Desperately Seeking A Sitter

Who knew hiring a nanny could get so complicated? Rancher Luke Walker has been caring for his two-year-old son single-handedly ever since his wife walked out, and he sure could use some help. But when he thought to find a nanny, he didn’t have someone like gorgeous Hayley Brooks in mind. And he certainly didn’t expect her to move into the ranch house!

Hayley is working toward being a physician assistant and needs to save money for her classes—and to save on rent by boarding with her employer. She’s delighted that little Brayden warms to her quickly, but is wary of her growing feelings for Luke. It’s a struggle keeping things professional…. Falling in love with her boss was not part of the job description!

“Is there anything else I need to bring?” Hayley asked as Luke walked with her to the door. “Besides the usual employment information, that is.”

“Not that I can think of.”

Reaching for the doorknob, she studied him. He did look more at ease than he had when she’d arrived.

She opened the door and stepped outside, glad the interview was over and that they’d agreed on the details. “I’ll see you and Brayden in the morning, then,” she said, turning back to look at him. “And thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he said.

For the first time, she saw his smile. It nearly blew her away. Without the frown and rigid exterior or the distracted and desperate actions, he was gorgeous. And she was going to be working for him.

Not good. Not good at all.

Dear Reader,

Being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs a person can undertake. Parenting requires on-the-job training as a caregiver, doctor, teacher, spiritual adviser, friend and mortal enemy (according to an angry child). The nights are late and the mornings are early. A good day can turn bad in an instant. A bad day can turn good with a hug or a simple smile. There are tears and giggles, joy and heartache. Parenting is often made easier with two parents, but that isn’t always the way life happens.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States, responsible for raising 21.2 million children or roughly 26% of children under 21. Those numbers don’t include only single moms. Single-father homes have grown almost 60% in the past ten years.

Child care for children of single-parent families can be difficult to find, but Luke Walker’s sister has sent him a young woman to be the nanny for his small son. One look at the woman has him convinced that she’s not the person for them. But like parenting, love can happen with a hug or a simple smile.

Welcome back to Desperation, Oklahoma, where hearts meet at the most unexpected times.

Best wishes and happy reading!

Roxann

A Nanny for the Cowboy

Roxann Delaney

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roxann Delaney doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t reading or writing, and she always loved that touch of

romance in both. A native Kansan, she’s lived on a farm, in a small town and has returned to live in the city where she was born. Her four daughters and grandchildren keep her busy when she isn’t writing or designing websites. The 1999 Maggie Award winner is excited to be a part of the

Harlequin American Romance line and loves to hear from readers. Contact her at roxann@roxanndelaney.com or visit her website, www.roxanndelaney.com.

Pat, Theresa, Deborah, Kathie and Kristi,

I’d be lost without you all.

Love and hugs.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Excerpt

Chapter One

Luke Walker peeled back the edge of the curtain to get a glimpse of the woman getting out of her car in his driveway. “Not on your life, lady,” he muttered.

Ignoring the tug on the leg of his jeans, he watched what should have been a prospective employee walk up the path leading to the house. But walk was the wrong thing to call the seductive advance. Panthers on the prowl were less graceful.

The wind caught the young woman’s long, straight dark hair, blowing it over one shoulder, and she reached up to brush it back with her fingers. Luke saw very little of any of it, focused instead on her long legs in the trim, short skirt she wore.

He must’ve been crazy to let his sister talk him into interviewing the woman. He’d always thought his sister had more sense than to send him someone who looked remotely like a Miss America contestant. But if he really thought about it, Erin had done some far from smart things in her life.

The doorbell rang, dragging a moan from deep within his chest. How would he manage to send this woman away without hurting her feelings? Erin would skin him alive if she learned he hadn’t hired the vixen waiting at the door. And if he hurt the woman’s feelings in the process, he’d never hear the end of it. Even worse, if he didn’t hire her, who would he find to—

“Up! Wannup!”

“Not now, Brayden. Be good and let go.” Reaching down, he pried the two-year-old’s chubby arms from his legs and noticed the smear of grape jelly Brayden left in his wake. Taking the toddler by one of his gooey hands, Luke moved to the front door as the bell chimed a second time. “Be there in a sec!” he called.

There wasn’t time to wipe Brayden’s hands. Not with the woman ringing the damn bell every two seconds. Where the hell had Brayden gotten the jelly, anyway? But Luke wasn’t eager to check out the source, even if he had the time. Which he didn’t. No telling what kind of damage the kitchen was in, after a visit from Brayden.

Drawing in a deep breath, Luke reached for the doorknob, hoping he could make the interview as brief and as painless as possible—for both of them. But when he opened the door, his son wrapped both arms around his legs again in the two-year-old equivalent of a viselike grip, throwing Luke completely off balance. He managed to save himself from falling by bracing his hand against the door frame.

“Mr. Walker?” the young woman asked, slipping off a pair of dark glasses he hadn’t even noticed.

“Uh, yeah, that’s me.” Distracted by the need to keep his balance, Luke tried to concentrate on presenting a formidable appearance. Not an easy feat, he decided, with a jelly-smeared son attached at his knees, and made even worse by the deep blue of the woman’s eyes.

Her gaze traveled down to where Brayden held Luke in a death grip and moved back up again. She smiled and extended her hand. “I’m Hayley. Hayley Brooks? Your sister—”

“Yeah. Erin. My sister.” He cringed and hoped she didn’t notice, as he took her hand and gave it the briefest of shakes, then immediately let go. He wasn’t quick enough. A wave of warmth snaked quickly up his arm. This was not a good thing.

“I guess this is Brayden.” She knelt to the little boy’s level. “Hi, Brayden.”

Brayden hid his face behind Luke’s legs and shook his head. Luke reached down and ruffled his son’s curly hair. “He’s a little shy.”

Straightening, she faced him. “Typical two-year-old,” she said with a blazing smile. “Now, about the job...”

“The job,” Luke echoed. He didn’t have a clue what to say to this woman. He desperately needed someone to take care of his son, but this one wasn’t the type of someone he’d had in mind. Nope, not even close.

Before he had a chance to make up an excuse that wouldn’t hurt her feelings, Brayden let out an earsplitting wail. The grip on Luke’s legs tightened, but he finally managed to extricate himself and hauled the boy into his arms, jelly and all. “Maybe this isn’t such a good time,” he told the prospective nanny, over the howls coming from his son.

“It’s as good a time as any.” She reached out and took Brayden in her arms, completely oblivious to the goo.

Brayden immediately quieted.

Luke stared at the pair.

“There,” she said, brushing the front of Brayden’s hair away from his forehead with her fingers. “Isn’t that better?” Turning to Luke, who was struck speechless, she smiled. “If I can just come inside?”

“Oh. Yeah, sure,” Luke answered, completely taken off guard. He stepped back, waiting until she’d moved through the doorway and past him with his silent but somber son in her arms. “It’s kind of a mess,” he warned, more than aware of the state of the house.

“It usually is with little ones around.” She flashed him yet another smile and followed him into the living room. Moving aside the newspaper he’d earlier unfolded while he waited for her, she took a seat on the sofa and settled Brayden on her lap. “There are five kids in my family. My mom says she doesn’t know what to do with a neat house, now that we’re grown.”

Luke barely heard her. He was watching his son, whose attention was on the brightly painted wooden beads of the woman’s necklace, nestled in the V-neck of her top. When Brayden reached for the beads with his chubby hands, Luke tensed, prepared to grab the child before more damage could be done other than sharing the jelly. Holding his breath, he wondered how he could intercept the disaster he knew was coming, without frightening the woman.

“Would you mind sitting?” he heard her say.

He jerked his gaze away from the beads at her throat to stare at her. “What?”

“I’m sorry,” she answered with an apologetic smile. “It’s awkward having to look up at you. Would you mind sitting?”

Without replying, he continued to keep his attention on his son, while he tentatively perched on the chair facing the sofa, ready to intervene when needed. He loved his son to distraction, but he also knew firsthand that Brayden could leave disaster in his wake in the blink of an eye. And those beads were obviously intriguing the little guy.

She shifted Brayden in her lap, but completely ignored the boy’s hand on her necklace. “What time does your day start, Mr. Walker?”

“Early,” he answered. “I get up around five and am out of the house by seven.” Or at least he tried to be. With Brayden to get out of bed, dressed and fed, it was more often later. Much later.

“Who watches Brayden that early?”

