Claimed By Dad’s Best Friend (Wilder Brothers: Rugged Mountain #5)

Chapter One

Violet

I don’t hate kids, I just… don’t understand them. Sure, they’re cute and funny, but they’re also insanely dramatic and obsessively needy. That, and they love to be dirty.

I do not.

I, in fact, love cleanliness. Crisp, clean sheets, sparkling white countertops, spotless floors, and proper sanitation.

“Why did you take this job?” My friend Bella stares at me like I’ve lost my mind as we wait for our coffee order. We’re on a macchiato kick lately, and the bakery in town makes the best around. It’s even better than the chain places in the city, and cheaper too.

“Well,” I take a bite of my sugar donut, white powder spilling down onto my plate, “for starters, if my mom asks me to organize her spice cabinet one more time, I’m going to lose my mind.

Second, there are clearly zero jobs for me in Rugged Mountain, and third,” I pause and take another bite of my donut, “Cash is my dad’s best friend.

I guess that means I’m obligated to help him or something.

” I shrug. “I don’t know. The pay is good, though. ”

“That’s something, but if you miss your old job, why don’t you move to the Springs? I’m sure there are more opportunities for,” she narrows her brows inward as though she’s thinking extra hard, “what do you do again?”

Bella has known me for over ten years. She knows what I do, but like everyone else, she continuously forgets. I get it. It’s a weird profession, especially out this way where most folks are ranching, logging, or farming. “Risk analysis.”

“That’s right.” Her face brightens as milk froths behind the counter. “I’m sure there’s more opportunity for that in the city.”

I try to hold a straight face. “We’ll see. There are a few openings, but I need some money for the move. If I save my pay for a couple of months, I should have enough to get me back out there.”

Bella shakes her head as the barista calls our names. “Being a nanny is a huge responsibility. I mean, Cora is what… five? Kids that age pick up on everything. She can probably sense that you’re not there for good.”

“Then her sensing is spot on.” I grab my coffee off the counter and take a long, slow sip, letting the caramel drizzle coat my throat.

Man, this stuff is good. “I love her. I really do. She’s adorable, but my internal wiring and my risk analyst brain goes haywire at Cash’s place.

There are animals that weigh more than my car casually running around the field where the kids like to play.

Oh, and Cash has fences up that look like they were built in the nineteen hundreds, a barn that creaks like it’s auditioning for a horror movie, and don’t even get me started on the tractors he likes to ride the kids around on. ”

Bella snorts. “He sounds like a good dad who’s giving his kids a pretty classic, Rugged Mountain upbringing. I mean, I’d have killed for a dad who wanted to give me rides on his tractor.”

“Yeah, well, every time I step outside, my brain starts calculating the probability of someone getting kicked, bit, or trampled. Not to mention the part where Cora thinks mud puddles are portals to the fairy world. You wouldn’t believe how filthy she is by the end of the day.”

Bella grins. “You’re saying you don’t like the chaos, but for some reason, I’m getting the feeling that you love it.”

I exhale loudly because that’s the other part of the problem. “It doesn’t matter what I like.”

We push through the coffee shop doors, the bell chiming behind us as the summer heat hits us like a wall.

My face lifts toward the sun like a lizard feeling the heat for the first time in months.

Given our seasons up here range from winter, jr. winter, and early winter, a hot summer day feels like an answered prayer.

“Oh damn,” Bella groans and stares down the sidewalk. “Maybe you want to take care of that guy’s kids.”

I follow her gaze toward the tall, broad-shouldered man coming toward us. His hat’s pushed back enough to show his gray hair, and he’s wearing a worn T-shirt that does nothing to hide the fact that he works with his hands for a living.

My chest tightens. Why does he always have to look so good?

“That’s Cash.” I swallow hard and watch him as the kids cling to his hips. Cora on one side, her tiny hand wrapped around his belt loop, and Jake on the other holding a juice pouch like a live grenade.

“That’s Cash?” Bella glances toward me then back toward the giant again. “Holy crap! Why would you ever want to quit this job?”

“That’s part of the reason I want to quit,” I lie, knowing full well it’s the biggest reason of all. I can’t work for a man I can’t stop fantasizing about, and I can’t keep fantasizing about my dad’s best friend.

It’s weird.

It’s weird, and it’s messing with my head.

What kind of person locks themselves in the bathroom during naptime for a quick orgasm because their panties have been soaked all day from watching their dad’s best friend work?

It’s not right, especially considering I have to live with the man, take care of his children, make his dinner, and buy his groceries.

“Hey,” he says, his voice low and rough, “I thought you were going to sit in the sun all day?”

“Coffee first.” I smile and lift my enormous cup.

“And a donut!” Cora says, noticing some powdered sugar that landed on my shirt despite my best efforts.

“And a donut,” I repeat, loving how brutally honest children are. “What are you guys up to today?”

“Dad is taking us fishing,” Cora says. “We’re getting treats first, then we have to sit quiet and be like mice so we don’t scare the fish.”

I glance up at Cash, making eye contact before quickly glancing away again. “That sounds fun! Draw lots of pictures of the fish you catch so you can show me tomorrow, okay?”

“Or you could come with us!” Cora’s eyes widen and sparkle in the mid-morning light as a shopper passes us on Main Street. “We can get snacks, and we can both draw pictures!”

I freeze.

“Today is her day off, bug. We’ve got to give Ms. Violet a break sometimes.”

Cora pouts, her lower lip trembling as her little arms cross over her chest. “But Ms. V loves fishing. She told me she went with her dad all the time.”

