by Judy Duarte
Anna glanced at little Jessie, hoping she would have everything a girl could ever wish for, including the things that had escaped Anna when she’d been a child.
If Anna were to remain a part of Jessie’s life, she’d do everything in her power to make sure her emotional needs were met. But Anna would be moving on soon.
Her gaze drifted to the comforter, to the butterfly print, which seemed to be a perfect choice for a room that had morphed from a cold, forbidden art studio to a loving nursery.
Footsteps sounded on the stairway. Anna turned to see Nate reenter the room carrying two cardboard boxes stacked on top of each other. She assumed they held the assortment of other gifts he’d received at the shower.
“We don’t need to put all of this away yet,” he said, “especially since Jessie’s asleep. But I’d like to set up the baby monitor.”
“Good idea.”
As Nate dug through one box, Anna spotted a night-light in the other—an angel that would provide a soft light while the baby slept at night. So she removed it and placed it in one of the outlets.
Once Nate had the monitor in place, they stood back and surveyed the nursery.
“Can you believe how quickly this all came together?” he asked, his expression warm and appreciative. “This is the perfect place for the baby to sleep. We make a good team.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Working together, they’d done a good job. She cast a smile his way, only to watch the warmth in his gaze shift to heated and intense.
She wasn’t exactly sure what he was thinking, but she could certainly sense it. And feel it.
While she ought to be unsettled by it—and opposed to it—her heart soared and her breathing slowed to a near standstill.
But she and Nate weren’t a team. They’d just worked well together today. His real teammate would be the nanny he was about to hire. Yet every nerve ending in her body rose up in a cheer, as if she’d just been chosen as his first-round draft pick.
A rebellious surge of pride filled her, insisting she was the only teammate he’d ever need.
He lifted his hand and cupped her jaw. His thumb brushed against her cheek, sending a spiral of heat rippling through her and stealing every bit of common sense she’d ever possessed.
“Thanks for all your help,” he said. “I’m not sure what I would have done without you.”
It had been the polite thing for him to say, but his eyes, his hand and that blasted caress of his thumb were sending another message completely.
She managed to mutter, “You’re welcome,” even though her best response would be to step back and regroup. But with the intensity of his gaze turning her inside out, the best she could do was to close her eyes and hope that by doing so she could somehow break whatever invisible thread had woven between them.
Her efforts weren’t working, though. Even after she’d blinked a few times, he continued to hold her captive, strengthening whatever bond stretched between them.
All at once his thumb stilled, and his hand slid from her face. Surprisingly, even though he no longer touched her, the lingering heat his hand left behind threatened to burn bright all night long.
“I have an early day tomorrow,” he said. “I’d better turn in.”
Fearing any words she might try to say would just wad up in her throat, she nodded and took a step back.
“Do you need anything before I go?” he asked.
Until he’d touched her, she’d forgotten any “needs” she’d ever had. And now that he’d stirred up the feminine longings she’d been neglecting for what seemed like forever...
No, she didn’t dare let a crazy, misguided thought like that take root in her heart or her mind.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed. I have a book I’d like to read, and this is a good night to start it.” On the other hand, starting something with the handsome cowboy daddy wasn’t a viable option.
“Then good night,” he said, tossing her a crooked grin. “Sleep tight.”
She managed to return his smile before slipping out of the nursery and into the hall. If she knew what was good for her, she’d move back to the Night Owl Motel right now—or at least, first thing in the morning.
But she’d made an agreement to help Nate find a qualified nanny, and she would stick to her part of the deal.
Even if it threatened to be her undoing.
* * *
What in the hell were you thinking, Gallagher? Touching Anna like that was a big mistake. A huge one.
Nate remained in the nursery long after Anna entered the guest room and closed the door. Things were moving way too fast, and not just with the baby, who’d dozed off as though she belonged here.
She did, of course. Belong here. This house would be her home, even if Nate could hardly imagine things coming together like that.
But it wouldn’t be Anna’s home. And as sure as Nate was about that, he’d almost done something stupid during the heat of the moment, almost suggested something completely out of the question.
Not that he intended to be celibate for the rest of his life. He’d date again someday, when the time was right, when Jessie was older and he’d gotten a good, solid grip on family life. But right now his focus had to be on the baby girl he’d accepted as his own.
Nate might not live up to be the kind of daddy she needed or deserved, but he’d be a lot better father than the one he’d had.
And that thing with Anna, the feelings and urges she’d stirred up inside him? That was just a result of raging hormones and lust caused by a fleeting rush of testosterone after he’d shared an awesome spaghetti dinner with a beautiful blonde, a woman who’d gone above and beyond to help him create a cozy nursery for his daughter to come home to.
For a couple of heartbeats, he’d almost let his appreciation and his imagination get the better of him. But he had that under control now. All he had to do was shake off the lingering urge to kiss Anna senseless, to see where desire might lead them.