Luke looked down at his work-worn hands. “Right now, nobody.” He glanced up at her and hurried to add, “I mean, I’ve been taking him with me later in the morning, when I can’t find someone to watch him.”

“Have you checked into day care in town?”

He nodded, thinking of the hassle it had been for everyone. “We tried it, but the best place was full before it even opened. And it isn’t like my hours are nine to five or anything. There are some days that I don’t need to leave the house until later, and I can’t see taking Brayden to town when he doesn’t need to be there.”

“I see.”

Luke wasn’t sure he liked the way she said that. The real problem was that both he and Brayden had taken an instant dislike to the woman at the day care center that did have an empty slot. Several, in fact. They were on the list at Libby Miles’s new place, but had been warned the wait might be a long one.

“Let me put it this way,” he said, uncomfortable about sharing everything. “They charged me the same, no matter what time I took him in or what time I picked him up, or even whether he was there at all. That’s a waste.”

“I understand how difficult it can be,” she answered, as Brayden scrambled down from her lap. “I grew up on a farm, so I know what work schedules can be like. I think we can find an arrangement that works for both of us.”

Luke’s first reaction was to breathe a sigh of relief, until he realized that he’d already decided not to hire the woman. Having met his sister’s candidate, he suspected Erin was doing a little matchmaking, and he wasn’t about to let that happen. If he was smart, he wouldn’t let this go any further. “I’m sure we could, but—”

Frowning, he pulled the ringing cell phone from his pocket and saw the caller was his brother. “I need to get this,” he said, in lieu of an apology for the interruption. Standing, he made sure Brayden was busy playing with his toys, before crossing the room and hitting the talk button.

Just when I was getting up the nerve to send her on her way.

“Yeah?” he barked into the phone.

“I’m glad I caught you,” Dylan said. “I need to tell you something.”

Luke turned his back to the woman and kept his voice low. “Make it quick, will ya? I’m interviewing that niece of Erin’s friend.”

“Interviewing? Oh, yeah,” Dylan replied. “To take care of Brayden. Hope that’s going good.”

“Not really.” Luke sneaked a quick look at the nanny he couldn’t hire over his shoulder and saw that her attention was on his son. “But that’s my problem,” he told his brother. “So what do you need to tell me?”

There was silence for a moment until Dylan finally spoke. “I’m taking off for a couple of weeks.”

“Taking off?” Luke asked. “Again?”

Dylan’s heavy sigh echoed across the wires. “I gotta get away, Luke. I can’t explain it. I just gotta get away.”

“To where?”

“I don’t know yet. Maybe I’ll go down and visit Erin. Or maybe I won’t. I just know I need some time away from the ranch. From everything.”

Luke’s first thought was to tell his brother that he couldn’t leave right now. Not until arrangements were made for Brayden’s day care. For years, Luke had tried to talk to Dylan about his annual disappearance, but because Luke suspected those weeks had to do with the anniversary of their parents’ death, he hadn’t pushed it. Getting away always seemed to help Dylan, so maybe it would be a good idea to keep quiet.

“Okay,” Luke finally answered. “If that’s what you need. When are you leaving?”

“As soon as I finish loading up my truck.”

“That soon?” Luke tried to conceal his surprise. “When will you be back?”

“A week. Maybe two. It depends.”

Luke did a quick mental check of what would need to be done during his brother’s absence. “I can cover it,” he promised.

They ended the conversation and, as he slowly put his phone back in his pocket, Luke realized there was only one way he could make good on his promise. Without Dylan around, he’d have to have someone to care for Brayden. There was no way around it.

He shook his head. He’d let his brother put him somewhere between a rock and a hard place, and it was damned uncomfortable.

* * *

HAYLEY TRIED HER BEST to ignore the one-sided phone conversation going on across the room and concentrated on getting to know the little boy playing on the floor beside her.

Getting down to his level, she knelt next to him and watched him gather the small plastic cows. “Do you help your daddy with chores, Brayden?”

His hands stilled and he looked up at her. “Cows.”

She picked one of the animals from the pile and held it up. “Yes, a cow. Do you have cows?”

He continued to stare at her for a moment and then returned to his play.

“Miss Brooks?”

Hayley looked up to see Luke Walker towering over her. “I was just getting to know Brayden,” she explained. Taking the hand he offered to help her stand, she wished she hadn’t. Unlike when they’d met at the door, only minutes before, this time she felt the male strength it held—along with a totally unwanted flash of...something. She’d make sure not to let it happen again.

He released her, raking his other hand through his light brown hair. She recognized the sign of distress and noticed that his eyes mirrored it. “The phone call was bad news?”

“No. Yes.” He shook his head. “A minor setback is all. Short-term.”

She waited patiently for him to continue. She wasn’t comfortable about being hired out of what she was fairly sure was desperation. It certainly didn’t say much for her skills. But she did need the job, and she would be a fool not to accept the position.

When he didn’t elaborate, she realized she would have to ask for the information she needed. “When would you like me to start?”

“Start?”

She nodded, wondering if Luke Walker was stable and if she wouldn’t be better off looking for a job somewhere else. But she’d promised her Aunt Rita that she would do what she could for her friend’s brother. She couldn’t back out now.

“Start the job,” she clarified, adding a smile she didn’t particularly feel at the moment.

He lowered himself to the chair and shook his head, looking like a man who didn’t have a clue what was going on. “As soon as possible, I guess,” he answered.

Hayley tried her best to be patient. The interview wasn’t going nearly as well as she’d hoped. “Possible for you or me?”

“For you, of course,” he replied, as if she should know it.

“All right.” She took her seat on the sofa again. “We’ve determined that your day begins early,” she said, hoping to move things along. “That isn’t a problem for me. I have some things to attend to later today, so if I arrive at, say, six-thirty tomorrow, will that work for you?”

“Six-thirty?”

“In the morning.” It was clear that his mind wasn’t on their conversation, and she started to rise. “If you would rather we discuss this at another time—”

“No!” he said, startling her. She regained her composure and waited while he ran his hand through his hair a second time. “Look, I’m sorry,” he said, his distress evident in his deep blue eyes. “Please, don’t leave. Please. It’s just that I— Damn, this is a mess,” he finished as a mutter.

Hayley let her guard down and her heart ached for him. She didn’t know what, in particular, the problem was, but she had some sort of idea. From her aunt Rita, she’d learned that Luke Walker was a single dad, struggling to raise his young son after his wife had walked out on them a year and a half before, apparently without a backward glance. He and his brother ran this ranch near Desperation, Oklahoma, where they’d grown up and, according to her aunt, didn’t lack for money, thanks to excellent business practices and several active oil wells the family owned. To Hayley, that meant she wouldn’t have to worry about being paid. She quickly reminded herself that he hadn’t actually made the offer yet, but she was determined to be positive about it.

“You know ranching, right?” he asked.

She nodded. “As I said, I grew up on a small farm, although my brothers do most of the work, now that my dad has retired.”

“Yeah, I know how that can be.” His eyes darkened with sadness. “We’ve had our own struggles in the past.”

“I understand that you and your brother operate the ranch,” she said, hoping to draw him out enough to discover what was bothering him. If she was going to work for him, she needed to know if this problem would affect her employment—or his son—in any way.

“Yes, the two of us,” he said, nodding. “This house is on the southern edge of the property. Dylan, my older brother, lives in the same house were we grew up, but north of here. I built this house when—” He stopped for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, then squared his shoulders. “A few years ago.” Leaning forward, he caught her gaze and held it. “If you can start tomorrow, I’d really appreciate it. Dylan will be gone for a week or two, meaning I’ll have more chores to do. That means I’ll have less time to watch after Brayden.” He looked at his son, quietly playing with his toys, and then back at her. “He seems to like you, which is something, considering he’s never had much to do with anybody since— Well, for a long time.”

She guessed that the “long time” he mentioned must have been since Brayden’s mother left. “I can be here at six-thirty or whenever is best tomorrow,” she said. “But you need to know that I have classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and will have to leave here by six.”

“That’s not a problem,” he said, getting to his feet and walking toward her. “I guess you already know what the salary is?”

“Yes,” she answered. “Your sister sent the details in a letter.” Gathering her things, she stood and offered her hand. “Then I’ll see you in the morning, Mr. Walker.”

He hesitated before taking it. When he did, the contact made her warm all over, and she couldn’t seem to pull away. His eyes held a surprised but quizzical gleam, and she wasn’t sure what to think of it or of her own reaction.

