“Sounds good to me.”
He stood up and she tried not to feel intimidated by the sheer size of him.
Rodney had been tall. She gulped. She hated thinking about him.
“I’ll see you later.”
* * *
How in the hell was he going to explain all this to his family?
Maverick sat outside the home he’d just built, Sadie whining to be let out. He opened the truck door. She crossed his lap and jumped out, Maverick watching absently as she ran to the porch, waiting for him.
If only you knew what your human just agreed to do.
There would be an adjustment period for his dog, too. His heart beat so dang hard he could feel it hammering his neck.
He had to be crazy.
There was no other way to explain why he’d ever agree to care for Becca’s daughter... Becca’s frightened, poorly dressed, starving little girl.
And he could have done something about it. Could have acted to see if Becca was okay...should have done it. But he hadn’t. He’d been too busy. Made too many excuses. Had told himself it wasn’t his problem. He’d been wrong. But he could do something now.
“You ready for this?” he asked Sadie when he came up to her, bending down to scratch the dog’s head. He hadn’t mentioned owning a dog and wondered for a moment if that would be an issue, but Sadie was as much a part of the family as anyone.
He straightened, pausing for a moment to study his home, trying to visualize it with a little girl playing in the front yard. He’d built the home for that very reason—to house a family. Set in a small clearing surrounded by huge valley oaks, the single-story farmhouse had taken him years to save up and build. No free handouts for the Gillian kids. His dad believed everyone needed to work for the things they had. Which was why Maverick hadn’t landscaped yet—he couldn’t afford it. So the ground still bore the scars of the heavy equipment they’d used to clear a pad. It was off a gravel road, one that led to the back pastures, far enough away from his dad’s place to give him some privacy, but not so far away that he couldn’t walk to family dinners on a Sunday night. It was bigger than he’d planned to build, completely surrounded by a porch on all four sides, the steep angle of the roof housing three dormers along the ridge cap. His little slice of heaven, one about to be turned on its head.
The deep breath he took was meant to fortify his resolve. Didn’t work.
“Let’s go.”
Sadie followed him into the house, watching his every move. He busied himself going through the checklist Charlotte had provided, covering outlets and installing childproof locks on cabinets. It was about the only thing he had to worry about, his home being so new and all. The other items on the checklist didn’t really apply. He lost track of time, and so when he heard someone pull up and Sadie start to bark, he straightened in surprise. A glance at his cell phone revealed she was early.
It wasn’t Charlotte. It was his brother Flynn.
“What the heck have you got going on here?” he asked, barging into Maverick’s place as if he owned it. His brother’s blue eyes swept around the house, catching on the bag of supplies that sat on the kitchen table their brother Carson had made for Maverick.
“Oh, you know.” He hoped Flynn didn’t see the flush that heated his neck. “Just making sure I’m prepared for when my nieces and nephews come over.”
Flynn’s thick lashes swooped up, then down even lower, the brim of his cowboy hat dipping down to match. Maverick tried not to panic. He didn’t want Flynn to know what had happened, at least not yet. He still wasn’t 100 percent sure he’d end up with Olivia. Charlotte would decide if he was fit to take care of her, and until then, he didn’t want to set off the equivalent of a familial nuclear bomb.
But Flynn seemed satisfied by the explanation. “You ready to go check on those pairs out back?”
Oh, damn. He’d completely forgotten he’d asked Flynn for help with the mama cows and their babies. No wonder. It seemed like a million lifetimes ago that he’d asked his brother to help.
“Oh, yeah. Right.” He snapped his fingers as if he’d just remembered something. “Sorry. Something came up. Won’t be able to check them today. Can we do it tomorrow?”
His brother shrugged. “Your deal. Tomorrow works.”
If he wasn’t housing a little girl. And if he was... Then what? His stomach wheeled around like a bucking bull. He couldn’t even fathom...
“You okay?”
“Tummy bug,” he improvised. “Decided to lie low today. Wouldn’t get too near if I was you.”
Flynn took a step back. Maverick hoped the relief he felt wasn’t too obvious.
“Call me tomorrow if you’re—”
The sound of another car pulling up interrupted his speech. Flynn’s eyes narrowed.
“Stomach bug, eh?”
Think, Maverick, think.
“Friend coming over.”
Maverick could tell the direction his brother’s mind had taken, and that his reasons for staying home this afternoon had nothing to do with him being sick. He had half of that right.
“Anyone I know?”
“Nope.” He got up, trying to usher his brother to the door. “This is actually more of a business call.”
“Yeah, right.”
His brother was probably thinking he’d arranged an afternoon tryst, but that was better than him learning the truth. Maverick forced a smile and all but thrust his brother out the door.
“Well, hello,” Flynn said when he spotted Charlotte.
“Hi,” Charlotte said, greeting them both. She had a binder in her hand, the button-down shirt she wore, mussed hair and no-nonsense high heels screaming anything but “romance.”
“Charlotte, this is my brother Flynn.”
