by Kennedy Fox
He grunts in response. “Okay fine. Enjoy watching Maize on your knees.”
John turns and reaches for the door. He opens it and takes a step out before I finally cave.
“Okay fine!” I shout.
He turns and faces me but doesn’t move. “Fine, what?”
“Oh my God.” I groan, releasing a frustrated breath as I try to wiggle myself out again. “I won’t go out on a date with your brother. There. Happy now?”
“Very.” He grins, stepping out of the truck and just as I’m about to shout at him for leaving me here, I watch the back door open. Carefully, he finds what my bracelet is stuck on and loosens the hold on me. As I’m trying to catch my breath and rest my wrists on the middle console, he opens the driver’s door with a smirk and checks out my ass one last time before his eyes meet mine.
“Didn’t realize you were so good on your knees,” he tells me.
“Yeah, well, I guess that’s what happens when you’re naturally flexible.” I lick my lips to taunt him. I watch his throat tighten as if those words affected him.
Good.
That’s what he gets for messing with me.
“I’ll grab Maize.” He finally breaks the tension and moves to the back seat to grab her.
Once we’re back in the house, I take the bracelet off, then make Maize a bottle. Just as I’m turning around to go back to her, I walk straight into John’s torso.
“Sorry,” we both say as he places his hands on my shoulders. His body invades my space, taking the breath right out of my lungs as we stand awkwardly. “I was just coming to tell you I’m heading back to work. Probably be home around six or so.”
Home.
It feels so intimate, yet it’s not. This is his home, not mine, though I know it’s supposed to be temporarily. I like the idea of John coming home to Maize and me.
As soon as the thought fills my head, I quickly push it out.
“Okay, sounds good. I can have dinner done by then,” I say, looking up into his eyes.
He steps back, releasing my shoulders before brushing a hand through his messy hair. I love the way the longer strands fall to one side but are clean cut on the other. If I didn’t know John and only saw his appearance, I’d never guess he’d be a dad or even a business owner. I know he manages the B&B for his parents, and I know a lot comes with that, including finances, schedules, expenses, bookings, and more. He’s smart, and even though he’s all business the majority of the time, he’s starting to let his playful side show, which only makes me want to see that part of him more.
“You know you aren’t required to cook for me, Mila,” he reminds me, rubbing a hand casually over his groomed jaw.
“Yes, I know.” I’m just about to tell him the truth about Jackson and that a date wasn’t going to happen, but he speaks up before I do.
“And once I’m home, you don’t have to stay stuck in the house. I don’t want you to feel like you’re trapped or something.”
“Well, the only place I’d go is my grandma’s, and she plays Bingo on Thursday nights or hangs with my cousin, Kat, but I’m content with staying in too. I see them on the weekends.” John only works morning shifts on Saturdays and Sundays, so his mama watches Maize, and I actually get to sleep in. It’s nice having time off, but I’m still bored—mostly. On a rainy Sunday last week, I was snuggled up on the couch watching a movie, and John walked in, looking all rugged and western with his cowboy hat and boots, and took a seat on the other end of the couch. He’d been working on the ranch before the rain came down and still smelled like country air. He lifted my feet and rested them on his lap, and we just stayed like that until the movie was over.
I ended up drifting asleep shortly after the credits rolled, and I felt his thumb rub circles on my ankle. It was sweet but confusing as John is with everything he says and does. Spending every day around him, in his space, with his daughter feels like we’re playing house, and even though it’s only been a couple of weeks since I’ve been here, it feels so much longer.
But that doesn’t make him any less confusing.
I watch as John’s tongue runs over his bottom lip as he takes in my words. I’m not sure what kind of answer he was expecting, but it seems to affect him in a weird way.
“Okay well, I just wanted you to know. And I’m sorry for teasing you in the truck. If you want to go on a date with Jackson, then I definitely can’t stop you. Might be good for you to get out anyway.”
His words give me whiplash, and I furrow my brows, utterly confused. One minute, he’s demanding I don’t date Jackson, and the next, he’s telling me it’s a good idea? What the hell? I don’t even want to go on a date with him!
“Oh, okay,” I slowly drawl out. “So you’re okay with me going out with Jackson?” I ask to confirm.
“Sure. Doesn’t bother me any. But if he pisses you off, you can’t up and quit on me.”
Is that the only reason he didn’t want me to in the first place? Or is there something more to it? My head is spinning with questions that I know I can’t ask without making things even more awkward.
“I’d never do that, John. I love watching Maize.”
“Good. Then I have nothing to worry about then.”
“Okay. Right.” My words stumble out because I feel like I just had a conversation with two different people.
“Alright, well, I’ll see you around six. Text me if you need anything,” he tells me before rushing out the door.
I feed Maize her bottle while rocking her, and she falls asleep in no time. Once she’s in her crib, I grab my phone and send a text to Kat.
Mila: OMG!! Why are men so confusing?!?!
* * *
Kat: You’re just now asking yourself that question?
* * *
Mila: I’m serious, Kat! John got all caveman-like and crazy when Jackson asked me out on a date after blatantly flirting with me. I said yes just to appease him, but as soon as John walked away, I told Jackson no. John tells me I can’t and makes me promise him I won’t. Then ten minutes later, he’s telling me I should! So WTF!
