A Nanny for the Cowboy Page 15

  “She said she’d have my hide if I didn’t get back here and carry my part of the responsibilities of the ranch the way I should.”

  Luke wished she hadn’t done that. He’d always felt that Dylan had to do what he needed to do. Keeping him on the ranch wasn’t going to help. Not if it was painful for him. “Sounds just like her.”

  “Yeah, it did. I should’ve expected it.” Dylan’s head was lowered and he was silent for a moment. “But that wasn’t all.”

  “Something tells me you don’t like what she said.”

  “Nope, I sure didn’t. And I still don’t.”

  There was nothing else Luke could say except, “So what is it?”

  Dylan raised his head and looked directly at him. “She thinks I should see a shrink.”

  Luke shouldn’t have been surprised that his sister had been so honest. After all, she’d never been one to hold back or keep her opinions to herself. He wasn’t exactly sure what he could say to his brother, especially since he agreed with his sister’s suggestion, but maybe it was time for him to be honest, too. “So what’s wrong with that?”

  “I don’t want someone telling me what to do.”

  “Erin’s always been bossy,” Luke pointed out.

  Dylan stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. “I didn’t mean her. I mean a shrink.”

  Now that it was out in the open, Luke didn’t intend to skirt around the subject. “Might not be a bad idea.”

  “A shrink? Come on...”

  “They don’t tell you what to do,” Luke hurried to say. “At least I don’t think they do. Erin and I have worried about you for a long time.”

  Dylan was quiet. “So you think it’s a good idea, too?”

  “I don’t see why not,” Luke answered with a shrug. “You could ask Jules O’Brien. She’s a psychologist. Or Paige. You trust her.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Luke’s hopes began to grow, but one look at his brother and he knew it was all for nothing. There had to be a way to help him, but if he wouldn’t get help from a professional, Luke didn’t know what else to tell him. “You have to do something.”

  “I know. I just...” He pushed himself to his feet.

  Luke moved away, knowing that once again, he’d failed his brother. But he had to remember that it was Dylan’s problem, not his, and Dylan had to either work it out or not.

  “Oh, and one other thing Erin said.”

  Luke stopped and turned back. “What’s that?”

  “She said that if I don’t do something with the house, she’s going to come up here and give me what for.”

  Luke laughed. That was Erin. She’d made a life for herself away from the ranch and the memories, but she still insisted on speaking her mind about what went on with the ranch and the family. “Did she give you any idea how to go about that?”

  “Not a one. But I’m sure she’ll be calling to give me some instructions.” Dylan stubbed his toe in the dirt and kicked up a cloud of dust. “She had a few things to say about you, too, and I can’t say I disagree.”

  Frowning, Luke wasn’t sure if he wanted to know. He didn’t particularly like the idea of his brother and sister talking about him when he wasn’t there to defend himself, but he couldn’t say too much. He and Erin had talked about Dylan plenty of times. Still, he was curious. “About what?”

  Dylan looked up. “Hayley.”

  Luke didn’t like his brother’s smile. Instead of commenting, he shrugged and looked toward the road, wishing someone would come along and deliver something. Hayley wasn’t a subject he wanted to discuss. Not with his brother. Not with anybody.

  “You know,” Dylan began, in a tone that Luke knew didn’t bode well, “I witnessed that kiss. I just didn’t say anything about it.”

  It was all Luke could do not to tell his brother to mind his own business. “So why bring it up now?”

  “Maybe because I don’t think you’ve done anything about it, and I think you should.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Luke was used to Dylan being bossy about the ranch work, but he’d never butted in about his personal life. Not even when things were bad with Kendra. “And just what do you think I should do?”

  “I think you should give some serious thought to having a real relationship with her.”

  Luke shook his head. “Not a good idea. I’m her employer.”

  “Right, and nothing like that has ever happened.”

  “I have better things to do,” Luke shot off. “Do you think this past week has been a holiday?”

  “And I take the blame for that. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something about this thing with Hayley.”

  “There isn’t any thing with Hayley!”

  The corner of Dylan’s mouth turned up in what appeared to be a smirk. “Sure. And now I suppose you’ll say that you aren’t any more attracted to her than you are to that fence post over there. Because I’m not blind. She’s hot!”

  Luke had had enough and took a step toward his brother, his hands fisted.

  “Thanks for proving my point,” Dylan said, crossing his arms on his chest.

  Luke gritted his teeth. He’d fallen right into Dylan’s trap. “Okay, you win,” he admitted with reluctance, and hoped his brother didn’t gloat. “I am attracted to her. I just don’t know what it means or what to do.”

  “Then my advice is that you better figure it out, and fast,” Dylan said, giving him a hard, brotherly pat on the back, “before somebody else beats you to her.”

  Luke watched Dylan walk to his pickup and pull out his duffel bag before heading for the house. As he stepped up onto the porch, he stopped and turned back. “Don’t let any grass grow under your feet, bro. More’n likely it’ll be crabgrass.”

