by Sara Orwig
“Let’s sit where it’s comfortable,” he said, grabbing himself a beer and moving to a brown leather chair, while she sat in a tan wing chair. “Anything new from your brother except warnings about me?”
“Not really. Since we graduated from high school each one of us goes on with life. Chunks of time pass between communications with him and once he leaves, I don’t expect to hear much from him.”
“That may be a good thing.” Cade smiled and she laughed, her dimple showing.
“You know my brother well. Luke’s the oldest, so he’s accustomed to telling the others what to do. I’m the next, and even though I’m twenty-two and there are several years between our ages, we’re close. It’s a little amazing you’re such good friends because you’re both alpha males—very much alike probably.”
“We don’t see each other as much now and we never did run each other’s lives.” He hesitated, then added, “Well, we both make suggestions, like him telling me to hire you.”
“I imagine a better description would be hounding you to hire me until you were desperate enough to listen to him.”
He smiled and her heart did another skip because it softened his features and it heightened his appeal.
“No,” he replied. “I had mixed feelings about it until I saw you with Amelia. She took to you instantly and you were relaxed with her. Actually, anyone watching you who didn’t know, would think you had been taking care of Amelia for a long time.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time with babies.”
“Well, Grandmother and I are grateful you’ve adjusted so quickly. She’s worn-out. I don’t know whether she told you or not, she’s going home tomorrow.”
Erin drew a sharp breath. “I thought she planned to stay awhile after I arrived,” she said, instantly thinking of the moments she would be alone with Cade.
“Not anymore. She said you don’t seem to need anyone, that you took charge from the first moment and she’s just watched.” His eyes narrowed. “Is there some reason you feel she needs to stay longer?”
His blue eyes were intent and she didn’t want him to realize how on edge she felt with him. He might guess why she didn’t want his grandmother to go.
“No, of course not.” She hoped she sounded positive and casual. “I’ll be fine. I just didn’t want her to feel unwanted.”
He stared at her a moment in silence and then shook his head. “Believe me, she doesn’t feel unwanted. She couldn’t wait to turn Amelia’s care over to you.”
Erin smiled at him. “I’m happy to have full charge of Amelia. She’s easy.”
“You’ll be great with Amelia.” He looked away with a muscle working in his jaw and she guessed that he was thinking about his deceased brother.
He sipped his beer and turned to look at her again. “When I’m out on the ranch, you can always get me on my phone and don’t hesitate if you need me. I’ll introduce you to my foreman and you can call him, too. Maisie is here during the day and you can get her if you need help. There will always be someone close.”
“That’s good to know.”
“I promised you a complete tour of the house—want to look now?”
“Yes. This is a good time,” she said, standing. She had the feeling that he was carefully trying to be friendly and yet keep a distance, which was a relief.
He showed her the formal, grand living area with elegant furniture and a massive stone fireplace with a large watercolor landscape above the marble mantel. She was relieved to see the fireplace had padding to protect Amelia if she fell against the stone hearth.
The open area had thick, handcrafted area rugs and columns that separated it from the dining room which was dominated by a polished cherrywood table that would seat twenty-four.
“Do you actually have this many people here for dinner?” she said, looking at the elegant table and then turning to catch him gazing at her with an intense look as personal as the touch of his hand, and made her forget his dining room.
“Occasionally,” he answered. His voice held a husky note and she walked into the hall.
“Where do we go from here?”
He followed in silence, a brooding look on his face. Was he regretting hiring her? She didn’t think the look he gave her was one of regret. Far from it.
They toured his house while conversation remained polite, impersonal, and she kept a discreet distance between them. In the entertainment room, she turned to him. “Amelia is a sound sleeper. I think I’ll look in on her and turn in myself.”
“Sure,” he said, walking beside her. “I told you earlier that my suite is on the other side of hers. Come look. I’ll show you,” he said and in a few minutes ushered her through a wide-open door into a big sitting room with floor-to-ceiling windows along one side of the room that led to a patio and yard. The sitting room had a large Navajo rug, a polished hardwood floor, a beamed twelve-foot ceiling and a giant television screen on one wall. Bookcases lined another wall and a stone fireplace was on the fourth wall. He’d decorated with oil paintings of landscapes and Western scenes.
“Come on and see my bedroom,” he said, taking her arm lightly and going through another open door into a spacious bedroom with another fireplace, more bookshelves, more glass. His oversize king bed with navy and light blue as a color theme, as well as his large leather sofa added to a room that appeared comfortable and a reflection of the man who lived in it. Through open doors, she could see a bathroom and to another side she saw a door open to an office with three computer screens on a wide glass desk. She was aware it was his room, more aware of him standing close beside her.
“I have baby monitors in here, plus my iPad so I can see and hear her if she stirs.”
“So if she cries both of us are going to see about her?” she asked, wanting to avoid any such thing.
“No, I’m leaving that for you. It’s in an emergency that I’ll be around.”
Relieved, she nodded. “You have a beautiful house. Lots of room for little Amelia.”
