Page 42 of A Rancher's Heart
She wore an outfit that was perfectly suitable for the barns, yet still somehow smelled of money. Her boots were that bit shinier, the cut of her blouse somethingmorethan off the shelf at Walmart.
Caleb checked himself—he didn’t want to dislike her on principle, because it wasn’t wrong to like to wear nice things, and her family had the money.
It was just something about how she came across. Even now as they stepped forward, she and Luke weren’t holding hands like a couple in love. She’d rested her hand on his arm as if he were escorting her down a grand staircase.
Luke seemed oblivious, chatting happily. His eyes lit up as he spotted Caleb and Tamara.
“Hey, Caleb. We were looking for you.” He turned his attention on Tamara. “And you being here is a bonus. I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Penny Talisman. Penny, this is Tamara Coleman. She’s Caleb’s new nanny.”
“Sasha and Emma’s new nanny,” Josiah corrected. “Although if she’s available for grownups, I’d like to put in a request.”
Tamara’s cheeks flushed at Josiah’s comment, but she extended a hand to Penny. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Penny slipped her other hand farther around Luke’s arm, as if she were staking a claim. “Is that something you can take actual training for? Nanny school?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure. I’m a registered nur—” Tamara broke off abruptly before smoothing her hands over her hips as if straightening her clothes. She started again with a bold smile. “Well, I have nurses’ training, and that works well for some parts of being a nanny. But probably more importantly, I grew up on a ranch. Lots of training opportunities there that apply to working with the girls.”
“Which ranch?” Penny asked with a little more interest.
“Whiskey Creek, near Rocky Mountain House.”
Penny frowned. “I don’t recognize that name. What do you breed?”
Tamara laughed. “A bit of everything. We’re connected with the larger Coleman spread, but all the family holdings are generalized. Although my sister Karen is great with horses. She does a lot of work with rescue animals, and she’s looking into starting an equine therapy stable on the side.”
“She could make more money working with purebreds or show horses,” Penny pointed out. “If she’s that talented.”
“Oh, she’s that talented, but she likes helping people. But philanthropy isn’t for everyone,” Tamara said dryly.
The other woman blinked for a second before responding sweetly. “I suppose not. Good for her. She sounds…lovely.”
Light conversation continued as Luke and Penny discussed something with Josiah. Tamara adjusted her position casually until she was leaning against Caleb’s side. He willed his body to not react, especially when she pressed even closer and twisted her head so her lips brushed his ear. “If you mention girls’ night out to that woman, I will discover your least favourite meal and serve it for a week straight.”
Caleb coughed to cover up a snort.
Penny squeezed Luke’s arm. “I probably should be going. Walk me to my car?”
“You’re heading home?” Luke laughed. “Okay, then I guess we don’t need to talk to Caleb.”
“It’s been nice meeting you,” Penny tossed over her shoulder, already walking away.”
“It was peachy,” Tamara purred.
Josiah blinked in surprise then snorted, returning to work.
Caleb refused to laugh, but he wanted to. “So. Girls’ Night Out will be Penny-less?”
Tamara grinned. “Appropriate, since we no longer accept pennies as currency in Canada.”
Damn if she wasn’t right. Amusement rose again, and a touch of admiration for her quick wit and snark, because she was so alive and—
Caleb jerked his body to the side, hurriedly busying himself with a task. Maybe if he put some distance between them, he could stop the unasked-for rush of emotion flooding his system. It was bad enough he wanted her physically, he didn’t need to complicate things even further.
“Take a key. I won’t be up late,” he ordered gruffly.
When he chanced a glance over his shoulder a few moments later, she was gone.
