Cindy Kirk - Fortune's Little Heartbreaker

He did his best to process her rapid-fire speech but it was as if she was speaking a foreign language. Apparently cueing in to his glazed look, she broke off and laughed without a hint of self-consciousness.

“I’m babbling.” She laughed again. “Which I sometimes do when I’m nervous.”

“I make you nervous?”

A bright pink rose up her neck. “A little.”

Truly puzzled now, he cocked his head. “Why?”

“You’re different from the men I know, the guys in this town.”

“My brothers live here. I’m not different from them.”

“I’m not well acquainted with your family. At least not with the ones from England.”

“Hopefully that will change.” Oliver gestured to the refrigerator. “May I get you something to drink?”

“Thanks. I’m fine.” She moved to Ollie’s side, the dog like a little shadow at her feet. Taking a seat at the table near the child, she smiled and picked up a piece of the apple. “This looks yummy.”

The toddler’s fingers closed around the apple slice. Her smile flashed with delight when he put it into his mouth and began to chew.

Oliver considered offering her something to eat, but rations were in short supply at the moment. He really needed to make a trip into town to the grocery shop they called the Superette.

“You said you had a proposition for me, Mr. Fortune Hayes?”

She was direct. Oliver admired that quality. Spared all the posturing.

“I’d like you to help me find a nanny for Ollie.”

Shannon leaned back in her chair and studied him for several seconds before speaking. “I thought you hired an agency in Lubbock to do that for you. That’s the buzz around town.”

Jensen had warned him there were no secrets in Horseback Hollow. “Their efforts so far have been disappointing.”

“You’ve been here two days.”

“It’s difficult to get work done when you’re caring for a child.”

Unexpectedly, Shannon laughed; a delightful sound that reminded him of bells ringing. “I don’t think any parent would contradict that statement.”

“The fact is, Miss Singleton—”

“Shannon,” she reminded him.

“Shannon.” He found the name pleasant on his tongue. “My business is a demanding one. While I’m happy to come and spend time with my family, I need to stay involved.”

“What is it you do?”

“I run a brokerage house.” It would be bragging to say more, to tell her that his firm was one of the top ones in London. Besides, it had no relevance to the current conversation.

“Oh.”

“The point is I need to find someone immediately. Of course, not just anyone will do. Ollie’s happiness and welfare is paramount. The women the agency has sent so far were totally inappropriate. This has caused me to doubt the adequacy of the agency’s screening process.”

“How were they inappropriate?” Shannon knew he’d acquired the services of the premier placement agency in Lubbock. To hear he was dissatisfied so quickly surprised her.

“The first woman hadn’t been informed this was a live-in position.” Oliver snatched from the air the piece of apple Ollie had tried to fling to a waiting Barnaby. “Interviewing her was a complete waste of my time.”

“Probably an oversight,” Shannon said diplomatically. “What else?”

“The next woman found the accommodations—” he hesitated for a second before continuing “—substandard. That didn’t concern me because I found her supercilious attitude unacceptable.”

“Many live-in nannies—” Shannon chose her words carefully since the lodging they were referring to was owned by her father “—require a private bath.”

“I completely understand her concern,” Oliver said briskly. “I’m not looking forward to sharing the lavatory either. I’d hoped the salary I was offering and the fact that it wouldn’t be a long-term placement would make that fact more palatable.”

“It must be difficult living in a home that is so far below your circumstances.”

He appeared to ignore her dry tone. “This home and Horseback Hollow may not be where I’d choose to live forever, but for the short term both are adequate.”

Shannon knew he was being kind and exceedingly tactful. But his comment only served to remind her that Oliver Fortune Hayes wouldn’t be like his sister, Amelia, or his brother Jensen, who’d come to Horseback Hollow and not only fallen in love with a local but with the town and its people, as well.

She had to keep that in mind. Despite the ooh la la factor, any relationship with Oliver would be a dead-end street.

Chapter Three

Oliver found himself enjoying his conversation with Shannon. She was obviously an intelligent woman who appeared to truly care about his situation.

“I asked Amelia for names since Amber and Jensen were fresh out of ideas.” Oliver paused and tilted his head. “Are you certain I can’t get you a refreshment?”

Shannon smiled. She had quite a lovely one. While her features were too strong to be considered classically beautiful, there was an arresting nature to her face that made a man—even one who’d sworn off women temporarily to focus on his son—take a second look.

Though he must admit, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen a woman in denim and cotton. Not to mention cowboy boots. The pants hugged her slender figure like a glove, and the shirt, though not tight, hinted at underlying curves. Yes, she was striking indeed.

“I guess I could take a cup of tea, if it’s not too much trouble.”

He was so focused on her lips that it took him a second to process. “No trouble at all.”

Oliver was putting the kettle on the stove when the doorbell rang.

“Would you like me to get that?” Even as she asked, Shannon was already rising to her feet with a fluid grace comparable to any of the ladies he knew back in London.

“Thank you, yes.” Oliver pulled his gaze from her backside and gave Ollie a biscuit. His son squealed with delight.

He heard Shannon speak, then recognized his brother’s voice.

Jensen strolled into the room, dressed casually—for him—in brown trousers and a cream-colored polo shirt. There was curiosity in his eyes when his brother’s gaze slid between him and Shannon. “I didn’t realize the two of you were acquainted.”

“Shannon showed me around this lovely home,” Oliver announced.

“That’s, ah, correct.” Shannon, who’d appeared relaxed only moments before, now appeared ready to bolt.

The fact puzzled Oliver. He’d been under the impression that while Shannon and Jensen weren’t well acquainted, they were on good terms.

“Will you have a cup?” Oliver asked his brother. “I have Fortnum & Mason.”

Jensen’s smile gave Oliver his answer, while Shannon’s brows pulled together.

“Fortnum & Mason is a popular British tea manufacturer. They have a Smoky Earl Grey blend that Oliver—and almost everyone in the family—prefers,” Jensen explained before Oliver could open his mouth.

“I’m sure it’s delicious, but I’ll have to pass.” Shannon appeared to make a great show of looking at her watch. “We can talk another time, Oliver. I have plans and I’m sure you and your brother have a lot to discuss.”

Oliver’s heart gave an odd lurch. He surprised himself by crossing the room, taking her arm and leading her back to her seat at the table. “Nonsense. You’re staying for tea.”

“Down,” Ollie called out. “Want down.”

“I can get—” Shannon began.

Oliver held up a hand, then fixed his gaze on his son. “What do you say?”

Ollie stared at him with innocent blue eyes before his mouth widened into a grin. “Pease.”

“Good man.” Oliver lifted his son down from the high chair.