Merrillee Whren - Montana Match

“Oh.” She looked away, as if his statement had embarrassed her.

He’d probably given her more information than she wanted to know. He had a bad habit of speaking his mind, no matter what the consequences. Better change the subject. “Heather told me you took a ski lesson this morning?”

“Yeah. Where is Heather?”

“Still on the slopes, but she sent me down here to check on you. How did the lesson go?”

Brittany shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I learned how to snowplow.”

“That’s a good start. Are you ready for lunch?”

Brittany nodded. “I thought Heather was meeting me.”

“She is, but she wanted to do a little skiing with Rose and Jasmine first before the girls did their afternoon thing.”

He was out of practice talking with single women who were close to his own age. What did it matter? He wasn’t going to see Brittany again after this weekend. Even if she was pretty, he didn’t need to impress her. “Do you mind if I join you while we wait for Heather?”

She looked up at him in surprise. “I’m sorry. I should’ve invited you to sit with me. I don’t know where my manners have gone. Please, join me. In fact, I’m glad to have a chance to talk to you. I want to thank you. It’s really generous of you to pay for everything, especially since I’m not family.”

“Think nothing of it.” Parker smiled. He pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

Now what did he say? He hated small talk, especially since he seldom had face-to-face interaction with anyone except the people on the ranch and an occasional family member. It was better for him and the twins to be surrounded by people who supported and accepted them. But in his efforts to shield his girls from malicious gossip, he’d gotten out of practice at making conversation with strangers.

Parker tried to lasso his thoughts, but her cute freckled face had his mind in a dither. Maybe that’s why she had him noticing things about her that he shouldn’t be noticing at all.

“Heather tells me you live on a ranch.”

“Yeah.” An invitation to talk about himself—one of his least favorite things to do. When he was with his family, all he wanted to talk about was his girls, but he didn’t want to explain to a stranger why he was a bachelor father.

“Do you raise cattle?”

“I’m more of a gentleman rancher.”

“A what?”

“I don’t actually do any ranching. I only live there.”

“Oh.” The word was wrapped in curiosity.

Hoping to avoid giving her any other information, he ignored her questioning look. “What about you? What do you do?”

Brittany stared at him for a moment, then glanced away toward the windows. Sighing heavily, she looked back at him. “I’m currently a substitute teacher. I lost my real job a few months ago. I tried some temp jobs, but they were short-lived. Then a teacher I know from church suggested that I sign up to be a substitute, but that still makes for a rather unsettled life—not knowing how much will be in my next paycheck. It’s hard to find regular work of any kind.”

Parker couldn’t help remembering Delia’s speculation about Brittany being a prospect for the nanny position. His desperation to find someone to care for his daughters was making him have irrational thoughts. He knew very little about this young woman. “What was your previous job?”

“I worked for a financial-planning company, and they were downsizing. I was the last hired and the first fired.” Brittany laughed halfheartedly.

“Any job prospects in your field?” Now Parker knew what had caused her troubled look. He’d like to commiserate, but he certainly didn’t want to explain the false accusations that had cost him his job. The unfairness of it all still troubled him.

She shook her head. “I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do next. Kind of puts a damper on trying to have fun.”

“Maybe we can get you up on the slopes and take your mind off it for at least a little while.” And his mind, too.

“Heather said the same thing.” Brittany smiled.

“Then we’ll try not to mention it again.” Taking in that smile, Parker tried to ignore the way his heart bumped against his ribs. Another reason not to entertain the idea of her as a nanny. Having a nanny he was attracted to would be a big mistake.

“I’m not sure that will help. I keep thinking about it. Can I find a new job in Billings, or should I go back home? If I choose to go home, how will that affect Heather, since I share an apartment with her?”

Parker took in the fact that Brittany, despite her own troubles, was still concerned about Heather. Brittany’s thoughtfulness said something very good about her. “So where’s home?”

“Pinecrest, a little town north of Spokane, Washington.”

Glancing toward the door and hoping to see Heather, Parker nodded. “Yeah. I know Spokane. I’ve been there several times.”

“But I’ll bet you’ve never been to Pinecrest.”

“You’d be correct.”

“Not many job prospects there, but maybe I can find one in Spokane.” Brittany sighed. “I think my parents want me to move back. My dad’s checking out jobs in Spokane for me. He says the sooner I get back into finance the better. Temp jobs and substitute teaching don’t exactly enhance my resume.”

“What brought you to Montana in the first place?”

Brittany sighed. “My boyfriend Max. He came to college here on a football scholarship.”

A boyfriend. That bit of information ought to keep his wayward thoughts in check. “So what does he do?”

“He’s in graduate school, but, actually, he’s not my boyfriend anymore. We just broke up last weekend. So that’s why I’m thinking about moving back to Washington.” Brittany’s green eyes shimmered, and she looked away toward the window. “That’s another reason Heather invited me to ski. She thought it might help me forget the breakup.”

No boyfriend after all. He knew the hurt of a broken relationship—what it meant to have people you trusted turn away when you needed them the most. Did he detect unshed tears? He was surprised to find himself wanting to comfort her. The urge to reach out to strangers, to help people in need, had been very rare in recent years—but Brittany seemed to bring it out in him.

“Are you okay?”

Parker’s question made Brittany flush. How could she admit to this virtual stranger that part of her was glad that she and Max had finally faced the truth? She hated admitting that the breakup was inevitable, but she’d finally come to the conclusion that the relationship was at a dead end. “Yes. It was for the best.”

As Brittany said the words, she was even more certain that her statement was true. But she couldn’t forget that Max had been a part of her life for eight years, and his absence left an empty place in her heart.

“So, I suppose there’s nothing keeping you in Billings anymore.”

Before Brittany could respond, Heather approached the table as she waved a hand above her head. “I see you two found each other.”

Parker stood and pulled out a chair for her. “Yeah, we were getting to know each other.”

“Thanks.” Heather gave her uncle a pointed look. “I’ll bet you were asking all the questions, weren’t you?”

“Did Rose and Jasmine get to their afternoon activity?” Parker ignored Heather’s inquiry.

“They did. They settled in nicely. No problem.”

“Good. I hope they enjoy themselves this afternoon as much as we did this morning. Pretty soon they’re going to be skiing better than me.”

Leaning back, Brittany took in the exchange. Heather was right. Parker had asked most of the questions, and he certainly looked relieved when Heather had walked in. Brittany figured that Parker wasn’t exactly excited about entertaining his niece’s friend. But the fact that he’d made the effort told Brittany that he was a considerate man.