Chapter Two
Colton
I sit at the dining room table awkwardly staring toward the young woman before me.
She’s my best buddy’s daughter.
I’ve known her forever and a day. It shouldn’t be awkward, but it is, which I’m pretty sure makes me a fucking creep.
“My schedule is pretty open.”
She wiggles back in the chair, her breasts on display as her blonde hair falls onto her shoulders.
She’s gorgeous, too gorgeous.
So gorgeous, I’m not sure this arrangement is going to work.
I can’t stare at those pretty blue eyes every day and expect not to feel tortured. “The massage therapy thing is going to fall through.”
I take a sip of beer from the amber bottle sitting in front of me. It’s warm, and the sip is more of a drop, but I need to do something with this energy surging through me. “Why’s that?”
She glances down at the floor before finding my gaze again, the strap of her pretty yellow sundress falling off her shoulder.
Okay, it’s a sure thing now. This isn’t going to work.
“I’m almost done with school, and I love using my hands to heal people, but I suck at the business part of things. I have no idea how to get started finding clients, what to do with them once they get here, or how to keep my books straight.”
She smiles and looks away. “I mean, I could figure it out if I had to, or I could move to the Springs and work for a spa, but everything sounds exhausting right now.”
I realize a massage isn’t sexual, but for some reason my chest tightens at the thought of her touching another man to any degree.
“I could help you make a business plan. It’s been a while since I’ve done anything like that, but I have enough experience that I could help.”
What the hell am I saying?
“Oh!”
Her back straightens and her voice perks as she says, “Really? You don’t have to do that. I’m here to help you, not the other way around.”
Here’s my out. I should take it. I should offer to help build the business plan and find a troll or something to help me with the kid. Clearly, I can’t be trusted around Nora.
“You’ll have plenty of time between Ellie’s activities to build your client list. Besides, you babysat a ton for me back in the day and you wouldn’t take a dime. I owe you.”
Her full cheeks turn pink. “You really don’t owe me. I—”
“I insist.”
What the hell am I doing?
“Thank you! I can bring a notebook with me when I come back to start.”
“Come back,”
I clear my throat, “I was hoping you could start today.
I know it’s short notice, but the tractor broke down this morning, and Ellie will be home in the next hour from a play date.
She’s not as patient playing outside while I work as she used to be.” I brush my hand down over my beard and stare toward the gorgeous girl I was supposed to be changing my mind about.
“The pay is five thousand a month.
You’d live here on the ranch, cook meals, take care of Ellie, and do general house cleaning.
I don’t expect you to stop living your life. If you have classes or a date or whatever, just let me know at the beginning of the week and I’ll plan for it.”
“Oh,”
her cheeks turn pink again, “I’m not dating anyone. So, there won’t be any time off for that.” I can’t tell if she’s happy about it or not.
I lean back in the dining chair awkwardly. “Girl your age should be dating, right? I guessed you were out there breaking hearts.”
Damn it! I need to shut the fuck up!
“Nope,”
she laughs. “The hearts usually break me. Besides, guys my age are all the same. They don’t understand women, or anything really, except maybe dirt bikes and four wheelers. Anyway…
the salary is very generous, and I’d be happy to take care of Ellie like she’s my own. Is this until the end of summer or longer?”
“We’ll keep you as long as you’ll let us.”
Wow. Really, Colton?
“Yay!”
Her tone is bright as she claps her hands together excitedly.
I try not to notice the way her full breasts shake as she moves, but whether I’m looking directly or not, I know it’s happening, and my cock is now throbbing and pressing at the seam of my jeans.
I need to get control of myself and compartmentalize these thoughts I’m having, or this will be a fucking mess.
“Perfect.”
I pull a credit card from my back pocket.
“You can use this for incidentals.
Anything you need for Ellie, the house, or your room.
I tried to get it set up for you, but I’m sure it’s missing things.
Feel free to put what you need on the card.” I nod up the stairs. “Yours is the last room on the right side of the hallway.”
“My room. I hadn’t thought about how I’ll have a room here.”
“Is that okay? You could always—”
“No, that’s perfect. I’m excited to see it!”
She twists her golden hair to one shoulder before glancing toward me. “I guess that’s all I need. Except, oh, most importantly, is there anything specific I should know about Ellie right now? It’s been a while since I’ve babysat.”
I drag in a deep breath, transitioning my thoughts to my little ninja princess. “Well, she’s nearly five now and about to start kindergarten in the fall.
She’s real imaginative.
Much more creative than any kid I know.
The horse barn is her personal kingdom.
She’s been decorating for months.
Cardboard turrets, a crown, a throne, you name it, that girl’s thought of it.
Let’s see, what else… her best friend is our border collie, Blue Bell, and her favorite food is blueberry pancakes. I’m telling ya, you toss some extra syrup on a stack of those, you’ve got a friend for life.”
“Noted,”
Nora says, typing down notes into her phone. “Anything else I should know?”
“Oh, bedtime is at eight. I think that’s all. I’m sure we’ll have things come up along the way. You’re more than welcome to call and ask questions. If I don’t answer, you can come find me.”
“Sounds good!”
She stretches up from the chair and pushes it in behind her, accidentally lifting the corner of her dress as she moves, showing off much more thigh than she should be.
“I’ll take inventory here and get started on a few lists before Ellie gets home. Oh, and dinner… what time is that?”
“Six most days, if that works for you.”
She smiles wide and bright, bouncing up onto the tips of her toes, her breasts jiggling again. “Of course. I’ll have everything ready for you. Don’t worry about a thing.”
I need to get the hell out of here before I have any other impure thoughts and accidentally do or say something I’ll regret.
“Thanks.”
I stand and step back into the kitchen, away from the sin that’s calling me, and toward the escape hatch. “I appreciate you bein’ here. It’s really good to have someone caring for Ellie that I trust.”
With that, I wink and step outside, sucking in fresh air as though I haven’t been breathing right for the last hour.
What the fuck am I doing, studying my best friend’s daughter so perversely? I’m a fucking mess, and I need to get it together.