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“Cade, I have to be honest with you.” She didn’t hesitate after her interruption. “As tempting as this job is, I have to decline. Out of courtesy to my brother, I’m here to talk to you, but I don’t see changing from the secretarial job I have till school starts.” Smiling, she shook her head. “I’m sorry, but this won’t work out. We can both tell Luke we tried.”
“Don’t be too hasty. Let’s talk about it,” Cade said, unable to resist a glance as she crossed her long legs. How did that wisp of a shy, plain kid grow into this gorgeous, leggy redhead?
Once again he had to shift his thoughts to the reason for the interview.
“Before you turn down this job, listen to what I have to offer. My grandmother is currently minding Amelia, here on the ranch. Grandmother can’t deal with the care of a baby on a permanent basis. In fact, she can’t deal with it for many more days. Anyway, at least meet Amelia and then let’s talk.”
“That seems unnecessary because I can’t take the nanny job.”
“The nanny job will fit in a lot more with the degrees you’re getting to work with children,” he reminded her. “Also, your brother is going to ask us both about our interview and it’ll make him a lot happier if you at least listened to my offer. Besides,” Cade added, smiling at her, “how much time does it take to meet a baby?”
There was a flicker in the depths of her green eyes and for another electric moment, he was tempted to forget about Luke and the nanny job and just enjoy the beautiful woman who sat in front of him.
Then she blinked, glanced away and the moment vanished, but it resonated long after. It was another warning that hiring her might not be as problem-free as he had hoped. But as long as she could take good care of Amelia, he could resist the volatile chemistry that had to be off-limits.
“I suppose you’re right,” she said, nodding. “All right, I’ll meet Amelia and we’ll talk.”
Stifling a triumphant smile, he rose. “If you’ll come with me, we’ll go see my grandmother. She’s in Amelia’s suite. Technically it’s not a nursery, but it’s what we could do on short notice.”
When Erin walked beside him to the open door, he realized in heels she was taller than most women he knew. He caught a faint scent of an exotic perfume that was enticing. Keenly aware of her, he motioned her ahead and she walked past him with a polite, “Thank you.”
When she passed him, he couldn’t keep from letting his gaze drift down her back and linger on her hips. There was a slight, appealing sway with each step she took, and he thoroughly enjoyed the walk to the baby’s suite.
His grandmother, a tall, slender woman, stood in the center of the room holding Amelia. Strands of her gray-streaked brown hair had escaped the clip behind her head and a frown furrowed her brow. Her lavender blouse had come out of her slacks, adding to her disheveled appearance. Yet another reason to hire Erin instantly, Cade thought. His grandmother needed her rest.
Margo Wakely held her crying great-grandchild as she crossed the room. “Amelia is up from her nap and occasionally she doesn’t wake easily.”
“I’ll take her,” Cade said and instantly she handed Amelia to him. He spoke softly to his little niece while smoothing her pink jumper. Black curls framed her face and tears spilled from her big blue eyes. He kissed her lightly on the forehead while patting her back and talking softly to her for a minute before looking up.
“Grandmother, meet Luke’s younger sister, Erin Dorsey. Erin, this is my grandmother Margo Wakely,” he said, continuing to pat Amelia’s back.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Wakely,” Erin said.
“Thank you. It’s still difficult and so sad for Amelia.”
“Here’s our baby,” Cade said, looking at Amelia who continued to cry. “Usually she’s a sweetie who’s happy.” He shrugged. “This isn’t good timing.”
“I’ve had lots of experience with babies. Let me take her.” She took Amelia from Cade and walked with her. In seconds Amelia quieted while Erin lightly patted her and walked back to Cade and his grandmother.
“Luke was right,” Cade said, looking at her handling Amelia with more ease than his grandmother had and far more ease than he felt. “You’re good with babies.”
“With my younger siblings I’ve been around babies since I was two. But don’t let a few minutes fool you. Sometimes they cry with me, too, although usually they don’t cry a long time. Probably because I’m relaxed around them. Besides helping with my younger siblings, I did a lot of babysitting, helped with the nursery at church, that sort of thing.” She looked down at Amelia, talking to her softly. “You’re right—she’s a sweetie.”
Amelia babbled, reaching out a small fist to grab Erin’s suit lapel and tug on it.
Erin picked up a pink rattle from toys spread on a nearby table and in seconds Amelia focused on the rattle. She took it in her chubby hand, making it spin and shake.
