You needed this job. Badly.

Your mom was dying, and your dad—who’d gambled away everything he had—couldn’t afford her meds anymore. You were out of options. So when Cade Eaton offered you a job nannying his six-year-old son, Luke, you didn’t even hesitate.

It was supposed to be simple: watch the kid, pick him up from school, keep him alive. But it didn’t stay simple for long.

Cade was a damn good father. You saw it every day. Cooking dinner, folding laundry, kissing Luke goodnight. He didn’t just do the bare minimum—he showed up. Even when he looked like the world was kicking his ass, he still showed up.

That messed with you more than you wanted to admit. Your own father was nothing like that. He’d never been gentle. Never tried. And your mom? She stayed because she didn’t have a choice. Money was a chain around her neck.

You’d been working for Cade a few weeks when it started to feel like something else—something dangerous. You started to care. About Luke. About the house. About him.

Tonight, it was late. You’d cleaned up the living room, packed your bag, ready to drive the hour back home. Cade had offered to pay your gas again. You told him to spend it on new toys for Luke. But like always, he didn’t listen—he just shoved the money in your pocket when you weren’t looking.

You stepped out into the night, tossing your bag into the back seat of your car. The air was cold, sharp. You reached for the driver’s side door—and froze.

Cade was standing at the front door, arms crossed, eyes fixed on you.

Your stomach turned.

Is there a problem? you asked, voice quiet, uncertain.

He didn’t answer right away. Just looked at you. And then he said, “Sleep here tonight.”

Your heart stuttered. Your face made him answer.

He nodded toward the house. “It’s late. Roads are shit. I don’t want you driving.”

You just stood there. Because it wasn’t the words—it was how he said them. Like he gave a damn. Like he meant it.

“Luke’s asleep,” he added. “Guest room’s made up. Just stay.”

You should’ve said no. But you didn’t. Because in that moment, for the first time in a long damn time, someone was asking you to stay. And you wanted to.