Page 2 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

“You’re the toughest broad I know,” I told her honestly. “In my dad’s book, that’s the highest of compliments.”

“I love your dad, and Iama tough broad who expects you to call the minute you have word on the sexy cowboy.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I’ll catch up with you soon. Don’t forget to sing to the baby.”

“I am. They love classic rock and nineties pop, and I’m not sure if I can love a child with such poor musical tastes.”

“You are absolutely ridiculous, and I love it. Try R&B; maybe your baby will come out soulful.”

“Good idea. I gotta go; time to go do mom shit.”

“Send the family my love.”

“Will do. And if you need a place to store some of your things, my place is available until I decide what to do with it.”

“Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it.” My cousin’s welcome was wearing thin, and even though she’d never say it, having my belongings clogging up her small apartment wasn’t a long-term solution. “Talk soon.” I tossed the phone on the coffee table and looked down at my belongings, most of them still packed in boxes, bags, and a couple of suitcases.

I spent the rest of the morning packing enough to last for the sixty-day probationary period. The McCall Ranch was a little over one hundred miles outside of the city of Houston. It was too far to drive if I forgot something important, so I checked my list—twice—and started to pack up my little green hatchback. A quick look at the clock told me I had just enough time to call my cousin, drop off my leftover boxes at Toni’s place, and get on the road to make it to the ranch by lunchtime.

I had enough time even if there was a little bit of traffic, and I was determined that I wouldn’t show up late. I’d given Serenity, the owner of Elite Nanny Services, my word, and I intended to keep it because she’d gone above and beyond in finding me placements, even though none had panned out. Yet.

“Molly.”

I froze at the sound of Travis’s voice, but I shook off the shock and kept going toward my car.

“Molly,” he called me again. “Don’t ignore me.”

I shoved the last two boxes into the car, slammed it shut, and turned to face him. “I wouldn’t have to ignore you if you’d stop showing up where you shouldn’t be.”

His lips curled into that smile I once found so sexy. “It’s a free country.”

“You’re right. And I’m free to ignore you. Have a nice life, Travis.” I slid behind the steering wheel and grabbed the door, but he held it open.

“We’re not over.”

“Wrong,” I yanked the door harder. “We’ve been over for a long time. Go find another woman to torment, or better yet, work on yourself.”

His nostrils flared because he was incapable of hiding his anger. It was only a matter of time before he really exploded. “You used to love me.”

I never loved him. “I used to find you charming until you grew tired of pretending. Goodbye, Travis.” I slammed the door and peeled out of the parking spot so quickly he had to jump out of my way.

My heart raced as I hauled ass away from Travis because I wouldn’t put it past him to follow me. I stopped answering his calls and text messages, so I wasn’t that surprised he’d shown up at my cousin’s place, but his presence had thrown me. As I got on the road toward McCall Ranch, I was more determined than ever to secure this job beyond the sixty-day period.

I had never lived on a ranch before; hell, I’d never met a real-life cowboy either, despite living in Texas for the past five years—four for college and one working as a nanny. Now that Toni had put the idea of hot cowboys in my head, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Cowboys were a fantasy, right? Maybe not.

Then again, I’d be too far from civilization to date, which was probably a good thing. After things ended with Travis, I was gun-shy about getting involved with anyone. Travis had begun to grow impatient with my refusal to sleep with him, and it had turned ugly. I couldn’t do anything right after turning him down, and I had no desire to put myself through that again.

The signs for McCall Ranch appeared, and I felt my heart lighten almost instantly. A long dirt drive ended with a sign that looked to be made of copper roping twisted into a lasso around the iron words, McCall Family Ranch. Serenity said the ranch raised bison, sheep, and goats, so I didn’t know what to expect. But as the beautiful pale yellow ranch house came into view, it took my breath away.

It was a beautiful two-story home with a wraparound porch. The sides were fenced in, but the structure somehow looked homey yet imposing in its grandiosity. The front windows were sheltered by royal blue shutters and flower boxes that were in desperate need of tending. Rocking chairs sat on the front porch on either side of a table, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was large, sure, but it was so damn charming I felt right at home already.

I vibrated with excitement as I stepped out of my car and spun in a circle, inhaling the fresh air mixed with the scent of hay, grass, and some flowers off in the distance. With a smile, I climbed the porch and pressed my index finger against the bell, laughing to myself when a sweet melody played for several seconds.

But there was no answer.

I rang the bell again and waited with my heart in my throat. When there was still no answer, I pulled out my phone calendar to double-check the time, the date, and the address to make sure I hadn’t mixed them up.Nope, I’m where I’m supposed to be at the right time.

The door opened, and I looked up and up at six-plus feet of hard, lean muscle encased in dark wash jeans. His stomach and chest were covered with a dusting of ebony hair, just light enough that I could see his six-pack abs and rock-hard pecs that gave way to broad shoulders and lean, corded muscles in his arms. His body was absolutely beautiful, but his face? Holy smokes, that face should’ve been carved into a mountain. A five o’clock shadow did nothing to hide the dimples or rugged jawline, and it didn’t distract from the full mouth pulled into a slightly amused grin. Sun-kissed skin pegged him as a cowboy, and those searing hazel eyes were hypnotic.

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