The Beast's Nanny (The Nannies)

Grace cupped his cheek.

He wasn’t crying.

Her big, tough man wouldn’t cry. She knew that and so she cried for the both of them.

“Fuck, I miss her. Out of everything I’ve done, I feel like I’ve failed her the most.”

“You couldn’t fail her. I bet she loved you.”

“She asked me to take care of James. I … I need to take care of him. She’d want me to do that.”

“Then we’ll take care of him together.” She’d intended to tell Caleb about her pregnancy, but it wasn’t a good time.

No time seemed to be a good time.

He was a busy man and so far, she didn’t want to spoil what they shad.

Her time would come to tell him. Until then, she rested her head on his chest and listened to him talk about his sister.

****

Caleb wasn’t a good man. It didn’t take a genius to work that out. Grace didn’t have the first clue what was happening today.

He was done.

Their time had to come to an end.

She’d become far too comfortable with him, and after spilling out his soul, well, that was the end as far as he was concerned.

Arriving at the new apartment, they both climbed out, and he took the lead, and her hand.

Just touching her drove him crazy. He had to get control.

There were a lot of Bernies in this world who would see Grace killed to punish him. He couldn’t allow that to happen. Not on his watch.

“What is this place?” Grace asked as he put the key in the lock and opened it. He pushed open the door.

He’d paid a lot of money and made sure Grace was set up for life.

Closing the door, he left his men outside. They didn’t need to see this.

“This is your place.”

Grace paused and turned back toward him. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I told you there was a time limit on our time together. That has come to an end.”

He noticed the way she put a hand on her stomach and reached out to grab the back of the sofa. “You’re dumping me?”

“Grace, please, you were never my girlfriend. You were nothing more than a fuck toy. I can get plenty of those, and I’ve gotten so bored. It’s time to find something new.”

He watched those tears and hated himself even more as she just stood there.

“Wow,” she said. “I … I knew this wasn’t going to last, but I didn’t think you’d be so cold.”

“I’m a beast, babe. We both know that.”

She looked around the apartment and he turned to leave. “What you are is a coward, Caleb Raine. We both know that.”

He spun around to face her. She stood in the same position. “I’ve killed men for lesser insults.”

“Do you think I don’t see this? You can’t push me into your little betrayal corner. You told me about your sister. Do you really think I’m so fucking stupid?” She threw her arm out at all of this. “This is guilt. You expected me to betray you, didn’t you? Everyone else but your sister has done it, but then, she did, didn’t she? She had the audacity to die.” She yelled the last part at him.

“You be careful.”

“No. You be fucking careful. All of this is a load of bullshit. I never betrayed you and I know you, Caleb. You’re not bored. You’re scared. I’m not like a lot of other women, and because you can’t handle that, you’re getting rid of me.” She pushed away from the sofa and spun around. “If you were done with me, Caleb, I wouldn’t have all of this luxury. I’d be going back to my other apartment with my job still intact. This is not you sending me away because you’re afraid. This is you getting rid of a problem you don’t know how to handle.” She sniffled.

“You’re being overly emotional.” He reached out to leave until her next words stopped him.

“You betrayed me!” She stomped her foot.

“I betrayed you?”

“Yes. This was supposed to be a year, and I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you. You were supposed to stay this horrible beast, but instead, you showed me a man who deserved love. A man who was so desperate, and I fell in love with you.” She put a hand to her stomach. “But now I see, deep down, he’s a coward and we are better off without you. Get out. Leave. Get the fuck out.” She reached for a vase and began to hurtle it toward him.

He was out of the door as it crashed against the door.

Caleb expected to hear more stuff hitting the door, only nothing else came. He stayed, waiting, expecting. Nothing.

Without looking at his men, he left, making his way to the stairs, and he began to descend.

“Look at my brother, so scared to fall in love. You’re embarrassing me, and you do love her, asshole. You’ve got to get your head out of your ass and realize you’re so in love it makes you feel sick.”