The Rancher's Bargain

His gaze tracked her movements, lingering on the way her sweater dress hugged her curves. But then, thinking about Lydia was a whole lot more enticing than remembering all the ways he’d fallen short in his sudden parental role.

He’d had the nursery assembled in a hurry. The room contained all the necessary furniture but hadn’t been decorated with much that would appeal to a child.

“Definitely. I can’t even keep a nanny for him, let alone be a meaningful part of his life right now.” He wasn’t sure any of this was helping his cause to convince her to take the job. But something about Lydia made it easy for him to talk to her.

A sensation he rarely experienced with anyone.

“But that doesn’t mean you’ll always be too busy for him.” Her hazel eyes took on a bluish cast in the baby’s room with azure-colored walls. “And your brother and his wife must have trusted you a great deal if they named you as his guardian.”

Frustration and guilt fired through him.

“I’m sure they never believed it would come to that.” He couldn’t bear the weight of failing Teddy. Failing his brother. Unwilling to argue the point, James gestured toward the door. “Come this way and I’ll show you the nanny’s quarters. Because no matter what happens with Teddy’s future, I can’t escape the fact that I need a solution for his care right now.”

And that meant not letting his guard down around this beautiful, desirable woman.

Three (#u97328b88-000b-5130-b5a6-cae1bab57926)

“I can’t accept these terms.” Back in the ranch’s great room, Lydia stared down at the neatly typed offer James had passed her inside a crisp manila folder.

After a tour of the Double H Ranch main house, with special attention to the nursery, nanny’s quarters and a potential playroom she could equip as she saw fit, James had briefly outlined very generous compensation for retaining her services. Not only was room and board included—useful for her while her contractor outfitted her home for a child care facility—but James also offered a salary, health care benefits and a recommendation if she stayed in his employ for six months. Gail’s debt would be partially forgiven after the two-month trial period, and fully after one whole year.

Furthermore, there were additional pages that spelled out potential budgets for renovating the playroom and nursery, as well as a spending allowance for toys, books, equipment, outings and anything else that she thought Teddy required.

“What do you mean?” James frowned, stepping closer to glance over her shoulder at the formalized offer he’d given her. “Are there things I’m overlooking? It’s all up for negotiation.”

Closing the folder, she passed it back to him as they stood in front of the huge stone hearth where a fire crackled. “You haven’t overlooked a thing. This is far too generous.”

She’d never heard of such a well-paid nanny. And it made her heart hurt to think he was so eager to give over the boy’s care that he would pay someone such an inflated fee. Especially when he was debating relinquishing the child to Teddy’s maternal grandparents.

“Honoring my brother’s wishes means everything to me.” His jaw flexed as raw emotion flashed in his eyes, but he folded his arms, as if defying her to argue that statement.

“I understand that.” Truly, she did. “But the whole reason I came to see you yesterday was to discuss options for repaying your generosity toward my sister. I can’t let you give us anything else.”

He was shaking his head before she even finished speaking. “You can’t sacrifice your own income for the sake of your sibling. I won’t hear of it.” Before she could argue, he continued, “I read about you online, Lydia. You’re extremely qualified.”

His words pleased her. Or maybe it was the knowledge that he’d spent time thinking of her, if only in a professional capacity. Warmth crawled over her that didn’t have a thing to do with the fire.

“Thank you. I already have a health care plan, so I don’t need that. But if you cut the salary in half, I would be amenable.”

“Half?” He shook his head. “I couldn’t look myself in the mirror if you took a nickel under three-quarters of that.”

“Half,” she insisted. “And I’ll find a way to put my sister to work for me so she’s making up the difference.”

Gail needed to learn that there were consequences to her impulsive actions.

He scrubbed a hand through his close-cropped dark hair. “I don’t know.”

She suspected he would have continued to argue the figure if a wail from the nursery hadn’t sounded at that precise moment. James’s gaze went to the staircase.

“I could start immediately,” she offered, sensing his weakening on the salary issue.

