Matters of the Heart (3 page)

“I’ll be back
in a minute,” said Sadie, pushing her cart to one side.

She ran
outside, putting the hood of her jacket over her head to keep her head dry, and
hoped she’d catch the sheriff before he left.

“There you go
all done. Now, that wasn’t so bad was it?” Sadie overheard him talking to the
baby, who sucked her fist while he secured the last of the buttons on her suit.

“Excuse me. I
hope you don’t mind me being nosy, but I heard you’ve suddenly been thrust into
the role of single parent. Would you be looking for a nanny?”

“I wasn’t,
but now you mention it, it does sounds like a good idea. Are you offering?”

He smiled and
Sadie knew straight away that she’d found Lucy’s man. He was not only handsome,
but the two ladies in the supermarket had given him high recommendations. Sadie
felt this might be a perfect pairing in the making.

“Not me, but
I know a young woman who’s a nurse and she’s looking for employment. I think
she’d be idea. Of course it would have to be a live-in position as she’s from
Helena
.”

“No problem
at all. In fact, that would be perfect because being sheriff means my hours
aren’t always eight to five. Could I interview her?”

“Absolutely.
I’ll give
her a call. Can she drop by your office later today?”

“Sounds
great.”

“And there
would be some paperwork to sign should she meet with your approval,” said
Sadie. Yes, what a cunning way to get him to sign on the dotted line so the
match could be official. He’d think he was signing an employment agency
application and it would be giving Sadie carte blanche to match him with Lucy.
Sadie would keep it her little secret.

He lifted the
baby up and Sadie tickled the back of its hand as it stopped fussing and gazed
into her eyes.

“No problem
with that. Hey, I think you have my daughter spellbound.”

“Yes, I hear
that all the time.”

****

Brad rocked
Presley’s baby carrier with one hand while writing up a traffic incident report
with the other. She cooed so he glanced sideways at her. She was sucking her
fist again. It seemed to be her favorite pastime, and at least it kept her
happy and quiet.

There was a
tap on his door. Vicki, the front desk receptionist, peeked into his office.
She made a funny face at Presley which made the baby coo louder.

“Hi,
sweetie pie.
You’re such a pretty baby. Brad, there’s a young woman here
to see you. Her name’s Lucy Davis and she said it’s about the nanny’s job.”

Brad was
mid-sip with a mouthful of coffee so he swallowed it quickly. He’d almost
forgotten that he’d agreed to interview someone about the position this
afternoon.

“Sure, show
her back here.”

 
Brad turned to Presley.

“Okay, we
have to check out this lady to see if she’s the right person to take care of
you while Daddy’s at work. What do you think she looks like? More like Mary
Poppins
or Nanny
McPhee
?”

There was a
knock on the door and that question was quickly answered when he saw a brunette
with the big blue eyes and full rosy cheeks standing in his doorway.

He was struck
speechless. She was pretty, which for some strange reason took him by complete
surprise. Not that he’d automatically assumed she’d be ugly with moles and hair
on her chin, but he wasn’t quite ready for this.

She’s hired.
 
No questions asked.

No, that was
so wrong of him. He was thinking of his own selfish need to have someone this
cute around him. That was his old life. The life that had gotten him involved
with a woman like
Nevie
. Now he had his daughter to
consider. If this wasn’t the right nanny for Presley, he’d have to let her go.

“Hi, I’m Lucy
Davis,” she said.

He stood,
knocking the coffee mug off the desk so the liquid splashed onto his pants.

“Geez, that
was careless of me,” he said.

He grabbed a
napkin and tried mopping up the spill on his desk.

“Oh no, let
me help you clean that up,” said Lucy.

As she got
closer he could smell her perfume. It was light, flowery, and for some reason
made him think of spring, and that made him smile. They both reached for one of
the paper napkins at the same time and their fingers brushed. Brad looked at
her. Lucy’s face was mere inches from his. He could smell her minty breath and
see every line in those cute pink lips. He wanted to kiss her, and yes, he knew
it was insane.

He’d promised
he wouldn’t fall for another woman as swiftly as he had Presley’s mother. He’d
been good all year long and now he was acting like his old self again.

Maybe he
should tell her the position had already been filled. But no, he couldn’t do
that because he needed someone to take care of his daughter. However, this
woman would be living in his house, and under the same roof.

Can I trust myself?
 

Sure he
could. He’d learned his lesson big time only a short while ago.

“I’m sorry,
I’m being really rude. I’m Brad, and this is my daughter, Presley.”

He extended
his hand, realizing it was still slightly wet with coffee, but it was too late,
hers was already greeting his palm. It was soft, delicate, and he liked the way
it brushed against his skin.

“Hi Presley,”
she said lifting the baby’s fingers like she was shaking hands with her too.
Presley actually giggled at her.

Brad pulled
up a chair. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

She took off
her scarf and unzipped her coat before crossing her legs. They weren’t long and
skinny like
Nevie’s
had been but full, and the
muscles in her calves were outlined through the ink-black panty hose she wore.

“Thank you
for coming all the way from
Helena
,”
he said, trying not to stare.

“No problem.
I often come through this way on my way to the ski resort.”

“So you’re an
avid skier?”

She nodded
and he noticed how long her eyelashes were and the cute way they curled up at
the very ends.