“Wouldn’t a first name basis be better?” he asked.

His voice seemed lower and his gaze held her. Gently removing her hand from his, she tried for a smile. “Yes, it—it probably would be. Luke.”

“Good,” he said, in a more businesslike manner, while taking a step back. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Convinced she’d imagined things, she turned to his son and took a fortifying breath before saying goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Brayden, okay? And I’ll bring a special treat.” She turned to his dad. “If that’s all right.”

“Sure. No problem.”

“Is there anything else I need to bring?” she asked, as he walked with her to the door. “Besides the usual employment information, that is.”

“Not that I can think of.”

Reaching for the doorknob, she studied him. He still didn’t appear to be aware of everything, but he did look more at ease than he had when she’d arrived.

She opened the door and stepped outside, glad the interview was over and that they’d agreed on the details. “I’ll see you and Brayden in the morning then,” she said, turning back to look at him. “And thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he said.

For the first time, she saw his smile. It nearly blew her away. Without the frown and rigid exterior or the definitely distracted and desperate actions, he was gorgeous. And she was going to be working for him. Not good. Not good at all.

* * *

LUKE SURVEYED THE LAST of the rooms and looked at his watch. Brayden’s new nanny would be arriving at any minute. He’d worked his butt off, trying to get the house as clean and tidy as possible in the short time he’d had. But there’d been other things to deal with, too. Dylan had stopped by with a list of chores, as if Luke had never done the job before, and had been in bad shape. It was easy to see that a vacation from the ranch was needed, and Luke didn’t mind taking care of things near as much as he had when Dylan had first given him the news.

Luke was picking up one of Brayden’s toys from behind a chair when he heard a car pull into the drive. “Keep it professional, man,” he muttered to himself on his way to open the door. “She’s your employee.”

But as soon as he opened the door and saw her standing there in a tight pair of blue jeans and shirt that definitely failed to hide her curves, he knew he was in trouble.

“Good morning,” she said, stepping past him and into the house.

Closing the door behind her, he followed her, keeping his attention on the cardboard box she held in her arms, instead of the view of her enticing backside. “What’s in the box?”

“The special treat I mentioned.”

He hadn’t expected anything quite so large. “That’s a pretty big special treat.”

She looked over her shoulder at him on her way into the living room and gave him a sheepish grin. “Synchronicity.”

“What?”

Setting the box on a small table, she opened it and peered inside. “Synchronicity. An unexpected but happy coincidence.” She pulled out an old metal replica of a farm truck with a small plastic cow and calf in the back. “My mom was getting ready to throw these out a few days ago,” she explained, turning to look at him. “Apparently, my brothers didn’t want them, so I said I’d take them. I didn’t know why, but I see now that it was because of Brayden. I hope he’ll enjoy them. I remember how much we did.”

Luke took the truck from her and studied it. “I think I had one like this. Can’t buy them like this anymore.”

“Exactly,” she said. “I noticed how much Brayden enjoys his farm toys, so I thought, why not? It’s okay, isn’t it? I mean, you don’t mind, do you?”

He looked up at the sound of hesitancy in her voice and wished he hadn’t. Damn those blue eyes! “Yes,” he managed to answer.

“Oh.” She ducked her head and took the truck from him, returning it to the box. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize...”

“I meant that it was okay,” he hurried to assure her. “I don’t mind. Brayden will get a kick out of it.” He pulled out a small tractor and set it on the table, then peered into the box. “What else is in there?”

She shrugged. “Some wooden building blocks and more farm toys.”

Luke reached into the box at the same time she did, accidentally brushing her hand, and immediately jerked away. Just touching her rattled him, but he pulled himself together before he spoke. “Brayden’s still asleep, but I know he’ll like everything. So... Maybe I should show you around before I have to get to work.”

She returned the toys to the box and closed it. Squaring her shoulders, she stepped away. “Yes, that’s a good idea, although I’m sure I’ll know my way around in no time at all.”

He didn’t doubt she would. She was that kind of woman. Or at least he suspected she was. But it didn’t really matter, he thought, as he led her from the living room, through the dining room and into the kitchen. Once she settled into her job of taking care of Brayden, he wouldn’t be spending that much time around her. A quick hello in the morning and a goodbye before she left in the evening, and that would be it.

“Nice kitchen,” she said.

Her voice pulled him out of his reverie. “Thanks. Let me know if we’re out of anything.” He thought about the nearly bare cabinets and refrigerator, and added, “I’ll make a trip into town for groceries later. There’s plenty of meat in the extra freezer, out in the garage, but Brayden likes peanut butter and jelly.”

“I noticed,” she said with a throaty chuckle.

He wasn’t sure whether to be embarrassed or laugh with her. “Yeah, I figured you did,” he said, giving in to the latter and adding his own chuckle. From the kitchen area, he walked to the attached family room and pointed to the corner, crowded with toys. “Brayden usually plays in here. We both spend more time in here than anywhere else. Except maybe outside.”

She looked around, as if assessing the place. “Having the kitchen close by while he plays makes it handy.”

He wasn’t about to admit that they didn’t spend all that much time in the kitchen, so he checked his watch and realized that he needed to get busy. “I’ll show you the upstairs, before I go.”

“Is that where Brayden’s room is?” When he nodded, she turned back, obviously headed for the living room. “You go on, then,” she said, over her shoulder. “I can find my way. I’ll just put the toys I brought with his others and then check on him.”

Luke felt like he was being a lousy employer, if he couldn’t even spare the time to properly show her around. “Well, I—”

“No, it’s all right. Really. I’ve probably made you late.”

He stood in the doorway staring at her, stunned by her self-assurance. She reminded him of his sister, but she wasn’t nearly as bossy as Erin. This woman didn’t seem to let anything daunt her, and he begrudgingly admired her for it.

Great. One more thing to admire her for, when he was having enough trouble keeping his attention away from those long legs and those blue eyes and those—

“Will you be wanting dinner at noon?”

Luke quickly dragged his thoughts from where they shouldn’t be and shook his head. “I’ll just come in and grab a quick sandwich or something. Too much work to stop for anything, with Dylan gone.”

But instead of hurrying off to start his workday, he settled on the arm of the sofa and watched her neaten the room he’d spent a good hour straightening before she arrived. He didn’t mind, though. He liked the fact that she was tidy, and he’d make sure he didn’t cause her any more work than was necessary.

With a throw pillow cradled to her chest, she turned to face him. “This is a very nice house. Comfortable and...nice. Brayden’s mother must have very good taste.”

Luke stiffened. He’d been working on not letting the past bother him so much and wished he’d found a way to avoid what needed to be said. Besides, if she was going to be his son’s nanny, she deserved to know at least some of what had happened.

“Kendra left,” he answered, the words as stiff as his body. “Almost a year and a half ago. And hasn’t been back since.”

“With no explanation?”

“None.” But he knew that was a lie. There’d been Kendra’s form of an explanation—a tantrum in the middle of the night. One of many that had come on not long after Brayden’s birth. But he didn’t think Brayden’s nanny needed to know about that.

“She hasn’t contacted him? A phone call? Note?”

Ready to put an end to the subject, Luke got to his feet. “Nothing. And I don’t expect she ever will.” He fervently hoped she never would. Brayden was his now. Kendra had even signed the papers, giving him full and complete custody, and relinquishing all parental rights.

“I’m sorry,” she said, standing. “That’s sad. For all of you.”

He didn’t agree at all, but he didn’t say so. He didn’t miss his ex-wife at all, and Brayden didn’t remember her. They did fine without her or anyone. One mistake was enough, and he didn’t have plans to repeat it.

He walked on to the door, and she followed. When he opened it and stepped out onto the porch, he noticed the suitcases on the ground by her car. “What are those?” he asked, turning back to find her standing in the doorway.

“My things.”

He looked again at the suitcases and then at her, totally confused. “What kind of things?”

Her expression was one of complete surprise. “Why, my clothes and...and other things.”

Nothing was making sense to him. “Why?”

She was now standing in front of him, plainly as confused as he was. “Because I can’t wear the same thing every day, now can I?”

Every day? Why would she need— When it hit him, he couldn’t believe he’d been so distracted by everything going on that he hadn’t made himself clear. “You thought the job was for a live-in nanny?”

Her face paled and she took an unsteady step back, one hand going to her throat as her eyes widened. “It isn’t?”

