Shifter Nanny Agency Read online

  Chris was always considered weak because of his denial of his wild side, but he didn’t feel that way at all. Chris knew that no one had to die just for him to wake up feeling better.

  “No, I guess I don’t. You must have gotten that from your mother.”

  It wasn’t said as a compliment, but Chris was used to his father’s ridiculous remarks. He’d been used to them for a while, and the more he let it bother him, the worse it got. There was a part of him that was sure he was going to have to do something with Dalton, but Chris assured himself that he didn’t have to do it today. He had work to do and then he was going to do his best, to find Fran when the day was done, and the kids were down for the night.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Fran had a little bit of money from Chris for her first week of work. She had spent some of it, which she regretted now, but she was at the grocery store in the next town over and she saw a sign advertising that someone needed a babysitter. She hadn’t thought about it before, but since she had met Chris, Fran realized that it was a good gig. It kept her off the grid.

  So, she had breakfast and called the number that was listed on the board. She got an interview and quickly got the job. Fran found a room at a hotel that she rented under a different name. She wasn’t going to leave anything to chance this time. She had lowered her guard, and it could have been the death of her.

  Everything was going as planned, even though it wasn’t as good of a scenario as she would have liked it to be. She had gotten free and was back on the run. So why was Fran only thinking about Chris? She wanted to make sure that he was okay. Fran didn’t know what she had walked in on but she worried for him.

  She felt guilty about leaving, not just the sweet kids she had been taking care of, but the father as well. He had done nothing but help her, and she had just left. Fran was sure that if anyone knew the full story, they wouldn’t blame her, but that didn’t seem to help at all with the guilt that she was feeling about it.

  Fran went to bed that night thinking about the man she had started getting close to, as well as thinking about what she had seen. Fran still wasn’t sure what it was that she had been witness to. There were things in this world that she didn’t understand, and that was okay.

  When she finally drifted off to sleep, she wasn’t down long before she heard a knock on the door. No one should even know that she was there, so Fran was looking at the door like it was going to come to life at any moment.

  The knock was louder the second time, more impatient.

  “Fran, open the door. I know that you’re in there. I think we need to talk.”

  She stopped and closed her eyes. How had he found her? She had done everything that she knew to do to stay away from him. Fran had thought that she had done things the right way. But the right way meant that she didn’t get caught, so why was he here?

  He knocked again and told her that he wasn’t going to leave until she talked to him. She wanted to, but then again, Fran was afraid what was going to be on the other side of the door. Was she really going to be able to look at the man without seeing the beast?

  There was no longer any fear. There had been some at first, the first night when she had seen him in such a state, but he could talk now. He was standing right outside the door, so Fran knew that he was back to his old self. Or rather, the self that she knew.

  She went to the door and opened it. Chris was right; he knew that she was there, so there was no sense in trying to pretend like she wasn’t.

  His face was the same, and his handsome smile was back. The dark eyes were still the same and they seemed hungry as they ran up and down her body.

  “Are you going to cover up and let me in?”

  Fran looked down and felt her face getting red. She was just wearing a bra and panties because she’d been sleeping. It was hard for her to collect herself. Hearing Chris’ voice had thrown her off completely.

  “I guess we have both seen too much of each other. Come on in.”

  She moved to the side to let him in, and when he sat down on the bed, he just stared at her for far too long.

  “Yeah, I can’t think with you like this. Will you please wrap something around you?”

  Fran smiled. She knew that it was awkward for them both, but the confession was still a bit of an ego boost.

  “You know, you’re the one that came here.”

  “You left.”

  Fran looked down and agreed. “I did.”

  “I know why you did. I can’t even say that I blame you, Fran, but I want you to come back. You’re not in any danger, never have been with me. I would never hurt you, Fran.”

  “I know.”

  She wasn’t expecting that answer. It just came out, but Fran realized that it was true. She no longer believed that he would hurt her. She was just freaked out in the beginning.

  “Then why did you leave?”

  “You turned into a wolf, Chris. Did you really expect me not to leave?”

  “I don’t know why you were there anyway.”

  “I was there because I heard some sounds. The moon was out, I went to look at it, and I heard the sounds coming from the house. The kids were inside. I had to check it out.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Curiosity is going to be the death of you yet.”

  Fran agreed. She was starting to see the problem with it as well. It was not serving her to be that way. Fran needed to keep her nose out of things.

  “It might be.”

  “So, you left because you were afraid? But you’re not now?”

  Fran didn’t know what she was, but sitting next to him, she didn’t feel any of the fear that she had before. It wasn’t sitting on her chest, crushing her like the rest of it had. Chris made her breath come out faster and her heart hit a little harder in her chest. It wasn’t fear that was making that happen.