“She likes you,” Margo said. “I haven’t seen you in years, Erin. I remember one time when Cade left his books at your house and your brother drove over. I answered the door and you handed me his books while your brother waited in the car. You seemed a lot younger than Cade or Luke.”
“I am younger. Eight years, to be exact,” she replied and Cade was surprised because she was older than he had guessed.
“Now you’re all grown up and a beautiful woman,” Margo said, causing Erin to smile another dimpled smile that carried an impact Cade tried to resist.
“Thanks, Mrs. Wakely.” She gazed down at Amelia who was happily playing with the rattle. “Look at those big, dark blue eyes. Such a beautiful little girl.”
“I have to agree,” Margo replied, smiling at Erin, then casting a nod to Cade, as if giving him her seal of approval.
Cade wholeheartedly agreed. Erin was perfect for the job.
As she looked at Amelia, Cade’s gaze raked over Erin. There was only one drawback. His attraction. There could be no flirting with her—something he never thought would be a problem where Luke’s younger sister was concerned. And no kissing, he thought as he watched her full red lips graze Amelia’s soft cheek. Talking to Luke last week, Cade had dismissed anything sexual between them. Now he realized he had probably never in his life been as wrong about something.
He just had to remember Luke was her brother. Other than his brothers, Luke was his best friend, and Cade was not about to jeopardize their long-standing relationship for a brief flirtation that would be forgotten when Erin left for grad school.
Not one bit. Telling himself he could do this, he cleared his throat and got the attention of the two women.
“Grandmother, we’ll give Amelia back to you because Erin has limited time.”
“Thanks for quieting her down,” Margo said as she took the baby. “You have a nice touch and she likes you.”
Erin smiled again. “She’s a sweet and beautiful baby.”
“She looks a lot like her father and she has a resemblance to her uncle,” Margo said, smiling at Cade.
“Grandmother, I’ll be back soon. Call Maisie if you need some help,” Cade said, referring to his cook. He had already made arrangements for her to help his grandmother with Amelia when she needed it.
“I always call Maisie when I need her,” Margo said.
As he walked with Erin into the hall he said, “Amelia sleeps through the night, but it’s still a lot for Grandmother to take care of her. I try to be here as much as possible so I can take care of her in the evenings, but because of business, there are times I can’t be at the ranch. I need a nanny as soon as possible. You saw both of us with her. I’m a novice and Grandmother has forgotten what she knew about childcare,” he admitted.
“You’ll learn what to do.”
“It’s scary. When Amelia cries, I feel like I’m failing her and Nate and Lydia.”
“Relax a little, Cade. You take care of a lot of things on this ranch that are far more difficult and complicated. She’s just a little girl.”
“I meant it when I said that I don’t know anything about babies or kids. And I especially don’t know anything about little girls,” he confessed. Then he rolled his eyes and let out a groan. “I can’t bear to think of trying to deal with a teenage girl.”
Erin laughed softly. “She won’t be a teen for a few years so stop worrying about that. You’ll get accustomed to Amelia in no time.” Erin paused in the hallway to face him and her expression sobered. “I’m sorry I can’t do this. While I’d love to take care of Amelia and it would fit with my future career, living on your ranch or driving back and forth to my home in Dallas every day would be too much of a hardship. And I make a very good salary where I am. I wish you luck.”
He looked into those deep green eyes that he knew he wouldn’t forget for a long time and he knew what he had to do. “At least hear my offer before you turn me down.”
He needed Erin. Amelia needed Erin. At the same time, he had known since she walked through his office door and he got his first sight of her, that resisting the urge to have her wouldn’t be easy. But he hoped it would be possible. Besides, it was only a few months, not long enough to be much of a temptation.
“Come on,” he said, turning toward his office and feeling her follow behind him. “Is there anyone you’re seeing who’ll be upset about you accepting a job on a ranch or being away from Dallas all week?” he asked as they walked.
“No, there isn’t,” she replied. “Luke leaves this week for the Antarctic and isn’t scheduled to be back for the rest of the year. Mom is visiting her sister who lives in Arkansas—” She stopped, as if she suddenly thought of something. “I guess you weren’t talking about my brother and family.” She shook her head. “There’s no man in my life.”
“At the moment that works out better.”
They entered Cade’s office and sat in the leather chairs again. She crossed her legs and looked at him expectantly.