Chapter Two

Hayley was afraid her legs weren’t going to hold her, but somehow she managed to continue standing. Her face began to burn with the heat of embarrassment, while she tried to make sense of what had gone wrong. She’d assumed her position would be that of a live-in nanny. Apparently that’s not what Luke had in mind. Why hadn’t they discussed it the day before, during the interview? There was no excuse, except that he’d been distracted, and she’d needed the job to help pay for her college tuition.

Glancing at her new employer, she realized he looked as if he’d been punched, and she wished she could think of something to say that would make everything all right. Absolutely nothing came to mind.

He glanced at his watch, then over his shoulder before turning his attention to her. “I know this is something we need to get settled, but—” He looked down, shaking his head. “It’s not like it isn’t important, because it is, but I need to get the chores done.”

In the distance, she could hear the bellowing of cattle, obviously waiting to be fed. She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to let him walk away without settling the question of her employment, but she knew the importance of feeding livestock on time. “It’s all right,” she told him, hoping he didn’t pick up on her insecurity. “We can settle it later.”

He visibly relaxed, although his smile was shaky, at best. “Great. I mean, thanks. We’ll do it at lunch.” He started to move away, but stopped. “If that’s okay.” When she nodded, he let out a long breath. “Then I’ll be back around noon.”

Seeing that things were as settled as they could be for the time being, she turned for the house. She was nearly inside when she heard him call to her.

“I’ll just put these suitcases on the porch, until we decide what we’re going to do.”

“That’s fine. I’ll just...” What? Worry? She couldn’t say that, and she needed to reassure him that all would be well, even if she wasn’t all that sure they would be. “I’ll check on Brayden and get his breakfast started.”

She didn’t wait for an answer and, once inside with the door closed firmly behind her, she did her best to put aside the fear and disappointment that she might not have a job after all. Knowing that staying busy would help keep her from thinking of her current dilemma, she went upstairs and found Brayden’s room. She soon had him awake and out of bed, so they could start their day. He didn’t make a sound as she dressed him or while he ate his breakfast. When he finished eating, she checked the kitchen cabinets and pantry with thoughts of lunch and supper in mind, while he played in the family room with the toys she’d brought for him.

“Cow!” he announced, holding the plastic animal up for her to see.

“And a lovely cow it is,” she said, laughing. She hoped it wasn’t the only word he knew. After all, he was two and should have a better vocabulary than one word.

Later, when Brayden began to rub his eyes, Hayley took him upstairs to his bed for a nap before lunch, then she returned to the kitchen. She expected Luke to appear at any time, and she’d planned to have a more substantial meal ready for him and Brayden. But between her disgust at herself for assuming things she shouldn’t and the fact that there was practically nothing to eat in the house, she was left with literally throwing together some sandwiches.

“How’s it going?”

She turned to see the object of her thoughts standing in the doorway, and she searched for something to say. “I wasn’t sure if you like mayonnaise, but since I couldn’t find any—” She pressed her lips together, realizing she was complaining, and went back to the preparations. It took every bit of her concentration to place the thick slices of ham, tomatoes and cheese between the pieces of bread. There was no reason to let him know how nervous he made her, and she quickly chalked it up to her fear of losing the job. No matter whether it was live-in or not, she needed it to help pay off her student loan and finish her master’s degree. Not only that, but after a few hours with Brayden, she’d already fallen for the little boy.

Determined not to worry, she stacked the sandwiches on a plate. When she turned around, she was surprised to see Luke across the island counter from her.

“You didn’t need to do this,” he said as she placed the plate in front of him.

“It’s all right,” she answered with a shrug. “I consider it to be part of the job.” If she still had a job.

He settled on a tall, upholstered stool and picked up a sandwich. “I appreciate it. Today’s a little crazy, but it’ll get better.”

Instead of answering, she nodded and placed a glass of iced tea near his plate. “Lemon or sugar?”

“No, nothing. This is great.”

They fell silent as he ate and she started a quick cleanup. The quiet, along with not knowing where she stood when it came to the job, nearly made her physically ill, and she decided it was time to ask if he’d made a decision. “Mr. Walker? I mean, Luke,” she corrected immediately. He turned to look at her and she took a deep breath. “I just wanted to apologize—”

“Wait.” He held up his hand. “I need to say something, but I’m not sure how to go about it. And I’m a little embarrassed. What I tried to say earlier was that it was my fault you’d gotten the wrong impression about the job, and I...well, I apologize.”

The air whooshed out of her chest. Here she was, ready to apologize again, and he was taking the blame. She felt a small, warm glow of appreciation.

“Look, I know I shouldn’t make excuses, but it’s been a rough couple of years,” he continued. “I should have been clear to you and my sister about what I expected in a nanny, instead of letting Erin handle things.”

“Apology accepted.” She smiled, hoping that he would see she was sincere. And she was, but they still needed to settle the live-in situation. “Have you—” She cleared her throat, determined to get it over with. “Have you made a decision about whether I’ll be staying?”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “I don’t really need someone here all the time,” he explained, “and I’d pay extra for your gas and time, if that’s what’s bothering you.”

“It isn’t that,” she told him, although she had worried about the extra expense. “Driving back and forth leaves me very little time to study.”

“Right. I forgot you mentioned school. What kind of classes are you taking?”

Because he seemed genuinely interested, she answered. “I’m working on my master’s degree in hope of becoming a PA.”

“PA?”

“Physician’s assistant.”

There was a spark of interest in his eyes. “That’s like almost a doctor, right?”

She tried not to laugh. “Well, a little.”

“I’m impressed. So how much longer until you have your degree?”

“In May. If I’m lucky.” She didn’t add that without the job, she’d have nowhere to live. She’d been sharing a small efficiency apartment in the city with another nurse, but her roommate had gotten married. She couldn’t afford a place on her own. Not with college expenses to pay. The live-in nanny job was perfect for her, especially since she loved children.

“Then you’ll be looking for a medical job?”

“That’s the plan. Whether I find one or not is the question.”

He fell silent for a moment. “I probably could use the extra help,” he finally said, although there was a hesitancy in his voice. “And Brayden obviously took to you. Any problems this morning?”

She shook her head, thinking of the darling little boy who had wanted to share everything he could with her, from his toys to his view out the window overlooking the patio. “He was an angel. He even took a morning nap without prodding, and that’s not very common for someone his age. Two-year-olds will sometimes fight until they drop.”

Luke’s grin revealed his good humor. “It’s usually next thing to a world war when I try to put him down. You must have the knack. But I’ll warn you, it may not last.”

As if on cue, Brayden appeared in the doorway, his curly hair sticking out in every direction. “Wanna dink.”

Hayley hurried over to him and scooped him into her arms. “And how about a sandwich to go with that dink?” she asked him as she gave him a hug.

“Sammich!” He wiggled in her arms, but she managed to hold tight until she pulled the high chair over next to his dad and set him in it.

“He’s a bright little guy,” she told Luke. While father and son chattered at each other, she retrieved the jelly sandwich she’d prepared for Brayden earlier and poured a cup of milk.

“You managed to find your way around?” Luke asked.

“Yes,” she answered, tying a bib around Brayden’s neck. “It’s a beautiful house. And so much room, too,” she added, but suddenly wished she hadn’t.

He put his elbow on the table and propped his chin in his hand, obviously comfortable with the question, unlike earlier. “You like it?”

She took a seat on the other side of Brayden, and answered without thinking. “Who wouldn’t?”

Fearing it had been the wrong thing to say, she held her breath as Luke shrugged and pushed away from the counter. “It’s just big,” he said. “More room than Brayden and I need, that’s for sure.” He ruffled his son’s hair and stood. “You need to leave by six, right?”

“No, not tonight. I have early classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”

“You’ll need a little time to settle in, then. I can be done by six.”

“If that works for you, I won’t argue. Would it be all right if I take Brayden into town, after lunch?” she asked, then hurried to add, “I’ll make sure he gets a longer nap when we get back. I’d like to pick up some groceries, if you don’t mind, and Brayden might enjoy the outing.”

Luke rubbed his chin with his knuckles and nodded. “Yeah, we do need some stuff.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “I never seem to know what to get and usually end up with nothing I need and everything I don’t.”

She cleaned the jelly from Brayden’s face and hands and helped him down from the chair. “Don’t worry about it,” she told Luke. “I’ll get you back up to par with the food.”

“I’ll call the grocery store and have them charge it to me.”

She nodded. “Just give me a limit, and I’ll go from there.”