Another shower might help—a cold one this time. But first he double-checked the baby monitor and carried the receiver into his bedroom.
He couldn’t possibly consider a romantic relationship right now, especially with Anna.
Only trouble was, long after he’d turned in for the night, he continued to think about the pretty social worker sleeping down the hall. As a result, he didn’t doze off until nearly midnight.
He’d set the alarm on his cell phone to wake him at four o’clock the next morning, but he hadn’t needed to. Jessie’s cry practically shook the rafters when she woke up just before three, hungry and screaming for a bottle.
Nate hurried to the nursery, only to find Anna had beat him there. She was picking up the unhappy baby and shushing her. “Don’t cry, sweetie. I have you.”
Nate ought to step inside and offer to help. Instead, he leaned against the doorjamb and watched the woman and child. Anna might not have any kids of her own, but she seemed to know instinctively what to do.
So now what?
At one time he’d been afraid to take Jessie home, but that wasn’t what scared him now.
How in the hell was he going to survive living in the same house with Anna until he hired a permanent nanny, especially when he needed to keep his hands to himself?
Chapter Nine
Over the next few days Nate and Anna settled into a comfortable and easy routine. He continued to work at the ranch and was away from home more often than not, but he began to look forward to each evening, when he could expect to have a hearty meal and a happy baby.
While Anna cleaned the kitchen, he fed and bathed Jessie before putting her to bed. Then, after the dishes were done and the baby fell asleep, Nate and Anna would turn on the television and watch old movies. It was actually nic
e to come home now, and in spite of his resolve to keep his distance from his temporary roommate and sitter, he had to admit that Anna had become rather special to him.
She also did what she’d promised to do. She’d lined up several potential nannies to interview, and on Saturday morning the first one arrived at the house.
When Nate answered the door, he found a matronly woman in her midfifties on the stoop. “You must be Barbara Newcomb.”
“Yes, I am.”
He stepped aside. “Please come in.”
Barbara, who wore a turquoise blouse, black slacks and sensible shoes, entered the living room with a warm smile.
“This is Anna Reynolds,” Nate said, introducing the two women. “She’s my...” Anna had certainly become more than a roommate or a sitter, although he wasn’t sure how much more. But he couldn’t very well let his sentence dangle, so he offered the only other option readily available. “She’s a social worker and also...my friend.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Barbara said before returning her attention to Nate. “I may not have a list of former employers to give you, but I do have references, like the pastor of my church and the principals of all the schools my children once attended. This job would actually be my first as a nanny, but don’t worry. I have plenty of experience running a household and caring for babies.”
Nate had yet to review any of the applications, although he planned to carefully go over each one this weekend.
“Barbara’s daughter is away at college,” Anna told Nate. “Her son is in the army and stationed in Germany.”
The older woman’s smile broadened. “Jeremy and his wife have two little ones, a toddler and a kindergartener. Since they’re stationed out of the country, I don’t get to see them as often as I’d like to, so I’m looking forward to taking care of other children. I’ll love and cuddle them until I can be with my own grandkids.”
Nate actually liked the idea that she wasn’t in her twenties and that her experience was that of a real mother, one who’d raised a son who’d joined the military and a daughter in college. It also sounded as if she had a couple of good references. He’d call each of them, of course. But so far, he liked Barbara Newcomb.
He and Anna chatted with her for several minutes. They learned that she’d been a widow for nearly three years, but that she’d been happily married to a man she referred to as the love of her life.
Before Nate could thank her for coming and tell her he’d be in touch, Jessie’s cry sounded upstairs.
“Oh,” Barbara said. “The baby’s awake. I’d love to meet her—if that’s okay.”
That actually sounded like a good idea. Nate would like to see how the woman related to Jessie. “I’ll bring her downstairs.”
“And I’ll fix a bottle,” Anna said. “She’s a lot happier—and more social—when her tummy is full.”
Minutes later Nate had changed Jessie’s diaper, brought her down to the living room and placed her in Barbara’s open arms. As soon as Anna handed over the bottle, Barbara offered it to the crying baby, who quickly latched on to the nipple.
“She’s absolutely precious,” Barbara said.
Nate had to agree. Jessie was still a tiny thing, but she was growing and filling out. With tufts of dark hair and blue eyes, she promised to be a real cutie when she finally began to toddle around.
As the grandmotherly woman continued to coo and make a fuss over Jessie, Nate’s confidence level grew. He wasn’t yet convinced that he’d found the right nanny, but he was beginning to think that Barbara Newcomb just might fit the bill.
He glanced at Anna. As if sensing his gaze and his unasked question, she looked his way and smiled. Apparently, she was thinking along the same lines he was.
When Jessie had finished her bottle, Nate thanked Barbara for coming. “We still have a couple of other interviews scheduled,” he said, “but I’ll be in touch.”
Barbara smiled then took one last look at Jessie before handing her over to Nate. “I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
After Anna escorted the first nanny candidate to the door, she turned to Nate and smiled. “So what do you think?”