He placed his elbows on his knees and leaned closer. “I know you’re capable and reliable. I know you and your family. I trust your credentials and I can trust you to care for Amelia like she was your own. You’re perfect for this job.”
“Thank you for such faith in me but—”
“I know. You don’t think you’ll make enough money for this nanny job to be worth your time. So, let’s make it worth your time. It’s five months counting December and then you’ll leave for graduate school, right?”
“I’m quitting my job mid-December because I want to get ready to go to the university and I want a little time at home during Christmas.”
“Okay. Only four months, plus two weeks, then. That makes a bigger salary even easier.” When he paused to think, she waited quietly.
“Whatever your salary is for secretarial work, I’ll quadruple it if you’ll work for me,” he offered.
Her eyes widened as she stared at him, saying nothing.
“You can have the use of one of my cars while you live here. That way you won’t have wear and tear on your car or gas to buy when you come and go out here. You can have Saturdays and Sundays off after the first month and a ten-thousand-dollar signing bonus upon acceptance. The reason for asking you to stay on the weekends the first month is because everyone else is gone on the weekend. I’ll get my cook to stay Saturday and take off one day during the week, but I’m not ready to be alone with Amelia and have full charge of her care.”
“Mercy...” As her lips parted, his attention was drawn to them and his curiosity rose over what it would be like to kiss her. It still shocked him that the same person he could so easily ignore as a kid now took his breath away, made his pulse race and inspired fantasies about hot kisses. He had to force his mind back onto his offer when she finally spoke.
“What you’re offering is ridiculous,” she whispered, still staring at him as if he had offered her all the gold in Fort Knox. “It’s definitely something I have to consider, now that I’m going to grad school.” Her gaze flickered as she said, “You know, if I hadn’t known you all my life and if you weren’t really close friends with my brother, I would suspect some ulterior motive for that kind of money. As it is, I know you well enough to know you’re offering me the job for the right reasons.”
“Yes, I am. Because I trust Luke’s recommendation. And because Amelia is the highest priority in my life and I want the best nanny I can possibly get.” He had to, for her and for his brother. When he was away from Amelia, he didn’t want to worry about her. Or even when he was with her. Funny, he thought, how he could handle all kinds of things on his ranch, but taking care of a little baby scared the daylights out of him.
He looked at Erin and held his breath, hoping she wouldn’t take a lot of time to make a decision.
She shook her head slowly and he wondered if she intended to say no. He needed her desperately. If she turned him down, how much more should he offer to get her to accept the job?
“I don’t need time. I can’t possibly turn down your offer. When do you want me to start?”
Two (#uacd04a4e-8408-5b8f-a2db-4471273e266d)
“As soon as you possibly can.”
He felt relief surging in him and he could hardly stifle the smile that split his lips. Although temporary, he felt positive that he just hired an excellent nanny, and someone who could teach him how to be a parent so that later, he could select the best long-term nanny for his niece.
“I feel desperate and so does my grandmother, not to mention my cook who is doing some double shifts. Although sometimes I relieve her and cook for us so that she can help my grandmother,” he explained. “Actually, tomorrow would be the best possible time for you to start, but I know you can’t change your life that fast.”
“No, I can’t, but I can move to your ranch Monday and get to know Amelia. If you or your grandmother can be here the first day or two, it would be nice, so I can see Amelia’s routine and learn what I need to know about her.”
“I’ll work that out. Move in Monday and if I can help you, let me know. There are a lot of guys on this ranch willing to pitch in and help you move,” he said. Every guy on the ranch would help once they got a glimpse of her. “I have a small plane and I also have a private jet I keep in Dallas. If you want, I can either have my pilot fly you here, because from the ranch it’s a little over 160 miles to Dallas, or have someone pick you up in Dallas in a limo and move your things. From the ranch to Downly is twenty miles.”
“My head is swimming. Let me think and I’ll send you a text or call you later today. How’s that?”
“That’s excellent,” he said, sitting back and smiling at her. She did look a bit overwhelmed.
“I’m stunned by your offer and am trying to adjust to the change in my life and what this job will mean to me,” she said, her gaze shifting to his as she looked intently at him.
He became aware of how close they sat, her knees almost touching his, her exotic perfume filling the air. Her green eyes had darkened slightly and her rosy lips were turned up in a slight grin. He also became aware of how much he wanted to lean closer and taste them.