“Whatever we need,” he said with a shrug. “No limit.”

She wasn’t accustomed to buying food for someone she didn’t know and hoped she would make wise decisions. Brayden was easy to figure out, but she wasn’t so sure about his dad. “Is there anything special you like?” she asked.

“Just about everything. Meat and potatoes or whatever. I’m not picky, as long as it’s easy to fix. No need for you to spend a lot of time cooking.” He glanced at his watch and frowned. “I’d better get back to work, or I won’t be done by six.”

“I only need to know where Brayden’s car seat is, and we’ll be all set for the rest of the day.”

He walked to the doorway that led to the garage, but didn’t open the door. “The spare is out here. I hardly use it, so just keep it in your car. I can get it for you.”

“No need,” she said in a rush. “I’ll find it. I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

He gave a quick nod. When Brayden ran to him and clasped his arms around his daddy’s legs, Luke reached down and mussed his hair. “I’ll be back later, buddy. You be good for Hayley, okay?”

Both of them looked at Hayley, and she offered them a smile. “We’ll be fine.”

“Well, okay then,” Luke said, while removing his son from his legs. “I’ll bring your suitcases in. I guess you saw that there’s a spare room right around the corner there.”

“Yes, a very nice room. It’ll be fine. Thank you.”

“And you can put your car in the garage, too.” he told her, and she thanked him again.

Hesitating, he finally opened the door and left without saying anything else. Hayley breathed a sigh of pure relief. She had a job. And she loved Brayden. But her new boss unnerved her. One minute he was all business and unwilling to talk, and she could handle that. But when he loosened up and became what she suspected was the real Luke Walker, she felt that old, familiar fluttery feeling in her stomach. That same feeling she’d had when she first met Nathan. But that had eventually turned sour, and she’d ended it, relieved that she did. She’d learned a lesson from the whole experience, and now she was determined to concentrate on finishing school. She’d simply focus on her studies and her tiny charge until that fluttering went away.

* * *

LUKE DRIED HIS HANDS on the towel and checked the time. Right on the dot. He wasn’t late.

Opening the door leading from the garage mudroom to the house, he was nearly bowled over by the mouthwatering smells coming from the kitchen. He hadn’t had the pleasure of enjoying a home-cooked meal for longer than he wanted to admit, but he sure hadn’t forgotten what it was like.

He spied Hayley in the kitchen and looked around. To his surprise, he found Brayden playing quietly in the corner with the toys she’d brought him. For the past year and a half, his son had been like a burr, sticking to him at all times. He wasn’t sure what magic Hayley was working or how she was doing it, but he was happy to see Brayden being more like a kid should be.

Hunkering down next to the boy, he pointed at the plastic pony Brayden held. “Hey, guy, whatcha got there?”

Brayden looked up at him. “Sorsey,” he answered and put the pony in his dad’s hand.

Luke chuckled at Brayden’s habit of replacing an S for an H in words. “Yep, it sure is. And a mighty fine one, too.”

Spying a plastic cowboy, he picked it up and studied it. Remembering the similar set he and Dylan had played with when they were small boys, he felt the oddly familiar ache in his chest as memories of his own childhood flooded him. His early years had been happy and normal, but the later ones had brought sorrow, and he quickly pushed aside the painful thoughts.

“So how’d you and Hayley get along, Brayden? Everything go okay?”

His son looked up at him, his dark brown eyes round and full of an innocence Luke knew came and went with the wind. As if he suddenly understood, Brayden turned to look at the new nanny and responded with a throaty giggle, a sure sign that he and Hayley had hit it off.

Tugging at one of Brayden’s short curls, Luke smiled and kept his voice low. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. You got your old man’s good taste in women.”

When he realized what he had just said to his son, Luke clamped his mouth shut. Good taste? Hardly. He had been so sure that Kendra was the one-and-only girl for him. He’d been as wrong as anybody could ever be. If he could turn back the clock...

Beside him, Brayden bumped the truck against his knee. No, no turning back the clock. Kendra had given him the one thing he cared about more than life itself. Even the ranch didn’t hold a candle to the way he felt about his son. And Brayden was all his.

Getting to his feet, Luke walked the length of the long room. “Something sure smells good,” he said as he walked through the room to stand behind her. He breathed in, just as he remembered his manners. “But you really didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him and moved to her left, away from him. “No trouble. I did some shopping today. It’s in the slow cooker. It’s ready, whenever you are.”

“I sure appreciate it.” She looked up and he caught her gaze and held it. “First day on the job, and I should be giving you a raise already,” he teased.

“No need,” she replied, her face taking on a pink color. “I expected to help with other things besides child care when I was hired.”

He felt like kicking himself for giving in to the temptation to tease her. It obviously made her uncomfortable. And why shouldn’t it? He was her employer. He hadn’t meant for his comment to come out the way it had, hadn’t meant to make it sound so... He ducked his head, wishing he could take the words back. Hell, he wasn’t trying to seduce her, so why had he felt the need to tease her in a way that sounded like he was?

She cleared her throat and he looked up at her. “I think everything you need is here,” she said.

“You’re not joining us?”

She opened the refrigerator and removed a bottle of water. “You and Brayden are used to spending your evenings together, and I’ve spent all day with him. I think he’d like some one-on-one time with his dad. I’ll see Brayden later at bedtime, if that’s all right.”

He wasn’t familiar with the ways of nannies, and he didn’t want to pressure her, especially on her first day. “Sure.”

He wasn’t sure that was right, but what did he know? They’d never had a live-in nanny before. He tried to reason with himself. Why should he care what the woman did, as long as she took good care of his son? And she seemed to be doing that, from what he’d seen.

Brayden continued to play quietly, and Luke decided Hayley was probably right about the two of them needing to spend a little special time together. He’d been so busy all day that he hadn’t realized until that moment that he missed sharing most of the day with his son.

Needing some space and a few minutes to clear his head, he joined Brayden again and helped gather up the menagerie of animals and assorted vehicles, surprised that his son helped him with the small chore. His usual style was to turn around and walk away. Luke had learned the hard way that it didn’t do any good to yell at the boy. Even at two, Brayden had developed a way to tune out anything he didn’t want to hear and had inherited his mother’s knack for tantrums. Picking up toys was one of those things that could set Brayden off in a split second. Going to bed was another.

When they finished, Luke took him by the hand, but it was Brayden who pulled Luke to the counter. Luke raised an eyebrow when the little guy pulled a bib from the counter and handed it to him, then lifted his chin without being asked so Luke could hook it behind his neck.

“Looks like you and Hayley had a good day,” Luke said, settling Brayden in his seat.

He watched her move around the counter to give Brayden a hug, and he felt even worse. In one day, his son had taken to her and she to him. If Brayden’s mother had done the same...

“I’ll see you later, Brayden,” she said, placing a kiss on the top of the boy’s head. She looked at Luke. “Same time in the morning?”

“If it works out for you, yes.”

“Then I’ll see you at six-thirty with breakfast.”

“There’s no need—”

“I don’t mind at all.”

He decided arguing would be useless. “Okay, then.”

He watched her walk out of the room, until she’d disappeared. But even after he heard her close the door to her room, he had to force his attention back to his son. His conscience bothered him. He’d been unfair to her from the moment he had seen her getting out of her car that first day. So what if his sister was matchmaking? He didn’t have to fall for it. Hayley Brooks was an attractive young woman. He couldn’t deny that. But he was old enough—and wise enough—to get past her looks. Or he should be. He had to be. Only a fool who had made the mistake of marrying the wrong woman would let his libido rule his head.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to convince his libido that he wasn’t attracted to Hayley.

“Hey, Brayden, ready to eat?” he asked. But it didn’t keep him from thinking about the woman who was now living in his home.

* * *

“LET’S GET YOU CLEANED UP.” Hayley took the colored markers from Brayden and lifted him into her arms. “If it warms up enough,” she told him, “maybe you can do some finger painting on the patio after lunch. Would you like that?”

“Dat,” he echoed.

Laughing, she gave him a hug and carried him through the house and up the stairs to the bathroom on the second floor. In only four days, he had begun to talk more. Of course, it wasn’t always clear what he was saying, and he’d suddenly started echoing the last word of everything she said to him. She’d meant to ask Luke if he’d noticed it, but after her first day, she hadn’t seen much of him.