  Luke didn’t answer. As he watched Dylan walk into the house, he had a feeling his brother was right. But just what could he do? He didn’t have any idea how Hayley felt about him. She’d steered clear of him after that latest kiss. But she hadn’t quit. Maybe that was a good sign. And maybe he needed to find out for sure.

  * * *

  HAYLEY PULLED THE CAR into one of the empty spaces in the parking lot of the city park. Kate had called her the day after she’d returned from visiting her parents and invited her to join them in a weekly play day for the kids. Hayley was excited. Brayden needed more interaction with other children. He’d spent far too much time on the ranch without playmates.

  After helping Brayden from his car seat, the two of them walked hand in hand to the playground where the other three children were playing. “Look, Brayden,” she told him when they were closer, “there’s your new friends. Do you want to go play with Tyler and Travis and Krista?”

  Brayden tipped his head up to see her, his expression announcing his uncertainty. But when Travis called to him, a slow smile began transforming his face, and he soon was running toward them.

  “Glad you two could make it,” Trish said, when Hayley joined them on the park bench. “These kids need new blood. Being cousins and the same age, they see way too much of each other.”

  “No kidding,” Kate immediately agreed. “Sometimes I wonder if one of us should move away.”

  Trish’s mouth dropped open. “Then that will have to be you, because Morgan and I have no intention of leaving Desperation.”

  “Well, if you think Dusty and I are going to move, you have another think coming.”

  The twinkle in the eyes of both women contradicted their tone
and their words. “Now, ladies,” Hayley said, laughing. “I think Desperation is big enough for both of you. And I want to thank you for inviting us today. The last time we were here with you, Brayden couldn’t stop talking about the two boys and the girl he’d played with. I lost count of how many times he told Luke, who did a great job of pretending each time that he hadn’t heard the story a dozen times before.”

  “The sign of an excellent father,” Trish announced. “Grab him up before some other woman does, Hayley.”

  Although Hayley knew Trish was joking and she laughed with the two women, it was one more reminder of what a great guy Luke was. From the very first day, he’d proven over and over again that he was a super dad, something she hadn’t noticed an abundance of. Her dad was unequaled when it came to caring for his kids, but she’d seen too many men who were too busy or didn’t know what to do with their children.

  Even with the knowledge that it would be hard to find another man who cared so much for his son and had many of the qualities women look for in a husband, as Luke did, she hadn’t come to the point where she could tell him how she felt. After she’d learned her lesson with Nathan, she’d given up and focused on her career. She’d become known for telling-it-like-it-is. But for some reason, she couldn’t even begin to do the telling, when it came to Luke.

  Hayley turned at the sound of a car approaching.

  “Hey, Paige,” Kate called to the doctor, who had parked her car and was headed toward them. “What brings you to the park?”

  Dr. O’Brien joined them at the edge of the playground. “I was headed home for a quick lunch, saw your cars and decided to stop. Are we still on for Saturday?”

  “Definitely,” Trish answered and glanced at her sister. “But it’s a week from this Saturday, right? I mean we talked about it the other day.”

  Kate nodded. “We’ll be there. What about you?”

  The doctor’s smile widened. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  Feeling as if she was eavesdropping on something private, Hayley started to walk toward the small slide where the four children were playing.

  “Hayley?” Kate called to her.

  She stopped and looked back over her shoulder. “Just checking on Brayden.”

  “Well, come on back. The kids are doing fine.”

  Hayley made a quick cursory check on Brayden, and then returned to the park bench. “He gets braver by the day, but he’s having so much fun, I hate to caution him too much.”

  “They do enjoy coming to the park,” Trish agreed. “Besides, now that Paige is here, we have a doctor, in case something should happen. Although I really doubt she’ll be needed,” she added quickly.

  “Two doctors,” Dr. O’Brien said.

  “Two?”

  “Hayley is an RN and studying to be a physician’s assistant,” the doctor explained, “so she’s almost as good as a doctor.”

  Embarrassed, Hayley quickly amended the statement. “Not even close, Dr. O’Brien.”

  “It’s Paige, please. And I’m glad you’re here. I was thinking of giving you a call. Our head nurse is retiring.”

  “Oh, no!” Trish cried. “Not Susan.”

  “I’m afraid so. She and Don have been hoping to do some traveling before, as she puts it, they’re too old to enjoy it.” She turned to place a hand on Hayley’s arm. “I could really use another nurse. I do wish you’d consider taking the position.”

  Hayley had liked Desperation’s doctor as soon as she’d met her, and she also understood the difficulties of being understaffed. But making a decision like that was more than she was ready to do. “I really can’t give you an answer, Dr.— I mean Paige,” she corrected with a smile. “Not right now.”

