Judy Duarte - Triple Trouble / A Real Live Cowboy

Jackie’s chattering increased to shriek level and Charlene realized she had no idea how long she’d been standing still, staring unseeingly at the baby. She glanced quickly at Melissa, but the other woman was focused on Jackie, laughing as she jiggled her in her arms.

“I bet the queen of Hollywood divas, whoever she may be this week, doesn’t make as much noise as this little girl,” Melissa commented as she met Charlene’s gaze. The housekeeper’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

Mentally sighing with relief that Melissa appeared oblivious to her distraction, Charlene shoved the memory of Nick’s powerful thighs and broad chest into the back of her mind. She ordered the image to stay put—and desperately hoped it would obey.

Jackie shrieked again and Charlene laughed out loud. “Yes, your royal highness,” she said teasingly, retrieving the pink blanket with Jackie’s name embroidered across one corner and passing it to Melissa.

“Isn’t that clever?” Melissa said admiringly, as Jackie hugged the blanket and beamed at Charlene. “I wondered how Nick planned to tell one baby’s things from another.” She ran a fingertip gently over the bracelet on Jackie’s wrist. “But everything has their names on it, including the little girls themselves.”

“I thought their parents came up with a brilliant solution,” Charlene agreed. “Though I assume they could tell their daughters apart.”

Melissa’s face sobered. “Such a terrible thing to have happened, isn’t it? How awful to lose both parents at such a young age.”

“Yes,” Charlene agreed, her heart wrenching as she looked at Jessie and Jenny tugging on their stuffed bears. So innocent—and thankfully, too young to grasp the enormity of their loss just now.

Nick strode into the room, pulling two large rolling suitcases and carrying a backpack slung over one shoulder, all stuffed to overflowing with the triplets’ clothing and toys. “I put your suitcase in the room across the hall,” he told Charlene, shrugging the backpack off his shoulder.

“Thank you,” she murmured, delighted to know the lovely room with the white wrought-iron bed and green carpet would be hers during her stay.

In the ensuing bustle of changing diapers and tucking away tiny clothing into dresser drawers, Charlene was too busy to dwell on the triplets’ orphaned status.

Melissa was a godsend, helping with the girls as Charlene and Nick fed and bathed them, then tucked all three into bed. The adults returned to the living room and collapsed, Nick in the leather club chair, Charlene and Melissa on the comfortable sofa.

“They’re wonderful,” Melissa told Nick. “But oh, my goodness.” She sighed, a gust of air stirring her normally smooth hair, where one of the triplets had rumpled and dampened it while the little girl splashed in her bath. “Talk about energy. What you two need to do is find a way to collect some of that for yourself. You’re going to need it.” She looked at Charlene. “Do they sleep through the night?”

“They did last night. I’ve got my fingers crossed, hoping we’ll have another quiet ten hours or so.”

“I hope they do too.” Melissa pushed herself up off the sofa. “I’d better get home. Ed will be wondering what happened to me.”

Nick started to shove up out of the chair but she waved him back. “No, no—don’t get up. I can see myself out. You should take advantage of this moment of quiet. Who knows how long it will last?”

“Good point,” Nick agreed, settling into the chair, the worn denim of his jeans going taut over muscled thighs as he stretched out his long legs. “We should make the most of this rare minute. It could be the last one of the night.”

“Exactly.” Melissa grinned at him, eyes twinkling, before she turned to Charlene. “I’ll see you in the morning—about eight?”

“Eight works for me. I’m looking forward to it,” Charlene replied with heartfelt warmth. After watching Melissa’s efficient, comfortable and unflappable handling of the babies over the last couple of hours, Charlene was convinced the housekeeper was going to be an enormous help in caring for the triplets.

“Goodnight, then, you two. I hope you get some sleep. I left my purse and keys in the kitchen. I’ll just collect them and let myself out the back,” she said. She moved briskly across the living room but stopped in the doorway. “I forgot to tell you, Nick, I left Rufus with Ed today so you could get the girls settled in before they meet him. I’ll bring him back with me tomorrow.”

“Good thinking,” Nick told her. “Dealing with the triplets was chaotic. Adding an excited hundred-and-twenty-five-pound dog into the mix would have made it crazy.”

Melissa chuckled and waved a quick good-night as she disappeared.

A moment later, the sound of her car engine reached the two in the living room.

“I take it you have a big dog?”

“Oh, yeah,” Nick said dryly. “Rufus is a chocolate Lab. Thankfully, he’s very mellow and loves kids, so he should be fine with the triplets.”

“As long as he likes them, they’ll probably think he’s wonderful.” Charlene yawned, suddenly exhausted. “I think I’ll head upstairs.” She unfolded her legs and stood, aware of aching muscles from the long car ride. “I could sleep for at least twelve hours straight. I’ve never understood how sitting in a car and doing nothing can make me tired.”

“It was a long trip,” Nicholas agreed, getting out of the chair. He rolled his shoulders and stretched. “Did Melissa show you where everything is—towels, coffee for tomorrow morning, et cetera?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“If you need anything, just ask. If I don’t already have it in the house, I’ll get it.” He eyed her, his gaze intent. “I’m damned grateful you agreed to take on the triplets, Charlene. I know it’s not an easy job. There’s no way I could do it by myself.”

“You’re doing very well for a man who’s never had children of his own,” she told him. “And I confess, I’m relieved Melissa will be helping. She’s good with the girls and nothing seems to faze her.”

“She’s pretty unshakeable,” Nick said. “I normally work long hours, and she keeps the house together and makes sure there are meals in the fridge.”

“How long has she worked for you?” Charlene asked, curious.

“Since a few days after I moved to Red Rock. The employment agency sent over three women and I hired Melissa on the spot.”

“Sounds like it was the right decision. Well…” She tugged her white cotton T-shirt into place, suddenly self-conscious. The room was abruptly too intimate in the lamplight and Nick loomed much too large, and much too male. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Sleep well. I have to go to the office for a meeting tomorrow, but I won’t leave until Melissa arrives.”

She nodded. “Good night.”

His answering good-night was a low male rumble. Charlene looked back when she reached the stairway and found him staring after her, his expression brooding. She hurried up the stairs, faintly breathless from the impact of the brief moment her gaze had met his.

He’s your employer, she reminded herself as she brushed her teeth in the white-and-green bathroom that opened off her bedroom, stop lusting after him.

Apparently, however, the emotional, hormonal part of her was in no mood to listen to the practical, rational command. She fell asleep and dreamed of making love with a man who looked very much like Nick Fortune.

Just as she stretched out her arms, her fingertips mere inches away from the bare chest of her dream lover, a loud wail yanked her awake.