Would she always be such a temptation? he wondered. Or was it just the shock of seeing her looking so different, so mature, so feminine? He told himself he’d get used to the new Erin, with some time. Meanwhile, he had nothing to worry about where she was concerned. He had no qualms that she would be circumspect, professional, focused on Amelia.
He would, too, if he always kept in mind how vulnerable Erin was and how much she was into marriage, family and permanent commitment. Also, how much he valued her brother’s friendship.
And she would never flirt with him or come on to him. He remembered how solemn she used to be. The reminder should be a reassurance to him, but for some reason it wasn’t.
“When you’re here, if you ever have any problems, don’t hesitate to tell me,” he said, his voice a deeper rasp.
“Thank you,” she replied. “You know, I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t for your friendship with Luke and all the years we’ve known you.”
“I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t for Luke, either,” he said.
“And I doubt if I’ll need any help, but I will let you know if I do. I don’t even know what I need to bring.”
“Let’s go look at where you’ll stay.” He stood but paused as he exited his office. “One more thing,” he said, “I’d like you to be on duty Friday nights. If you have some place you want to go on a Friday, let me know and I’ll work around it, but on Fridays, I’d like to go out.”
“That’s fine. I think that would work out really well,” she added and he smiled.
“Don’t sound so happy to be rid of me,” he said and she looked startled.
“I’m joking,” he added swiftly, wanting to get back to being impersonal. “If you don’t want to stay by yourself with Amelia, there are a couple of wives of the cowboys who work for me who live on the ranch. I can get them to stay on Friday night so you’ll have someone else here with you.”
“I’ll be fine. They’re all here on the ranch, so someone I can call won’t be far away if necessary. Right?”
“Right. Come meet Maisie, my cook. She’s still in the kitchen. She has a house here and her husband works for me, too. Harold, my butler, has a house on the ranch and his wife cooks for the people who work here.” Cade took Erin’s arm lightly to lead her out, and was surprised when the faint contact sent tingles up his arm. Yes, he thought, the woman was certainly tempting. Thank goodness once he had her situated and familiar with her charge and his staff, he could throw himself into work and see her less.
But how could he do that?
He needed to learn how to cope with Amelia. He needed to follow Erin around and see how to care for his charge. He also needed to bond with Amelia and when he did, Erin would be present, too. They were going to be thrown together, living together in his ranch house, spending a lot of time together with Amelia. And he had to remain cool and professional, the boss and his nanny.
He clung to the knowledge that even though Erin was gorgeous, there were other beautiful women who were far more lighthearted, ready to party, wanting the same freedom he did and who hadn’t lost a baby or been hurt badly in a recent broken engagement. There were so many reasons to remain professional and distant with her, so why did they seemed to evaporate when he looked into her big, green eyes?
They entered the kitchen where a slender woman with braided blond hair wiped the countertops. “Ahh, hello, there,” she said. “You must be Luke’s younger sister. I can see a family resemblance.”
Erin laughed. “I’ve heard that before, but not often.”
“Erin, meet Maisie Elsworth, my cook and the person who keeps this place going. If you have questions about Amelia, the job or the ranch, or need help, Maisie is the person to ask.”
“Absolutely,” Maisie replied, smiling. “You’ll love little Amelia and maybe you can teach this Wild West cowboy how to calm her. She’s adorable.” Maisie looked away and wiped her eyes, turning her back. “You’ll have to give me a moment. I feel as if I lost one of my own boys when we lost Amelia’s dad. The same for the little one’s mother. So sad, and sometimes it hits me out of the blue,” she said, still wiping her eyes.
Cade stepped up to put his arm around her and give her a squeeze. He stood quietly while she became composed again and turned to Erin.
“Sorry,” Maisie said. “Moments come without warning when I realize they’re gone forever and I think of little Amelia.”
“Don’t ever apologize because you love someone,” Erin said. Cade thought about her miscarriage and how much she must have hurt over losing her baby, and how much she was still hurting.
“Ahh, you’ll be a good nanny for our little baby,” Maisie told her. “I hope your brother is fine. I miss seeing him. They were fun boys, but now they’re grown men and busy and I don’t see them.”
“You see me plenty, Maisie,” Cade said with a grin. “You’ll see more of me today, but right now, I want to show Erin where she’ll be staying when she moves in.”