“Flynn. Hi,” she said, that smile of hers once again transforming her face. “I presume you’re here for moral support.”
Flynn glanced at him sharply. “Moral support?”
No. No, no, no.
“Well, sure,” Charlotte said, her smile even bigger. “It’s not every day someone decides to become a father.”
Oh, damn.
Chapter 4
Charlotte knew she’d said something wrong the moment the words came out of her mouth.
“Father?” Flynn said, swinging to face his brother, brows lifted, mouth having gone slack for a moment before he pressed it closed.
“It’s not what it seems.” Maverick raised his hands, clearly hoping to stave off questions.
His brother’s brows lifted again before his blue eyes met hers.
“I’m so sorry,” Charlotte said, and her face felt so hot it was like she’d just opened an oven. “I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay.” Maverick stepped in between them. “I’ll explain everything later.” He shoved his brother toward his truck.
“Oh, now, wait a minute—”
“Later,” Maverick said sternly, clearly pushing harder. “Right now I need to talk some things over with Charlotte.”
“But—”
“I’ll explain everything tonight.”
“Did he knock you up?” the brother said to her.
If she’d thought her cheeks were hot before, it was nothing compared to now. “Goodness, no.”
“It’s not like that.” Maverick had clearly lost patience with his brother.
“I’m with Child Protective Services,” she clarified.
“CPS?” asked Flynn.
“Yes,” Maverick answered for her. “And it’s not what you think, so don’t even go there, either.”
Flynn lifted his hands in supplication. “Okay, fine. I’ll let you go, but I expect the full story later.”
“You’ll get one. And don’t go telling the family about this, either, not until things are ironed out.”
The two brothers stared at each other, and Charlotte had a feeling there was a battle of some sorts going on.
“I mean it, Flynn. Not a word.”
“I’ll come back later,” his brother said, heading toward his truck. “Nice meeting you, Charlotte,” he called over his shoulder.
She lifted a hand, but the man was already inside a vehicle that probably cost as much as one year of her salary. The engine rattled to life, and Flynn backed out of the driveway, the tires kicking up gravel.
“I’m so sorry,” she said to Maverick as they watched Flynn drive off.
“Don’t worry about it. They’ll have to be told sooner or later.”
He headed toward the house. The sound of his brother’s truck faded away into the distance, the ranch so big it was at least a quarter mile to the main facility. She’d been blown away by the place—the vineyards, the fancy horse stable, the gorgeous homes up on a small hill. It was like she’d been transported to Napa Valley with the rolling hills covered by grapes and the horse pastures in the distance. She’d been told to turn right when she got to the heart of the ranch, a gorgeous equestrian facility. Charlotte had done as directed and followed the road a good distance. She’d been wondering if she’d made a wrong turn when his place appeared out of nowhere on her right.
“Is this all new?” she asked, walking up some steps and pausing for a moment beneath a covered porch that surrounded the whole house, or so she guessed.
“It is.”
Clearly, the Gillian kids had inherited some of the family wealth, at least judging by the stunning home he led her into. He must have just finished construction. The windows still had the manufacturer’s stickers on them. And it smelled like paint, probably the light gray exterior, or maybe the scent came from inside. When he swung the door wide the smell grew stronger, but then she was welcomed by another member of the family, a medium-sized black-and-white dog.
“Oh, hi,” she said, holding her hand out to keep the dog from jumping up on her. She’d never been a big fan of dogs, probably because she hadn’t grown up with them. She hadn’t grown up with a lot of things.
“It’s okay. She’s friendly. Sadie, down.”
The dog instantly sat. “Wow. Impressive.”
“I hope she won’t be a problem?”
“As long as she’s up-to-date on all her vaccinations, she won’t be.” The white-and-black dog inched forward, her nose sniffing Charlotte’s loafers. “And, of course, you’d need to watch her around the baby.”
“She’s more likely to lick a baby to death than hurt her. Sadie, stop. Leave our guest alone.”
The dog obediently backed away.
“She’s a border collie, and she’s used to my nieces and nephews. Never harmed a hair on their heads.”
“Good to know. I’ll make a note of it.” She turned and looked around. “And this is your home.”
“Yes, it is.”
And what a home it was. Lucky Olivia. She tried not to feel too intimidated by the sheer size of the place. The house looked average sized from the outside, but not when you walked through the front door. With its raised ceilings and open, airy spaces it seemed huge. Sadie’s nails clacked against the hardwood floors, the sound echoing off the ceiling above.
“I just moved in.”
“I can tell.”
Still decorating. He was low on furniture. He had a couch, but it seemed too small for the family room in front of her. Nothing on the walls, either. Just a few pieces of furniture here and there, but it was all nice stuff, and it certainly confirmed what she’d suspected earlier. Becca might’ve named Maverick as Olivia’s father because he was rich. Well, his family was rich.
“So, let’s start right here, then, shall we?” She wrestled with herself to slip on her work smile because no matter how many years it had been, there was still a part of her that feared being alone with a man.
