Sara Orwig - The Rancher's Nanny Bargain

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.

“Ah, Erin, I see Grandmother has already fled the scene and left it all to you,” he said, looking down at her and looking at Amelia. “Amelia seems happy.”

“For having such upheaval in her life, she’s a happy baby. I think they sense what’s happening around them.”

He sat on the end of the sofa, so close he could easily reach out and touch her and Amelia. “She’s doing better,” he said as he shifted his attention to the baby. “At first she cried a lot. Thank goodness she doesn’t cry as much now because that tears me up. When she’s been fed and isn’t sleepy and everything should be all right, but she still cries, I feel as if she wants Lydia or Nate.”

“Cade, I’m sorry,” Erin said softly, touching his hand lightly. She removed her hand instantly and drew a deep breath as he turned to look at her.

The moment had changed again as soon as she’d touched him. He was instantly hot, wanting to reach for her, wanting to flirt with her, to kiss her. That slight touch that was simply meant to console him stirred a potent desire within him.

Wide-eyed, Erin looked at him, then shifted away. When her cheeks turned pink, he decided she felt the same rush of desire as he had—and the knowledge only deepened his response to her.

“Amelia’s happy now,” she said, casting her gaze on the baby rolling the ball around. Erin laughed as she caught the ball and placed it back in front of Amelia.

“Now that you’re here, my grandmother will be going home to Dallas.”

“That’s fine. You’ve hired me and I can manage. That’s my job.”

“I know you can take care of her easily, but I really expected Grandmother to at least give you a day. But I should have known because I know my grandmother. She’s not into childcare.”

“Your grandmother has been here since the accident?”