The Rancher's Nanny Bargain

She smiled at him. “The best part is that you made the offer. That gives me a secure feeling that I can always turn to you if something disastrous happens.”

“Damn straight. Speaking of something disastrous... Let me remind you again—”

“Luke,” she cautioned and laughed. “Don’t tell me to avoid going out with Cade. He never even noticed me until he wanted to hire me. He knows I’m your little sister and he won’t jeopardize his friendship with you. Now stop worrying about me.”

“I’m worrying about what Cade will do, although I don’t think he’ll hit on you for the reasons you just gave. I can promise that he notices you now. He didn’t when you were eight or nine years old, but...well, you look a lot different now. Let me remind you that while Cade loves the ladies, he is dead set against marriage. When it comes to long-term relationships, there’s not a serious bone in his body. He doesn’t know what a real family is—I know he always enjoyed being at our house partly because of our parents. He’s close with his brothers and his mother had good intentions, but she was more interested in a social life. What I’m saying is Cade is not your type and you don’t need another hurt.”

“Luke—”

“Be advised. I will come back from Antarctica and punch him out if he tries to date you,” he said, grinning at her.

She laughed, shaking her head and not taking him seriously. “No, you won’t. He’s your lifelong best friend. I think that covers it all. He knows how you feel and he knows I’m your little sister. I’m going to be the nanny. I’ll be with his grandmother and his little ward, but I won’t be with him. Frankly, I think he’s scared to take care of Amelia by himself and he doesn’t know how.”

“You’ve got that right. For once in his life he is terrified. He told me as much when I spoke to him. He doesn’t know anything about babies, even though he had younger brothers. They’re too close in age for him to have learned anything about babies. Oh, and speaking of his brothers... Little brother Gabe Callahan is single, closer to your age, likes to party and I imagine he’ll ask you out. And Gabe doesn’t take anything seriously—definitely not a relationship.”

“Duly noted,” she said, laughing at her brother. “If I get asked out, I can deal with that, and since I’ll be the nanny and Cade is desperate and doesn’t know how to care for Amelia, I’ll have the best possible excuse to turn down any invitations by any guys I meet. Cade’s already asked me if I would stay on Friday nights so he can go out. Stop worrying.”

“Okay,” he said, though she got the impression he really wanted to continue his dire warnings.

“Let’s get the car loaded before I’m late arriving at his ranch. I’ll text you and keep you posted on how I’m getting along. Everyone you work with there will wonder why you keep getting reports from me on my well-being.”

“They’ll know it’s because I can’t be there myself and I’m a class-A worrier when it comes to my baby sister. Cade is a great guy and my best friend, but I don’t want you hurt by him.”

“Luke, for the last time, you’ve got to stop. I believe you’re the one who wanted me to interview with him and go to work for him,” she said sweetly and Luke clamped his mouth shut. “Let’s go,” she said, picking up a bag which he took from her hands.

After her car was packed and her apartment locked, she hugged Luke. “I hope you love your work. You know, environmental engineers can find jobs in Texas.”

He grinned. “This is a change and I’ll learn new things. The South Pole needs protection. They have wastewater problems just like Dallas does.”

“Don’t give me one of your lectures about protecting our earth. I’m recycling.”

“Keep at it. Every little bit helps. For my part, I’m excited about working there.”

“Good. I’m excited about my new job, too. Amelia is a precious little girl.”

Her brother studied her. “You’ll work there a little over four months—you shouldn’t get too attached in that time.”

She brushed off his concern. “That little girl needs someone to care for her and I’m happy to get the job—and very happy to get the money,” she added lightly. But inside, she was afraid she was already attached to Amelia, yet willing to care for her because her guardian was clueless about baby care. “It’s too short a time for any attachment I form to get too strong,” she lied. “Now you stop worrying and take care of yourself.” She hugged him again.

“Don’t I always?” Luke grinned as he held open the car door for her to get behind the wheel. He closed her door and stepped back, and she saw him watching her as she drove away. She turned the corner and he was lost to sight, but his warnings about Cade echoed in her mind.

Would this job be the blessing for all as she hoped? Or was she driving straight into trouble and more heartache?

* * *

When Erin arrived at the ranch, Cade came out in long strides to greet her. Her heartbeat jumped. This wasn’t going to be the easiest job, she realized right away. The instant she saw him all her intentions to resist Cade’s appeal vanished like smoke in the wind.

August sunshine spilled over him, and locks of his raven hair blew slightly in the breeze. Emitting a contagious vitality, he looked tan, strong and fit in his tight jeans, boots, and a red plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

“Welcome to the ranch,” he said, smiling at her. “My grandmother is thrilled about your arrival today. Frankly, she’s not accustomed to caring for a baby and she’s worn threadbare.”

