Page 3 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

Speak, Molly.I opened my mouth to say something, but only a squeak followed by a strangled noise came out.

That’s me, folks, queen of making an excellent first impression.

Chapter2

Colton

Dammit.

The nanny candidate would be here soon, and I was running late. It was bad enough that Serenity, had forced me to come to her offices for an interview like I was the one looking for a job, and now I was so damn late that the woman might turn tail and run, which would put me in a bind.

Again.

It wasn’t my fault, not this time anyway. I got stuck out in the west end of the property because a lamb got stuck in the fences meant to keep him in and the wolves and other wild creatures out. The little fella was squirming something fierce, so I had to be extra careful, and that took time. Finally, he was free, and I put him back in the pasture with the sheep before hauling ass back to the house to shower so I wouldn’t greet the woman smelling like all outdoors, as my mama used to say.

Then again, she’d have to get used to it at some point.I was half tempted to do just that, but I needed her to want this job, to stick around, as much as she might need the job. My five-year-old son, Hunter, was still too small to follow me around all day, and even if he wasn’t, he needed to be a kid. He’d already lost his mama, and there was no way in hell I would take away his childhood too.

I was reminded that despite my boy’s old soul, he was still just a kid when I rushed through the back door to find him whining and on the verge of tears, something he didn’t do often. “Hunter, buddy, what’s wrong?” I toed off my shoes before going to him.

“I don’t know, Daddy.” He rubbed his eye with a fist, lips twisted in a pout that would have been adorable if it wasn’t so damn heartbreaking. “I’m sad.”

“It’s okay to be sad once in a while, kiddo. What’s making you sad?”

“Don’t know.”

I scooped him up in my arms and laughed when his face twisted in disgust. “I stink.”

He nodded. “You stink.” He giggled. “Sorry, Daddy.”

“It’s okay. I do stink, and I need to take a shower.” The housekeeper, Amelia, appeared in the kitchen and waved her arms between us.

“Good Lord, do you stink,” she groaned. “I’ll stick around until you’re scrubbed clean, but Herbert’s taken a fall off the ladder and is in the ER. The damn man acts like he’s still in his forties,” she grumbled with an affectionate smile.

“Thanks, Amelia. You’re the best.” I bussed a kiss on her fleshy cheek as I rushed past her and took the stairs two at a time. It was the quickest shower of my life, but the stink was gone even if all the dirt wasn’t. It was good enough that I hoped she didn’t run for the hills at first glance.

The bell rang as soon as I stepped from the shower, and a groan slipped out. I had no time to dry off, not with Amelia needing to get to the hospital to be with her husband, so I found a clean pair of jeans and stepped into them just as the damn bell sounded again.

“Screw it,” I growled and buttoned my jeans before running down the stairs, nearly tripping over Hunter’s lasso before I took one moment to get myself under control. I didn’t want to look too eager, not after the horror stories I’d heard about nannies over the years. I yanked the door open, and what greeted me was a bouncy blond ponytail.

The woman’s head popped up, and she took her time, letting her gaze crawl up my body, which responded under the heat of her perusal, until her green gaze collided with mine. Her eyes grew wider and wider, and then a blush crept up her skin, and her mouth fell open. A quick change of emotions played on her expressive face before she seemed to get herself under control enough to speak. But nothing came out but a squeak and then an embarrassed strangling noise.

I tossed her a lifeline because I needed this woman. “Molly?”

She nodded, but this time she didn’t even attempt to speak.

“Molly,” I said again, more forcefully because, just like with animals, sometimes people just needed a firm voice.

Her eyes slammed shut, and she nodded to herself. In the next moment, she stood a little taller and squared her shoulders before she opened those big green eyes to me. “Yes. I’m Molly Riggins.” She held out a shaky hand, which she stilled and waited for me to accept.

“Molly. I’m Colton. Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” she said as her shoulders relaxed and a beautiful smile crossed her face. “I’m the new nanny, at least for the next sixty days.”

My brows quirked at that. “Are you planning on leaving after that?”

“Goodness no!” She shook her head, putting a hand to her chest that drew my attention to the ample bosom hidden beneath the cotton t-shirt. “It’s just that I’ve recently learned there are a lot more factors than being competent at play in this job. I’m looking forward to this job and to working with Hunter. May I come in?”

My brows rose. Once the shy little mouse started talking, it was hard to get her to stop. That was a good thing because ranch life was tough, and it wasn’t a life for everyone. “Come on in.” I stepped back and waved her inside and immediately realized what a mistake it was because she smelled so fucking feminine, like cinnamon and sandalwood. The scent itself was heady and sexy, like the curvy woman who currently looked around with wonder in her eyes.

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