Page 6

She’d done her best. Done what she hoped Emile would have wanted her to do.

She’d never doubted Emile’s determination for Benny to have a happier childhood than either of them.

Sometimes he exhibited his love in a funny way, but she’d been ever-hopeful that he’d get the hang of walking the walk instead of just talking about it.

Dear Emile. As always a wave of sadness swept over her.

As husbands go, he was not the worst, but also not the best, though she was sure he’d have worked it out given the chance.

He had been her best friend, and that was the person she missed.

Two years ago, there’d been a moment when she’d wondered if she’d later regret the real reason for her rash decision, but it took only one look at her beautiful boy to find her answer.

He was the gift in this whole sorry mess, the one bright shining star, and if she could just hang on for another few months, they would be okay.

A grizzle from the nursery had her hightailing it back to the little ones, and her heart squeezed. Mia was rubbing her eyes, ready for her morning nap, and watching on, Benny’s little face was shrouded in concern as he tried to tempt her with a toy to make her happy again. “Baba crying, Mama.”

Squatting, she gently rubbed her hand across his head. “I know sweetheart. She’s a bit sleepy now.” Reaching for Mia she held the baby close, stretching a hand to Benny. “Let’s go get her a drink and you can help me settle her for a little nap.”

*

Leo looked up from his place by the coffee machine as Ella wandered into the kitchen—Mia’s head cuddled in against her neck and Bennys’ little arm stretched up to hold his mother’s hand. There was no rush and no urgency about her movements, her voice gentle as she chatted to the two in her care.

Strands of Ella’s silken hair had slipped from her ponytail, seeming to caress the gentle curve of her face.

She wore no makeup and she didn’t need it.

Her skin was flawless. Smooth, softly golden, appearing to glow in the morning light that flowed through the walls of glass surrounding them.

Her eyes lit when she spotted him, and his whole being warmed when her full mouth instantly curved upward.

“No post-hole digging today?”

“Later. I left the boys there to get on with it while I shot back here to wait for an overseas call.”

She nodded. “You got the ice auger working then?”

He flicked an eyebrow. She’d remembered?

Talk of ice augers and digging post holes was hardly scintillating conversation, especially for someone who hadn’t lived the ranch life before, and he’d expected that she would have either tuned out or forgotten their brief exchange yesterday.

He’d only mentioned it because she noticed he was wound up, though why he’d blurted it out was a mystery.

“Getting there.” He took a sip of his coffee and moved to a stool near the island.

Reaching to take his daughter while Ella filled a bottle, he continued to explain.

“We’re gonna try an old farmer’s trick and put some old tires over the spots we need to dig.

Light fires in them and let that thaw the ground a bit faster.

I need these corrals built before May and that’s gonna be here way sooner than I’d like. ”

There he went again, probably boring her senseless.

Though that thought vanished when he turned to see her bend to pick up something she’d dropped.

It took a superhuman effort, but redirected his gaze, knowing that was another image he was going to have to try to purge if he wanted to maintain a professional relationship with his kid’s nanny.

Her jeans were snug, and outlined her every curve—like they were made for her.

Yet another thought prompted him to wonder if they had been made for her.

Her clothes weren’t new, but he recognized the quality.

Brands might not be his everyday jam, but his success the rodeo circuit had allowed him to build his real estate portfolio, and gained him entrance into the so-called higher echelons of society.

Where he’d met enough indulged women to at least have a nodding acquaintance with the brands they preferred.

His foray into that world had been short, but more than enough for a lifetime.

Ella reached into a high cupboard and one of those brands stitched into the back of those cute little jeans that rode her hips told him one thing was sure, she hadn’t bought those at the western wear store in Marietta.

Where had she really come from?

Melanie, his sister’s soon-to-be mother-in-law, had known Ella for more than a year.

He knew she was twenty-eight. So, where had she been for the previous years?

Melanie had warned everyone that Ella was very private about her former life and had quietly asked that they respect it.

He’d suspected Melanie knew a lot more than she’d ever shared, but he’d gone along with that request because he believed everyone was entitled to their privacy, but he had to admit, she intrigued him.

And Melanie wasn’t the only one who trusted her—even his mom had added her vote to him employing Ella. Why not? She fit into his extended family easily; nothing she’d done had raised any flags or been cause for concern, and yet, she was a puzzle.

A puzzle who was caring for his child…

Yet again, he couldn’t fault her there either. And her dedication to Benny spoke loudly of how well she’d managed there. Ella was cutting some carrot strips for Benny to munch on while she waited for Mia’s bottle to warm.

“May is when the new herd arrives?”

Wow, she’d really listened—and man, he’d obviously spilled the lot. “Yeah. Hopefully we’ll get the pastures ready for hay planting in April, but those corrals have to be ready by May.”

“If they’re not? What if the weather turns?”

He shrugged. “The herd is small. Nash and I are hoping to develop a superior breed of bull for the rodeo circuits. We’ve both had some ideas.

There’s a heap of big operations supplying the major rodeos, but there are loads of smaller rodeos that need quality bulls.

We’ll focus on that market and that’ll give us an idea of how we’re going.

” He shook his head, needing to clear it.

“But that wasn’t what you asked… So, if the corrals aren’t done?

One of the others, JD, Jack, or Nash, will help me out in the short term, or I could send them to my other property, but it’d be better if I was ready. ”

She nodded as she carried the bowl of carrots and Mia’s bottle to the sofa.

