Page 77 of Nanny for the Cowboy

Despite everything, I can’t help but laugh at that. I’ve been around her enough to know that it’s true. She’s got a lot of her personality tied up in her work.

This time on the ranch has really been something for her. I’ve watched her settle into a pace and a life that suits her.

“She does seem to be all about work.”

Leo hums in agreement. “After her mom passed, well, she threw herself into it hard. She’s always been ambitious, but it was her only focus after that.”

I don’t have much to say about that, not that I can voice to Leo anyway. So, silence fades in, but just like his daughter, Leo is quick to break it.

“Well, I’ve got some good news of my own.”

“Oh?” I raise my brows at him.

He grins wide, a genuine smile I haven’t seen on him in a minute. “I bought the farmhouse.”

“That’s great!” I lean forward, clinking my beer against his. “You deserve to get out of this apartment.”

He laughs, taking a celebratory sip. “Well, there’s some paperwork to nail down still, but I should get the keys in three weeks.”

“That’s amazing, Leo. I’m really happy for you.”

We cheers again, but a thought creeps into my mind. In three weeks, Leo will get the keys. In three weeks, he’ll ask Clover to move in with him.

And she’ll say yes. She practically has to. At that point, Clover won’t be living with me, and in three weeks, there’s no telling where the “Kyle” situation will stand.

It’s more than likely that she’ll go back to NYC shortly thereafter.

And then…Clover will be gone.

Trying to mask my emotions through a drink, I stare down at the table in front of me. It didn’t take me long to spiral, and asmuch as I want to play it off like I’m overreacting, or it doesn’t matter that much, I can’t.

If I’m honest with myself, Ineverwant Clover to leave. And that’s…a problem.

“I’m really excited for you.” I meet Leo’s eyes with a forced smile that I hope he doesn’t see through. “It’s going to be amazing.”

“Thank you, son. I think it will, too. Lord knows I am getting sick of this apartment, and I just know that Beth would have loved the house.”

Beth is his wife. Clover’s mother. And it suddenly feels very real and strange that I won’t ever meet her.

“I bet she would.” I keep up the smile as best I can. “Well, I suppose I’ll need to start looking for another nanny, but it really has been great having Clover around to help.”

“Oh, well, she could drive to you. Anyway, I’m not sure when she’ll be going back to the city. I still don’t want her to. I think she likes it too much here to be okay without it. It slows her down.”

I don’t want her to leave either, Leo. I can promise you that.

But I also know that I’d never force her to stay, or even ask her to for that matter. We’re just seeing where things are going, and at this rate, they’re going right into the fucking trash.

“Well, maybe…” Why am I doing this? “Maybe she’ll want to stay. She does seem to like it.”

Leo laughs, clapping a hand down on his knee as he struggles through finishing his sip of beer. When he can speak, Leo sighs and shrugs.

“That’d be nice, I’ll admit. But I don’t think I should get my hopes up, you know?”

I just nod.

Yes, Leo. I completely understand.

TWENTY-EIGHT

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