He extended his hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Lydia slipped her small palm into his much larger one, seized with the memory of their brief contact the day before when he’d taken Teddy from her arms. Just like then, an electric current seemed to jump between them, hot to the point of melting. Her gaze met his, and she would swear he was aware of it, too.

She was grateful for the baby’s next cry, since it gave her the perfect excuse to retract her fingers. She darted from the room to escape the temptation of her new boss—and the fear that she’d just made a huge mistake.

After a brief supper shared with her new charge in the nursery, Lydia debated the wisdom of starting her new job so quickly.

She’d jumped into the baby’s routine with both feet, comfortable with knowing where most things were located since her new employer had given her a quick tour. She knew the protocol for Teddy’s food allergies and where the EpiPens were kept. But she hadn’t clarified how or when she would go about moving her things into her suite at the Double H, thinking she’d see her new boss at dinnertime.

But James still hadn’t come in from his chores at eight o’clock after she put Teddy into his crib for the night. Lydia knew because she’d peered down the stairs a few times, and twice had checked in with the housekeeper.

On both occasions, Mrs. Davis had looked at her as though she might steal the house silver at any moment. And between the woman’s terse answers and general lack of hospitality, Lydia had the distinct impression that her presence was not welcomed by the older housekeeper.

Not that she was too worried. Usually, her work spoke for itself. Maybe Mrs. Davis was simply tired from the strain of caring for a little one. Lydia was more concerned to think that James might not be accessible in the coming weeks. As Teddy’s parental figure, James had an important role in the boy’s life even if he hadn’t fully committed himself to it yet.

Then again, maybe James’s disappearing act had nothing to do with his nephew and everything to do with the blossoming attraction between them.

Figuring she’d never improve things around here if she stayed hidden in her room, Lydia stepped out of the sprawling nanny suite and hurried down the hall to the staircase. The natural wood banister was polished to a high sheen, and the house’s log cabin elements mingled seamlessly with more contemporary touches, like the walls painted in shades of taupe and tan. Downstairs, the stone hearth rose to a high ceiling right through the upstairs gallery walkway. A rough wood mantel and steer horns decorated the fireplace, but the leather couches and cream-colored slipper chairs were sleekly styled and inviting. Agriculture books filled the shelves in the far corner of the room, the leather spines freshly dusted.

She peered around for any signs of Mrs. Davis but didn’t see the housekeeper. Before Lydia could debate her next move, the side door opened and James stepped inside.

She stood far enough away that he didn’t notice her at first. He took his time hanging his Stetson and shrugging out of a weatherproof duster. Belatedly, she felt a hint of cool air that must have entered the house with him. The temperature had dropped, and she knew a storm was predicted tonight. In the shadows of the mudroom, his features looked all the more sculpted. He had high cheekbones. A strong jaw. Well-muscled shoulders that would turn any woman’s head.

And yes, she acknowledged, she liked looking at him.

“Do you always work so late?” she asked as a way to reveal her presence, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

He glanced up quickly, his expression more pleased than surprised.

“Hello, Lydia. I didn’t expect to see you so late.”

She glanced at the antique clock on the opposite wall. “It’s not even nine.”

“Right. And when I’ve been on duty with my nephew, I’m ready for bed before he is.” He toed off his boots and lined them up on the far side of the welcome mat.

There was something oddly intimate about seeing him take off his shoes. Being in his home at this hour.

Which was a silly thing to think given that she’d been a nanny before. She’d seen parents moving around their living space while she helped out with children. Maybe it felt different with James because he was single.

And…smoking hot. Her gaze tracked him as he strode into the kitchen in sock feet. In a long-sleeved gray tee and dark jeans, he looked less like the polished Texas Cattleman’s Club president and more like a ruggedly handsome rancher. He scrubbed his hands at the kitchen sink.

“Teddy went to bed fairly well for me.” So far, she couldn’t see any evidence of the toddler being more difficult than most children his age. “Beginner’s luck, maybe.”

“Or maybe you’re just that good.” He grinned at her while he dried off, her thoughts scrambling at the mild flirtation in the words. “Would you like to join me for dinner? I’m starving, but I’d appreciate hearing more about your day.”

He moved toward the stainless steel refrigerator and tugged it open.