Page 39 of Gabriel & Skye

“I’m happy to be on board,” she says, reciprocating my handshake. “And I promise no more coffee making.”

My lips curl in response. She’s cute when she’s being funny. I appreciate the sentiment, even if it is aimed at me.

She really wants this job, so that’s a bonus. She hasn’t even asked me about the going rate yet, which means I need to clarify.

“I’ll put a package together and email it over.”

“Okay, sounds perfect,” she says.

“Just bring your bank details on Wednesday and we can get started with the paperwork. I’ll send you details on how to find my house on the farm.”

“That all sounds amazing. Thank you, Gabriel.”

Holy shit. Her saying my name like that sounds like a fucking angel.

No, Gabe. No.

I clear my throat. “No problem. Thank you for coming in. I’m still taken back you’re Trav’s little sister, and you’re both back in Stoney Creek.”

“I guess you can take the girl out of the country, right?”

“There’s something about Stoney Creek that always draws people back.”

“That’s true. As soon as Trav got the job offer, I jumped at the chance to come visit our grandparents for the summer. It’s not often that we’re both in the same place together.”

“Try working here.” I attempt a joke, and she laughs. “I never stop seeing my entire family. Every. Single. Day.”

“It’s nice that you’re all close.”

“Thank God we all have different roles in the company. We couldn’t be treading on each other’s toes all the time. It’s bad enough having Hurricane Georgia only a few meters away.”

“And living on the same property, too.”

“At least there’s a few hundred acres that separate us all.” I can’t say I’ve ever been this forthcoming and carefree in an interview before, but she’s somehow made this whole thing feel like a breeze.

“Thank goodness for that.” She smiles warmly. “I’m really happy I can help out, Gabriel. It means a lot to me to be here and spend some time with my grandparents.”

An unexplained lump forms in my throat. Probably because we lost our grandparents a few years ago. Our dad’s father and his father before him established the distillery and brought the vision to life. Obviously, it’s evolved over the years, but we wouldn’t be anywhere we are now without the years of my grandparents’ hard work and foresight. “That’s an amazing thing,” I say with sincerity. “Family is everything.”

I edge my seat out, and she does the same.

She’s probably five foot seven, maybe she seems taller because of the heels, but as I round the desk again and she stands, I find myself looking down into those pretty eyes.

I should not be noticing how beautiful they are.

“It sure is.” She tucks her manilla file back into her oversized purse.

“I’ll show you out.” I reach to open the door.

So this could be very, very good, or it could go very, very badly.

I don’t know which yet, but one thing is for sure; I need to keep my attraction to her in check. Nothing good can come of inappropriate thoughts about the hot new nanny.

I dread even thinking about what my brothers are going to say about this one.

Brooklyn is sure to be the ring-leader on giving me shit. All I know is he better keep his hands off, in fact, any man better, and that definitely includes me.

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