Benny followed and scrambled up beside her.

He liked that; a close relationship between kids and parents were important to him.

In his family, that closeness had given them all the confidence to follow their own paths.

A close relationship helped independence become strong.

Or so he hoped… For him, the future with his daughter was something that both excited and terrified him.

Especially as he’d be doing the parenting single-handedly.

His head gave a mental shrug. Just like Ella with Benny.

She settled Benny and held out her arms for Mia. “Unless you want to?”

“I’d better not. My call is bound to come through.”

Taking the baby, she kissed the soft curls on the top of her head and settled her into the crook of her arm. Mia sighed contentedly, a little sound she’d recently developed that tickled him every time.

“You really love this life, don’t you,” she said softly.

He should go into his office; there was plenty to do.

He remained because it was where he wanted to be. He stoked the fire, inspected the safety catch on the fire-screen, and told himself he was being helpful. “Yeah, I’m blathering on about it enough. I’m sure you’re used to more…” He searched for the right word. “Sparkling conversations.”

He’d heard the growl in his voice; there was no censure intended and immediately worried she’d misinterpreted his intent. He should have known better. Her eyes gleamed as she looked up at him; in the way those dimples tried so hard to keep her grin in check. And the tightness in his chest eased.

“Aww… Don’t be so hard on yourself, Leo. Your social skills aren’t that much worse than Benny’s—though, when he hits two next month…?”

He reached to find some level of indignation and failing miserably, his chest bubbling with an amused chuckled, but he kept it low so as not to wake Mia. “Well, there you have it. Something for me to aspire to. Looks like I’ll be coming to you for lessons, little man.”

Sensing he was now part of this conversation, Benny looked from one of them to the other, screwing his little face into some kind of feigned hilarity and barked out a false laugh. The kid was hilarious. Even funnier was that within a split second he was back to soberly munching on his carrots.

“Cute trick. I should remember that one.” Keeping his eyes on the boy, Leo lifted his hands in mock surrender. “But what? You think I’m not up to it? Seems like you and I are gonna have to have some serious talks about the Bro Code, man.”

Mia’s eyes drooped and the nipple fell from her cherub lips, abandoned.

Ella moved it away from the baby’s mouth before turning to her son.

“And then, my darling baby boy,” she said sweetly, “you and I will have a serious chat about why it’s never a wise move to choose a brother over your significant other—who at this point of your life, is me—your mother. ”

Leo slid back onto the stool he’d recently vacated; he really should go into the office.

“You’re kidding me, right? Every guy needs his brothers—how else will he know when he’s making a jackass of himself?

Another guy—your brother, your pal, even your dad—will give it to you straight.

Not always leaving you hanging—guessing—like girls tend to do. ”

“That’s your counterargument? Well, trust me—I’m about to set your mind at ease.

” Her reply was way too smooth, her tone sickly sweet.

“Leo Halligan, you’re not alone. I’m here and I’m quite happy to take on the role of jackass judge.

If I see you being a jackass, I promise there’ll be no dissembling, no confusion—I’ll give it to you straight. ”

“Very noble of you. But then again, something tells me that role wouldn’t be much of a hardship for you at all; that you’d be well suited.”

She ignored his counter jibe. “Do you have a daily criticism tolerance level? I might need to know that. For example, how many times you can realistically tolerate being told you’ve messed up?”

“How many…?” He controlled his laughter by chewing on his inner lip.

“What can I say? The level of faith you have in me is awe inspiring. Such a lift to my self-esteem. And while I appreciate such concern for my feelings, I might have to burst that fun bubble and tell you I’ve been working on that part of me.

Found a program. Weaning myself off jackassism.

Down to—ohhh—hopefully not more than once a day, now. ”

“Really? Commendable. Your sponsor must be so proud. Though if it’s your brother Jack I won’t hold out for your graduation ceremony.”

More laughter bubbled in his chest. “You’re right to be concerned. The guy is a jackass genius. Taught me everything thing I now wish I didn’t know.”

“Ha… That , I believe.” The teasing gleam faded, eclipsed by a soft smile. “I didn’t mean anything nasty about Jack. I like him, he’s a good sport. And a good brother. Maybe just a bit,” she paused, “ full-on ?”

That’s when his dam finally broke and he laughed out loud, dialing it down when she shot him a quick frown accompanied by a finger pointed at his sleeping daughter.

“You’re spot on. And he’s a great uncle, and a great brother.

But full-on is a fair and accurate—and generous—description of my next brother up. ”

Grinning, he took a swig of his now almost cold coffee.

When was the last time he’d really laughed?

Especially with a woman he wasn’t related to?

Before she’d come into his life? It’d been a while.

But damn, it felt good to just be—What? Silly?

Carefree? He was a father, a rancher, and had a reputation as a tough rodeo competitor.

Silly had never been in his make-up, and even further down in his vocabulary.

However, when she stood, obviously intending to take the baby up to her crib, and absently performed some kind of little shimmy to shake those skin tight jeans into a more comfortable position, his thoughts went in a completely different direction.

Like, how long had it been since he’d flirted with a gorgeous woman?

Because a worrying twist in his chest more than hinted at the possibility. Had they been flirting? Or two friends having a bit of a laugh? Was he supposed to know this stuff? He refused to watch as Ella left the room, instead he watched Benny trail after her.

Nah… The kid probably had no more idea that he had; no use asking him.