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Relief swept through him as he eyed his older brother.

That was all he knew? It somehow would have made it worse if the others had known Ella’s background while he was just now discovering it himself.

That thought almost gave him pause, something he’d examine more closely later.

Maybe. “Not quite like that, but yeah, she was pretty awesome, even if she has left some poor guy permanently terrified of cute, rampaging brunettes with crystal sharp diction.”

“Cute, huh?”

That comment aside, one he ignored, it felt good to talk to JD, and Leo happily corrected the story his brother had heard via a convoluted grapevine that had begun with someone’s cousin’s husband’s son from a previous marriage who worked at the store, all the while sidestepping the other revelations.

“So, she’s a super nanny? Gotta be happy with that.”

Leo was aware that JD was watching him carefully. They were a close bunch, all four siblings, and they knew each other probably even better than their parents did. “Evie said things looked pretty good between you and Ella. Said you were getting on well. Very well. Everything still okay?”

“A few bumps.” Leo ignored his brother’s rather obvious hint. “To be expected, but we’re working on it.”

“Yeah, well you know we all think she’s pretty special, and Benny’s a great little kid.

She was doing it pretty tough before Melanie met her and took her under her wing, so to speak.

Though Melanie keeps telling us that Ella wouldn’t accept any charity, insisted she work for whatever help Melanie offered.

And you gotta admire that. And after today’s effort, it’s even more clear there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for Benny or for Mia.

Considering what family means to us Halligans, that goes a long way in our book. ”

If he didn’t know better, Leo might have believed someone had been in JD’s ear and told him to come down and put a case forward for Ella; to smooth things over between them.

But JD was unaware of his and Ella’s current situation, and so it had simply been divine providence that he’d shared those thoughts today.

Divine , because they’d actually helped.

Helped clear the mist and allowed him to see more clearly.

“I don’t want to interfere, but you sure there’s not something you want to talk about?”

Leo scowled, “Like what?”

“Like having feelings for a pretty little nanny and her baby.”

“JD—”

“Or maybe you just want to rescue her…

“I’m not trying to rescue anyone.” Except maybe myself.

Still watching him, JD sighed. “Okay. Just thought I’d check in on you, but if you’re all okay, then I s’pose I’d better head on back.

By the way I called in on the folks when I was in town.

Told me they were sorry they missed you and Ella the other day.

Dad’s chest cold has finally cleared away and Mom’s itching to get back into the family dinners and to get out to see all these little ones.

Told me she’s missed all three, which was kinda cute that she included Benny, but not surprising. ”

“Knowing Mom? Not surprising at all. So, she’s good for the kids’ birthday party?”

“Yep, can’t wait, but of course she wants to help.

I think she intends to contact Ella for that.

Said she’s been away from everybody for too long, but the best thing for me was seeing the relief in her eyes.

They were staying away so as not to infect the kids or Evie, but with Dad’s low immunity, Mom panics every time he picks up anything. ”

Leo simply nodded, walking the few steps back to JD’s truck as his brother readied to leave. They all worried since their father had suffered his heart attack. And somehow that reminder brought even more perspective.

JD glanced back over his shoulder. “Sure you don’t need a load of firewood?”

“Nah, we’re good. Thanks for dropping by, bro.”

“Yeah, right. You take care and take care of that lady and those kids. She’s pretty special.”

As JD drove away, Leo stood and watched until the truck turned out of sight.

Yep, Ella Staunton Hawes, was special. One in a million.

And special in more ways than his family could even guess.

Lady Gabriella Staunton Hawes. The revelation was still trying to work its way into his psyche.

But just maybe after that nebulous chat with his brother, it wasn’t as hard to negotiate.

JD was right. Ella was special, and she was special in all the same ways she was special before he learned about her name.

The title meant nothing to her; he was beginning to get that.

But he was man enough to realize what had thrown him so far off kilter.

Was she completely out of his league? That he’d never fit into a life like she’d experienced?

He could give her a comfortable life, more than comfortable, but living like that in that lofty echelon?

