually hurt him.

“Awfully quiet, Clover. I’m not patient on my best day. You should know that.” I hear a deep inhale, and I still can’t find my voice. “Get here. Help me. Or…I’ll drag you back here by the hair if I have to.”

It’s too much. It’s all too much, and I hang up. My heart is screaming.

I can’t do this. I can’t risk Darby. Ican’thelp Kyle. I…

“Dammit!” I squeeze my phone until it groans beneath my fingers.

Darby is an innocent child, and Brooks…it would kill me to hurt him. I want to tell Kyle to fuck off, but I’ve never been this scared of him in my life.

I’ve never been this scared ofanyonein my life.

When I get moving again, hurrying to my car, I still have no answers, but I know the clock is ticking faster now. I need to make a decision. I need to do something—and fast.

THIRTY-THREE

Brooks

The damned table that I’ve been working on for too long is finally near completion. I need to sand down the edges a bit more and put on a coat of finish, but all in all, I’m pretty happy with it.

It’s about the only thing I’m happy with.

Darby is inside enjoying some free time, and Clover…

Ever since she got back from lunch with Rosie, she’s been acting off. I can see the tension in her shoulders, and her eyes are darting to every corner and shadow whenever there’s a noise or something.

I’ve seen enough life to know that’s a nervous response, but I don’t know what’s bugging her. She’s on edge, jumpy, and it’s not like Clover.

Prying into her business feels weird right now. I’ve been yelling at myself for falling into bed with her again. I should’ve pulled back. I should’ve left, but I didn’t.

If I start pushing into her private life, it’ll just be another way I’m falling deeper into the damn hole with her. We’re supposed to be just “hanging out.”

This would go against that for sure.

But when I step out of the shed to get some fresh air and see her sit on the porch, her head in her hands, I find myself walking over to her, unable to stop myself.

“Hey,” Clover glances up at me, her eyes wide, “you okay? You’ve seemed off since you got back.”

This expression of guilt washes over her face—so similar to the way Darby looks when I’ve caught him doing something he shouldn’t—and Clover sighs.

“Umm, yeah, sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m fine.”

I believe that as much as I believe it’s not hot as hell outside. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I sit down next to Clover on the steps.

“You continue to be a shitty liar.”

Scoffing, Clover looks over at me, glaring playfully before nudging me with her elbow. “Well, fuck you, too. I…I just got a phone call when I was on my way back.”

I cock a brow, regarding her, as I lean back onto the porch, resting on my elbows. “And that was enough to make you mope around like someone pissed in your beer?”

With a small laugh, Clover shrugs. But she doesn’t reply.

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