He was about to say he liked Barbara a lot, so much that he might not even need to interview anyone else, but he held back. Anna was a trained social worker. Maybe she’d picked up on something he’d missed.
“You go first,” he said.
“All right. I like her. We’ll have to talk to her references, of course. But the agency has already vetted her, and she’s bonded. So I think you should seriously consider her for the job.”
A smile of relief stretched across his face. “Good. That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
As much as Nate wanted to celebrate the fact that his nanny search might be over almost as soon as it began, he couldn’t find it in himself to rejoice. For one thing, once the new nanny moved in and got settled, Anna would be leaving.
And for some crazy reason, in spite of the uneasiness and apprehension he’d felt when he’d first met her, he wasn’t ready to see her go.
* * *
On Monday afternoon, before Nate returned from the ranch, Anna’s cell phone rang. It was her landlord.
“Hello,” Carla said. “I’m glad I found you. I tried your number at work first, and they said you were on vacation.”
“I didn’t leave town,” Anna said. “I’m staying with a friend. How are things coming along at the apartment?”
“Actually, it’s going much better now. The workers are finally making some real progress, and you should be able to move back in by Friday morning—maybe even sooner. You’ve been such a good tenant that I wanted to let you know before you found another place to live.”
“Thanks for the update,” Anna said. “That’s good news. My friend said I can stay as long as I need to, but I don’t want to take advantage of his kindness much longer.”
That was true, of course. But Friday might be a little too soon to move out since she’d promised Nate she would stay until after he hired a nanny and the woman got settled.
Anna loved her studio apartment and wanted to return, but admittedly, she wasn’t as eager to go home as she’d once been. She’d fallen into a comfortable situation while staying with Nate. She also enjoyed having a baby to care for, to talk to. And that was saying something for a woman who’d never liked to play with dolls when she’d been a little girl.
Who would have thought that Anna had a domestic side? She certainly hadn’t realized it, and while being with Nate and Jessie was a nice change of pace, it wouldn’t last. She loved her job at the hospital and had no intention of giving it up.
“I’ll call you as soon as you can move in,” Carla said.
Anna thanked her then said goodbye. After placing her cell back into her purse, she returned to the kitchen to check on the roast beef in the oven.
Tonight’s dessert, homemade apple crisp, was cooling on the counter. There was vanilla ice cream in the freezer, which she planned to put on top of each serving.
She’d no more than refried the homemade pinto beans she’d made earlier when the front door creaked open and shut.
“I’m home,” Nate called out.
A thrill of excitement shot through her. She tried to tamp it down, but wasn’t having much luck. She was glad Nate was back and looking forward to hearing what he had to say about tonight’s menu.
After turning off the flame under the skillet, she placed the wooden spoon in the sink and went to the living room to greet him as if falling into a domestic role wasn’t the least bit out of the ordinary.
Yet she couldn’t deny the rush of satisfaction she took in having Nate home, in knowing he would appreciate her efforts at creating a hungry man’s meal.
“Hey!” she said as if his arrival had surprised her. “Did you ha
ve a good day?”
“It was okay. How’s Jessie?”
“Sound asleep. I took her outside for a walk this afternoon. She really seemed to enjoy looking around and checking out her neighborhood. You should have seen her.”
“I wish I had.”
Seriously? That was just what she’d been hoping for—to know he’d bonded with his daughter. To know that Jessie had a loving daddy and a happy home.
Sure, some kids didn’t. But this little girl...?
As much as Anna hoped to keep her distance and not get too involved with a patient or her family, she’d been drawn to Jessie since day one.
She’d also been drawn to her daddy.
Nate removed his worn Stetson and hung it on a hook near the door. His hair was mussed, and his blue eyes sparked with something bright, something she couldn’t quite name but looked forward to seeing each night.
As he sauntered across the hardwood floor, all lean and male and cowboy, Anna’s heart spun out in her chest. She hated to admit it, but she’d been waiting for this moment all day long.
Wait. That wasn’t quite true. She was making it into something more than it really was. She’d just spent the past twelve hours with an infant who couldn’t talk to her. She’d only been looking for some adult conversation. That’s all it was.
“Where is she?” he asked.
The baby? Yes, of course. It was all about Jessie—as it should be.
“She’s upstairs in her crib. We had a great afternoon. She’s staying awake for longer periods of time now.”
“I assume that’s good,” Nate said.
“Yes, of course.”
He spotted the novel she’d left on the lamp table, near the easy chair. “Moby Dick?”
Anna shrugged. “I hope you don’t mind, but I found it in the bookcase.”
“You like to read?”
“Yes, I love books.” In fact, after taking a creative writing course in college, she’d thought about writing the great American novel. But she hadn’t considered it very long. She knew it wouldn’t be easy to complete a manuscript—or to find an agent or publisher. And after realizing she’d had enough uncertainty and instability in her life, she’d changed her major from English Lit to psychology.
