by Beau Brown
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Coming in November 2017
Chapter One
Coming in December 2017
Chapter One
Copyright
Chapter One
Hunter
My new employer’s advertisement had been for a nanny, but the dilapidated ranch in front of me looked as if the owner should have run an ad for a construction crew while he was at it.
The sprawling buildings were a withered gray, hardly resembling wood anymore. Aluminum siding banged against the side of a barn as the dusty wind picked up around me.
“You sure this is the place?” The old man who’d given me a lift didn’t seem anymore impressed with the ranch than I was. His sharp blue eyes stood out against his brown skin as he studied me. “Find it hard to believe anyone would raise a kid all the way out here.”
“This is the address he gave me.” I flinched as the creaky windmill above my head squeaked into action.
I walked around to the back of his pickup and grabbed my one bag. I didn’t have much in the way of personal belongings. I liked it that way because I moved around a lot from family to family.
“It’s your funeral.” The man tipped his beat-up Stetson and climbed back into his truck. With a roar of the engine he backed down the long gravel drive toward the main road. I had to stamp down the impulse to run after him for a ride back into town.
I straightened my spine and the sun’s heat warmed my shoulders as I made my way toward the main house. One half of the long home was freshly painted white, but the other half was still peeling and shabby. As I glanced around the wide area, it was mildly reassuring to see some men stacking hay near a pen that held about a dozen horses. I’d begun to feel as if I was the only living creature for miles.
I wasn’t exactly sure where to go. Was my employer working on the ranch somewhere or inside the ramshackle house? We’d settled on a day for me to arrive, but hadn’t really fixed a time. I’d made my trip in the afternoon to give me time to settle in and meet the little boy I’d be watching over for the foreseeable future.
I wiped sweat off my brow with the back of my arm and decided to try the house first. Stomping my way up the steps, I knocked on the time-worn screen door and waited.
The scuff of boots inside the house met my ears, and then a tall, lean man appeared behind the mesh. The first thing that struck me about him was his eyes. They were an odd light green and they seemed to see straight through me. From the proud tilt of his head there could be little doubt he was an alpha.
“Hunter?” His voice was deep. He pushed open the screen even before I answered. I guessed not many people accidentally stumbled upon his ranch all the way out here in the sticks.
“That’s me.” I slipped past him, catching the scent of leather and soapy perspiration.
“I’m Jake Windmire,” he muttered.
A little boy sat at a long oak table. His hair was wavy and he had a smudge of dirt on his chubby cheek. “Is that him, Papa?” The child’s eyes were wide with curiosity.
“Yep.” Jake closed the screen behind me with a bang.
I dropped my bag near the door and made my way over to the little boy. I knelt down so that we were eye level. “Hi, Avery, I’m Hunter. I’ve looked forward to meeting you.” I smiled at the child and he just stared at me. I held out my hand and took his little one in mine. “How do you do?”
There was a snort behind me and I glanced toward Jake. He had a smirk on his face.
“Is something funny?”
“Not if you’re meeting the queen.” Jake shook his head.
Shoving down my irritation, I turned my back on him again and spoke to Avery. “We’re going to have a lot of fun together. I’ve got lots of great games we can play and I even have some colored pencils in my bag.”
The child’s dark eyes lit up but then he slid his gaze to his father and he seemed to wilt. “Papa doesn’t like games.”
I frowned. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll let us play a few so long as you’re a good boy.” I stood and faced Jake. “Right?”
Jake’s jaw tensed. “Life on a ranch isn't about fun and games.”
I squinted at him. “He’s five. That’s all his life should be right now.”
“I was roping and riding by the time I was four.” His cool gaze scanned me. “No doubt a city boy wouldn’t understand.”
Heat crept up my cheeks. “I grew up on ranch, Mr. Windmire.”
Surprise rippled over his angular features. “Really? Where?”
I immediately regretted opening my big mouth. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about my family. “It was a long time ago.”
“Where?”
“The ranch isn’t around anymore.” I avoided his gaze.
He leaned toward me. “Ranches don’t just disappear into thin air.”
He was like a coyote with a bone and didn’t seem like he wanted to let go. I lifted my chin and decided to tell him enough to shut him up. “My family lost the ranch when I was fourteen. If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it. I only mentioned it so you’d know I’m not just a city boy.”
He rubbed his chin as he studied me, then he finally said, “Fair enough.” He glanced toward my bag. “I’ll show you to your room. I need to get back to work.”
I moved to grab my stuff. “I’ll be back down in a minute, Avery.”
Avery nodded and I followed Jake from the kitchen.
The house was even bigger inside than it appeared from the exterior. There was a huge formal dining room that looked like it had never been used and an enormous family room with a floor to ceiling stone fireplace.
Jake led me up a narrow staircase that creaked ominously as we ascended. We passed a few bedrooms and he stopped near the end of the long landing at one of the doors. He pushed it open and we stepped inside. There was a four poster bed, a dresser and not much else. The walls were white with no pictures, and if not for the large window at one end with a view of the ranch, it might have felt a little like a prison cell.
