Page 16 of Texas Temptation

“Your mother needs to rest,” Amelia said emphatically.

“Oh, I can’t. Cade hired me to work in the office until his PA gets back. I don’t have time for a nap. There’s so much to do.”

“Nonsense. You’re exhausted, I can tell. A quick nap is important. I’ll tell the man myself.”

Visions of being fired before the day ended flashed through Jordan’s mind.

“I’m fine. Lunch will give me plenty of energy. And I’m grateful for the job. I don’t want to jeopardize it.”

“Aunt Amelia said she’d go with me to the horses, can’t you, too?” Caleb said.

“Caleb. She’s not your aunt.”

“I asked the child to call me aunt. It’s little enough. I so love children. I loved being around while Cade and his sister and cousins were little. Vicki was such a darling precious child.”

“It must be so hard to lose a child,” Jordan murmured.

“It is, even one not my own. She’s been dead these two years now. Their car was broadsided by a drunken driver when she was eight. She and Marissa never had a chance, the police said.”

Amelia shook her head in sorrow.

“I truly didn’t think Cade would survive. When he heard, he went crazy. Then he just closed himself off from everything.”

Jordan’s gaze moved to Caleb, her own precious child. What would she do if something happened to him? How would she survive?

If closing himself off worked for Cade, more power to him. She thought she’d probably die herself from a broken heart.

“Vicki was almost as horse crazy as Caleb. She loved to ride. She had the sweetest pony. A lot of ponies aren’t sweet, don’t you know? But this one was. And she followed her dad around whenever he was home. Marissa could only have the one child and they both doted on her.”

“Cade offered to pay the balance for Caleb’s operation,” Jordan said, “saying it was for Vicki.”

Amelia looked surprised.

“Did he? How unexpected.” She reached for more iced tea. “He always had a soft spot for kids. But since Vicki died, he’s made it clear he doesn’t want his niece or nephew visiting for long, or any of his cousins’ children. I think their presence reminds him too strongly of Vicki’s death.”

Amelia regaled them with funny stories of the younger generation and the antics they got into on the ranch. It helped lighten the mood.

“I’ll need to find a place to stay. Maybe you can give me some suggestions of where to look in Tumbleweed,” Jordan said a little later when they were almost finished lunch.

“I wouldn’t hear of it. You and Caleb need to stay right here. I can watch him myself while you work. And Rosita loves children. She has seven herself and four grandchildren already. Besides, staying here will save time driving back and forth. If Caleb’s having an operation, he’ll need care while he recovers, so where better than right here?”

Amelia beamed at Jordan, then winked at Caleb.

Her rose-colored dress was the perfect foil for her snowy white hair and pink cheeks. Jordan could feel the honesty in the woman’s tone and actions. Amelia genuinely liked people and sincerely wanted to help.

Jordan had the feeling Amelia would have done well as a hostess for some rich ranch owner in the earlier days. She loved flowery, feminine clothes, had a graciousness about her that was endearing. And she loved children. What better person to watch her son when Jordan could not?

Except Jordan couldn’t let her.

What would Cade say when he heard of his aunt’s invitation? The job hadn’t come with an offer of room and board.

Jordan needed to be independent. And she couldn’t infringe any longer on these people’s generous hospitality.

She finished lunch quickly, promising to go see the horses with Caleb once she had a chance. Taking a covered plate from Rosita, she hurried back to the office. Lunch had given her renewed energy. She still felt tired, but not too tired to slack off.

Cade stood by the printer when she entered, watching as page after page rolled out.

Jordan studied him for a moment before he realized she’d returned. She attributed the lines around his mouth to sadness. Was the solemn way he viewed life as a direct result of the blows life had dealt?

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