When they stepped into the hall, she smiled at him. “I have some of my things to put away. I didn’t finish today and I want to check on Amelia, so I’ll say good-night now.”
“Good night, Erin. I can’t tell you how glad we are to have you here,” he said.
She nodded and turned, going into her suite when she really wanted to stay and talk, but knowing which was the wiser course to follow.
Before she went to bed, she had on her blue cotton robe over matching pajamas. She opened the connecting door to Amelia’s big room and looked around. Seeing no other occupant, Erin crossed the room to Amelia’s crib. Amelia lay curled on her side, her black ringlets tangled and her dark lashes casting shadows on her rosy cheeks. Erin paused beside her bed and a tight pain squeezed her heart.
What would her baby have been like? How many times would she wonder about that? How long would this big empty void be in her life? How long would the hurt of losing her little baby continue?
There were times she couldn’t stop the tears and her loss overwhelmed her. As time passed, her tears came less often, but she didn’t think they would ever stop. The loss was too big and too important.
She heard a faint scrape and looked around. The door to Cade’s room was closed and he was probably moving around in his suite. She needed to get back to her own suite.
Smoothing ringlets off the baby’s forehead, Erin thought about Amelia’s loss she would cry over when she was old enough to understand, but right now she slept in blissful peace, too young to know she had lost both mother and father, secure in the love of Cade and Margo and the people around her.
Erin wiped away her tears again and inhaled deeply. She had a wonderful temporary job that would pay her a small fortune. She worked with a sweet baby and very nice people. If she could keep from falling in love with Cade and giving her heart
to Amelia as well, she would have a wonderful experience.
How simple it sounded—resist falling in love with Cade, and avoid loving Amelia, too. Would it really be that easy when they would be together daily?
* * *
It was midafternoon by the time Erin saw Cade the next day. He was standing beside his grandmother on the front porch, a limo waiting to take her to his private jet in Dallas.
Erin watched while Margo hugged and kissed Amelia, who in turn smiled at her great-grandmother. Once again she was struck by the resemblance to Cade. They looked so much alike, Amelia could have been his baby. Obviously Cade and his brother resembled each other. She had never met any of his brothers, at least that she could recall, although they might have been at her house at one time or another.
Margo was dressed in yellow linen slacks and a matching blouse and pumps. Coincidentally, Erin had dressed Amelia in a yellow jumper and white blouse. To say goodbye Erin had fastened a little yellow hair bow in Amelia’s black curls. Erin didn’t expect the ribbon to last long, but at least long enough for her to take several pictures of Margo holding Amelia.
When she handed Amelia to Erin, she smiled. “I’m glad you’re taking pictures. Cade never thinks about it and neither do I, so we don’t have recent pictures of her. Please send some to me.”
“I’ll send you copies of all I take,” Erin replied.
“Amelia is going to love you like one of the family,” Margo said as she patted her arm. “You can do much better than I can for this delightful girl.”
“I don’t know about that,” Erin said politely, smiling at Margo. “But I agree she’s a joy.”
“She is, but at my age she’s also a handful. I’m glad you’re here. Now I won’t worry about Cade or Amelia. You take care.”
“I will,” Erin answered, aware of Cade patiently waiting and watching them. When Margo turned away, he held her arm lightly to walk down the steps with her, to kiss her cheek and help her into the limo. He stood watching it drive away and then came back to the porch.
“They’ll get her on the plane and she has a friend picking her up when she lands. She is so happy you’re here and you’re so competent.”
Erin smiled. “This is a great job,” she said, looking at Amelia who was jabbering and pointing skyward. “She’s a happy little girl.”
“Nate was crazy about her and I can see why.” He made a funny face at the baby and she giggled at him. “Much as I hate to leave, I’ve got to get back to work. Unless you need something,” he said to Erin. “I’ll see you both at dinner. Maisie will be in the house all afternoon and you can easily get in touch with me.”
“We’ll be fine. You go.”
“Don’t sound so eager,” he said, smiling as he crossed the porch and held the door. “Are you two coming inside now?”
“Just long enough to get her stroller. I’ll take her into the backyard. She seems to love being outside.”
“Yes, she does. I know Nate would hold her in front of him on his horse.”
“She’s too little for that.”
He held up his hands. “I’m not doing that yet. Right now I’m scared I’ll drop her when I get her out of her bed.”
Erin laughed. “Cade, you need to relax with her. You’re not going to drop her when you pick her up.”
“Everything I do with her I’m scared.”
“That’s too silly. Stop being so uptight.”
“Stop laughing at me. I’m just an amateur dad,” he said with a grin. “If you hadn’t known me all your life, you wouldn’t be laughing out loud at me and telling me I’m silly.”
She had to admit he had a point there. She wiped away her grin and nodded at him. “You’re doing great with her, Cade. We’ll see you tonight.”