“It ain’t much. I haven’t had time to spruce up the inside of the ranch since most my time is taken up with the outside of the place.” His voice was gruff and I got the feeling he felt bad that my room was so barren.
“It’s fine. I’ll mostly just be sleeping in here anyway.”
He nodded and some tension seemed to leave his broad shoulders. “Okay, good.”
Maybe it was the enclosed space we were in, but for the first time since my arrival, it struck me how truly attractive he was. His body was lean, muscular and his lanky legs seemed to go on forever. Boots, faded jeans and the scent of fresh cut hay accentuated his masculine vibe. He was all alpha and his proximity made my stomach flutter oddly.
I cleared my throat, trying to reclaim my professionalism. “The agency didn’t really give me many details. I know you’re a widower and that Avery is five. But other than that I’m kind of in the dark.”
His mouth hardened. “What else do you need to know?”
“Well, I’m dealing on a personal level with Avery. I should probably know how his mother died.”
“Father.”
“Father. Sorry.” I grimaced. “It’s helpful to know details in case Avery has any questions or issues that I should deal with. You know… about losing his father.”
“Avery never knew his other father. Felix died in childbirth
.”
“Oh, God. I’m sorry.”
His expression became even chillier. “Pity isn’t needed.”
“I was expressing sympathy, not pity.”
“I don’t see the difference. Neither one helps or changes anything. My mate is still gone. I’m stuck with a kid I don’t have time for and my ranch is slowly falling down around my ears.”
I winced at his harsh tone. It was clear Jake wasn’t going to be an easy man to deal with. I’d worked in a lot of different homes over the past six years, but he was the most distant father I’d ever met. Downstairs, I’d felt no real warmth from him toward his son. Now that I knew the circumstances of Avery’s birth, that apathy toward his child made more sense.
“I’m sure it hasn’t been easy. But none of this is Avery’s fault.”
“How do you figure?”
Shock went through me. “I’m sorry?”
He pinned me with his emotionless gaze. “If Avery had never been born, Felix would still be alive.”
I took a step back, rocked by his coldness. “Avery didn’t ask to be born.”
“I never wanted a kid,” he growled, looking frustrated.
My shock was replaced by anger. “I hope you’ve never said anything that horrible to your son.”
He scowled. “Of course not.”
Relief filled me. “Thank God.” Maybe he was just venting, letting off steam. All men had a breaking point and it couldn’t have been easy these last five years trying to raise Avery by himself. Sometimes people under tremendous stress said horrible, hateful things they didn’t really mean. I hoped that was what was going on here.
He raked a hand through his hair and some of the anger seemed to leave his features. “Look. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that about Avery. The kid’s okay.” He shook his head. “But I don’t know the first thing about raising children. I’ve got my hands full with this ranch.”
“Avery seems like a great kid.”
He chuffed. “You can thank the babysitters for that one.” He exhaled roughly. “But it’s not easy keeping anyone out here long term. No one stays over a couple of months.”
Since my own first impression of his ranch had made me want to change my mind and flee, I didn’t bother arguing. “If you didn’t want children, why did you have a baby?”
He scowled. “Like I had a choice?”
“There’s always a choice.” I lifted my chin. “I don’t plan on having kids.”
He looked like I’d told him I was from Mars. “What? You’re an omega. You have to have babies.”
“No I don’t.”
“Who’ll take care of you?”
I crossed my arms, irritation prickling my neck. I’d heard that same question a million times over the years. “I can take care of myself.”
“Are you barren?” he asked suspiciously.
“No!” At least I didn’t think so.
He still watched me as if I had two heads. “What kind of an omega doesn’t want kids?”
“What kind of an alpha doesn’t want babies?”
His face flushed and clamped his mouth shut. “This conversation is going nowhere.”
“Agreed.” I was overheated and embarrassed. I’d planned on a nice, businesslike conversation with my new employer, and instead we’d basically bickered like children the last five minutes.
He shifted uneasily. “I need to get back to work.”
“Of course.” I moved into the hall. “What time should I have dinner ready?”
“We usually knock off around six.” He led the way to the stairs.
“Do I need to cook for all the ranch hands too?” I wasn’t used to cooking for large groups of people, but if I had to I would push my way through.
“No. Just me and Avery. The others have omegas to go home to.” His voice was emotionless.
Avery was still where we’d left him. His plate was empty and he had his hands crossed on the table. “I stayed in my spot like you like, Papa.”
A muscle worked in Jake’s cheek. “Good boy.” Without another word he left, banging the screen behind him.
I watched him walk away, his shoulders stiff and his head held high. During our short time together, he’d been such a mixture of frustration and regret I couldn’t quite put my finger on what kind of man he really was.
I sighed and faced Avery. “Would you like to help me wash the lunch dishes?”
