3. Marie

THREE

MARIE

As I stood in the living room of our cozy home, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Today was the day I had agreed to meet with Jesse to discuss a potential job opportunity as a nanny for his daughter, Belle. My father had been surprised by my decision to take on a second job, but he seemed more intrigued than concerned, and that put my mind at ease. He wasn’t as mad as I thought he might be, which I decided to take as a good sign.

This wasn’t him letting me free, but it was something.

I knew my father well, and I understood his overprotective nature. He always meant well, but his attempts to control my life had often felt suffocating. Taking on this new job, even though it meant a second source of income, was my way of asserting my independence and gaining a taste of freedom. I wasn’t sure if Dad realized that. I didn’t know if he had yet connected the dots and realized that the reason I wanted this second job was because I needed the money to get out.

Hopefully, by the time he realized, I would be out of Wolf Mountain and living my own life. Whatever that might look like.

That was the worst part of all of this. I didn’t even know what I wanted my new life to look like, I just wanted something new. Something different to make me feel more whole.

I adjusted the collar of my blouse, trying to quell the butterflies in my stomach. Jesse had always been kind and respectful, and Belle was an adorable child. It seemed like a perfect fit. A great way for me to make some changes moving forward.

Just as I was about to voice my excitement to my father, the doorbell rang, and Jesse’s familiar voice echoed through the house as he greeted my father. I watched them exchange pleasantries from a distance, their friendship evident, and I couldn’t help but smile. Jesse had been there for my father through a lot, including my mother leaving. I knew it was a friendship that had stood the test of time, which was exactly why I never wanted to get in the middle of it.

When they finally entered the living room, Belle burst into the room like a whirlwind, her enthusiasm infectious. “Daddy!”

I chuckled as I watched Jesse scoop her up into his arms, his deep voice filled with affection. “So, my little troublemaker, are you going to say hello?”

My father and I shared a knowing look, both of us well aware of Belle’s penchant for mischief. But it was clear that Jesse adored his daughter, and the bond between them was heartwarming to witness.

Belle’s attention quickly shifted to me, and her eyes widened with curiosity. “Hello, are you going to be looking after me, Marie?”

“That’s right, Belle. I’m here to take care of you and have some fun together.”

Belle’s laughter filled the room, as she threw her arms around me. We already had a bond, which I hoped would make it a whole lot easier for Jesse. “So, what games are we going to play?”

I met Jesse’s eyes, watching him nod with satisfaction. I let Belle lead me out of the room so I could focus on her, but it was hard to ignore my father and Jesse speaking in low voices in the other room. Unfortunately, I couldn’t pick out anything they were saying, but it sounded serious. I wondered what on earth was going on in this small town to have them talking like that. Weird. But it wasn’t long until my father left for work, and Jesse went with him, so it was just me and Belle.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of laughter, games, and Belle’s hilarious antics. While she was indeed a handful, her spirited energy was something I found endearing. We shared stories, played games, and explored the house. As the day came to a close, and I knew Jesse was coming to pick her up, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Belle had taken a shine to me, and though there were bound to be challenges ahead, I felt ready to embark on this new adventure as Belle’s nanny. It really did feel like the best way for me to earn my freedom and the money I needed to get the hell away from here.

Knock, knock.

My heart skipped a beat as I heard the door open. Instinctively, I checked my outfit to make sure I looked okay. I knew I was supposed to be professional, focusing only on the work at hand, but it was hard to ignore the excitement bubbling in the pit of my stomach. I pressed my hand to my belly, trying to calm myself down, but I couldn’t do it. I swung the door open and sucked in a sharp breath because somehow, he was looking more handsome than ever. It was unfair, honestly.

“Hey, Jesse,” I replied, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in my chest. “Belle’s all set, but be warned, despite our busy day, she doesn’t seem tired yet.”

He chuckled, stepping into the house. “She never is. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Daddy, there you are!” Belle raced forward and jumped into her father’s arms. “I love Marie.”

“You do?” Jesse chuckled. “Well, that’s great news. I appreciate you doing this, Marie. It’s been a big help.”

An intense heart burned my cheeks. “Well, you’re doing me a favor as well. I do need this work.”

Jesse switched Belle over until she was on the other hip. “Oh yeah? Is everything okay? I thought that you were doing well with the photography deal.”

“I am.” I offered him a one-shouldered shrug. I didn’t want to tell him too much because I didn’t want anything to get back to my dad. “I just want a little more, that’s all. I need to make some decisions moving forward with my life.”

“Oh yeah? Any big plans?”

I smiled. “Not too sure yet. We’ll see how things go.”

Jesse narrowed his eyes at me, clearly suspecting more, but thankfully he didn’t push it. I wasn’t sure what I would have said if he did. I kinda wanted to tell him everything, to get his opinion, but I also knew that I couldn’t. Not if I didn’t want my dad to know.

“Well, it seems like Belle has had a great day with you, so I will be back tomorrow.”

“Right, yes.” I swallowed hard and nodded. “Sounds good.”

There was a real emotional whirlwind that came with being so close to Jesse. I couldn’t hide away from the attraction between us lingering beneath the surface. On one hand, I longed to flirt with him, to explore the unspoken chemistry that simmered between us. But on the other hand, I couldn’t escape the knowledge that my father would be tremendously upset if anything romantic were to develop between us. Actually, upset was minimizing it. He would kill us.