* * *
Kat: OH MY GOD! Bishop brother sandwich! So what’s the problem?
I groan, ready to throw my phone.
Mila: I hate you.
* * *
Kat: Oh, come on, Mila! Isn’t it obvious?
I scrunch my nose, narrowing my eyes as I re-read her message.
Mila: Isn’t what obvious?
* * *
Kat: Two words, my friend. REVERSE. PSYCHOLOGY.
* * *
Mila: What do you mean?
I’m so damn frustrated over this that I walk into the kitchen and kneel under the sink and grab all the cleaning supplies I can find in the cupboard. Once my arms are full of sprays and paper towels, I set everything out on the table and reach for my phone again.
Kat: John knows that Jackson doesn’t ever listen to him, so if he tells you not to date him, that’s just going to be another reason Jackson goes after you. But if he tells you to go for it and acts like he doesn’t care, then maybe you’ll reconsider since he won’t be “off-limits.” He’s mind-fucking you.
* * *
Mila: He’s fucking with me! Damn him!
* * *
Kat: LOL! You gonna tell him you know?
I flash a devilish smile and type out a response.
Mila: Nope!
Three hours later, the entire house is spotless. The more I thought about what Kat said, the more annoyed I became. If I wanted to play these kinds of games, I would’ve stayed in high school. Whether or not he’s purposely messing with my head, it doesn’t make me any less infuriated. While Maize slept, I took all that frustration out on the house. I cleaned up the kitchen, swept, and mopped after doing all the dishes, cleaned the counter and table, and organized his fridge.
Next, I moved to the living room and vacuumed, dusted the TV and furniture, washed the blankets and folded them neatly by the fireplace, and even lit some candles to get the permanent ran
ch smell out of the carpets.
And that was only during the first hour.
I went to the bathroom next, scrubbed the shower, sink, and counter, then swept and mopped. I made his toilet shine like a damn Golden Globe Award. After putting a load of towels in the washer, I moved to his bedroom next. Since Maize was asleep in the crib, I tiptoed around to dust, changed the trash, organized his dresser and nightstand, and grabbed his hamper of dirty laundry. Then I went back in and grabbed Maize’s hamper too.
Three loads of laundry later, I’m sweating my ass off at everything I accomplished. My adrenaline spiked, and once I got started, I couldn’t stop. My mom always called it my angry cleaning marathon. When I get really upset over something, I busy my mind by cleaning nonstop until everything is done.
Once the towels and John and Maize’s clothes are all folded and put away, I look around the house and dread crawls into my mind.
“Oh my God,” I mutter to myself. “He’s going to think I’m batshit crazy.”
“Who’s going to think you’re batshit crazy?”
I spin around so fast, I nearly twist my ankle in the process. A girl I’ve never met before is standing in the living room with her foot cocked out and a hand on her hip.
“You scared the shit out of me.” I press a hand to my chest over my racing heart.
“Sorry, babe. I knocked, but no one answered, so I just walked in,” she explains, which I can’t really blame her considering I’d done the same thing. “I’m Kiera.” She holds her hand out for me, and I find myself wondering if she’s John’s girlfriend by the way she just let herself in. She has her reddish blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail and is absolutely gorgeous with her tanned skin and bright green eyes. It wouldn’t surprise me because she looks like she actually belongs here with her cowboy boots and worn jeans, but John’s never mentioned having a girlfriend. The thought of him having one all this time cripples my anxiety.
“Hi, I’m Mila,” I finally respond, taking her hand in mine.
“I know. The nanny.”
“Right.” I pinch my lips together, wondering why she’s here. “If you’re looking for John, he’s not home. He’s at the B&B until six.”
“Oh, I’m not here for John. I just wanted to come to meet you and maybe snuggle Maize for a few minutes,” she responds with a polite smile.
“Meet me? I’m sorry, but who are you exactly? John hasn’t told me anything about you so—”
“I’m a family friend. I’m one of the horse trainers. I work with John and Jackson sometimes, but my family has a ranch not far from here,” she explains, relief settling in and hoping she’s not a psycho stalker who’s in love with John or something.
“Oh, okay. Well, just give me a minute.”
As I walk to John’s room, I quickly send him a text asking if it’s okay that she’s here. Once he gives me the approval that she’s not going to murder me with the heel of her boot, I carefully lift Maize out of her crib and talk to her while she slowly wakes up. I lay her on John’s freshly made bed and change her diaper.
“Is it okay to come in?” I hear Kiera and turn my head toward the door. “John give you the reassurance and approval?” She grins as if she knew I was going to double-check.
I exhale and smile. “Yeah, you’re all good.” I chuckle as she opens the door wider and steps in. “Sorry, I just didn’t want to be one of those stories posted on the internet of a naïve woman who let a stranger in and ended up chopped into pieces.”
Kiera laughs as she bends down to give Maize a kiss on the head. “No worries. Probably a good thing you validate any woman who comes here, considering the number of girls who would die to be in your shoes right now.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, putting Maize’s bottoms back on then tossing the diaper into the trash. “To watch the baby?” I pick her up and hand her over to Kiera’s waiting arms.
