Page 51 of Holiday Hire

He opens it, then orders, "Here, take it."

I cautiously step forward and grab the bottle, then I sit in the seat next to him.

In a disapproving tone, he asks, "So that's your boyfriend?"

"Yes. No. Yes. I don't know," I admit.

"Why aren't you with him now?"

I shrug. "It's complicated."

"What's so complicated about it?"

A million thoughts go through my mind. When nothing forms a coherent sentence, I finally reply, "Can we not talk about it? Can we just... I don't know. Can we talk about something else?"

He pins his intense gaze on me.

"Please," I beg.

He hesitates, then says, "Okay. Then tell me why you want to be here so badly. It seems like you've got a life back in California. Texas is pretty different from there."

I take a long swig of beer, then answer, "I told you I want to continue being your nanny. The boys are great, and your family is too. Plus, I like it here."

He doesn't say anything.

We drink our beer in silence.

After a few moments, he asks, "Don't you miss California?"

I briefly consider his question and then shake my head. "No."

"Why not?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

For some reason, I start to laugh. "Yeah, I don't know. I can't give you any reason. All I know is I don't miss it, and I like it here."

My answer seems to appease him. We don't say much more. I finish my beer and get up.

"Where are you going?"

It's my turn to stare at him, and all I can think about is how different he is from Lance. "I'm going inside to go to bed. I'm your kids' nanny. And even if you kick me off the ranch come Monday, I will do my job while I'm here."

Disdain swirls in his tone when he says, "What about your boyfriend?"

I lift my chin and square my shoulders, replying, "He'll be leaving tomorrow morning. If he doesn't, just kick him off the ranch." I step inside the house, leaving a shocked Alexander on the porch.

As I try to sleep, a mix of guilt, relief, and more confusion than ever about where Lance and I stand, haunts me.

9

Alexander

"Breakfast!" Paisley yells, banging on a cowbell.

I look toward the main house, and my gut drops.

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