It would never be for him and the thought of her going back to that life, to the life Benny’s heritage promised—living without him?

That burned and he felt the sour taste of loss.

But why?

They’d both committed to a cooperative friendship. No more… So, why the all the beetles in his belly over the chasm between their social statuses?

And the other issue? Keeping her child safe, having that threat hang over her? It was something he couldn’t contemplate. If it had been Mia? Rage began to bubble at even the thought of it, a rage he’d struggle to control if he was in her position.

That was what he should be focusing on; not some breach of trust in a relationship that was so difficult to define even a judge would be hard-pressed to decipher what had actually been breached.

Which begged the question, what were he and Ella, really?

Friends? Employer and employee? Partners in the sense they shared the same goal: to see that the children were safe and cared for?

Two people who should have met at another time and place?

Or just plainly two people hot for each other but who could never act on it?

The thought incited a surge of white heat of a different kind, and he returned to the firewood. Needed or not, he was going to smash his way through this whole pile. Decimate it.

And he did. Though by the time he’d stacked the last chunk of ashwood, and covered the pile, his right shoulder was screaming. Possibly cussing as well. He’d overdone it, but pain aside, the physical exertion had calmed him and allowed him to view the situation more clearly.

Back at the house, both kids were awake, sitting in their highchairs with a fruit snack, and he fussed with them for a few minutes, warmed by their innocent, exuberant responses before finally meeting Ella’s gaze.

As always, she appeared to be in control, but her usual softly golden complexion was now a much paler version, and those beguiling eyes were clouded—and guilt rocked through him.

None of her situation was of her own making.

She’d responded as best she could when forced to make some tough decisions, and only time would tell if they’d been the correct ones.

But for the moment she was doing what she thought best, and it was hardly his place to judge her.

Or make life any more difficult than it was.

He wished the circumstances had allowed her to tell him, but really, what difference did it make?

It wasn’t like they were planning a future together.

But if they were? The notion immediately obliterated all else in his head, replacing it with images of them all as a family.

Ella, in his life, in his bed, alongside him as a real partner.

Benny growing up as his son, as a brother to Mia whom he already clearly adored.

The four of them together. Maybe more? The realization had his heart plummeting, was that scenario the one he secretly longed for?

“Leo? Are you okay? You look—” She appeared to be unable to complete the sentence and he understood—because he too would be hard-pressed to name the flood of emotion that had washed through him; stunned him. So many mixed feelings; all suddenly churning inside him…

Would it work? Could they work as a family?

Definitely.

But only in some fantasy world where he was free to make those decisions. And Ella?

Yeah… If Ella wasn’t Lady Gabriella whose other life was so different to his own; a life that had the potential to lure her back.

And if her son wasn’t heir to a fortune.

Even if he hadn’t had his own issues to contend with those were enough curveballs he’d never have expected to see coming at him. As gamechangers went, they were doozies.

Pulling himself together, he offered a grim smile. “Yeah, fine—just overdid it with the firewood. You okay here if I go have a shower?”

Minutes later, the hot water pummeling his sore muscles offered temporary relief, but it alone wouldn’t be enough for any lasting effect, and after holding out until he started to prune, he stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around his lower half and reached for the liniment, a brand he’d used through all his rodeo days.

Back then though, there’d mostly been someone, female usually, happy to help him apply it, and it took only a few attempts to realize he was going to have problems reaching the sorest part of his back and shoulder.

An image of Ella flicked into his head, but even if things hadn’t been strained between them, he doubted he could have handled her soft hands on his naked flesh, not and keep any kind of control.

Especially knowing she felt the same way.

Huffing back an expletive, he stretched again as far as he could manage, assuming he was imagining things when her voice, soft and pretty—almost a whisper—reached him. Cocking an ear toward his bedroom, he listened again.

“Mia? Are you in here, baby? Benny? Are you pair playing cheeky games?” A low chuckle accompanied the last words, negating any irritation. “I’m coming to find you…”