The question loomed in my mind like a shadow: did my father truly have the right to infantilize me, to keep me from dating, and to control my choices? I was in my twenties, a capable and responsible adult, and yet I felt as if I were still living under his protective gaze.

I felt like Jesse felt it too, which was why he stiffened up and stepped back to create some distance between us. It was thrilling and nerve-wracking all at once, this uncharted territory we were navigating. I didn’t know what to do with the underlying tension that hung in the air, palpable and electric. It was as if every stolen glance only fueled the fire of our mutual attraction.

“Well, I guess we will see you in the morning then.”

“Yeah, see you then, Jesse.” The way his name felt on my tongue was kind of electric. “See you, Belle.”

Belle cried out a goodbye to me, but she had already turned her attention toward her father. I smiled to myself as I watched them walk away, wondering what was going to happen the following day when we talked. Would that undertone of desire always be there? I didn’t want to lose this job. I wanted to make the best of it and utilize the paycheck in the best way possible. I was still trying to escape.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over Wolf Mountain, I set the table for dinner. The savory scent of my cooking filled our cozy cabin, making my stomach rumble in anticipation. I loved cooking and trying out new recipes, and my father always liked what I made, which was nice.

The door creaked open, and my father stepped inside. His work boots thudded on the wooden floor as he entered, carrying with him the earthy scent of the forest. He greeted me with a weary smile, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt knowing I was keeping secrets from him.

We settled at the rustic wooden table, and he dug into the hearty meal I had prepared, instantly letting me know how much he enjoyed it. “This is just what I need after today.”

“Has it been a hard one?”

His face fell. “There’s a lot going on in this town at the moment.”

I recalled the conversation I almost overheard this morning between my father and Jesse. “What’s happening?”

But I could already tell Dad was shutting down. He wasn’t about to tell me anything, of course, because he saw me as nothing more than a child. It was so freaking annoying. He was always like this. Not a lot of bad things happened in this town, but when they did, he tried to keep it away from me. I hated it.

“Dad, you know you can tell me if something is going on, don’t you? You’re worried about danger but won’t tell me if something is happening here.”

But still, he said nothing. He merely shrugged and the rest of our meal went on in awkward silence. I was so irritated that it actually made my chest hurt. I was going to have to find out somehow what was going on in this town if there was anything to worry about. I wouldn’t be kept in the dark because I wasn’t nine years old anymore. Dad kept telling me to stay in Wolf Mountain because it would be safer for me, but I sure as hell didn’t feel safe. Not with all the secrets flowing above my head. This was weird.

I slid beneath the covers a few hours later, the soft embrace of my bed wrapping around me. Despite the weariness in my limbs, my mind refused to settle down. I was wired and wound up from the day’s events, and it seemed like every thought and emotion was buzzing around my brain, preventing me from finding the peaceful embrace of sleep.

Jesse’s presence had injected a new kind of energy into my day. His rugged charm, his deep voice, and our playful rapport had left an indelible mark on my thoughts. I couldn’t help but replay our conversations, his smiles, and the way our eyes had met in moments of shared understanding. I wanted him to kiss me at that moment, however wrong it was. Especially when he had his daughter in his arms, but I wanted it none-the-less. I wanted him .

I used to dream about him a lot when I was a teenager, kissing and holding me. I used to dream about us having sex as well, his tongue all over me, his lips, his teeth… Perhaps that’s why no one else had ever measured up. Because they’re not him. But my teenage crush couldn’t affect my adult life. It just couldn’t. I need to stop thinking about him in any kind of way. I mean, technically he was my boss, and we needed to have those boundaries. It was the only way.

Tossing and turning, I tried to shake off the excitement that coursed through me. I knew I had to get some rest, especially with another day of looking after Belle ahead. But sleep remained elusive, and my heart continued to race as I lay there, my mind full of anticipation and desire.

The following morning, I stepped into the kitchen, rubbing my sleepy eyes. I did not do well with lack of sleep, and last night was hard. All I kept thinking about was Jesse all the time . I couldn’t switch off at all, which was not going to bode well for the day.

My father was there, sipping a cup of herbal tea and reading a book. The gentle ambiance of the house seemed at odds with the turmoil I felt inside.

He looked up from his book, concern etching lines on his face. “Marie, you look exhausted. Are you getting enough sleep?”

I hesitated for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest. I did not want him to find out I was all riled up over Jesse. He would kill me.

“I’m fine, Dad,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I’ve just been having nightmares lately, that’s all.”

My father’s expression softened with worry as he set his book aside and approached me. “Nightmares? Marie, you know you can always talk to me about anything that’s bothering you.”

I appreciated his concern, but I couldn’t bring myself to reveal the true source of my sleepless nights–the unspoken tension between Jesse and me. It was a forbidden attraction, a desire I was struggling to contain. A desire that would destroy him from the inside out.

“I know, Dad,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude. “But it’s nothing serious. Just a phase, I’m sure.”

He regarded me for a moment, his eyes searching mine as if trying to decipher the truth. Finally, he nodded, though the worry in his gaze remained. “If you ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me.”

I forced another smile, relieved that my father seemed satisfied with my explanation. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.”

But there was still a lot of awkwardness surrounding us over breakfast. It was as if my father could tell I was lying but he didn’t yet know what about. I hoped and prayed he didn’t find out.