Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“He seems nice enough,” I offer.
There’s another growl. I’m beginning to think he’s not a cowboy at all. He’s a caveman—a big, grumpy caveman. “What can I do for you?”
I twist the bottom of my shirt. Now that I’m here, I’m suddenly nervous. If he tells me he doesn’t want me for this job, it’ll be worse than being rejected by Austin or Mallory. They might not have given me a job, but I don’t lie awake at night thinking about them.
But Micah is a different story. Sometimes, when I’m alone in my bed and I remember the way he looks when he’s scowling, my fingers drift into my panties. I caress my swollen folds and imagine it’s him doing it.
I imagine that he’s whispering into my ear, calling me his dirty girl, and telling me how slick I am. Would he nip at my skin? Put his blunt finger deep into my weeping channel? Would he make me come just from touching my pussy and murmuring filthy things into my ear?
Abby starts screeching, and her loud sounds pull me from my fantasies. The fantasies that are never going to come true anyway.
“The job. I’m here for the job,” I answer the question he asked while tuning out the baby’s noise. Growing up with so many siblings has taught me how to handle noise coming from multiple directions and still stay on task.
He looks me up and down while trying unsuccessfully to calm his daughter. “You ever operated a chainsaw?”
“I didn’t think it would be necessary.” What is the man expecting me to do, build a cradle from a tree that I’ve cut down on his property? Seems like a hell of an employment test.
“Operating a chainsaw is useful when cutting firewood,” he answers, his tone barely hiding his annoyance. He’s so different than when he’s at the store. I’m not sure if it’s me or Abby’s crying that’s got him on edge. Maybe it’s a bit of both.
“And that’s part of the job?” At this point, I’m pretty desperate for employment. Even if being a nanny for Micah has some unusual tasks, I don’t care. I just want money to take care of my family.
“Yep, right there in the description. Door is behind you. Have a nice day.” He turns his attention back to the screaming baby girl that he’s still trying in vain to comfort.
I can’t believe this. He’s being so thickheaded. I’m right here and I’m willing to help with Abby. “It really seems you can’t afford to be picky about who you hire right now. Maybe try swaddling her.”
He frowns at me. “Swaddling.”
I gesture for him to pass me the crying child. He hesitates until her volume grows then he finally relinquishes her to me. I drop to my knees on the rug and settle her on top of the blanket before quickly swaddling her. She’s quiet within seconds, her eyes already starting to drift closed.
“How did you know to do that?” His voice rumbles in my ear. I didn’t even hear him come around the desk or realize he was leaning over us. For some crazy reason, I like the feeling. I like the idea that he’s over both of us, protecting me and Abby from the scary world.
“Secrets of being a nanny,” I answer with a wink. I hope he can’t hear how loud my heart is racing.
“The job.” His cheeks flush slightly beneath his beard. “You were looking for the nanny job, not the one I posted this morning. Sorry. Sleep deprived dad here.”
“I thought stacking firewood would be an unusual task.” I continue holding Abby because he hasn’t asked for her back. “Swaddling is thought to remind babies of life in the womb. It probably comforts her to feel close to her mother.”
Sadness flickers across his face. “She isn’t around.”
I lean out and put a hand on his arm, feeling his strong muscles tense underneath my touch. “I’m sorry, Micah. That must be hard on you.”
There are a million questions I want to ask him about her. Were they close? Are they still in touch? Was it a one-night thing or a long relationship? Why aren’t they together anymore? But it doesn’t seem like the place or time to ask anything.
He nods to his sleeping daughter. “Consider yourself hired. And maybe forget about the mix-up.”
I can’t help the smile. This job is exactly what I needed. The fact that my boss is the best-looking cowboy in all of Courage County has nothing to do with my excitement. Not even a little bit.
“How soon can you move in?”
3
MICAH
All right, so it wasn’t supposed to be a live-in position. But I’m a greedy bastard. I’ll say and do whatever it takes to get Chloe living under my roof. If that makes me a monster, I can live with that.