  “I understand,” Paige said, with an obviously staged sigh, and then added a smile. “But think about it. We’re still hoping to enlarge the clinic in the near future, so there could very well be a position open for you as a PA, later on.”

  Smiling, Hayley nodded. “Right now I’m focusing on graduating. And, too, I haven’t really made plans to stay on in Desperation after that.”

  “Really?” Trish asked.

  Now Hayley wished she hadn’t said anything. Not knowing what might happen, when and if she could work up the nerve to talk to Luke, making decisions about anything wasn’t just difficult, it was foolish. “I don’t have any plans yet,” she explained. “But for now, I have to say it would be better not to count on me for the job. I’m sorry. I’m sure the clinic is a great place to work.”

  There was no denying that Paige was disappointed, by the look on her face, but she smiled. “I understand, Hayley. I really do. I didn’t start out in a small town, either. But if you should change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  “I do,” Hayley answered, feeling bad that she couldn’t be more certain.

  Kate placed a hand on her arm. “No matter what you decide, maybe you’d like to join us for our Girls Night Out a week from Saturday. Actually, it’s in the afternoon, but it’s our time to get together and have some fun.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Hayley hedged. “Saturdays are busy on the ranch, so I usually spend the day with Brayden.”

  “We’d love to have you,” Trish added.

  Hayley smiled. “Thank you. All of you. Maybe another time?”

  “We’ll make sure of it,” Kate assured her.

  By the time she and Brayden were on their way home again, Hayley was even more confused than she had been. She’d found Desperation to be a charming town, and the people in it friendly and helpful. It would be an ideal spot to work and maybe settle down. Once again, she was reminded that there were things she needed to say to Luke. If only she knew what and how to say them.

  When her phone rang, she pulled it from her purse and noticed her mother’s number. “Hi, Mom,” she said, after punching the connect button and hoping she sounded normal, if not cheerful.

  “I just thought I’d check to see how you’re doing. Have you talked to him yet?”

  Hayley had known it was coming, and she knew what her mother was going to say. “Not exactly,” she hedged, wishing she’d never told her mother what was going on in her life.

  The sound her mother made told her she was in for a lecture, something she hadn’t endured for a long, long time. And she wasn’t looking forward to it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Luke took his attention off the highway ahead long enough to look at Hayley in the passenger seat beside him. “This is a lot better than the last time we drove into the city.”

  “Definitely,” she answered, leaning her head back and smiling. “That wasn’t something a parent ever wants to experience.”

  “But we made it through okay.”

  “We did.”

  “Thanks to you.”

  “I didn’t do anything, Luke,” she replied, turning her head to look at him. “You were the one who was there in the hospital with Brayden.”

  “And you were the one who stayed calm.” The Friday-evening traffic was heavy on the way into Oklahoma City, but he managed another glance at her when she didn’t answer.

  She shrugged and looked straight ahead. “Anybody would have done the same.”

  He didn’t agree, but he was determined not to argue with her. She’d been in a strange mood for the past two weeks, and he’d made sure to give her a wide berth. That hadn’t been easy.

  “So where are we going?” she asked.

  “I was thinking dinne
r and a movie. Or a movie and dinner.”

  “Or just dinner?”

  “Sure. Whatever you want.” He knew what he wanted, but he also knew it wasn’t his for the taking. Not even if he asked. But tonight could be a start. At least that was the way he was looking at it.

  “I heard there was a new restaurant,” she said. “Nothing fancy, great food and some of the best beer around.”

  “Yeah?”

  Her laughter filled the interior of the truck. “Yeah.”

  Twenty minutes later they were waiting in line to get a table. The place was packed, and Luke guessed it would be at least another thirty minutes before they’d have the chance to check out the food everyone around them kept talking about.

  “I’m so sorry,” Hayley said, stepping out of the way as a new group of people came in the door.

  He was forced to move even closer to her and didn’t really mind. “Nothing to be sorry about,” he assured her. “Besides, we’re not in a hurry, are we?”

  She squeezed farther into the corner, when the door opened again. “Only if you think there might be a problem for Dylan.”

  Luke shook his head, trying to make a little extra room for her. “He’s the one who offered to take Brayden for the night.” He wasn’t going to tell her that the whole evening had been his brother’s idea. And Dylan wouldn’t take no for an answer, although Luke hadn’t been real keen on the idea at first. Now he was glad his brother had insisted.

  “I’ll have to remember to thank—”

  He not only noticed that she didn’t finish her sentence, but that she was staring at the latest group of people to enter. “Hayley?”

  When she didn’t answer, he tried to see what had caught her attention. Or who. He wasn’t sure. And then he heard a female voice call her name.

  “Is that really you?” The woman—young, tall and blond—was only a few feet away, but the small waiting area was so crowded, moving in any direction promised to be almost life-threatening.

  “Yes, it’s me,” Hayley replied. “What a crush, huh?”