As she dampened a washcloth and added a drop of soap, she thought of how little she’d seen of her employer. During the day, he was out of the house, and in the evening, school and studying had kept her busy. “And that’s the way it should be,” she muttered while washing the bright marks of color from Brayden’s hands and arms.

“Shoo bee,” Brayden echoed.

She looked at him and laughed. “You’re probably right.”

“Right about what?”

She jumped at the sound of a much-deeper voice and spun around to find Luke standing in the doorway of the bathroom. “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You only surprised me.” She moved to the sink, her heart pounding and her hands trembling from the fright. Rinsing the cloth, she wondered why he’d come inside so early. “Brayden has been coloring with the markers and missed the paper.”

“I think there are some crayons in a drawer in his room. His aunt Erin sent him some for his birthday.”

Nodding, she returned to Brayden and wiped away the soap. “I’ll check. We may try finger painting this afternoon.”

Luke reached over and tugged at Brayden’s curls. “I bet you’ll like that,” he told his son.

“Dat,” Brayden repeated.

Hayley felt Luke watching her. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t make a mess. We’ll only do it if the weather is nice. Out on the patio.”

“Sounds like fun.”

She rinsed the washcloth again and placed it over the towel bar to dry. “It sounds messy, I know,” she said, turning back to Luke and wishing he would leave. She didn’t like having to explain herself to him, but she felt she needed to. “I have an old shirt that had been one of my brothers. It will cover most of Brayden’s clothes so the paint won’t get on them. And I’ll wash down any paint that gets on the patio.”

“I’m not worried about it,” Luke replied. “Brayden made a lot more messes before you came to watch him, and we both survived them.”

Although the bathroom would be considered large by most standards, to Hayley it was too small for comfort. Before she could scoop up Brayden and escape, Luke had taken him by the hand and turned to leave. Hayley breathed a sigh of relief.

“You haven’t started lunch yet, have you?” Luke asked as she joined them in the hallway.

“No, not yet. Brayden and I have been busy, and I wanted to get him cleaned up first.”

Luke nodded. “Good. I thought we could run into town and have lunch at the café. It’s a good place to meet people and get a feel for the town.”

“Oh! Well, sure, if you think so. I guess.” The suggestion took her by surprise, and she wasn’t sure what to think. “Brayden needs his clothes changed, though, and I need to run a brush through my hair and—”

“I’ll take care of Brayden, while you do whatever you need to do. We’ll meet you in the family room when you’re ready.”

She nodded and hurried down the stairs to her room. As she freshened her makeup, she realized she was letting things get to her and worrying when she probably had no need to. It wasn’t the way she usually reacted to things.

“You’re going to a small-town café to eat lunch with your employer and your charge,” she whispered to her reflection in the mirror. “There’s no reason to panic or be nervous.”

Grabbing her purse from her room and slipping on a jacket, she met Luke and Brayden in the family room, just as they were coming down the stairs.

“Are we ready?” Luke asked.

Brayden shouted that he was and Hayley nodded in agreement. Once in the pickup, with Brayden settled in his car seat in the back of the extended cab, they were on their way.

Hayley watched out the window as Luke drove them to town. Others might think it was a bleak scene, but she loved the contrast of dark, bare trees and earthy, dormant fields against the bright blue sky. The late winter had gifted them with warm days, well above freezing, and birds were busy hopping from tree limb to tree limb. Even though she’d lived on a farm while growing up, she’d become accustomed to the city and often forgot the beauty of a world without skyscrapers, interstate highways and traffic.

She kept Brayden busy during the ride by reciting nursery rhymes, which made him giggle and squeal. Luke joined in now and then, and before she knew it, they were almost to town.

“Did you see much of Desperation when you stopped for groceries the other day?” Luke asked.

“Only a little,” she admitted. “I was focused more on where I needed to go, since I had Brayden with me and didn’t really look around much.”

Within seconds, he brought the truck to a stop at the intersection of Main Street and the county road. “We’ll be at the Chick-a-Lick before you know it.”

She wasn’t certain she’d heard right. “Excuse me? The what?”

“Chick-a-Wick!” came the yell from the back.

Luke laughed. “He has a little trouble with some of his letters. It’s the Chick-a-Lick Café, and it’s been here for as long as I can remember. People have been known to come as far as fifty miles for the food and the company.”

“Then I’m definitely looking forward to lunch.”

After turning the corner, Luke drove slowly down the street. Pointing out the window, he said, “That’s the old Opera House the town folks have been renovating for several years.”

“It’s beautiful,” she answered, as he pulled into a parking spot in front of what was obviously the café. She waited until he shut off the engine, then she stepped out of the truck and took Brayden from his car seat.

Luke joined them at the curb and took the squirming little boy from her arms, setting him on the sidewalk. “He loves coming to the café. He gets to see all his favorite people.”

“I guess so,” Hayley said, laughing, as Brayden ran toward the café. They followed and Luke opened the door, while Hayley took Brayden’s hand in hers, and they all walked inside.

Her first impression was that the Chick-a-Lick was a typical small town café. But when she stepped farther inside, silence moved through the room filled with customers like a wave, and she felt all eyes on her. “Oh, my,” she whispered.

Chapter Three

For several seconds, Luke wasn’t sure what to do. Everyone in the café was watching them, and the words fight or flight jumped to mind. Common sense quickly told him that there would be no tucking tail and retreating. He’d have to find a way to make this uncomfortable moment a little easier for both him and Hayley.

“There’s a booth over there,” he said, pointing to the only empty spot in the café. Hayley nodded, and he followed her through the crowded but unusually quiet room, making a point to nod and say hello to neighbors and friends.

“Hey, Luke,” Tanner O’Brien called to him.

“Tanner,” Luke greeted, and smiled at his friend’s wife as if walking into the Chick-a-Lick with a pretty woman was a daily thing for him. “Good to see you, Jules. And Wyoming,” he added, patting their young son on the shoulder as he passed.

He grabbed a high chair on the way, and by the time Hayley had settled Brayden into it and scooted into one side of the booth, the usual buzz of conversation in the café had resumed. Still, Luke knew people were speculating on who she was and what was going on.

Hayley picked up one of the menus tucked behind the napkin holder and looked around the room. “You were right. It’s definitely a popular place.”

He nodded his agreement and grabbed his own menu, hoping to hide the fact that he was clueless on how to handle this predicament he’d gotten them into. He hadn’t given any thought to how the first visit to town with Hayley would quickly become a topic of gossip. After all, he’d never come into the café before with any woman other than his wife, when he was married, and everyone in town knew how that had ended.

He rarely missed Saturday lunch at the Chick-a-Lick. Even Brayden knew with some kind of sixth sense where they were going when they started for town on Saturday. Leaving Brayden behind was never an option. His son would complain. Loudly. But taking Brayden, while leaving Hayley behind, just hadn’t seemed right, either. So here they were.

As he looked over the menu, he told himself that she deserved to have a meal she hadn’t cooked, and this was the perfect chance to introduce her around so she could meet people and maybe make a few friends. Now all he had to do was find a way to keep gossip at a minimum.

By the pale, pink blotches on Hayley’s cheeks, he guessed she was feeling a little embarrassed and maybe even uncomfortable. “They’re curious,” he told her. “They’re all good people.”

“It’s all right,” she answered. “I guess I’d be surprised if they weren’t. I’m sure that even if I was eighty and gray-haired and wrinkled, they’d still wonder.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, you’re right.” And he felt better because she understood.

“So what’s good?” she asked. “Besides everything.”

Suddenly glad she wasn’t eighty, gray-haired and wrinkled, he was in the middle of making lunch suggestions when the waitress came to the table.

“Hey, Luke,” she greeted. Placing several packages of crackers on the table in front of Brayden, she turned to smile at Hayley. “I’m Darla. Welcome to the Chick-a-Lick.”

“Nice to meet you, Darla. I’m Hayley Brooks, Brayden’s new nanny.”

Darla took the hand she offered. “Aren’t you the lucky one? He’s such a cute little guy. So are you all ready to order?”

When Hayley nodded in his direction, he answered, “I guess we are,” and they gave Darla their orders. She’d just walked away when Tanner and Jules O’Brien approached the booth with their son.

“Okay, I’ll say it. Jules is dying of curiosity,” Tanner said, laughing.

“I am not!” His wife gave him a playful punch in the arm, and then laughed, too. “All right, I guess small-town nosiness has rubbed off on me,” she said, smiling at Hayley.

Luke hurried to introduce his friends, and explained that Hayley was his son’s new nanny, without feeling it was the wrong thing to say.

