Page 16 of Nanny for the Cowboy

That’s the last thing I’ll ever want.

“Well, that’s damn good to hear. I know Clover, and I know that she’s always had an affinity for children. Always wanted her to have one of her own. You know?”

All I can do is nod. Parents aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be. Leah, for example. The woman was a mother for two days too long, I suppose, and just took off and left me alone with a newborn.

And it would have been one thing to leave me. That sucks, but it’s a normal part of life sometimes. It’s another to abandon your child.

Darby has been messed up about that since the beginning. He’s never trusted adults much, especially any women who’re looking to be a part of his life. I’ve shied away from dating because I can’t bear the thought of him attaching to someone just for them to leave.

I mean, sure, I also stopped dating because I’m not looking for a sequel to Leah’s horror show.No thanks.

“Clover’s young. She has time. If she wants that for herself.”

Meeting Leo’s stare, he nods, turning the corners of his mouth down. “I think she does. But I’ll admit that she doesn’t talk about it much. She’s so wrapped up in her work usually. With everything going on with that right now, though…yeah, hopefully that all works out.”

Leo hasn’t mentioned much about why Clover was looking to get out of the city so desperately. He’s only mentioned that it had something to do with a problem at work. Still, he insisted that it wasn’t his business to tell, which I got.

However, if we’re talking about admitting things, I know that I have a big one that I’m not looking to deal with any time soon.

Clover has been…great, honestly. She’s a delight to watch with Darby, almost as much fun as it is to prod at her. I don’t know what it is, but while the two of us butt heads like a pair of damn goats, it’s not withouttension.

And not the bad sort. Oh, no, that’d be too easy. It’s the sort that has my blood heating and my jeans fitting too tight around the crotch.

Come on. You can’t be thinking like that. Especially not with her fucking dad right in the damn room.

Clover is Leo’s daughter, and that’s more of a no-go than anyone else I’ve ever remotely been interested in, and I’m not interested in her anyway.

It’s just a…it’s just that she’s this new, shiny thing—a button I haven’t seen and can’t help but want to push. Clover is off-limits, and I’m not about to risk my friendship with Leo because it’s been a while since I’ve gotten laid.

Because that’s all that this is. Just a little curiosity. And I don’t need to be reminded that’s what killed the fucking cat.

And even if I was looking for someone, which I’m not, I’d need someone who is actually cut out for ranch life.

And that ain’t Clover.

“Well, enough about that. How’s the arm? You likely to get that cast off any time soon?”

I snap back to reality with a sigh. “I’m confident that I’ll have this damn thing off by the six-week mark. I’m not looking to wear it any longer than I absolutely have to. Just gotta play my cards right.”

“Ha!” Leo laughs, throwing his head back before gulping down another hearty drink of his beer. “Whatever you say, buddy. Might want to consider actually following the doctor’s orders, then. You know, actually, take it easy?”

“I’m taking it as easy as I can.”

Leo narrows his eyes at me, and I return the expression. We stare each other down for a long moment before Leo steps forward and extends his hands.

“Eight weeks.” I take his hand and shake it once. “No sooner than eight, Brooks.”

“Six.” We shake again, and the bet is struck. “I’ll be out of this damned nuisance in six.”

There’s another pause where we both act like idiots, squeezing each other’s hands enough to make it sting, but then we pull apart with a laugh. Smiling, I clink my bottle against his, and we both finish up the lagers.

“So, you gonna fill your spare time with anything else? Or are you gonna stick with sanding table legs for the foreseeable future? I mean, you could be out there dating, for Christ’s sake.”

“Oh, no.” I shake my head, stepping back to drop my bottle in the recycling and pick up the sander again. “I’m very happy with my sanding. I’m not looking to date any time soon. Or ever for that matter.”

“Come on, Brooks. Handsome man like you? You should be out there. Don’t want to spend the rest of your days alone, do you?”

“I’m perfectly content on my own.”

---