Page 59 of The Unconventional Nanny
Shots fired.
I barely stifle a giggle at the nickname Annie uses when she wants to rile up our brother. It works as usual. And the snort laugh I can’t contain earns me a stony look from Owen.
He recovers quickly and turns his attention to Annie. "Cut the ‘old man’ shit and explain why you're here in Willow Creek."
"What? I can't just want to visit my siblings?" Annie tries for the innocent look, but even I can admit she doesn’t pull it off nearly as well as I normally do.
"Of course you can, but I don't believe for a second that's why you're here. If that was the case, you would've told me you were in town. And if not me, definitely Gracie.”
"Who says Gracie didn't know I was visiting?"
Owen spins on his heels and pins me with a stern expression. I put my hands in the air. "Don't drag me in the middle of this argument. I just found out not long before you did."
Annie sighs. "Fine. I didn't tell anyone I was in town because I didn't want your pity or your judgment."
That does the trick, and in a hot second, the tension in our brother’s shoulders disappears and he is once again putty in her hands. "Why would you think I would pity or judge you for coming to Willow Creek?"
My sister throws her hands up in frustration. "I don't know. Maybe because you and Nolen are friends and neither of you have ever approved of my relationship with Chase. Both of you would've gave me an 'I told you so' after we split."
"That's not true." Owen tries to defend himself, but Annie isn't having it. She's shaking her head even before the second word comes out of his mouth.
"Don't lie to me."
"Okay," Owen finally admits. "Maybe there would've been a little bit, but only because I knew this would happen. Chase isn't ready to settle down."
"He's forty-five, for Christ’s sake. At what age does a man finally decide to settle down?"
I can see the understanding in my brother's eyes, and know without a shadow of a doubt he's thinking about himself and how similar he is to Chase.
"Guys like Chase, Nolen, and me? We wait until after we’ve given our all to our careers. When we can devote time to someone rather than only giving them half of us."
Frustration is written all over Annie's face. "Plenty of bull riders get married and have families. I never understood why you guys had to be so different."
I don't expect our brother to answer. He rarely talks about his time in the Marines. He especially doesn't talk about the things he was forced to witness, so I'm surprised when he answers.
"Because some guys give everything to the lifestyle they choose. Chase is one of those men. He threw himself into his career. Being a professional bull rider is all he ever wanted. And because of that, he didn't have enough left to love you the way you deserve. That's why he never could fully give himself to you."
Tears pool in my sister's eyes, but before I can walk over to give her a hug, she wipes the one wayward drop and composes herself. "Well, now it doesn't matter anymore. I'm moving here to be with both of you and I'm opening a pub on Main Street. I won't even have time to think about Chase."
We all know that isn't true. Annie is Chase's soulmate just as much as he's hers. Right now might not be the right time for them, but eventually it will be.
"Enough about me, though. Gracie's the one with a terrible ex who needs to be removed from the equation. So exactly how do we plan on doing that?"
Chapter Thirty
ANGELO
Lex, one of the guys who works with Owen, is at the house within thirty minutes to install the new security system. The man is efficient, and eerily silent. He barely speaks a word other than to say hello to Owen and to ask where he wants everything set up.
Within a few hours, there are cameras covering all areas of the house and motion sensors that automatically light up the area any time someone or something crosses their path. It might seem a little excessive, but I would rather the people in my life be safe than worry about what my neighbors are going to say every time a squirrel gets too close to the house.
"Daddy, why are there so many cars here?" Livy asks as soon as she and Zoey step off the bus.
"Gracie's brother and a few of his friends stopped by to say hi. I thought you would like to meet Gracie's sister and brother."
Besides Owen, Annie, and Lex, a few more of Owen's coworkers stopped by to check in. Including Nolen. If I had made a bet that the situation would be weird between Annie andNolen, I would've lost. Nolen walked straight up to her and gave her a hug as soon as he arrived an hour ago.
"Oh," is the only answer my oldest gives, and I can tell she's nervous. Livy doesn't do well around new people, and so many at one time is going to be a lot.
