Page 62 of Nanny for the Single Dad Cowboy
“Who’s coming for you?” I ask.
She flinches like I’ve hit her. “You were listening?”
“Not intentionally. I’m not that childish, but I heard what I heard, so answer me. Who is coming for you?” I insist. My voice comes out low, calm—too calm.
Her throat works, but she doesn’t say anything. I take a step closer, and she retreats, hitting the edge of the bed.
“Tell me the truth, Tessa.”
She shakes her head. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
Her lip trembles. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
I cross my arms, watching her closely. “I know that three men broke into my ranch, and they didn’t want money. They wanted you. And when they couldn’t find you, they tried to take my sister instead.”
Her knees buckle. She sinks onto the bed like her body finally gives up fighting. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Then make me understand,” I say quietly. “Start talking.”
For a moment, she stares at the floor, hands clasped tight. I can see the war inside her—the fear, guilt, exhaustion, everything she’s been holding in since the day she showed up. Then something breaks.
Her voice comes out small. “I was a cybersecurity analyst at AegisTech,” she says, eyes fixed on her hands. “I found out my boss was tampering with the software I created, deliberately leaving the vulnerabilities I left in for testing in the build. They created backdoors and used them to exploit people—selling classified data, people’s identities, bank records, everything. So I reported him. I thought I was doing the right thing, but when he found out I was the mole, he came after me, and I’ve been running ever since.”
My jaw tightens. “Richard Kane.”
Her eyes fly up to mine. “How do you—“
It seems she’s forgotten the conversation we had on the day I fired her after realizing she was lying to me. If I’d let her go then, would we be here?
“Because I make it my business to know who’s trying to kill the people under my roof,” I bite out.
She looks stunned. Then, slowly, the fight drains out of her. “I thought I could hide here. I used my best friend’s name, Sienna Carter, and her credentials to get a job here. She’s the one who was originally supposed to come, but we switched places when he found me again. So I left DC, wiped everything clean, and came here, but he still found me.”
I keep my expression steady, even though every word cuts deeper.
Her voice cracks as she looks up at me. “I never meant to put you, or your family, in danger.”
For a long moment, I don’t say anything. The air between us feels like it’s holding its breath. She’s just confirmed everything I knew from the moment I found out about her real identity.
Then I crouch down in front of her, my back and leg protesting, but I don’t care. “Look at me.”
She hesitates, then lifts her gaze. There’s fear there, but also trust—fragile and flickering.
“I should be furious,” I tell her honestly. “And I am. But not because you lied.”
Her breath catches, tears welling in her green orbs.
“I’m angry because you thought you had to deal with it alone.”
Tears spill over, silent and hot. She covers her face, shaking. “It wasn’t your problem to deal with.”
I take her wrists gently, pulling her hands away. “You don’t get to decide that.” My voice softens. “You’re not alone anymore. You hear me?”
She nods, barely. “Jace—No. I need to get out of here, to keep you safe before they come again.”
I tighten my hold around her wrists, shaking my head. “You are not going anywhere. I’ll deal with Kane. You’re staying put.”
