AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She had been damned good at her job, but knew she’d never be considered for the jobs that involved things like Levi had done while still in the military. Explosive Ordinance was not something that she was interested in, but in other male-dominated jobs, they remained bottlenecked for women. The glass ceiling was still alive and well in some military jobs. They say things had changed but too little, too late for her.
Ready to prove she still had plenty to offer, she began shaking the bushes for a meaningful job. After the short introduction with Jac and after she had done some research into his outfit, she had gone in to have a conversation with him. The introduction to Jac’s world had started as an oral expedition into the world of mercenary life meets civilian security and ended up with Jac asking her if she would be his kickass nanny.
“I’m going to need to count on your skills and your responses. You will be taking care of the person most important to me and Charlotte, my wife. I can be an asshole, and I need to know you can handle that.”
“No problem, sir.”
“First lesson in this outfit, I’m Jac. We operate on a first name or call name basis here to keep your head out of the military realm. We do things differently using the same skills. You will be using yours to keep my son happy and healthy when both of his parents are unavailable.”
“Understood.” But she hadn’t, not entirely.
“Jac approves of you? You’re hired,” said Sharlee.
Sharlee laughed, and Jac grumbled, but they officially offered Finley the job the next day. It was love at first sight when she met the newborn, but the work involved in those first weeks was huge and the learning curve was steep. That was more than eighteen months ago, and she loved it. Loved living in a house that was literally a mansion equipped with armed guards. She had training sessions every month on something new and had all the Envy apples she could ever want. Plus, she had many nights off, and while she was surrounded by hunky men, she had only eyes for a little blonde powerhouse with chubby legs and a winning smile. Until recently.
Finley smiled about that now because she later learned that within three hours, Sharlee knew so much about her that she could have picked out a wardrobe for Finley, bought Christmas presents for Finley’s family, and recited her first book report. And she laughed when Sharlee mentioned that Finley never had a steady boyfriend that lasted over a month.
Finley had shrugged. “You know how it is. He’s cute, there is a dance coming up, you like to dance, you hook up. When it is all said and done, the guy is a sloppy kisser, thinks he’s God’s gift to women and can’t even shave yet.”
“Yes, but then you grew up.”
“Precisely. I grew up, and they didn’t. Right, some did, but they were dry. Well, that might be the kettle calling the pot black,but really, I need more substance than the first impression of, you’re cute, shower often, and want sex.”
And while Finley and Levi had begun to spend more meaningful time together, sexy, no commitment times, he was still her friend and pal more than anything. These days, things were different. Cash changed the dynamics because he was not a pal at all. He was bossy, demanding, and hot as sin. He called to her naughty side while Levi was pushing in a familiar way. She quickly scanned a room for either men, these days and was disappointed when she didn’t find at least one of them.
They often took jobs out of town, but that made the coming home more exciting. Levi was sexy and familiar. Cash made her blood boil and her sex simmer. He was more in tune with her womanly side. Where Levi was into sci-fi movies and sports, Cash watched her, touching her often, cuddling, and taking control. She was all those things and more, but each seemed to meet her needs on all her levels, each with their own style. And damn if she didn’t need them both.
This morning, as she ran through a rustic part of the small town of Lexington, she enjoyed it as the sleeping scene greeted the morning and thought of her life. Would it ever be settled down? Levi was going to take a job out of town soon. He liked those. And what about Cash? He had been on house security the night that things went to crazy with bullets flying. Something told her it was about to get messy again and the stakes would be higher.
The little slice of countryside that awoke with the dawn as she ran through its brisk air, rested from its long quiet night, peacefully basking under the warmth of the rising sun, gave her an incredible peace. One she had never experienced outside of this place. She entertained the thought of never leaving here.
The quaint main street, lined with historic red-brick buildings and charming lampposts, showcased its proudsouthern heritage. Some would say that Kentucky was not southern, but it certainly held its charm like it was. A gentle breeze whispered through the once lush trees that framed the picturesque town square, where families gathered to enjoy the lazy summer days. Fall had claimed some of those leaves, but they were beautiful in their brilliantly colored display.
“Finley!” called a voice from across the still grassy patch of land.
She paused mid-step, shifting her gaze towards the source of the greeting. A cool acknowledging smile graced her lips as she offered a small hand wave in response to a parent of someone in Storm’s play group, returning to her focused stride without missing a beat. She had grown to love this suburban area outside of Lexington.
In the world of Jac Reynaud’s circle of friends and family, she was more than just a veteran Marine employee; she was a trusted friend and confidante to their women, a role she embraced with quiet acceptance and growing peace. That was a new feeling unfamiliar to her before becoming a nanny. Maybe she should share her man’s dilemma and get some input from those women.
From a distance, it was easy to see that Finley was a woman who carried herself with the confidence of someone who had faced adversity and emerged stronger for it. Finley also knew that it gave the impression of a shield or barrier between her and those outside her inner circle, which were most people. Yet, beneath her stoic exterior, there was a vulnerability that she worked hard to hide.
Maybe if she let someone in a little more, it would be okay to share that bit with them. It was this hidden softness that endeared her to those who knew her best, a reminder that even the strongest of warriors could be tender-hearted. She sometimes forgot that side of her, too. Cash saw it and she didn’tknow how he could peer in further than others. She knew that he was more interested in getting in. Levi might be as well.
Comparing them was an exercise in futility. They were different people with distinct personalities, but she was attracted to both of them. She was dreaming of having them both and damn if she didn’t want to try it. She feared what would happen if she did.
She finished her run and passed the Gander’s gate. She would bring Storm over there today. The old stately trees and long-established walkways edged with a beautiful, wild English garden were incredible to experience, and the Ganders would often come out to visit with little Master Storm. The older couple were enjoying their own grandchildren now, but Storm was next door, unlike their own grands, so an unofficial grandparent status had been agreed upon. Of course, the sweets they always brought him didn’t hurt.
The Ganders lived there before Jac’s father bought his property next door, and their friendship endured through the years. She entered the Reynaud property, and the security gateman waved as she walked past. Her gut twinged, going on low-level alert. She looked around and saw no one. The scare of a few weeks ago had abated as no other events materialized. She still worried a little about the earlier trouble, but Jac said he had everything under control. She had to believe him.
They hadn’t found the culprits, and the security cameras that all of Jac’s employees had in an overabundance showed plenty and yet, in the dark, not enough. Cars were visible, but not plates. Movement but not faces. The direction of movement, but there was no way to continue tracking. She had to let it go.
“Enough of this daydreaming,” she chided herself. “I have things to do today.”
Chapter 4
After a quick shower, she started downstairs, colliding into a conversation already in progress at the bottom. Sharlee was dressed in her “I’m staying home” clothing, and Jac was in his workout clothes.
“I don’t want to wait too long to decide if there will be a number two or not. If Storm gets a sibling, they need to be close enough to share the same things and bond.”
