Page 23 of Open Arms

I knew I was paying more attention to her than I probably should, but I couldn’t help myself. There was just something about Chloe Beecham that drew me in, like a moth to a flame.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out, frowning at the unfamiliar number. “Excuse me,” I said, stepping away from the group. “I need to take this.”

I answered the call, my stomach dropping as I heard Mrs. Henderson’s wavering voice. “Mason, dear, I’m so sorry . . .”

As she explained about her broken hip and the long recovery ahead, I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. Six weeks without childcare? Maybe longer? My mind raced, trying to come up with a solution.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, Mrs. H,” I said, forcing a calm I didn’t feel into my voice. “You just focus on getting better, okay?”

I hung up, my hand trembling slightly as I slipped the phone back into my pocket. Shit. What was I going to do now?

“Mason?” Eryn’s gentle voice startled me. I turned to see herstanding nearby, concern etched on her face. “Is everything alright?”

I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. “Not really. That was Mrs. Henderson. She broke her hip and can’t watch Abigail for at least six weeks. Even then, I’d feel bad asking her to jump right back to lookin’ after a six-year-old.”

Eryn’s amber eyes widened in sympathy. “Oh no, that’s terrible. Poor Mrs. Henderson . . . and poor you! What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea,” I admitted, the anxiety building in my chest. “I can’t exactly bring her to work with me every day. And I don’t want to deal with trying to find a new babysitter every other day. I need to find something stable. Someone who can be there for her.”

Eryn was quiet for a moment, then her face brightened. “You know . . . Chloe’s been asking for more hours at Sunshine Acres, but I don’t have any shifts available. What if she could help out?”

I blinked, surprised. “Chloe? As a nanny?”

“Why not?” Eryn shrugged, her bracelets jingling softly. “She’s great with kids who come to the retreat. And Abigail already likes her, right?”

I nodded slowly, considering the idea. It wasn’t a bad solution, actually. But would Chloe be up for it?

My gaze drifted to where Chloe stood, chatting with Walker. The sunlight made her blonde hair shine like spun gold. I couldn’t help but notice how her blue eyes crinkled when she laughed at one of Walker’s jokes.

If she was Abigail’s nanny, I’d probably have to stop noticing shit like that.

“You might be onto something, Eryn,” I said, my mind racing. “Abigail does adore her. And having someone Abby knows and trusts . . . that could make a world ofdifference.”

I weighed the pros and cons, picturing Chloe in our daily routine. Her gentle nature would be perfect for Abby’s more sensitive moments. And that sarcastic wit of hers? It’d keep my wild child entertained for sure.

“Hey, Chloe?” I called out, my voice a touch rougher than usual. “Got a minute?”

She looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she nodded and made her way over. I couldn’t help but notice the slight hesitation in her step, the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—telltale signs of her shyness kicking back in.

“What’s up, Mason?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.

I cleared my throat. “Well, I’ve got myself in a bit of a pickle. Mrs. Henderson, Abby’s regular sitter, is out of commission for a while. I know this is a big ask, but you’re so good with her. I was wondering . . . would you consider being Abby’s nanny?”

Chloe’s eyes widened, and I saw a flash of panic cross her face. “Me? A nanny? I . . . I don’t know, Mason. I’m not sure I’d be any good at it.”

“Are you kidding?” I said, letting out a chuckle. “Abby talks about you non-stop after every visit to the cottage. You’re practically her hero already.”

A blush crept up Chloe’s cheeks, and she bit her lip. “But what if I mess up? What if I can’t handle it?”

I reached out, gently touching her arm. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ll make it as easy a transition as possible. And I won’t be a dick when you listen to your instincts like last time.”

She let out a soft chuckle.

“She has school most of the day, so I would just need someone for afterward. Maybe before on days I gotta get to the ranch early, but we can work up to that.”

She looked up at me, uncertainty still clouding her eyes. But I saw something else there too—a glimmer of hope, maybe?

“What about my job here?”

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