“Looks like you’ve got the plugs all covered up.”
He crossed his arms. Somewhere along the line he’d discarded his cowboy hat, his dark hair mussed, his five-o’clock shadow so pronounced she wondered if he’d forgotten to shave this morning.
“I did. And fixed all the cupboards so they lock now.” He glanced around. “The house is brand-new, so there really isn’t a lot to worry about.”
“It’s lovely. Did you design it?”
“I did. And built it myself. And paid for it all, including the land. Gillians are expected to earn their keep around here, despite what you might have heard.”
She hadn’t been thinking that at all.
Well, okay. Maybe she had.
“It’s perfect” was all she could think to say.
And it was. The house was spotless, uncluttered, and everything in it, from the appliances in the kitchen along the right side of the house to the furnace in the back, was in good condition—much of it brand-new. It took less than an hour to confirm it’d pass inspection, and when she finished, she turned back to him with a smile on her face. An hour in his company and she felt every bit as off-kilter as when she had first arrived, and it was ridiculous because he was not Rodney. All that had been years ago. She didn’t need to think about it ever again, and yet she felt hyperaware of his presence.
“Can I see the outside?”
“Sure.”
What a relief. Maybe a little fresh air would help clear her mind.
He opened the front door, and Sadie ran off to sniff the base of a nearby oak tree, the two humans pausing on the porch.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she found herself saying.
“It is, isn’t it?” He looked around. “I’ve wanted to build a home here since I was old enough to walk this far from my dad’s place. I love my family, but I didn’t want to be near my dad and uncle’s place, even though my aunt Crystal is the closest thing to a mom I have. It’s secluded out here, just the way I like it.”
“It is that.” She took a deep breath, a sweet scent filling the air, although she had no idea where it came from. She did feel better outside. “Do you have a moment to chat? There are some questions I still need to ask.”
“More?” he asked with a teasing lift of his brow.
She had to look away from his brilliant blue eyes. She hated the way he made her feel—as if she had no control over her own emotions.
It was just a physical reaction to the trauma of her past. Lord knew she’d gotten good at recognizing the signs. She’d worked hard to claw her way out of the hole her foster brother had left in her heart. She’d learned the hard way it was better for her sanity if she kept people—especially men—at arm’s length. They had a habit of wanting only one thing, and that wasn’t something she was prepared to give, ever. Not that Maverick acted like he was interested in her, she thought, looking away and hoping like heck he didn’t notice the flush on her cheeks or the way she couldn’t hold his gaze for long. The man was probably used to women falling at his feet.
“It’s actually the last step of your approval process,” she said. “I figure we can get it over with now rather than bringing you back to the office.”
The sooner she was done with this man, the better. He disturbed her.
“Sure. Let’s go around back. There are some chairs back there.”
He led her to the rear of the property, motioning toward some wooden chairs with fluffy cushions on them. They were looking out at his backyard, if one wanted to call it that, because there was no fence, just trees and green grass in the distance, the blades so young and green they were yellowed at the top. There was no lawn, either, and the area around the house was just bare land. She opened her binder and pulled out her pen, feeling better once she put on her professional hat.
“So, tell me about your family.”
He considered her words for a moment, and she tried not to feel uncomfortable beneath the intensity of his gaze.<
br />
“Not much to tell. Dad’s an ex-rodeo star. He breeds cutting horses. Mom died a few years back. My uncle and aunt live on the ranch, too, although their kids, my cousins, all live in town. They own the vineyard. My brothers all live here at the ranch with me. My aunt and uncle still can’t believe none of their kids wanted a whole lot to do with this place. My brothers and I, though, we all inherited a love of the land, unlike my cousins. Two of my brothers are married, one of them to a famous race car driver, if you can believe that. They have twins, two of the most adorable kids you’ll ever meet. And my sister, Jayden, is married, too, and I have a brother that’s engaged.”
She’d heard about the stock car racer married to his brother. A celebrity driver who’d opened a race shop in town.
“So, there are already kids on the property?”
“Yup. My brother Carson has two. Well, a stepdaughter and a baby boy. They live in town, but my niece Bella is out here all the time. She’s ten. My sister is pregnant, too, but she lives in town. All my siblings are settling down these days. Except for Flynn. I don’t think he’ll ever get married. He loves his horses too much.”
She jotted down some notes, acutely aware of the way her pen sounded as it scratched along the paper. His eyes were on her. She could feel that, too, and it made her want to bury her head.
“What will you do with Olivia while you’re working?”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and she pretended not to notice how the movement brought his shirt up tight against his wide shoulders. It was such a strange thing to think, to actually notice the muscles on a man’s arms, that she lost control of her pen for a moment. The ink skidded across her paper.
“I was thinking I’d ask my aunt Crystal to watch her. Or I could hire someone. Either way, I think I’ve got that covered.”
“And how do you think your family will react to Olivia being a part of your life?”
Home on the Ranch: Unexpected Daddy Page 3