My heart is somersaulting. This sweet child remembers that I went catfishing with my dad when I was her age? There’s so much going on in her life, how does she remember that?

“You should go.” Bella nudges me with a grin. “You’ve been saying you could use a day at the lake, and here’s one falling right into your lap.”

I whip my head toward my supposed best friend of ten years, my left eye twitching in a way only she could understand.

“Please, Dad.” Cora tugs on her dad’s sleeve. “Tell Ms. V to come. She’ll have so much fun with us.”

“Honey,” he says, patting her blonde head, “I just told you. Ms. V is relaxing without us today.” His gaze draws toward me. “I mean, you’re welcome to come if you want to, but don’t feel obligated. It’s your free time. I understand the need for a break. Trust me.”

“Go,” Bella presses, nudging me in the ribs with her elbow. “How could you say no to that little face?”

“Yeah, Ms. V! Come!” Cora repeats in chorus with Bella as the sun tucks behind a cloud.

Dear Lord, I really need to work on saying no.

I swallow my inhibitions down. “Okay… I guess I could come for a little while.”

Cora squeals, and Cash’s mouth curves just enough to short-circuit my entire nervous system, though I’m probably imagining it.

I’m imagining it, right?

“Are you sure?” he adds. “This one is persuasive. She convinced me to let her have Goldfish crackers and Swedish fish for breakfast this morning because it’s Fish Day.”

I laugh. “She got you, Dad. Next time make fish-shaped pancakes or banana boats.”

He nods slowly. “Yeah, that’s a great idea. Good thing we have you with us most days.”

My stomach drops and does a weird, little swoop.

Why is it doing that?

“A junk food breakfast is a requirement of childhood, but only four times. So, I’m pretty sure you’re good.”

“Oh shoot,” he laughs, glancing down at Cora, “I’m pretty sure we’re at number four.”

She shrugs, her face more serious than I’ve ever seen it. “We are! We’re at four!” She glances toward me. “Is that really the rule?”

I nod slowly. “Sorry, kid. Four junk food breakfasts per childhood,” I pause and lower my voice, “except for days when you eat all your vegetables the night before.”

Cora lets out a loud, heavy sigh, scaring a black bird off its perch. “I never finish my vegetables! Vegetables taste sad!”

“They taste sad? What if we put cheese all over them tomorrow night? Will that make them taste happy again?”

She nods excitedly. “I love cheese!”

“Okay, let’s put cheese all over our vegetables tomorrow night. If you eat them, I’ll let you put candy sprinkles in your pancakes the next morning. Deal?”

“Deal!” she yells. “Now, let’s go to the beach!”

“Sounds fun!” The words sound bright as they come out, like I’m excited.

Who am I? What part of this hellacious torture sounds like fun?

Is it the part where I spend my day off in complete agony as I sit next to this big, giant, inked-up man who looks handcrafted by a committee of women desperate to ruin everything?

Or is it the part where I keep falling in love with two kids I’ll inevitably lose touch with once I go back to my real life?

I should’ve kept organizing Mom’s spice drawer. I think I would’ve gotten it right this time. Clearly, the oregano goes next to the paprika because that’s how they were forty years ago and now it’s tradition. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before.

The wind blows gently, and I glance back toward Bella, offering her a death stare. “Why don’t you come along too? I know you’ve been desperate for the beach as well.”

“The more the merrier,” Cash says, still juggling the kids, as his big, strong biceps flex inadvertently.

“Oh,” Bella grins, “I’d love to, but I have—”

“But nothing! You’re coming to the beach.” I glance back toward the giant in front of me and smile. “We’ll meet you over there in an hour.”

“An hour sounds great,” Cash says, taking Cora’s hand in his again. “We’ll pick out some snacks for everyone.”

“Awesome!” I grin and nod as the little family I’m not supposed to fall for passes by us on the street.

“You played that well,” Bella laughs, tucking in next to me. “I’m impressed. Annoyed, but thoroughly impressed.”

I roll my eyes. “If you hadn’t volunteered me, we’d both be—”

“Reorganizing your mom’s spice cabinet. This is for the best. I’ll take the kids for a nice long beach walk while you and Mr. Lumberjack spend some alone time together.”

“No!” I widen my gaze. “That can’t happen! We were alone last night after the kids went to bed, and it was awkward as hell. The conversation suddenly stopped flowing, and we just… froze. You can’t leave me. We’re in this together now.”

“Oh,” Bella grins, twisting her hair into ringlets around her finger like the villain in some cartoon movie, “I’m so leaving you. Kids love me. They’ll do whatever I ask them to.”

“You can’t abandon me!”

She huffs out a laugh as we walk toward the car. “You’ll be thanking me by the end of the day. Trust me.”

I blink hard and stare up at the sun again as I walk, desperate for it to burn my corneas just enough that I can’t see Cash or his biceps, or his tattoos, or his massive frame, or his big, rugged beard, though I’m pretty sure the sound of his deep, rumbling voice would still do the trick.

Basically, I’m screwed.

A car backfires in the street, and I glance back instinctively, except it’s not the car I see. It’s Cash. He’s looking at me, a small, warm smile on his face as his big, rough hands reach for the market door.

It’s nothing. It’s just a smile. An innocent gesture of kindness, and yet, my clit is thrumming like a woman who’s never been properly touched.

Truth is, I haven’t.

I’m so screwed. There’s no way this feeling doesn’t escalate, no matter who I bring to draw the attention away.

I’m completely and utterly screwed.