Roxann Delaney - A Nanny for the Cowboy

Hayley shrugged. “I grew up the only girl in a family of five kids. My mom needed help, so I was the one to do it. In fact, as soon as I was old enough to put a knife, fork and spoon on the table, I was in the kitchen.”

“Nothing like Erin, right, Luke?” Dylan asked.

Luke thought about his sister, whose skills leaned more toward horses than cooking. Way more. “Erin has her own talents,” he reminded his brother.

Hayley helped Brayden down from his high chair and looked at Luke. “Not every woman enjoys cooking.”

“Or being a mother,” Dylan said. He immediately ducked his head and glanced at his brother. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“Forget it,” Luke answered, brushing off the comment, and stood. He knew Dylan had been as taken in by Kendra as he had. Erin, too.

Taking Brayden by the hand, Hayley turned to them both. “Cooking and nurturing aren’t for women only, you know,” she said, then hurried past them.

Luke watched her take Brayden from the room, unsure of what to say.

Dylan took a step in the same direction. “She seemed kind of upset. Maybe I should apologize.”

“Leave her alone for a few minutes. She’ll cool down, and I’ll go make sure everything is okay.”

Dylan’s expression was repentant. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings or whatever. I just— I guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut, but I was trying to compliment her.” He turned to look in the direction where she’d disappeared. “I sure blew that, didn’t I?”

Luke approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. She has an independent streak.”

“Like Erin.”

Luke had to smile. “In a way, yeah, I guess. Don’t let it bother you. She’ll be fine.”

But he wasn’t convinced she would and he didn’t stay around to explain it to his brother. The evening had been pleasant, but he’d felt a reserve about Hayley that had bothered him. Whatever had caused it, he knew he should probably find out so he wouldn’t repeat it. This nanny thing was new to him, and he wasn’t sure what was expected of him.

He found her upstairs in his son’s bedroom. As he stood, watching from the doorway, she pulled out a small pair of pajamas from the bureau drawer. Placing them on the bed, she bent to give Brayden a hug.

“Bath time,” she announced, “and then you can get in your clean jammies.”

“No,” Brayden said, running to hide behind the closet door.

She didn’t say anything for several seconds, until Brayden peeked out at her. “Maybe your daddy will let you go back down to tell your uncle Dylan good night. Would you like that?”

Brayden stepped out from behind the door, bobbing his head in an eager nod.

Luke cleared his throat so he wouldn’t spook her. “Go on down then.”

The look of joy on his young son’s face was priceless as the boy sped past him out the door. “Slow down on the stairs, Brayden,” he called to him. “We’ll be there in a minute.”

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