Page 51 of Captive Nanny to the Wolf

“Winona, you can’t think I’m serious after everything that went down! I’m kidding. The boys and I are here waiting here because…well, because of you! Period. We want to spend time with you. We want to be around you… we love you." he came to her then and cupped her face with one hand, his thumb caressing her cheek. “Ilove you.”

She was looking at him in shock. He was a fool and he had to do so much to make it up to her.

“I am so sorry for everything. The way I behaved, all the misunderstandings! I was so intent on keeping you and the kids safe that I totally missed how it must have all appeared to you.”

His other hand came to cup the other side of her face. His eyes so intent on her, she could almost drown there. “I couldn’t lose you. Any of you. I thought you knew. I thought it was obvious! But in case there is any doubt, I’ll say it again. I love you. And yes, it’s soon, and it’s crazy, but that’s how I feel.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead and let his hands trail down to hers. “Anyhow, the boys wanted to make you dinner…to thank you for…well, for just being you. So please, sit down, and let us serve you. I can promise it will not happen every night, so be thankful and just sit yourself down, okay?”

Is this real?Winona was tearing up, she knew. She let them lead her to a spot at the island and opened her eyes to find a very full burrito sitting on a plate in front of her.

“Oh my god!” she laughed, “You made me pancakes, you geniuses! Now, what have you put in them?” She looked at Bucky. “Nutella?” She looked at Jasper. “Bacon?” She looked at Jaye and Marcus, shaking her head a little. “Both?” The boys all giggled.

She cut through it and the first bite was a gooey delicious mess of something tasting of chocolate, hazelnut, and bananas.

“Whoa, now.” She took another bite. “Guys, this is actually delicious! Seriously! I’m impressed! You can cook! Thank you so much, boys! Looks like you have learned something from me after all!”

She wiped her mouth and looked up at them. “I mean, not sure this is dinner appropriate, but for today, we can make an exception.”

She smiled broadly, cutting herself another piece of pancake. This was perfect. She smiled at the boys, slathering her fork with chocolate, hazelnut, bananas and stuffed herself.

The boys, including Rollo, sat around and watched as she did, chattering about the crazy events of the previous week. Relief poured off them all in waves. They asked Winona over and over to recount the story of how they all faced down Frederick. The boys acted mad that they had missed all the action, as if they could have taken Frederick out all on their own. Suddenly, Frederick did not seem so scary anymore.

Winona raised her eyebrows at all the false bravado coming from the kids, but then Jasper leaned over to her and whispered, “I know we couldn’t have done it like you did, but I think it makes Bucky feel better if we act like we could have beat him too. And I want him to feel safe. He’s just a little kid, you know?”

Winona tussled Jasper’s hair and squeezed his shoulder. “You guys are such good brothers. It’s a wonderful thing to see. You are very lucky to have each other.”

She looked up at Rollo. “You are all very lucky to have each other, Rollo. I hope you know that.”

Rollo smiled at her. “We’re lucky to have you too, Winona. All in all, I think we’ve had the luckiest couple of days a family could have. Tomorrow we head back to our house. This place has served us well, but there’s no place like home. Anyhow, who wants to pick tonight’s movie?”

Chaos ensued as the boys bickered over who got to pick the movie. Winona moved around the kitchen, slowly tidying. Rollo stood on the other side of the counter.

“Winona?”

She looked over at him questioningly.

“So, can you ever forgive me for being a big lug head and generally taking you for granted and treating you like ‘the help?’ I’m just so grateful for the love you’ve shown them, and so sorry you had to go through what you went through. I see it, and I honor it.”

Winona couldn’t believe she was tearing up again. She put her hands back in the sink full of sudsy water and just nodded at him, smilingly.

“Well, in all fairness, Iamthe nanny…at least last time I checked, though I am sensing a renegotiation is going to be in order? And, well, maybe I jumped to a few conclusions when I saw you talking with that woman. To Bloom! And God, why didn’t you tell me more about her. She is ballsy. I like her. But how was I supposed to know it was Dax’s mate? You’d been totally ignoring me.” She looked at him with her most seductive eyes.

“We have a lot to discuss, it seems. But with all the stress of being locked up in a safe house, I can’t blame you for getting a little crazy,”

“Oh, crazy, is it?” she said half laughing. “I’ll show you crazy!” She made a move as if to rip his clothes off.

“Oh, please do…” Rollo said in mock panic, pulling her close.

“Not so fast, mister. I think a lot of groveling on your part is going to be in order first.”

“Oh, I am fully prepared to grovel, and then some.” He smiled a little devilishly, before stepping into the living room to settle the boys’ battle.

She felt a familiar flush come over her as she watched him leave.

CHAPTER26

Rollo woke up in the morning to find that he had fallen asleep on the sofa with the boys. They were sleeping in a pack on the sofas they’d pushed together for movie night, covered in various blankets from around the house.Winona must’ve done it, he thought. It was the kind of thing she would do.

He smiled when he thought of her. It was a very good feeling. There was nothing forced about it, and he knew now what kind of woman she was, through and through. It was time to make it right.Let the groveling begin.

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