When Cade went to his office, she looked down at Amelia as she strapped her in her stroller. “Your uncle Cade is scared to carry you, but he’ll get over it soon,” she cooed to the baby. “He’s going to be a wonderful daddy for you, and he’ll try to do everything your daddy would have done for you. And you’ll love him because of it. In the meantime, I have to try to avoid falling in love with him.” She pushed the stroller outside, all the time watching Cade walking toward the barns and garages.
Amelia began to babble and Erin nodded. “That’s right.” She laughed softly, thinking about Cade. She saw him already as a good dad and when he got more accustomed to Amelia, she knew he’d be a wonderful dad. She had a wistful pang and realized that his devotion to Amelia added to her attraction to him. It was one more strong pull on her heart, reinforcing an attraction that she was already fighting. An attraction that seemed to grow stronger every hour she was with him.
* * *
After Amelia’s nap, Erin took her outside again. She was sitting in the shade on a lawn chair, Amelia in her stroller and gazing around, happy to be outside, when a bright red pickup pulled up by the back gate. The pickup had mud spattered on the tires and front bumper.
The door opened and a man—tall, broad-shouldered, wearing jeans, a Western shirt and wide-brimmed hat—jumped down. He opened the gate and stepped through, closing it and turning to come toward her.
“Hi. You must be Erin Dorsey. I’m Gabe Callahan, Cade’s youngest brother,” he said.
“I’m glad to meet you, Gabe.”
“We may have met sometime way back in the past when your brother was over or I was with Blake to pick up Cade, but I’m sure you don’t remember it and I don’t, either. Now though, I couldn’t possibly forget meeting you.” He smiled at her, his grin lighting up his handsome face. “I had no idea Luke had a gorgeous younger sister. Neither Luke nor Cade told me.”
She laughed. “I doubt that is how your older brother would have described me. As a matter of fact, I seriously doubt if he ever described me at all.” She shrugged. “When I was a kid, I don’t think he even saw me. He never acknowledged me when we were in the same room together.”
“Like I said, I’m sure that’s changed now.” Gabe grinned, another irresistible smile, revealing white, even teeth. Then he hunkered down in front of Amelia.
“Hi, baby,” he said. “How’s my favorite niece?” She blew bubbles in his direction and he chuckled. “You’re a cutie.”
He stood and turned back to Erin. She motioned to another lawn chair. “Pull a chair over and join us.”
He sat in the grass, instead, facing both of them. “This will do. I won’t be here long. I really won’t if Cade catches me.”
“Now, why is that? Why wouldn’t your brother want you here?”
“Because he won’t want me to come over and flirt with his nanny or ask his nanny to go dancing.”
She had to smile as she shook her head. “I’d say you don’t waste time, do you?”
He grinned, another infectious grin that made Amelia laugh.
“She likes your smile.”
“The ladies often do,” he said, leaning forward to look at Amelia. “You have excellent taste and a beautiful nanny, so I’ll come see you often.”
Amelia patted his cheek and he leaned out of her reach.
“Smart move,” Erin remarked. “That little hand might be sticky.”
“Do you like your job?” Gabe asked.
“I love taking care of her,” she answered.
“Good. I know Cade is relieved. Actually all of us are because he needs a good nanny. He knows nothing about taking care of a baby. Same with me and the same with Blake, although Blake is going to become a dad in January and then he’ll know a lot. Until then, we’re three guys who haven’t been around babies. Now, we can help with other things.”
She smiled. “Right now, we’re getting along pretty well.”
“I asked and was told that you’re a city woman, so I figure you like to get out and about. Cade said you have weekends fr
ee. Let me take you to eat scrumptious fried catfish and do some fun boot-scootin’ this Saturday night.”
She smiled at him again as she shook her head. “Thank you very much, but I can’t do that. I told your brother that I’ll work the next couple of weekends because he’s unsure about taking care of Amelia all by himself.”
“Okay, we’ll make it the first weekend you’re off work, then. You surely didn’t agree to do that all the time?”
“No, I didn’t. I’ll have weekends free, but I’m not dating right now.”
His gaze raked her from head to toe. “A pretty young thing like yourself?”
Erin suddenly remembered her brother’s warning about Gabe Callahan. A ladies’ man, a flirt. Well, once again her big brother was right.
Still, the man was trying to be nice, so she’d give him the courtesy of a reason. “I had a broken engagement recently.”
He got up, picked up a lawn chair and placed it very close beside hers, turned slightly so he could face her.
“To my way of thinking, that breakup is the best reason to go out. It’s a fun evening, no strings, just dancing and eating and meeting fun people and forgetting everything else. If you give me a chance, I’ll bet I can make you forget all about that breakup for a little while on a Saturday night.”
She had to smile. “I think the Callahans are born filled with confidence. You’re very convincing, Gabe, but my answer is still the same. I’m not ready for an evening out with an energetic, enthusiastic, good-looking rancher.”
Gabe was a fun, sexy cowboy who wanted to take her out. He seemed sweet and genuine and kind, and probably every female in the county would jump at the chance to go out with him. But not her. She felt not one arc of sizzling attraction to him. The kind of attraction that blazed between her and his brother.