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He lowered the mug and licked some foam from his top lip, and the breath she’d held exploded into the space between them. So loud and forceful, his eyes flew to hers, wide with surprise.

Her response was choked as she indicated the plastic toy Mia held. “Almost dropped it.”

He merely nodded again, and Ella suddenly wanted to peel off layers of clothing; fearing she might internally combust. It was March, the beginning of spring in many parts of the North America, but not so much here in Montana.

Snow mounds still lay on the ground thanks to an exceptionally cold February, and while the thaw had begun, she’d been warned snowfalls could appear right up to May and beyond.

So, the heating was necessary, and at most times would be comfortable.

And it would be, she told herself, just as long as she kept her distance from this man.

This silly wave of lust would drift away, crawl back into its hiding place, and she’d be more diligent about ensuring it stayed there in the future.

“Ella, I apologize if I offended you earlier.” His voice interrupted her internal resolve. “It was a clumsy question, and an impossible one to answer. You were right to put me in my place. I just get—”

“Anxious?”

He shrugged.

“Leo, it’s natural. And, yes, I admit I may have overreacted.

” She paused and pierced him with her gaze.

“I’m not taking any of it back, but my response would have been more reasonable if we’d known each other longer and more thoroughly.

Despite having spent time together, we don’t really know each other, and I guess I was offended because I know who I am—but in fairness, you don’t know me, yet. ”

A deep V formed between his eyes, marring his otherwise perfect features, tanned from a life lived outdoors. “You bawl me out and then give me a pass?”

She cocked a brow. “I don’t give them out lightly, sir, so if I were you, I’d take it graciously.”

“Sir?” His grin was slow but sure, responding to her own lighter tone. “Fancy title for a lowly cowboy like me.”

She almost laughed. There was nothing lowly about Leo Halligan. In a different era his likeness would be carved in marble and revered by millions.

Benny began to fuss, and she reached for the purse she’d parked beside her stool, hauling it up and retrieving the container of chopped pears she’d prepared earlier, first passing some to Benny to forestall his growing frustration.

Naturally Mia stretched her hand for some as well, and Ella looked across at Leo.

“Does she like pears?” At his nod she followed with, “Do you have a fruit sock?”

Bewilderment looked back across at her. “A what?”

She shook her head. “No matter, I have one here. It’s brand new and sterilized.

Benny’s outgrown them, but I had a spare and threw it in just in case.

” As Leo watched on, she unscrewed the plastic handle from the mesh sack and slid in a couple of pieces of juicy pear, reattached the two parts and handed it to Mia, guiding the mesh to her little mouth.

When Mia pulled back, Ella squeezed some of the fruit in the sack, pureeing it with her fingers.

Mushed fruit squished through the fine mesh and Ella scraped some with her finger and popped it onto Mia’s lips.

Her tiny tongue darted out; little brow creased for a second before she eagerly reached for the sack, holding the plastic handle with her chubby hand.

“Clever girl,” Ella praised. Not taking her eyes off Mia, she addressed Leo. “It’s a safe way for them to have fresh fruit without having to cook it or make sauce. They suck and gum it. It gives them flavor and texture, and they can munch away safely. She’s a bit little for chunks of fruit.”

Leo’s eyes remained on his daughter, his expression softening as he watched her gnawing away on the healthy treat. “You seem to know your way around kids. You’ve had other experience as a nanny?”

A little voice inside her scoffed. She’d had a mountain of experience with nannying, just not as a nanny.

“Truthfully, I kind of learned with Benny. Number one rule: trust my instincts. Children? Babies especially? They don’t know what’s right either, but if they’re warm, dry, safe, and fed—and of course, loved—they’ll excuse you a few missteps along the way. ”

He shrugged. “Amen to that. I’ve had to learn a hell of a lot in the past five months, and I gotta say I agree with everything you just said. So?” He paused, raised one dark brow. “You want to give us a try? Because, if you’re still willing, I guess the job is yours.”

Both relief and trepidation rippled through her. She wasn’t worried about caring for the children, that she was sure she would manage. But the offer had come with one of those smiles, slow and sexy, one she was sure he was oblivious to the havoc caused. “Y-yes. Great. Th-thank you.”

Panic shot a quick jab to her chest. Ella had schooled herself over her twenty-eight years on this earth not to ever appear vulnerable, always calm and controlled as required.

A spark of frustration flared to join the panic at the uncharacteristic stumble as she’d replied.

To blot out that image she thrust her hand firmly across the island counter.

Naturally he responded immediately, but that’s when it all got awkward, as their palms met she instantly knew he’d felt the same tingle she did.

It was obvious in the way his eyes widened in surprise.

In the way they both drew back. And definitely in the way that, for just the briefest moment, their eyes held before each hurriedly looked away.

It was possibly the shortest handshake in the history of handshakes.

Pushing back her embarrassment, she immediately went into rationalization mode; talking herself down.

It was the novelty of spending almost one-on-one time with an attractive man.

Nothing more, and just like the most exotic fare, the finest wines, smoothest cheese—even the most glorious views—all eventually lost their allure if one was subjected to them daily, so this, too, would pass.

A lifetime of experience with all the former assured it always did. And this would be no different.

However, even though that truism did much to bring the moment into perspective, she still had trouble meeting his gaze.

She glanced across at her son, seeking a distraction; a legitimate reason to busy herself, and as she dared a lightning-fast glance across at Leo, she suspected he was praying for something similar—even as he darted from the room.

The awkwardness was still there when he returned with some paperwork, keys, credit card—and all manner of things and information she’d require—and her need to bring some levity to cut the tension was paramount. As he finished his haltingly cumbersome speech, that need flowed over into the inane.

After signing the employment agreement, she raised one cheeky eyebrow. “And just so you know, I promise not to take Mia dancing around the rim of a raging volcano—at least for the first few weeks. And definitely not at the same time as I take Benny…”

“Dancing around—?” His perplexed frown relaxed, and he tipped back his head and laughed. “ Dangerous situations? Okay… Not going to live that one down for a while then?”

“Possibly not.” She sounded in control, she knew she did—a herculean feat given that she was left staring at the strong column of tanned skin, white teeth, and wide firm mouth until he regained his composure.

Laughter that smoothed some of the worry lines across his forehead, reminded her that he was merely a year or two older than herself.

It was quite simply breathtaking, and mentally she shook her head. Oh Lord, even her attempt at levity had backfired.

Really? Was she nuts to think she could make this work?

She’d made some bold decisions in the past eighteen months. Brave or just crazy—she wasn’t exactly sure. But her beautiful baby boy was safe, away from others who wouldn’t love him or care for him as she would, and did. For that reason only, she had to believe those decisions had been correct.

But this decision? It wasn’t the boldest, but just maybe it would be the most dangerous, for her. But if it meant she could keep Benny safe, she could do it—though maybe she was going to need a fireproof suit to protect her from those lazy smiles.

The thought conjured an image of all those suits of armor that graced her childhood home. She’d never ever seen the sense in them, but perhaps that had been hasty thinking. If one had been available right at that moment, she’d probably have grabbed it.