Page 10 of The Widower's Nanny

I get dressed in jean shorts and a T-shirt, and I put my hair in two braids. I’m comfortable and ready for whatever this adventure brings. I eat a quick breakfast, then leave the guesthouse. Preston and Lilly are on the front porch of the main house, and when she sees me, she runs down the steps and across the yard to me, a beaming smile on her face.

“Rachel. You’recoming!”

“Yes, sweetheart. Thanks for inviting me.” She is holding Sugar, and I give the puppy a pet.

“Sugar is coming with us, too.”

“Awesome.”

Preston comes down off the porch in cargo shorts and a T-shirt, not looking anything like the businessman I’d met yesterday. My eyes trace his physique, noticing the not-so-subtle contours of his muscles beneath his T-shirt. He must spend some time on those tennis courts or in the pool.He doesn’t see me ogling him, does he?

I quickly shift my eyes to his. It seems he is scanning me as well, though I’m not sure. He looks away quickly. It’s probably the braids, they make me look like I’m sixteen. Not the best way to prove to Preston that I’m an adult.

He glances back at me. “So, are you ready?”

“I’m ready.”

He slips on a backpack. “Okay, let’s go.”

He heads across the yard toward an open field beyond the house. I fall in step beside him while Lilly runs ahead about ten feet with Sugar at her heels. The puppy tries to keep up with her but has to stop every few feet to sniff something or bark at noises and shadows.

Preston glances at me. “It’s an easy hike. Mostly flat. Shady. About a half-mile to the creek.”

“No problem.”

We walk on in silence and I can’t tell if he is unhappy I am with them or if he just isn’t used to holding conversations with people outside of his business world. I conclude it’s probably both. It’s fine though. I’m not used to holding conversations with wealthy businessmen. Cute or not.

About twenty minutes later, I can hear water rushing, and Lilly turns around and smiles at Preston. “Can I go ahead to the creek?”

“Yes. Just don’t go near the water until I get there.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

He glances at me. “She loves the water.”

“It seems you have an outdoorsy girl.”

“Yeah. Not sure how that happened. She lived in the city until three years ago.”

“She’s very happy out here.”

“That’s all that matters to me. I have an hour commute every day, but it’s worth it to see her embracing country life.”

“She’s a lucky girl.”

“How do you figure?”

“She has a dad who puts her happiness first.”

He sighs. “I try. But I’ve made my fair share of mistakes.”

I smile at him. “We all do. Nobody’s perfect.”

He nods as we reach the creek. Lilly is standing as close as she can to the creek without being accused of getting too close. She looks at Preston and he waves at her.

“Go ahead.” She runs to the edge of the water and starts picking up rocks. “Pace yourself with the rock collecting. I don’t want to be hauling too many of them back to the house.”

Sugar finds a shady spot and lays down to rest. A half-mile hike for her is a momentous undertaking. Preston removes his backpack and goes to the water next to Lilly. She shows him her collection of rocks and he admires each one like it’s the best rock he’s ever seen. I am beginning to see another side of Preston Michaelson. And I like it.

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