“Perfect,” Jules said, with a glance at her husband.

“Hi there, Wyoming,” Hayley said to their son. “How old are you?”

Wyoming held up three fingers.

“He’ll be four in August,” Jules added. “And we really should get home. It’s so nice to meet you, Hayley. I hope you’ll all stop by the ranch sometime.”

They said their goodbyes, and when the O’Briens were gone, Luke let out a sigh. “I guess that went okay, didn’t it?”

“Very okay,” Hayley replied.

Darla soon returned with their meal, and the three of them fell silent as they enjoyed it. Luke didn’t fail to notice that Hayley kept an eye on Brayden, helping him with his food the way a mother would. And for a change, Brayden behaved like a perfect little gentleman, instead of wanting to get up to run around the café.

Luke had just finished paying the bill at the cash register and they were ready to leave, when the door opened. “Looks like you both have your hands full,” Luke told the couple who walked into the café.

“Double trouble,” Dusty McPherson replied, glancing at his wife with a grin, as he jiggled one of his twin sons in his arms. More quietly he said, “Hey, Luke, I’ve been meaning to ask where Dylan has disappeared to.”

Luke shrugged and kept his voice low, too. “He just said he needed to get away.” After glancing around to make sure no one was listening, he continued. “You know how it is with him this time of year.”

“Maybe he’ll be able to sort it all out if he’s away from the ranch,” Dusty suggested. “Sometimes just getting away can help. I know it did me. Why, if it hadn’t been—”

“Dusty,” his wife warned, as she shifted the other twin in her arms. There was a sparkle in her eyes as she glanced at Hayley with a smile. “I’m sure Luke and his friend aren’t interested.”

Dusty grinned at Hayley. “Right. Beg your pardon, ma’am.”

Hayley laughed. “None needed. I’m Hayley Brooks. Brayden’s new nanny.”

“A nanny!” Kate looked pointedly at her husband and frowned. “Now why didn’t you think of that?”

He slipped an arm around his wife’s waist. “Maybe after the next one...or two?” he suggested with a bawdy wink.

Laughing, Luke moved to the door. “I’ll tell Dylan to stop by when he gets back. Maybe you can talk some sense into him, if he hasn’t managed to find some on his own.”

“In the meantime,” Kate said, placing a hand on Hayley’s arm, “I’m Kate McPherson, and if you decide Luke is a slave driver, I’m sure I can find a position for you. If you get my drift. Oh, and this cowboy is my husband, Dusty.” Before moving on, she flashed Luke a smug smile.

“Wow, what a pair!” Hayley said, as they exited the café and started for the pickup. “And what nice friends you have. They went out of their way to make me feel welcome.”

Luke shrugged as he opened the truck door for her. “Like I said, people in Desperation are nice folks.” When they’d settled in the truck and were on their way back to the ranch, he turned to look at her. “You don’t have to worry now. Everybody in town will know you’re Brayden’s new nanny before the sun goes down.”

“I guess that’s a good thing,” she replied. “But I wasn’t really worried. I try not to pay a lot of attention to what others say, especially when they don’t know the circumstances. Still, for you and Brayden, I’m glad everyone will know.”

He was surprised at her honesty and unsure of how to answer, so he nodded in agreement before concentrating on the road ahead. It was pretty clear that she wasn’t the type to keep her opinions to herself. While that might have been a problem with others—his ex-wife, for instance—with Hayley he was beginning to appreciate it. He never felt she was being unkind, and her honesty made things easier. He wouldn’t have to wonder where he stood with her. Even the live-in situation wasn’t proving to be the problem he’d expected it would be, now that they were falling into a routine. And he was hoping that time would take care of the attraction he felt for her. Not that it had, so far.

As he turned into the driveway to the ranch, he glanced in the rearview mirror at his son, who had fallen asleep. Brayden had been unnaturally good all afternoon, and Luke could only chalk that up to Hayley’s influence. He admitted to himself that he was pleased she hadn’t given up and left that first day of the interview.

“I’ll take Brayden up to bed,” he told her, as he pulled up to the house and shut off the engine.

“Thanks,” she said, sliding out of the truck. “It’s amazing how heavy something so small can sometimes be.”

After putting Brayden in his bed, Luke found Hayley sitting in the kitchen, her head down as she turned the page of the book in front of her. He cleared his throat to keep from frightening her, and when she looked up, he spoke. “I’ve got some work to do out in the machine shed. If you need me, just give a shout.”

She nodded, but immediately went back to whatever she was reading. By the size of the book, he suspected it was for school.

Once in the shed, he felt more like himself. Lunch with Hayley at the café hadn’t been what he’d expected, and he was grateful for work that took his mind off it.

“How’s it goin’?”

Luke jumped at the sound of the voice and dropped the crowbar he was using, missing his right foot by inches. “Damn, Dylan!” he shouted at the sight of his older brother. “You might try warning a person instead of sneaking up on him.”

Dylan snorted. “You might try being a bit less jumpy.”

Picking up the crowbar, Luke set it against the feed mixer he’d been working on and wiped his hands on his jeans, doing his best to keep his temper in check. “I’ve had a lot on my mind, what with you running off and leaving the ranching to me. Add that I didn’t expect you back for another week, and I sure wasn’t ready for somebody to come sneaking up on me.”

“Okay, okay,” Dylan said, scowling. “Next time I’ll come whistling a tune.”

Luke recognized his brother’s mood and knew better than to push it. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans, he leaned against the mixer. “Did you see Erin?”

Dylan shook his head and joined his brother, leaning his hip against the machine. “Nope. I didn’t make it that far. I got as far as Dallas, spent a few nights in a motel and decided that leaving you with all the work isn’t fair.”

“I’ve always managed okay.”

“I never figured you couldn’t.”

Luke could see the worry in his brother’s dark eyes, but he suspected it didn’t have anything to do with how he’d managed with the ranch. “Wanna talk about it?” he asked, prepared for a blast of mind-your-own-business from Dylan.

Shoving away from the mixer, Dylan shook his head. “Nah. Nothing to talk about.”

Luke watched his brother walk away, but couldn’t let him go. “Why don’t you stay for supper?” he called to him. “There’s usually plenty.”

Dylan turned back. “Plenty? I’ve never known you to keep anything more than the makings for a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a few cans of beer in the fridge.”

“Hayley always makes a big supper.”

One dark eyebrow arched above Dylan’s eye. “Hayley?”

“Brayden’s nanny.”

“So you hired her, huh?”

Luke shrugged. “It wasn’t like I had a choice.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“So you’ll stay for supper?”

Dylan shook his head. “Not tonight. Maybe another time.”

Luke knew better than to insist. “Typical Dylan,” he muttered under his breath as he watched his brother leave the building. Dylan was a grown-up, and Luke knew he shouldn’t worry, but he did. He’d hoped his brother might come home a changed man, but that was asking too much. At least he was home again, and that would ease the workload. It would also mean there’d be more time spent with Hayley around, and Luke knew that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

* * *

HAYLEY LEANED BACK in her chair, stretching her arms above her head, and smiled to herself, thinking of how, in just one week, she and Brayden—and even Luke—had fallen into a comfortable schedule. With Brayden still sleeping since they’d arrived home from lunch at the café, she had to admit that she enjoyed his nap time as much as a mother would. It was her quiet time of the day, when she could clean up the kitchen, straighten the clutter from playtime or concentrate on her studies, without interruption.

But her alone time was shattered when she looked up to see Luke walk into the family room, through the sliding glass door that led to the deck. “Is something wrong?” she asked, when he turned to silently stare out the glass.

He turned to look at her. “No, I don’t think so.”

She marked her place and closed her book. “You don’t sound convinced.”

He stared outside at the deck again. “My brother is back, but I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” he said, more to himself than to her.

“Seems to me it would be good,” she answered.

Luke turned to look at her again, his face set in a deep, worried frown. “I’m not sure. Something is wrong and has been for a long time. I just wish I knew what.”

She folded her hands in front of her. “Why don’t you ask him?”

Luke snorted. “Ask him? Sure, if I want him to bite off my head.”

She shrugged and stood, moving to the sink, her back to him. “What makes you think that?”

“You have to know Dylan. He’s... He’s broody. And that’s normal for him. But lately he’s just been— I don’t know.”

She turned on the faucet to fill a glass of water, and replied, “I guess you’d know that better than me.”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”

He sounded a little bewildered. And close. Without turning around, she cleared her throat. “And that’s a bad thing, why?”

