Page 105 of If Love Had A Manual

For a long moment, neither of us speaks. We just breathe, our hearts pounding in sync, his weight a warm, heavy comfort above me. When he finally shifts, he presses a tender kiss to my temple.

I don’t know why, but I feel a laugh bubble up from my chest. “I think you just fucked the nanny.”

“Yeah.” He lets out a shaky laugh of his own. “I think I did.”

For a second, I see something like vulnerability in his eyes, a quiet acceptance that this line is long gone.

We’ve detonated. The aftermath is currently falling around us.

We can’t pretend it never happened.

I tighten my legs around his hips, anchoring him to me, not ready to break the moment.

Thirty-Eight

Wes

Iwake up well-rested. Too well-rested.

That’s the first red flag.

The second is the amount of sunlight pouring through the blinds.

I reach for my phone on the nightstand and blink at the screen.

10:07 a.m.

Lena’s side of the bed is empty and cold.

Did she leave?

Did I push too hard? Say too much?

God, did I ruin it?

Was it just a one-night thing for her? Was that all it everwas supposed to be?

What if she walked out of here and decided it was a mistake?

What if she’s gone for good?

Cool your shit, Wes.

This never happens to me—this panic. When Lyndsey walked out, I wished her luck. That was it. I barely gave it a second thought. One night with Lena, and I’ve turned into… this.

But fuck, what the hell do I do if she decides she can’t stay?

Because it’s not just a nanny I’m panicking about losing.

It’s her.

My chest tightens as I throw the covers back and stalk across the room, tugging on a pair of sweats before heading straight for Rosie’s nursery.

It’s empty.

Panic tightens around my ribs, but before it can settle, I hear one of my vinyls playing.

Just Like Heavenby The Cure.

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