3. Brooks
THREE
Brooks
That woman is trouble, and she’s going to drag me right down in it.
How in the hell I allowed Leo to convince me that this was a good idea is a damn mystery. I love the guy, and I know that she’s his daughter, but this is…
It’s a terrible idea, is what.
I’m not meant to be living with another woman, least of all my best friend’s daughter. Damn broken arm has gotten me into more trouble than anything else I’ve done.
I sigh to myself, walking back to the house with Clover right on my heels. I can hear her behind me, and I just know she’s grumbling about the heat or the bugs or the situation.
Yeah, well, darlin’, it ain’t nothing like the city out here.
The screen door screeches on its hinges as I push it open, and I can smell the laundry that’s just finished. The fact that loading the washer was a pain in my ass is just another thing I need to accept getting help with.
I hate it.
“My father really told you about me living here? And you were okay with it?”
Turning around, I suck in a breath, trying to keep the first thing that pops into my head from being what I actually say.
Because what I’m thinking is that, “Yes, unfortunately, I did agree to this, and I can see already that you’re not cut out for it.”
I can also tell that she’s Leo’s kid. Clover is straightforward with every word she says, liable to blurt them out if you ask me, and it’s just like her old man.
We play things a little closer to the vest around here, and I know the girl’s in for a rude awakening when she goes into town.
“As you said, you don’t have the means to find a place, and I know that Leo can’t put you up without sacrificing his bedroom. I won’t let him do that if I can help.”
Clover studies me, and I can’t say I’m altogether fond of the way I feel under her gaze. Oh, and there’s that other pesky little complication that’s driving me nuts.
She’s quite possibly the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Leo’s daughter is something else. Her strawberry-blonde hair is warmer than her dad’s, but those deep, gray-blue eyes are the same.
She arrived in a sleek ponytail, not a hair out of place, and I just know that’s going to change. Clover’s going to need a whole new set of clothes, too. I can’t imagine that she’ll be keen on the idea of shucking out the stables in her pantsuit.
Hell, would she even be willing to lower herself enough to throw on a pair of jeans?
Part of me really wants to see what that would look like, her curves stuffed into a tight pair of cut-off shorts. For as thin as she is—likely mandatory in the city—Clover is still quite endowed.
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?”
I stop at the foot of the stairs now that we’ve made the round through the entire main floor. Cocking my head, I study Clover. She’s paying attention to every word I say, and I have to admit that’s a good start.
“He’s got a couple consoles, a Switch and his PS4. I’m sure he’ll want to tell you all about his favorite games, though.”
She smiles, and dammit, it’s like sunshine after a storm. “Can’t wait.”
“But speaking of those chores. We work outside, there are animals to feed and clean up after, and Darby knows what he has to do to help. We wake up early to get it all done. Hope you’re not thinking of sleeping in.”
Clover rolls her lips between her teeth, and I’m too aware of the motion. My throat tightens for a moment, and then I shift my eyes from her stormy blues toward the floor.
“I wake up pretty early for work. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
There’s that word again. Fine . And I can’t help but wonder what it’ll be like when Clover realizes that she’s not, that she’s in way over her head.
Let’s put that to the test, shall we?
“I’ll be expecting your help around the ranch as well. I’m a bit laid up after all. It’s why I need the help. I’ll be expecting you to aid me and Darby in shucking out the muck, grain distribution, dinners and breakfasts, keeping the house tidy, and we’ll need to maintain Darby’s school schedule. He’s in several extracurriculars, including science club and basketball.”
Clover’s eyes go wide as I rattle off all the things that running this house entails. It’s a family and a ranch. It’s not just some kid going to school and back.
You think office work is hard, little one? Ha.
“Oh, well, okay.” She clears her throat, shaking her head. “I’m sure I can handle it. I’ll learn the ropes and get to it. Do you think that?—”
But the words are cut off by the sound of footsteps rushing down the stairs, and suddenly, Darby leaps toward me, fully jumping into the middle of the conversation.
I can only catch him so much, and he immediately gets a stern look as I take a step backward to right myself after the collision.
“Are you trying to break my other arm?” He stares up at me sheepishly. “That’s what I thought. Anyway, Darby, this is Clover. She’ll be the nanny I was talking about.”
He looks over at her, cocking his head in a silent interrogation that only children manage to get away with. After a moment, he sticks out his hand with a grin.
“Hello, Ms. Clover. I’m Darby. It’s nice to meet you.” It’s nice to see that he can at least remember his manners when meeting someone for the first time.
Clover laughs, her expression giving away her surprise at Darby’s handshake. She still takes it, nodding her head at him all the while.
“Well, hello. That’s quite the introduction, Darby. And you can just call me Clover.” Her grin is easy and relaxed, and all I can do is watch the two of them interact with each other. “So, I heard that you and your dad need a hand around here.”
Eyeing Darby and jutting out her elbow, Clover jokes, and my son snickers under his breath, knowing that I’m unlikely to appreciate the jest at my expense.
“Yeah, for sure. Dad really needs to get his arm fixed. But I’m glad you’re here to help. Where did you come from?” Darby eyes Clover’s clothes as he asks.
“Darby,” I chide, but he just looks at me with his brows up and shrugs.
“It’s alright.” Shaking her head, Clover waves it off. “I’m from New York City, so a long way from the country.”
“The city!” Darby perks up like he’s just been plugged into the outlet, and I roll my eyes, folding my arms across my chest. “I so want to go somewhere like that! I’ve never been out of the state! What’s it like?”
Still smiling, Clover takes a step forward and leans in slightly. My son isn’t as tall as he’s going to be, but even at ten, he’s almost as tall as Clover.
“Oh, okay, well, I’ll admit that the bugs are way better in the city.” Darby grins at that. “Sure, they exist, but oof, they aren’t like this. Also, everywhere is air-conditioned in the summer, and it does not get this hot. I’m sweating through my shirt!”
They both giggle, mirroring each other with the slow release of tension from their shoulders and before I know it, the new nanny is talking to my son like they’ve known each other for years.
They chat about TV shows and games, and Clover seems to know quite a bit about them for not being a ten-year-old herself. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I find myself smiling as I watch them before quickly shaking it away.
This is a business arrangement. It’s not permanent, and neither of us can get attached to the city chick who probably won’t last a day on the ranch .
“So, Dad,” I pull away from my thoughts and eye Darby with a slight smile, “is Clover your girlfriend or something?”
Clover stumbles over her own feet and I’m choking on my own attempt to swallow. Where the hell did he get that idea?
Clearing my throat, noticing how pink Clover’s cheeks are, I reply, “No, son. She’s not my girlfriend. Remember I talked to Leo? This is his daughter. She’s just here to be our nanny and help out.”
Darby slumps slightly, and when I flick my eyes back toward Clover, she stares at me for a moment, that flush in her cheeks spreading all the way down her neck and disappearing behind the fabric of her blouse.
Okaaay. What’s that all about?