Page 8 of Holiday Hire

2

Phoebe Love

"Thank you again. I can't wait to start," I tell Ruby.

She hugs me and says, "We're excited to have you on the ranch."

"Beach party!" Isabella shrieks, and the other kids start to chant again. I laugh. They've done it several times throughout the night.

Alexander shakes his head, just as annoyed as the other times.

His parents warned me he would resist the idea of a nanny, and they weren't joking. At this point, I can't tell if it's the nanny issue or if he just doesn't like me.

"See you soon, kid," Jacob states, giving me a fatherly hug and then pulling away. He turns toward Alexander. "What are you waiting for, son? Get Phoebe off to the airport before you mess up the flight schedule. We don't need another fine."

Alexander wrinkles his forehead, narrowing his blue eyes until they darken. "What are you talking about? I'm not going to the airport."

"Of course you are. And remember your manners. Now, move," Jacob commands in a no-nonsense tone.

Alexander clenches his jaw, glares daggers at Jacob, then slowly releases a breath. The sun-kissed wrinkles around his eyes fade, and he puts on his cowboy hat, then yanks open the front door. He forces a smile, leers at me, and gripes, "Guess I'm taking you to the airport. Ready?"

Butterflies flutter in my stomach and heat crawls up my cheeks, and I scold myself for feeling like a schoolgirl caught staring at her crush. It makes zero sense. He's rude, doesn't want me near his family, and has made it clear he's on a mission to get me fired before I even begin. Yet my body reacts the same way every time Alexander Cartwright's disdainful, angry, frustrated gaze locks on mine. It's almost as if I'm a glutton for his disapproval.

"I want to come!" Ace interjects.

"No, you're on barn duty for the rest of the afternoon," Jacob announces.

Wilder snickers. "Have fun with that."

Amusement fills Jacob's expression. He declares, "Not sure why you think you're not on it with him."

"What? Why?" Wilder whines.

Jacob wags his finger between the boys. "You didn't think you'd get away with not riding your horses in when your father called you earlier? Or did you?"

Ace's face falls. He gripes, "We came back."

"Yeah. You whistled and we came back."

"Don't act like you didn't hear your father, or barn duty will be for the rest of the weekend," Jacob warns.

The boys glance at each other, then both sigh.

"Go," Jacob says, pointing.

Wilder grumbles, "Come on, Ace. Bye, Phoebe."

"Yeah, bye," Ace follows.

"See you," I reply, fist-bumping them and biting on my smile as they pass me and scoot through the door.

"Time to go," Alexander orders and motions for me to exit.

We walk quietly to his truck. He opens the passenger door for me, and it takes me by surprise.

He grunts. "Let me guess. You're one of those females who thinks it's insulting for a man to open a woman's door?"

I grab the bar, hoist my bottom onto the seat, and shake my head. "No. Why would you assume that?"

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