  “I don’t know, Chris. It freaked me out. I mean, I didn’t even know people like you existed, so it was a bit much to see you like that. Why were you in a cage? Did you do that to yourself?”

  Her curiosity was coming over her again, and instead of leaving it alone, she had to know more about him and what he was.

  “It is what has to be done, to make sure that the beast doesn’t hurt anyone.”

  “You talk about it like it isn’t you.”

  “It is, but not really.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Well, every bit of magic has a sacrifice, and turning on the full moon is just one of mine. I can’t control it, no matter what I do.”

  “So, you do that every full moon?”

  He agreed. “Yes, every single one.”

  “Then what happens? Why do you have to sacrifice for magic? What is magic about it?”

  “Well, I can change any other time I want as well, which I can control. That’s how I found you.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what to say about that.

  “So, anytime you want, you can just turn into that massive wolf like you were the night before?”

  “Pretty much.”

  Her eyes got bigger and Fran didn’t know what to say to that. It just seemed like something that wasn’t possible. She couldn’t even imagine having that kind of power, or what she would do with it. She had more questions, but she had to let the first part digest for a while.

  “I don’t want you to be frightened. It’s just how I am.”

  “Is all of your family like that?”

  “Basically.”

  It was another quick answer that she wanted more to but she had to take it at face value. There was nothing else that she could do but to move forward.

  “So, what are you doing here? Are you mad that I left?”

  “I am not mad, though I was worried about you. You just took off, so I wanted to make sure that you were okay.”

  “I’m okay. Was that all you needed to know?”

  Fran wanted there to be another reason.

  “Yes.”

  She felt deflated but didn’t prot
est anymore. Fran had thought for a moment that what was going on between them was something more. Now, she was afraid that wasn’t the case at all.

  “I mean, the kids miss you already. Jasmine asked if you were going to take off like her mom. It got to me, and I just had to come see you. Are you planning to come back?”

  “I have another job.”

  He frowned. “I will pay you more if that’s the case. I don’t mind paying more if you will come back. The kids really like you and you don’t know how hard it has been to find someone that they will even tolerate. They can be feisty, but with you, it’s been better than it has been in a very long time.”

  It was more, much more than checking on her welfare, but it still wasn’t what she wanted. Though Fran knew she should be happy that the kids attached to her so quickly.

  “They are sweet kids. You should be proud of them.”

  “I am. Now, will you come back? There is nothing keeping you from coming back, is there?”

  Fran wondered if he was asking about her secret. Now that she knew his, it seemed like hers should be revealed. But Fran liked to pretend it wasn’t real and she was just starting a new life, not running from an old one. It was all about perspective, as far as she was concerned.

  Chapter Sixteen

  He was happy to have found her, but her reluctance to come back with him was hard for Chris to resign himself to. He didn’t want to have to tell her that it was he who missed her. It was easier to pawn all of those emotions on the children because he was old enough to know better. Or at least, he thought he was.

  Fran was still chewing on her answer and that just made Chris even more nervous. There was never this much going against him. He was used to getting what he wanted, but this time around, he was feeling insecure.

  “I don’t know, Chris. I am kind of embarrassed about the whole thing. I know I freaked out, but you have to admit that’s a lot for someone to see, especially when they didn’t even know your kind existed.”

  “I know that it was hard for you and I really am sorry about it, but I can’t change who I am. I never wanted you to see that side of me. No one except my own has.”

  “If they did, what would you do to them?”

  “Are you afraid that I will do something to you?”

  “No, but I don’t know. I’m just trying to process it.”

  “Well process it back at the house. The kids would be so happy to see you.”

  “What about you?”

  The question was ever so quiet that he didn’t even think he had actually heard it at first. He wanted to believe that she had said it, because he wanted to believe that she thought about him that way. It was in a long-term scenario that had nothing to do with the kids.

  “You want to know if I miss you?”

  “I haven’t been gone long enough to be missed. I want to know how you feel about it. You keep talking about Jasmine and Dante, yet you have said nothing about yourself. Do you want me to come back for you as well?”

  He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say. Chris wasn’t the type of man that liked to talk about his emotions. Still, he pressed forward as best he could.

  “Of course, I miss you.”

  “I have been gone one day.”

  “It’s been a long day, and I spent most of it tracking you down.”

  “To make sure that I was okay?”

  He was getting frustrated. It felt to Chris like she was trying to get a certain answer out of him. He didn’t want to bare his soul, not knowing how she would respond to all of it.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh.”

  He growled at her, and Fran jumped.

  “That’s how you sounded the other night. Are you going to change?”

  He shook his head that he wouldn’t. “No, I am just frustrated that you want to talk about this. I tracked you down because I don’t want to be without you. I don’t want to be without you. It has nothing to do with the kids, or the job; it has to do with the fact that I liked what happened to our house when you were there. You made everything bright and cheery. I was looking forward to coming home so much more. You have made everything better Fran, and I never want you to go.”

