Chapter Three

“Sure, I’ll take the job,” Jessie said as she adjusted her seatbelt.

Had he heard correctly? “You kiddin’ me?” Chase stared at her for a moment, stunned by her answer. Then the first glint of real hopefulness he’d had in a while sparked a smile.

“To be honest, the employment agency hasn’t found anything for me yet.” She shrugged casually, like it made all the sense in the world. “These babies need someone who knows what they’re doing, which you clearly do not. And, let’s face it, I need a paycheck. I can’t deplete my savings on a hotel room. I need income and a temporary place to stay, so I don’t have to go begging to my siblings for a roof over my head.” She pressed her hands together calmly. “We can help each other out temporarily. At least until you hire a full-time nanny, and I find a house to buy and a real job to hold me over while I try to build up a law practice.”

Daisy squealed, causing Poppy to join in with happy noises. Chase chuckled as he guided the truck from the parking lot. It was almost as if the babies understood their salvation had arrived. And she just happened to have a law degree, killer legs…and the ability to break his heart. All over again.

He shook his head. Never underestimate a woman. And never try to understand one. Just when he was sure she’d say no, she accepted his offer. Unbelievable.

Then he realized he hadn’t responded. “Well, that’s just about the best—and most insulting—thing I’ve heard all day.” He scratched his chin contemplatively. “I’m not doing so badly, am I? I mean, they’re clothed, fed, and fairly clean.”

“You’ve managed to keep them alive so far.” She shoved a handful of long hair over her shoulder and gave him the thumbs up. “You’re hanging in there. I can’t imagine Charlotte dumping this overwhelming responsibility on you, with no warning, and expecting you to succeed. What was she thinking? Did she even leave necessities for the girls?”

“She was staying with me, so there are clothes, a few toys, and some baby food.”

“Did she leave baby gates or anything to corral them?”

“Gates and several playpens. I wouldn’t have survived an hour without them. The girls are crawling everywhere and starting to walk a little, too.”

A gush of wind blew a small piece of tree branch across the hood of the truck. Chase looked toward the darkening gray sky of winter bearing down on them. A few fat, white flakes hit the windshield. I need to get the babies home.

“The temperature is dropping, the snow is already starting to fly, and these roads will freeze up fast.” He adjusted the heater. “How about we leave your car here in town? I’ll send Milo and one of the guys to pick it up later. That way, you can ride with us to the ranch, and I’ll know you’re not slipping and sliding on ice. Or worse.”

“Overly concerned about my general safety?” she asked with the sharp lift of one brow. “Or just afraid you’ll lose me in a ditch somewhere and be back to square one, looking for a nanny?”

“All of the above.” He pulled in behind the only small, sleek sedan parked in front of the employment agency. “Let’s get whatever you need most. The car might have to sit here for a couple days.”

Jessie had no more than one foot outside the truck when Poppy started to cry, followed quickly by Daisy.

“She’ll be right back, girls.” He shook his head as he exited the vehicle.

They can’t possibly understand this situation. Why are they so finely tuned to react to everything? Some kind of baby instinct?

Grabbing several pieces of luggage, he placed them into the bed of the rig while Jessie gathered smaller items. She stuffed them onto the back floorboards, fitting things safely around, but out of grasp of, the twins.

“That’s enough for now.” She locked the car doors, and they quickly climbed back into the truck away from the brutal cold. Jessie brushed her palms together briskly.

He guided the vehicle from its parking spot and headed out of town, driving through increasingly heavy snowfall. The wiper blades could barely keep up with the precipitation.

“Hey, here’s a stuffed lion.” Jessie pulled the toy from between the seats and handed it back to Poppy. But Daisy yanked it from her sister’s grip.

“No, no!” a tiny voice protested.

Chase adjusted the rearview mirror. “Wrong one. The lion is Daisy’s. The tiger is Poppy’s.”

“Tiger? I don’t even see…oh…yeah. It’s on the floor.” She rescued the critter, brushed a bit of dust from his ears and placed it in Poppy’s hands. His little niece clutched the stuffed animal, rubbing her face against its furry head. Jessie laughed softly. “Too cute. So, what do you need me to do at the ranch? Babysit, cook, clean house, do laundry? I’ve eaten a lot of take-out for the last several years. I may not remember my way around a kitchen.”

“No worries. You can spend your time with the girls. I have a housekeeper there several days a week who is a great cook.”

“Right.” Her mouth quirked with apparent amusement. “Let me guess. The housekeeper is a pretty little twenty-something who is quite willing to flirt with the ranch owner while she prepares meals, washes his sheets, sweeps the floors?”

“If you know where I can find one of those, sign me up.” He shot her a sideways grin. “And I’ll drop you back at the car.”

“Ouch.” She laughed lightly. “Guess I kind of had that one coming, didn’t I?”

“Li’l bit. By the way, I think you’ll like the housekeeper. Birdie has silver hair, and she’s been working there since before I was born—” A toy lion came flying over the seat. He trapped it against his shoulder and then gave it an easy toss back toward Daisy, keeping his attention on the road.

Man alive. Jessie smelled as good as a handful of fresh summer flowers. But she could still be as sarcastic as ever, just like when they were kids. “Why do you always assume the worst of me?”

“I apologize.” She paused for a moment, as if reluctant to share. “I’m just stressed. Lots of changes, all at once, tend to do that to me. My parents recently sold the big old house I grew up in. When I made the decision to move back here, I had no idea they wouldn’t have room for me to stay with them for a while in their new place. I know I should have checked first, but still…” She smoothed her brow with both hands. “Maybe it’s childish of me, but I assumed I’d have Mom and Dad’s home to come back to temporarily. It’s kind of disheartening to realize I don’t. Not anymore.”

“You have siblings to lean on,” he offered, keeping his focus on the slippery road.

“Not so much. Two of them moved to Florida. Jade just recently remarried and is adjusting to a blended family, so she doesn’t need the burden of a houseguest. Jonas is basically unreliable for much of anything, and Jocelyn’s mother-in-law is staying with her, so I just don’t want to be a bother.”

“But, if they knew you needed some help—”

“I’m the person who used to take care of them,” she emphasized. “I can’t be the needy one.”

A bit too much pride, maybe? For a quick moment, he met her gaze. Nothing about this gal could strike anyone as needy. Especially not when she tipped her chin up slightly, just defiant enough to let you know she’s calm, cool, and in control—whether she was or not, he suspected.

All that lustrous hair framed her fine-boned features and tumbled loosely around her shoulders. And that smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and those remarkable green eyes? Stunning. Still. Not that it surprised him. Time worked in this woman’s favor. She looked lovelier now than the day he’d seen her leave for college over a decade ago.

He remembered it clearly.

She’d been climbing into her old car in front of the bank just as he’d happened to walk out of the local farm supply store on a hot August afternoon. Her rich ginger hair, pinned up into a haphazard knot, left stray tendrils loose against her neck. The vehicle with a mismatched paint job was packed to the brim, probably with every item she owned. He’d never forget the smile that lit her face with the hope of new adventure, the promise of a better life ahead—Jessie McKinnon had been happily leaving town.

Chase had kept his boots planted firmly on the ground that day. Forced himself to stand still in the summer heat. Swallowed back words clawing at his throat. After watching her go, he’d glanced down at the shiny gold band on his finger.

Some things were better left unsaid.