His eyes widened. “Papa doesn’t like me to help because I break stuff.”
I smiled. “How about you try and be extra careful?”
“I’ll try.” He bit his lower lip and crawled down from his chair. Then he picked up his plate and carried it over to me as if it was the most fragile thing in the world.
I took the plate and rinsed it in the sink. “Go ahead and bring the other dishes to me too.”
“Oh, boy,” he hissed, sounding worried.
“You can do this.”
“I just don’t want Papa mad at me.” His little voice wobbled as he grabbed a glass from the table.
“Everybody breaks stuff and goofs up when their learning new things.” I took the glass from him. “I used to break stuff all the time, but now I don’t quite as much.”
He got the last few items from the table and he handed them to me. His eyes were dark and curious. “You broke things?”
“All the time.”
“Did your Papa get mad at you?”
I grimaced. “Yes. He’d take his belt off and whip me sometimes too.” I faced Avery. “Does your daddy do that kind of thing to you?”
Avery tilted his head and frowned. “He swatted my butt with a newspaper one time when I started to touch the fireplace.”
I smiled. “I see.”
He widened his eyes. “I don’t touch the fireplace anymore.”
“Good boy.” I cleared my throat. “Any other times he hit you?”
He shook his head. “No. Papa mostly just ignores me or sometimes he yells.”
My heart ached for the little boy standing in front of me. “Why does he yell at you?”
“He didn’t yell at me. He yelled at the last girl who watched me because she was smoking and she took a nap and left me alone all day.”
I frowned. “She left you alone?”
“Yep.” He stuck his hands in his little jean pockets. “Papa had to go to town. But I was good and I didn’t leave my room all day, just like she told me.”
“Was this person here before me?”
He nodded. “Yes. Her name was Polly.” He giggled. “Like a parrot.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry she left you alone.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. You’re here now.”
I closed the dishwasher and knelt down in front of him. “I won’t ever leave you alone like that. You’re a big boy, but you should still have an adult with you most of the time.”
He surprised me when he reached out and took my hand. “I don’t like to be alone.”
My heart squeezed. “That’s perfect because I don’t like to be alone either.” I stood. “How about we go for a walk and you can show me around the ranch.”
“Really?” His voice went up sharply. “I can go outside?”
“Of course. Why not? We need sunshine and fresh air.” I moved to the door, still holding his hand.
We walked down the steps and I gazed around the big yard. There were a couple of beat up trucks with rusted paint and doors missing. Some broken furniture and cardboard boxes mangled from the weather were strewn about, busting at the seams from their long forgotten treasures.
At one time the ranch had probably been an impressive spread. The bones were still good, but now it was more like a carcass that had been ravaged by vultures. I had a feeling its chaotic state represented Jake’s inner turmoil.
The summer heat brought out the pungent fragrance of the crape myrtle that grew wild around the yard. I headed slowly toward the barn while Avery pointed to the cows in the distance and the horses nearby. He was s
o excited to be outside, I wondered if no one ever let him out of the house.
As we neared the barn Jake came out of the building carrying two buckets of paint. He didn’t have his shirt on any longer, and his sinewy pecs and biceps gleamed with sweat. Against my will, my eyes seemed drawn to the thin line of dark, silky hairs that trailed down to his belt. His jeans hung low on his narrow hips and they fit his muscled thighs perfectly.
I swallowed against the surprising punch of attraction that hit me. His musky scent mixed with sweat had my omega instincts responding whether I liked it or not. I averted my eyes, but not before he noticed me staring.
“Papa!” Avery jumped up and down. “Can I help paint?”
Dragging his irritable gaze from mine, Jake snapped, “No.”
I patted the little boy’s head, trying to comfort him from how harsh his father sounded. “You don’t have to bite his head off.”
“Why are you over here? We’re working,” Jake grumbled.
An alpha about my age strolled over, his gaze friendly. “You must be the new manny.” He seemed oblivious to Jake’s anger. It made me think perhaps Jake’s bark was worse than his bite.
I forced myself to smile, still irritated with Jake’s boorish treatment of his son. I held out my hand. “I’m Hunter.”
“Tex.” The guy winked as he gripped my fingers.
I shot Jake a glance. “I didn’t think it would hurt anything to let Avery out of the house for five minutes.”
Jake set the paint cans down and he moved closer to me. His earthy scent filled my nostrils and my pulse picked up again. “I hired you to keep my son out of my hair during work hours.” He spoke softly enough that I knew Avery couldn’t hear him.
“He’s not a vampire. He needs to get outside and be a kid.”
“It’s a big ranch. Maybe take him over by the lake where he can feed the ducks or something,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I didn’t know you had a lake.” I held his angry gaze.
He blinked at me. “Okay. True. You wouldn’t.”
His change in demeanor threw me.
“I’ll give you a tour,” Tex volunteered.
Jake’s expression tensed. “No. I can do it.”
“I don’t mind,” drawled Tex.
“I said I’d do it.”
