Page 33 of The Nanny Contract

I wiped the sweat from my brow and smelled the scent of fresh-cut greenery. “I almost didn’t expect any of this.”

Casey turned and looked at me. “Didn’t expect what?”

I gazed down at him, realizing my words had probably come across as intentionally vague.

I hesitated for a moment, my usual reserve failing. I took a deep breath and allowed myself to choose honesty over restraint.

“You,” I said. “Being here. And the way you’ve changed everything, Casey.”

Chapter 9

Casey

Logan’s words completely caught me off guard.

We’d spent the past few days dancing around the issue. Life kept popping up and things kept getting in the way.

But as we sat in the torn-up garden among the scattered flowers, there was no place to hide.

Now I just needed to know what Logan meant by ‘changed everything.’

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Logan’s candor had left me momentarily stunned.

I shifted closer to him, searching his expression as if testing his sincerity. Between us was silence thick with tension, and without realizing it we both leaned in.

It was as if we were magnetically drawn together, a moment of charged intensity. An unspoken agreement that was finally being secured.

Logan reached over and brushed a stray leaf from my shoulder. Our eyes locked and before either of us could think twice, our lips met in a brief but electric kiss.

Our lips touched and the connection seemed to freeze us in time. For a few seconds, the world narrowed to only thismoment. Logan’s hand resting on my leg, warmth radiating from his palm. The fresh scent of soil mingled with a hint of Logan’s cologne.

The kiss ended as quickly as it began.

We both pulled back, visibly affected.

My heart raced, both exhilarated and anxious about the boundaries we’d just crossed.

My mouth opened as if to speak, but I struggled to find words.

Before either of us could utter a word, the shrill ring of Logan’s phone cut through the air like a knife. Logan flinched then quickly fumbled for his phone in his jacket pocket. Glancing at this screen, his expression shifted to one of deep concern.

“It’s work,” he said, already stepping away to answer. “Hello, this is Dr. Westbrook…”

Logan’s posture straightened, and his tone shifted into one of an authoritative surgeon. It was as if I could feel the loss of Logan’s presence as it evaporated into the cool evening air.

Logan ended the call and turned to look at me with an apologetic expression. “It’s an emergency. I have to go.”

I masked my disappointment with a polite smile. “Of course, go save lives.”

Logan hesitated, lingering for just a moment as his eyes locked with mine. It was as if he wanted to say something more but couldn’t think of the right words. I knew the exact feeling.

Crickets chirped around us and stars twinkled above, signaling a perfectly romantic evening that had been spoiled by a work call.

Suddenly, Logan turned and rushed away, leaving me in the garden, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

My mind raced once Logan was gone.