  Fran bit the bottom of her lip and looked away.

  “Is that not what you wanted to hear? What do I have to say to get you back, Fran? We need you.”

  She was a little misty-eyed and said that what he’d said would do. He was stunned at her emotions, but it was a mystery why she was upset.

  “So, you will come back with me?”

  Fran said that she would, but she still wouldn’t meet his eyes. It bothered Chris because he was still concerned that she feared him.

  “Yes, I will. I miss you guys as well. I know that it’s only been a night, but it was the worst one I’ve had in a while, and that is saying something.”

  No matter how much Chris wanted to pretend like things were all back to normal, he knew that there was something between them. Chris needed to understand what that was.

  “I want to ask you something.”

  “What?”

  “What is going on with you? You found out my deepest and darkest secret, yet I do not know why you’re even here in my life to begin with. You know that I want you here, I’ve made it clear what you mean to my family and me, but where is your family? Why are you all of a sudden all alone? You don’t take time off to go see anyone. What happened?”

  That was a lot of questions coming her way, and Fran seemed a bit overwhelmed by it all.

  “I can’t really say. My family is gone. They are dead or soon to be dead.”

  She said it so matter of fact. Fran was hiding or running from something. Now that he knew her family was gone, he had to delve deeper, even if it was going to be uncomfortable for them both.

  “I have to ask. How long ago was this?”

  “Not long at all.”

  “Are you in danger?”

  Fran shrugged and looked away. “I suppose I am, so I guess I can understand if you wouldn’t want me to involve you in this. This is my mess, and I don’t want to drag anyone else into it.”

  He waved her off. “I am not worried about danger. If you haven’t noticed, I am specially equipped to take on just about anything.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Why hadn’t Fran thought of that? She was so worried about running away from faceless people that were hellbent on killing her, yet what could they do if they came up against a man like Chris? For the first time, she realized that she was in the best place that she could be.

  She didn’t want to talk anymore about the past. She certainly didn’t want to relive her father dying, nor the why. The why didn’t matter. What mattered was she had been in danger, and now she wasn’t. That should be her focus.

  They drove back to his place, though she still had more questions. In the end, they both did, but they were exhausted. Fran certainly slept better when she was underneath his roof. When they got in, it was late, and she was quick to go to sleep. She didn’t even bother to get undressed, just passed out on top of the sheets.

  Early in the morning, she was awakened by Jasmine coming into the room. The little girl was happy to see that she was back and she clung to her in a hug. The gesture just made Fran feel even worse. She knew that there was something more that she could have done, but she was doing her best to try to make it work.

  “I am sorry that I left, Jasmine. I had to take care of something.”

  “I thought you weren’t coming back.”

  “Well, here I am. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

  Another clinging hug was given to Fran before they went down the stairs to the kitchen. Fran made them both their favorite for breakfast. She wasn’t sure what made her feel so relaxed, but Fran felt peace come over her. It was hard to deny how good it felt to be back there, especially with the children talking excitedly. Fran felt like she was a part of something there.

  Chris came down a bit later, and he was lookin
g more relaxed as well. The tension was gone from his forehead, and he smiled at her. Fran smiled back, but it wasn’t nearly as high wattage as his. She felt her breath go unsteady, and she focused on the food in the pan.

  “Did you want something for breakfast?”

  “No, not really. I have something that I have to do. I will be back in a while.”

  She agreed, but Fran wanted to say something. They left so many things in the air. But he was ready to go, and she told him to have a good day. Fran had her own responsibilities, and one of them was to take the kids to school. She didn’t want them to be late.

  Fran did the school run and came back. She had time on her hands, and of course, it didn’t take long for Fran to become curious. She headed to where she had seen him before. Fran almost didn’t believe what all had happened. She was sure that if she saw it again, then it would be real.

  She was almost to the place where she had seen him, but there was something else in the air. Her flesh was covered in goosebumps. Something was different.

  Her eyes devoured the cage and the small area that he had been held in. The door was locked. She sat down in the same place as before, flashes in her mind, but what could she do? She imagined that he was there again, and her heart raced. Fran wasn’t afraid of him, even had feelings for him, but she was certainly cautious about what was to come. Fran was even more concerned, with the fact that she felt something for Chris, even though she knew what he was.

  As she was leaving, Fran heard someone near the stairs. At first, she thought that it was Chris, but it turned out to be an older man that looked a lot like him. She knew instantly that they were related and guessed that he was Chris’ father. That fact brought her to the conclusion that the man in front of her could turn into a large wolf as well.

  That unnerved her it was hard to meet the devouring gaze. It was like the man could see into her soul.