Page 22 of Nanny for the Cowboy

I know that song. I know that song because my own mother used to sing it to me.What are the damn odds?

But it’s not like I’m going to say anything. She doesn’t need all that. Not the nanny who’ll be out of here in no time.

“And I hear you’re pretty good according to this bum.” I nudge Darby with my elbow as he passes by me and stands near Clover, silently encouraging her.

“I guess. It’s not important.”

“Rosie asked her to perform in the community!”

My brows go up again, and I find myself nodding before I’ve really thought it through. Still, if she is going to be staying in Red Lodge for a while, Clover might want to try actually settling into the town some.

“Well, that’s something. Little lucky break. Good for you.”

Clover’s eyes snap to mine from staring at the floor. “Wait. You’re actually…encouraging me to do it?”

I shrug. “Why not? Our community events in Red Lodge are fantastic, so if you want to get back into singing while you’re here, there’s no better way to do it.”

Looking utterly shocked, Clover’s lips part, and she stands there speechless. I hate how my blood warms at the sight, parts of me wondering just how pretty that girl can sing.

What else about her secrets is just as lovely…

“I did love to sing. But…God,” Clover pushes her hand through her hair, the action making the strawberry waves fluff up and then slide back into place, looking like silk, “it’s been so long. I put all that on the back burner when it was time to buckle down for work.”

“Don’t exactly have work standing in your way right now, though, do ya?” I’m just as surprised by my words as Clover.

She gapes at me for a moment, and again, it’s Darby who pipes up and supplies more adamant hyping up.

“You would be so good! And it would be so cool to have like town royalty as my nanny!”

Clover and I laugh in unison, and then she’s rolling her eyes. “Darby, I’m not royalty. It’s just a singing gig, and I haven’t even said yes.”

“Well, you should think it over, Clover. Seriously.” I tip my head. “It’s not every day a lucky break comes your way. Be a shame to waste it, little shamrock.”

I hold her stare as she appraises me, and she rolls her eye at the impromptu nickname. We both know it fits, though, and Clover lets out a sigh.

It’s odd how much I actually want her to go for it. I have no reason to care. It should mean nothing to me, and yet, here I am, really wanting to see her put herself out there.

What are you doing, Brooks? Why do you care about this?

“Yes, I know. That’s what I told Rosie, too. I will. Scout’s honor.” She raises her hand with three fingers up, and I chuckle.

“You were a girl scout?”

“Hell no.” She shakes her head. “Can’t say I’m one for the sewing and merit badges. But speaking of, I should probably start dinner if we want to eat before eight. And if I’m going to handle food, I need to wash off this sweat. Hot as insert-choice-phrase-here seems to be the norm around here.”

“This?” I eye her, my brows going up. “This is nothing. Just wait till we hit the upper nineties, and it’s humid cuz a storm’s coming ‘round.”

“Gross. Alright, I’m showering.”

She turns on her heel, her supposedly sweaty hair still swinging through the air like it’s liquid and not solid. I watch her jog up the stairs, likely for a bit too long.

“You like her, don’t you?”

Yup, too long.

“Of course, I like her. She’s your nanny. Clover is a good caretaker, even if she can’t handle the ranch on an easy day.”

I lean in toward him, nudging him in the ribs to play up the joke. Hopefully, it’ll work.

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