Page 8 of Nanny for the Cowboy

And I shouldn’t be thinking this.

“Ugh, well, I can’t blame you for that one. Dad would, and he’d be all the worse for sleeping on the couch.” She sighs, hiking her bag up her shoulder, and I notice she’s just got the one.“Well, I suppose you might as well show me the room where I’ll be staying as part of the tour. Looks like I’ll be here a while.”

I have to force myself to swallow. Clover isn’t like any of the women in Red Lodge I interact with regularly. She’s brash, frank, and apparently sick of the heat already. She pulls at the shirt she’s wearing, creating an impromptu fan.

Irritation and interest are two very conflicting things to be feeling at once. At this rate, I’m going to need a cold shower and a drink the moment this is done.

Nodding at her, I narrow my eyes. “You think you can handle that? It just gets hotter and messier.”

Returning the expression in spades, Clover squints and offers that sarcastic smile she’s used several times since she arrived.

“I’ll be just fine, buddy.” She cocks her head, raising her brows at me. “Like I said, I’m used to working hard, and I don’t give up. I’m up for any challenge you throw at me.”

“Is that right?” I find myself stepping forward, towering over the tiny thing. “I guess we’ll just have to see now, won’t we?”

There’s a pause in the conversation, and we’re both just standing there in the doorway to the house. I can’t understand why I’m not moving.

This is stupid. Just get a move on, Brooks. Show her the house.

I shake myself, turning away to start down the hallway to the left, where the spare bedroom is. Clover’s steps follow mine, and after a good few minutes, I feel like I can breathe again.

As far as houses are concerned, this one is nice. I found it and repaired each board by hand to make it a comfortable home for my family.

It just never got used that way.

Of course, I know that Darby and I are a family. We’re more than enough for each other. Still, it stings to this day that I woke up to find Leah gone.

I’d built everything around me for the three of us—from the porch to the shutters to the hardwood floors to the barn. I’d been thrilled at the notion of starting a family with her and ecstatic to meet Darby.

I worked for nearly an entire year on the place, and now I go to bed wishing that there was someone to appreciate it.

Yeah, well, if wishes were horses…

Reaching the guest room, I shove open the door with my good hand and turn back to Clover.

“This is where you’ll be staying. It’s not much. Probably nothing compared to living in the big city, but it’s got what you need.”

Smiling tightly, Clover walks past me and deposits her bag on the full-size bed parked against the far wall. The walls are painted white in here, the wood trim offering a warm golden color, and her small bed was a find from the local thrift market.

It creaks as the bag settles, and I watch a dent form in the fluffy white comforter that I struggled to put on the bed earlier.

I can’t stop the frown or keep the crease from settling between my brows.

“Something wrong?” Clover asks, her brows raised.

I shake my head.City manners are something alright. “No. Would you like to see the rest of the house?”

Clover nods. “Of course. And I’d love to meet your son.”

“Darby.” I bob my head, knowing that eventually, I’ll have to introduce them. “Sure.”

As we walk through the other sections of the house, the kitchen, the living room, and the bathroom on the main floor, I detail the expectations I have for Clover.

I might not be thrilled with the fact that my best friend’s daughter is my nanny or that she’s both gorgeous and infuriating, but it’s not like anyone else is lining up to take the job.

“Darby’s bedtime is eight-thirty, and he’ll try to push you on it. I let it slide on weekends but not when he’s got homework and chores to get to.” The clip of Clover’s steps behind me sounds hurried like she’s having trouble keeping up, and I can’t help but enjoy it a little bit. “Dinner is at five, five-thirty. Sometimes, we have things to finish up outside. I don’t mind if he uses his tablet, but not at the table and not when he’s supposed to be doing homework.”

“Sounds reasonable. Does Darby have video games or TV shows that he likes a lot?”

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