Erin smiled at him, aware of his dark blue eyes as his gaze swept over her. If he had stayed in Dallas where he worked with his younger brother Gabe, in commercial real estate, and left her with his grandmother, Maisie, Harold and the rest of his staff, her life would be peaceful. As it was, while she looked up at such blue eyes and thick, black hair, she wondered if she would have another peaceful moment until this job ended in December.

“I’m eager to get started and to get to know Amelia,” she said, trying to focus on her job.

Cade shouldered a carry-on and took her laptop from her hands. Their hands brushed in a casual touch that stirred more sparks.

“We’ll get all your things,” he said as Harold came out of the house and hurried to carry her luggage.

Holding Amelia in her arms, his grandmother stepped out and stood watching on the porch while Erin made her way up the walk, Cade beside her. At the top of the steps, she paused to greet Margo and Amelia.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” Margo said.

She returned the pleasantry. “Let me take Amelia,” she said once she entered the house and set down her purse. Dressed in a blue-and-yellow jumper and yellow blouse, Amelia smelled sweet. When she studied Erin with her thickly lashed big blue eyes, Erin smiled at her.

“I’m glad you’re here so you can tell me about her routine,” Erin said quietly to Margo.

“We haven’t exactly established a routine. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve had the care of a baby. I had two girls and Crystal was my youngest. She’s Cade’s mother. By the time the boys were born, Crystal had a nanny and help, so there was little for me to do about their care. They’re close together in age and I didn’t raise boys, so I didn’t really have them with me often.”

Erin nodded, thinking how different that was from her mother’s life and her own, caring for her little nephews who stayed with her parents for a lot of nights. Her parents had raised a big family with boys and girls and they loved having their grandchildren around.

“We’ll go to what is the nursery for now,” Cade said. “Amelia’s suite is between my suite and yours. The sitting room is now a playroom. Like I said earlier, we really didn’t have time to change things when I got Amelia. I wanted to get her settled and familiar with where she is. I think she needs stability after the upheaval in her life.” He clamped his mouth closed and a muscle flexed in his jaw. She guessed he was having a bad moment about losing his brother and sister-in-law, or possibly a bad moment thinking about Amelia losing a mommy and daddy. She could understand because of her own heartaches and she looked at Amelia, smoothing the baby’s unruly curls from her forehead.

Big blue eyes studied her solemnly and Erin smiled at Amelia, knowing the baby would grow accustomed to her as time passed.

She glanced at Cade to find him watching her and she wondered what he was thinking. But she didn’t ask.

Cade paused in front of Amelia’s suite and motioned her in, though he moved down toward another open door.

“I’ll put these in your room and be right in.”

Erin entered the baby’s suite and turned to see Margo settle on a sofa. She glanced around at a room she had barely looked at the day of her interview. Stuffed toys were scattered on a blanket on the floor. There were more on a chair, plus rattles and blocks. A toy box overflowed with baby toys on one side of the sofa. There was a baby swing at one side of the room and a baby chair in the middle of the room.

Erin sat in a rocker and rocked while still holding Amelia. “She doesn’t seem interested in getting down or in her toys.”

“She woke early this morning, so she might be getting sleepy again,” Margo said. “Cade is here with you and if you don’t have any questions, I think I’ll go answer my emails. Call me if you need me,” she added and Erin nodded, wondering if she was going to be alone with Cade often or if he would disappear to work. Whatever happened, she realized her job as nanny had started instantly and she wasn’t going to get any schedule from Margo regarding Amelia.

Getting down on the floor with Amelia, Erin rolled a clear plastic ball filled with sparkling objects and little silver bells. As she looked at the pretty little girl, she knew she was in for another heartache because she was going to love this baby so much by the time she finished her temporary job. Amelia was easy to love. Maybe she found reassurance from those who were taking care of her. Whatever made Amelia happy, Erin was drawn to her. In almost four months, she was certain she would love the girl as her own, but she would let her go because that would be best for Amelia.

If only she could guard her heart from falling in love with the handsome rancher who was Amelia’s guardian. How was she going to resist him when they had to be together for Amelia’s sake? How was she going to resist him, too, when he already made her heart pound and she wanted to be in his arms?

* * *

Cade entered the nursery and saw Erin on a blanket on the floor rolling a ball around in front of Amelia, while Amelia laughed and grabbed for it.

When Erin looked up at him, her red hair swung across her shoulders and he drew a deep breath. Why hadn’t Luke told him his sister had grown into such a beauty?

He knew exactly why and he needed to remember that he had promised Luke he would not do anything to hurt Erin. As he gazed into her green eyes, he tried to remember what he had intended to tell her.