“Oh
yeah.
I have been since I was five.
How about you?”

Brad shook
his head. “I know I live in ski country but I’ve never thought about trying
it.”

“Next time I
go why don’t you tag along? I warn you, you’ll get hooked.”

“Maybe.”

The thought
of skiing with her, doing anything physical with her by his side, sent his
blood pumping. He decided to get back to the matter at hand.

“Ms. Sutton
said that you’re a nurse.”

“Yes, have
been for five years, but the hospital I’ve been working at had some budget
cuts.”

“I’m hearing
that all the time around here. So now you want to be a nanny?”

“Sure. I’ve
worked with lots of babies and children but just so you know, this wouldn’t be
a permanent thing for me. I wouldn’t just up and leave after a few weeks, but
eventually I’d like to look for another nursing position.”

“Fine
with me.
I need someone ASAP and it would give me a chance to find a
more permanent solution to being a single dad.”

“Your wife…”

He cut her
off right there. “No wife, just an ex-girlfriend who decided to dump our
daughter on a doorstep.”

Shit, that
had rolled off his tongue without any censorship. Had it really made him sound
as bitter as he’d thought? He didn’t want to scare her thinking he was a
grouch, but at the same time it was best she knew the situation he was in and
the truth behind it.

“I’m sorry to
hear that. Presley’s seems content with you. And she’s very pretty.”

He smiled. He
was already feeling a father’s pride when someone said his offspring was cute.

“She’s quiet
now but I warn you, she is sort of fussy. But then again, this is my first
experience with babies so maybe that’s their normal personality.”

“She is
sucking her fist which could mean she’s teething. That can make them
irritable.”

Teething, he
hadn’t even thought about it. Lucy was going to be perfect for him…for his
daughter.

“When could
you start?” asked Brad. “I mean that is if you’re interested. As we’ll be
living under the same roof you’re more than welcome to ask around about me. See
if I’m a good guy who’s respectable.”

Geez, in the same house, using the same
bathroom. Sure I have it under control. I’ve got burned before. I’m not stupid.

“I’m sure you
wouldn’t have been elected sheriff if you weren’t. And yes, I’d like the job
but I’d need to go and pack up some things, so would it be okay if I started
tomorrow afternoon?”

“Great.”

“Do you need
any references?”

“I think I
know an honest and decent worker when I see one.”

“Okay, then
I’ll see you and Presley tomorrow.”

They both
stood at the same time.
“I’ll make sure I’m home in the afternoon if you want to come straight there.”

He jotted
down his address on a notepad, tore off the sheet and handed it to her.

She took it,
slipped it into her pocket and held out her hand to him.

“Thanks for
giving me the job. I’m sure the three of us are going to be fine working
together.”

He followed
her to the door, leaned up against the jamb and watched as she walked down the
hallway to the exit. He remained there until she was out of sight.

Brad glanced
back into his office. He was sure that was a grin his daughter had on her face.

No it
couldn’t be.

“Okay, I know
what you’re thinking, but Daddy has it all under control, really he does.”

Chapter Three

Lucy glanced
at the sheet of paper sitting on the passenger seat of her car.
Number 357.
Brad
had neat handwriting. She glanced across the street at the mailbox and the numbers
matched what he’d written.

The snow was
melting on the driveway and she noticed a large SUV belonging to the sheriff’s
office sitting in front of the garage.

 
She took a deep breath before turning off the
ignition. She’d jumped at the job because she needed work, but on the drive
back to
Helena
she hadn’t been able to get her new boss out of her mind. Did that mean she’d
forgotten all about Bryce? Brad, like Bryce, was also tall, dark, and just as,
actually if not more, handsome. He seemed nice, too. But this was a working
relationship and that was all. Any thoughts of the two of them getting together
were strictly off limits. She was here to look after that cute little baby of
his, period.

She grabbed
her purse and got out of the car. He must have been peeking out the window
because the next thing she knew he was heading out of the front door.

“Can I help
you with any of your bags or belongings?” he asked her.

“Sure, that
would be great.”

She popped
open the trunk and handed him a box and suitcase.

Lucy followed
behind with a bag slung over her shoulder and two more suitcases. One of her
nurse friends had taken over the lease on Lucy’s apartment and had promised to
keep the rest of Lucy’s stuff safe in the extra bedroom there. She’d brought
along the essentials, and if she needed more she could always head back and
collect it.

She stepped
across the threshold of the house and welcomed its warmth. Although she’d had
the car heater cranked all the way up, the journey to Pine Ridge had been on
the cool side.

“Why don’t I
show you your room and you can put all your stuff in there straight away,” said
Brad. “I finally got Presley to sleep. She’ll be in the room next door to yours
so let’s tip-toe.”

She followed
Brad up the stairs and noticed some photos hanging on the wall. A few of them
were of Brad and a lady who looked a lot like him.
 
Judging by the age of the woman Lucy guessed
it was his mother. At the top of the stars he signaled for her to follow him
along the hallway. Her new room was the one at the very end and obviously faced
the front yard. He went inside and she followed him.

“Hope this is
okay for you. The bed’s fairly new and if you want I can get you a TV but
you’re more than welcome to watch the one downstairs with me every night if you
want.”

Lucy didn’t
know why but an image of them sitting together on the couch, thighs almost
touching, sprang into her mind.