“Yes, because she’s just the sweetest, prettiest baby girl there ever was,” she says in a high-pitched baby voice to Maize. Then she looks at me and grins. “Because John is one of the most eligible bachelors around here, and he doesn’t let just anyone into his life.”
“Well, I wouldn’t consider being the nanny as being in his life. He needs help, and that’s all I’m doing here.” We walk out of the room and toward the kitchen, so I can get Maize a bottle. “Plus, he’s barely here.”
“Oh, trust me, babe. You’re in his daughter’s life, which means you’re in his life.”
“Well, even so, we’re just…” I bite my lower lip as I think of the right words. Mixing the formula and water together, I shake the bottle up before handing it to Kiera. “He’s my boss, and that’s it. Plus, I only met him the day I started.”
“Yeah, but these Bishop boys have a way of making you feel like you’ve known them forever.” There’s definitely some truth to her words, but even so, crossing that line would only end in heartbreak, considering I’m planning to go back to Georgia at the end of the summer.
“Well, I can’t deny that his family’s very welcoming.” I chuckle as I follow Kiera to the living room where she holds Maize and feeds her. We sit on the couch facing each other, and already it feels like I’ve known Kiera all my life. She has a warm presence about herself that’s hard to resist.
“The Bishops are amazing. I’ve known their whole family since I was born. My parents knew them growing up, and I basically grew up with them too.”
“Oh, so you’re close with them?”
“Yeah, I am, but I was always closer to Jackson. We both had a passion for horses early on, and his obnoxious behavior made hanging out together a blast.”
“Oh yeah, I can totally see that. I’ve only met him a couple of times, and he already used me as a pawn to tick John off.”
She rolls her eyes as if she’s not at all surprised to hear that. “Jackson refuses to grow up basically, even though his brothers and sister have. He thinks life is a nonstop party, which is why he butts heads with John so much.”
“It’s hard to believe they’re twins,” I say. “John is so quiet and serious most of the time.”
“He’s always been that way. All about business and work, but he has a side to him he doesn’t let a lot of people see.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure you’ll be seeing that side of him really soon,” she says with so much certainty I’m tempted to ask her what she means by that, but I stop. Boundaries, I remind myself. John was clear on setting them, and though I’m not sure why, I can’t help smiling at the thought of John showing me that side of him.
“Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?” I cock my head and study her features.
“Like what?” she asks, innocently, making more goofy faces at Maize as she finishes her bottle.
I give her a pointed look to tell her I’m not buying it.
“Okay look, I’ll tell you, but you cannot tell John I said a word, okay? He’d be the one to murder me into a million pieces.”
I chuckle and agree.
“John and Jackson are always competing against each other. They always have, and well, when it comes to chicks, it can sometimes get intense.”
“What? Like they fight over the same girl?”
“No, not exactly. Neither of them has lacked in that department, trust me. But Jackson enjoys toying with John and getting him pissed off, especially when it comes to something he wants.”
“Something he wants?”
She’s not talking about me, right?
“You’re really attractive, Mila. Like really gorgeous, so it’s not surprising that John would feel uneasy about you being around Jackson given his track record.”
“Wait. Hold up. What?” I circle my hands around and motion for her to rewind before going any further.
“Why the hell would John care? He’s the one who told me we needed to have rules and boundaries and using stupid reverse psychology to tell me to go out on a date with Jac
kson.”
Kiera’s smirking as she sets Maize up to her shoulder and starts patting her on the back. Things aren’t adding up, and I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.
I continue. “John doesn’t like me. He just doesn’t want me to date Jackson and mess things up. He’s afraid I’ll end up quitting if Jackson pisses me off or something.”
“Mm-hmm,” she hums, pursing her lips together as if she’s not buying it.
“No, really. He told me the only reason he was pissed about Jackson is because of how he tends to break girls’ hearts, and if he breaks my heart, he’s afraid he’d lose me, and he’d be without a nanny again.”
“The only thing John Bishop is afraid of is his own feelings. So while he’s feeding you that pathetic little story, consider this. Jackson has denied his feelings for me our entire lives, and now I’m dating the local vet. His name is Trent, by the way, and I’ll tell you more about him later.” She grins wide and looks like the heart-eyed emoji. “Even after I finally moved on because I was sick of waiting for him, he still couldn’t admit he had feelings for me. Instead, he sleeps around with random chicks to prove that he doesn’t.”
“What? Really?” My eyes widen, completely shocked by this news.
She nods, then smiles when Maize finally burps. “Jackson acts like a wild horse. Untamed and can buck you off at any given moment without even a second glance to make sure you landed on your feet.”
Damn. That sounds harsh.
“So what does that have to do with John and me?” I ask.
“Jackson knows John well enough to know he’s attracted to you, but he also knows John wouldn’t pursue anything since you’re here to watch Maize, which could make things complicated if it doesn’t work out. So Jackson being the man-child he is taunts John by flirting with you in front of him and waiting to see how far he can push his buttons before John cracks and finally admits what he’s feeling.”