Justin Caster De Nero was rarely at a loss for words. But Allena’s stunt shocked the hell out of him. Maybe he should have seen it coming. Maybe the way she’d been quieter than usual lately, almost distracted, should have gotten him thinking that something was brewing. But…it was Allena. Reliable. Steadfast. A rock. The best thing that had happened to him in the last four years. Well, not to him, he corrected himself immediately. But to his family. And specifically, to his kids. They adored her, and rightly so. She was an angel sent to help when life was at its worst. He’d lost his wife and his mother…the whole family was grieving and dealing with the profound loss and his children hadn’t taken to any of the other nannies he’d employed. But Allena Jasmin was different. Younger, certainly, and with less experience than the prison warden who’d come before her, and who had lasted only a week before he’d told her to leave. Allena was like a breath of fresh air compared to that. Funny and

She met his gaze and hesitated for a moment before releasing Cassie. Justin watched as she moved away from the birthing box and then followed until they were out of earshot from the kids.“What?” she asked tersely. He turned, crossing his arms, making sure the children couldn’t hear him. “Two things,” he said quietly. “Firstly, I’ll need more time to find someone to replace you, so I want a month’s notice. Secondly,” he said, dropping his voice a fraction. “I’m not going to play bad cop for you, Allena. If you want to leave, you’re going to have to tell the kids yourself.”She glared at him, and Justin knew he’d backed her into a corner. She adored his kids; he knew that. She’d never do anything to hurt them. Except leave them, apparently.Well, one thing was certain. He wasn’t going to let her go without a damned good fight! Allena took a breath, staring at him, noticing how his green eyes glittered behind his glasses. He really did have the Clark Kent thing down to a fine art. He wa

Her heart skipped a beat.Justin, it was him. What was he doing out here in the rain?She would recognise the way he sat in the saddle anywhere. He might not be a typical cowboy, but he certainly rode like one. The rain quickly fell heavier, and Allena suspected she should head for the cabin, but watching him ride through the storm, his swagger so familiar, nothing could make her drag her gaze away. He wore a raincoat, and the tail flapped as the horse jogged towards her. He came to a halt about ten feet away, his expression as dark and thunderous as the sky above them. And then he spoke. Well, more like he yelled. “What the hell are you doing?”The moment Justin saw Allena heading off on her horse, he realised she would get stuck in the rainstorm. He knew enough about the weather to suspect the storm would be a bad one. And he certainly didn’t want Allena stuck out alone on a trail ride while a storm raged around her. She should have known better. As Rudy should have, something he sa

Allena found the kettle in the kitchen and set it on the stove, then rinsed out the mugs and rummaged through the cupboard for coffee and sugar. The coffee tin was empty, and when she found tea bags, she settled for them, plopping them in the mugs as she waited for the water to boil. It had been unnerving; it had been a difficult decision to even consider leaving Justin and his kids, but she didn't have a choice. She had to live her life and mind her own business.A few minutes later, she heard the front door open and close, and Justin was back in the kitchen. “They’re fine,” he said, plonking his hat on the table. “It’s cold here.”Allena agreed, “I know—”“We should sit by the fire.”Allena looked at the fire crackling in the hearth and nodded. “I’m making tea.” She knew Justin didn’t really like tea. He was a coffee-drinker. But he didn’t refuse the mug when she passed it to him. Seconds later, they were sitting on the large sofa. It was lumpy and not all that comfortable, but it w

“I’m going away soon,” Allena explained simply, her voice almost cracking. “In a few weeks. Which means I won’t be your nanny anymore.”Justin watched as she swallowed hard after each long breath. And he knew, in that moment, how hard it was for her.No one said anything for several seconds. Cassie was fiddling with her cards, and he noticed that. Jayden was tugging on his bottom lip with his teeth.“So, you won’t be taking care of us?” his son asked quietly, his concentration focused on the cards in his hand.Allena nodded and spoke gently. “No, sweetie, I won’t. You’ll have a new nanny who will look after you.”His son still didn’t look up. “Just not you?”Cassie got off her chair and stood beside Allena. “But I don’t want a new nanny.”Allena grasped his daughter’s hand gently. “I know you don't, and it’ll be hard at first. For all of us,” she added, and she glanced up at him.Justin saw his daughter’s expression crumble, and his heart just about broke. His kids understood. They kn