“It just isn’t Dylan, that’s all. You’d probably have to know where he’s coming from to understand.”

She felt more than heard him move away and relaxed. Shutting off the water, she began putting a few odds and ends in the dishwasher, then closed the door to it before turning to look at him. “What do you mean? Coming from where?” She didn’t miss his frown. “Or maybe I shouldn’t be asking.”

He shook his head as he walked back to the sliding door. “It’s a long story.”

“I have time, if you want to share. Sometimes it helps just to talk it out.”

Luke’s sigh was heavy with worry. “I wish Dylan would talk it out or at least try. I don’t know exactly what it is, but he’s been like this for a long time. This year, he’s been more quiet than usual. He’s always been quiet, but...” He turned to look at her. “I guess that sounds pretty crazy.”

“Not really.” She returned to her seat and waited, wondering if it might be better to let this go. After all, it wasn’t her problem, except that what affected her employer might also affect her and her job. She chose her words carefully. “Everybody reacts to things differently. Obviously something about him has you concerned. While others might not notice, for someone who knows him well, any small shift in his usual behavior would bring up a red flag.” She looked up to see him studying her.

“You’re pretty smart, you know that?”

She felt her face heat with embarrassment. “Not really, but I’ve taken some psych classes. And growing up in a big family gave me a little personal insight.”

“I’ll bet it did.”

She didn’t know if she could help him with his brother, but she hoped she could. From her own experiences, she knew that, in a family, one person’s mood often affected others. “There are three of you in the family?” she asked.

He nodded and joined her at the counter. “Erin is the oldest, then Dylan, then me. Our folks—” He avoided looking at her and ran his hand through his hair. “Well, that’s part of the story, I guess.”

“Aunt Rita said you lost your folks in an accident when you were in high school.”

“I was fifteen.”

It was clear that he still carried a lot of emotional pain from his parents’ deaths. She knew she’d been lucky. Everyone in her family was alive and fairly well, except for the usual ranching-related broken bones and cuts along the way. Her younger brother had been in a car accident two years before and her father had suffered a stroke the year before that, but as a whole, they were all doing well.

“That must have been hard. For all of you,” she said quietly.

“Yeah. But it was hardest on Dylan. He still takes time off every year near the anniversary of when it happened.” He clasped his hands on the table in front of him and looked at her. “He was a senior and captain of the baseball team, so he left early for the first game of the season. The game was canceled though, when a storm moved in, but by the time they thought the storm had passed, Dylan hadn’t come home. He was usually pretty responsible about that sort of thing. When they didn’t hear from him, they went to look for him. They didn’t know that a second storm behind the first was even worse. The rain was so bad, they could barely see the road, and they were broadsided by a semitruck.”

Hayley’s throat constricted with emotion. “I can’t even imagine what it was like for you all.”

“The phone lines were down in town, so Dylan had stayed at the school with a few friends, waiting out both storms. When the rain began to let up, he started home and came upon the accident, just as the emergency crews arrived.”

“Oh, no,” she whispered, imagining how Luke’s brother must have felt.

He looked up at her. “He’s never gotten over it, and he refuses to talk about it. He quit the baseball team and devoted himself to the ranch and to finishing school. He’d been offered a college scholarship, but wouldn’t take it, and nothing anyone said could change it. Erin stayed around and took care of us both, until I graduated, then she started traveling the rodeo circuit full-time.”

“Aunt Rita mentioned she’s a barrel racer.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Luke pushed away from the table and stood. “I ought to drive over to Dylan’s and make sure he’s doing okay.”

“And I need to check on Brayden.” Hayley stood, unsure of whether to say something about what he had shared with her or to just let it go.

“Wait a second,” he said. “What with all this stuff about Dylan, I forgot something. Let me get my checkbook and I’ll pay you for this week, before I go.”

His words were a reminder to her that she was supposed to be doing her job, not telling her employer how to deal with his brother. She was there to take care of his son. She obviously had a problem, but Luke wasn’t it. She was. Hadn’t she spent the past five days denying her attraction to him? And wasn’t that beyond foolish of her? Especially since she wasn’t interested in a relationship with anyone. Not after Nathan and definitely not at this point in her life.

While she silently scolded herself, Luke returned to the room, holding a check in his hand. “You’re great, Hayley,” he said. “With Brayden,” he added quickly.

For a reason she didn’t want to explore, disappointment hit her. Swallowing a sigh, she turned to leave. But a hand on her arm stopped her and she turned back.

“Look, I’m sorry,” Luke said. “I guess I don’t know how to handle this kind of situation.” He released her and raked his hand through his hair. “It’s just been Brayden and me for so long, and having you here, taking care of him— Well, it’s changed a lot of things. I guess I’m just having trouble...”

“Adjusting?”

A smile lit his face. “That’d be the word.”

Her heart skipped a beat and without thinking, she took a step forward. “That makes two of us.”

His eyes darkened as he looked at her. “We’re a couple of misfits, I guess.”

His voice was husky, sending a shiver of warmth through her, until she realized what was happening. Giving herself a hard, mental shake, she stepped back immediately. Was she crazy?

“You—you’d better get going,” she managed to say. Clutching the paycheck in her hand, she brushed past him, headed for her room. If she wasn’t careful, she’d have to quit her job. And she’d have no one to blame but herself.

* * *

“SORRY ABOUT THE INTERRUPTION,” Dylan told Hayley that evening, “but I need to get these cattle records. I’m glad I got to see Brayden before bedtime, though. Makes me wish I had a little one so I’d need somebody like you to look after him.”

Luke opened his mouth to tell his brother that Hayley was already taken, but he stopped and clamped it shut. One or the other of them would take it wrong, when all he meant was— He didn’t mean anything. Not a damn thing, and if his brother wanted to start up with her, he wasn’t going to stop him. After all, she was his son’s nanny, not some woman he had a thing for.

Hayley shrugged. “I grew up the only girl in a family of five kids. My mom needed help, so I was the one to do it. In fact, as soon as I was old enough to put a knife, fork and spoon on the table, I was in the kitchen.”

“Nothing like Erin, right, Luke?” Dylan asked.

Luke thought about his sister, whose skills leaned more toward horses than cooking. Way more. “Erin has her own talents,” he reminded his brother.

Hayley helped Brayden down from his high chair and looked at Luke. “Not every woman enjoys cooking.”

“Or being a mother,” Dylan said. He immediately ducked his head and glanced at his brother. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“Forget it,” Luke answered, brushing off the comment, and stood. He knew Dylan had been as taken in by Kendra as he had. Erin, too.

Taking Brayden by the hand, Hayley turned to them both. “Cooking and nurturing aren’t for women only, you know,” she said, then hurried past them.

Luke watched her take Brayden from the room, unsure of what to say.

Dylan took a step in the same direction. “She seemed kind of upset. Maybe I should apologize.”

“Leave her alone for a few minutes. She’ll cool down, and I’ll go make sure everything is okay.”

Dylan’s expression was repentant. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings or whatever. I just— I guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut, but I was trying to compliment her.” He turned to look in the direction where she’d disappeared. “I sure blew that, didn’t I?”

Luke approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. She has an independent streak.”

“Like Erin.”

Luke had to smile. “In a way, yeah, I guess. Don’t let it bother you. She’ll be fine.”

But he wasn’t convinced she would and he didn’t stay around to explain it to his brother. The evening had been pleasant, but he’d felt a reserve about Hayley that had bothered him. Whatever had caused it, he knew he should probably find out so he wouldn’t repeat it. This nanny thing was new to him, and he wasn’t sure what was expected of him.

He found her upstairs in his son’s bedroom. As he stood, watching from the doorway, she pulled out a small pair of pajamas from the bureau drawer. Placing them on the bed, she bent to give Brayden a hug.

“Bath time,” she announced, “and then you can get in your clean jammies.”

“No,” Brayden said, running to hide behind the closet door.

She didn’t say anything for several seconds, until Brayden peeked out at her. “Maybe your daddy will let you go back down to tell your uncle Dylan good night. Would you like that?”

Brayden stepped out from behind the door, bobbing his head in an eager nod.

Luke cleared his throat so he wouldn’t spook her. “Go on down then.”

The look of joy on his young son’s face was priceless as the boy sped past him out the door. “Slow down on the stairs, Brayden,” he called to him. “We’ll be there in a minute.”

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